We left last Friday early in the morning for Cancun, Mexico. Sarah and baby Warren picked us up at the house and took us to Huntsville international Airport. We had just pulled up to the curb when I asked hubby if he remembered to load his garment bag. Back to Decatur we flew at warp speed! We returned to the airport just in time. They've really sped up the baggage check this year. Last year took forever. Now they search your bags after they've been checked. I realized this when we arrived in Cancun without my Lysol Neutra Air freshener. If those masochists in Huntsville had known I was traveling with Mr. D. I know they would have left it in my bag. FYI: This year they no longer allow cigarette lighters onboard, IF they know you have one. If you disclose it they will confiscate, if you leave it in your purse, you get to keep it.
We flew from Huntsville to Atlanta. Why is it we always have to go through Atlanta? Crazy airport. We ran down the moving sidewalk to the escalators. Those are some tall escalators! It was too scary to look down. I was holding the moving rail with a death grip. Then it was to the train and back up the escalators and to the far end of the concourse. My poor feet!
The flight to Cancun was just short of two hours. The plane took us right up to the building and deposited us in the air conditioning. I mention this because last year at the Nassau airport the plane stopped, dumped us out, we had to retrieve our own luggage from the cargo hold, then walk half a mile in the blazing sun to the less than adequately aired building. We were exhausted by the time we finally trudged through customs.
In Cancun it seemed that most everybody spoke enough English for me to understand them, everybody except the customs agents. We were moving quickly and smoothly until we got to this one woman standing next to a floor to ceiling pole with a button that looked like the buttons you push to change the light and cross at a crosswalk in town. She said something to me I couldn't figure out. No hand motion, no nothing. I stood looking at her like a puppy refusing to sit. Then she yelled at me. I felt like a puppy refusing to sit. I gave her the come again look. She pointed to the button repeatedly while yelling and so I figured I was to push the button. And I did. A loud buzzing rang my ears and echoed over the whole airport. The lady started shaking her head and muttering something, I know she was cussing me. Mr. D. was cussing me too. “Why did you press that button?!” -- Everything negative that happens is always my fault in his mind. His forgetting the garment bag was my fault because I carried his other suitcase out to the car. When Sarah and Warren arrived to pick us up Warren was asleep in the car and I didn't want Sarah to have to take him out and I didn't want Warren left in the car. Sarah and I carried what was already at the door and waiting to the car and put it in the trunk, got in the car, and sat and waited for Mr. D. who had yet to emerge from the bedrooms. When he finally came outside to smoke one before we left, we called to him to come on and hurry up. It was already 5:10am and we had planned to leave at 5:00am. He locked the door and got in the car assuming I had everything. That's the only reason he takes me anywhere, to read instructions and make sure we have everything we need. Ugh, that man. Anyway, back to the story. -- I know he couldn’t understand her any better than I did. Our bags were immediately seized and opened to display contents. They rummaged through all our bags right there for the whole world to see. I so hoped they wouldn’t discover my brand new purple pulsating vibe. I sure didn’t want to have to explain how it was no threat to their country’s security.
We made it outside the airport and before we could stop to wonder what to do next, dozens of Welcome ARAMARK signs were waved all around pointing us to luggage drop offs and offering refreshment. What a lovely place. I dropped my bags and headed for the bus but Mr. D. had to stop and smoke. To hell with him. I was already tired of smoke breaks causing us to lag behind our friends. On I went and boarded the first bus. It was nearly full so I saved a seat for hubby. A minute later the bus driver was on the microphone informing us of our destination and where we were to go and what we were to do upon arrival. Then we were off.
Mr. D. did not make it. In fact, none of the Decatur crew made that bus. Just as well. I needed a little space anyway. I met and nice couple from South Carolina (or was it North?) And shared pleasant conversation with them. I read most of the signs and billboards along the way. They were low to the ground and almost as big as our interstate billboards but they were supported on each side by pillars, very pretty. As we passed one with a familiar logo on it, I heard someone shout, “Detour to the Super Walmart!” Everybody laughed but I actually thought it might be fun to check out a Mexican Super Walmart to see what they carried. Later we heard that was the cheapest place to buy Tequila. Tequila at Walmart? No way! Along the way I saw a bright green parrot perched on a post. Not many of them in Alabama. I wondered what other kind of wildlife we may encounter on this trip.
At last we made it to our hotel. It was lovely! I ran in and made my way up the escalators to the ARAMARK private check in and chose a line. As I neared the counter I realized that they were checking ID of both parties and lagged behind waiting on hubby. I reached the head of the line once again but hubby’s bus had yet to arrive. FInally the bus arrived and Mr. D. Was the last one up the escalllator. Presumably he had to stop and smoke. can you tell this is a pet peave? We stood in line together for two whole minutes before he started complaining about the slow moving line. I had been in this line twenty minutes and could have been out of there fifteen minutes ago if he could have kept up. Mr. D. went for a beer. While he was gone our hosts decided it would be quicker to take everybody’s ID and make the necessary copies before they reached the counter. When they got to me I looked around and hubby was nowhere to be seen, of course. I had to move back in the line AGAIN because they needed his driver's license. When hubby returned he had the nerve to fuss at me for losing our place in line. I needed to smack him. Eventually we did get checked in and as I started heading out the front door to inform the bell hop of our room number and point to our luggage, hubby had to go for another beer. I didn’t wait. He needed a cigarette, I didn’t wait. He was just lucky to find me when I returned with directions to our room . . .
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