AWOL

Somewhere between our overnight flight from Sacramento to Guadalajara, or maybe between our flight from Guadalajara to Mexico City, or maybe between our flight from Mexico City to Mérida, our luggage was lost. This is completely unsurprising considering the utter chaos that is Mexicana Airlines, an outfit that seemingly runs with about 50% of the employees actually required to properly operate an international airline. In Sacramento, for example, the person who checked us in at the ticket counter was the same guy who hustled over to put us on the plane--and that was while we were still in the U.S.A., in our state's capital.

Here's a good rule for air travel: make sure you have enough in your carry-on to get you by for a day or two in case your luggage is misplaced.

We did not follow that rule.

Upon arrival at our hotel, we conducted an inventory of the items that would need to get us by until our luggage was located in Sacramento or Guadalajara or Mexico City or Mérida or wherever it was and reunited with us.

Inventory:

1 Snickers bar
1 Nikon D200 camera
3 camera lenses
1 Vanity Fair magazine
1 hardcover copy of John Adams
1 package red vines
2 safety pins
1 small bottle hand sanitizer
1 lip gloss
1 envelope of cash
1 pair sunglasses

In other words, almost nothing practical or essential.

We bought a toothbrush and some toothpaste and made the best of the situation. There were cold beers in our hotel fridge and free tequila shots in the lobby. We attended the Ballet Folklórico in the same clothes that we had been wearing for a good 36 hours. We washed underwear in the sink.

I can't wait to show you some photos of our adventures. Of course, I may not show you any pictures of me prior to the return of the luggage the following afternoon. Lip gloss can only do so much.

Comments

[Amanda]

Yikes, I hope your luggage arrives soon. :) on the other hand, I hope you two are having a lovely vacation.