More travel fun, but I made it despite myself and being thwarted at every turn. The trouble started with me being dumb enough to think I could get cash upon arrival. After clearing customs I was about to exit when I saw the currency exchange and asked about an ATM. “Upstairs, 3rd floor”. Okay, so I exit the airport and go upstairs to the departures area, find the ATM, but discover it won’t take my card. So I go the currency exchange @departures for a cash advance on my Visa, but their machine isn’t working; they refer me to the bank around the corner, but the bank can’t help at all.
So back to the 3rd-floor currency exchange counter, pleading with them to give me a cash advance. They say they can’t, but the exchange in customs has a working machine. So back downstairs and in through the out door, where I’m stopped by security — I can’t go in to customs, it’s exit only. I try to tell security that I need to get money from the currency exchange desk, and they tell me to go upstairs – there’s a currency exchange on the 3rd floor!
Finally someone comes on duty that speaks english and translates my predicament to the guard who finally relents and gives me a badge allowing re-entry, but keeps my passport. I get to the currency exchange and ask for a cash advance; they’re good and ask for my card and passport. I give them my VA driver’s license. “No, we need your passport.” But I don’t have my passport, the guard out front — 100′ away took it. “I’m sorry, we need your passport.” Look, I’d love go give you my passport, but the guard is holding it ransom to make sure I come back, why don’t we go out there together and you can see it.
Finally a phone call to a supervisor gives them permission to give a cash advance if they just have my passport number, so back out front I go to copy my passport number. Returning with that, they give me a cash advance. Whew! Two hours later I finally have about 1250 Guatemalan Quetzal.
Now to find a taxi. The helpful gentlemen (yes, plural) all want to help me get a taxi. I navigate my way to the taxi stand and tell the fellow I need to get to the bus station. I show them the printed e-mail from Myra, and a few nods later I was on the way to the bus station.
After buying a bus ticket, the lady tried to tell me which bus was going to Chiquimula, but I didn’t understand her; after much back-and-forth she got some guy to walk me to the right bus. I understood enough of what she was saying to know she was annoyed and so I said, “muy estupido”, to which she replied “si!” (with a smile).
Anyhow, after a 4-hour bus through some very hilly terrain, on a hot and crowded gray hound bus, I arrived in Chiquimula.
After dinner Kevin asked our group questions about the day. All the teens commented on how nice the kids here are; how appreciative of the littlest things and how innocent they seem. Kevin mentioned some teen boys happily blowing bubbles as an example. Our group seems really touched and reflected on how much they take for granted. It was great to hear.
Anyway it’s been quite an adventure getting here. It would’ve helped immensely to have paid attention in my high school spanish classes. I’m looking forward to Vacation Bible School tomorrow.
Sleepy Seat Mate
You can get lunch... if you're brave enough
The bus stopped every now and again to pick-up people selling food. They got on the bus and walked up and down the aisle selling food, then the bus would stop 5 or so miles later and they’d get off. I wasn’t brave enough to try anything; just tried to lay low.