´´No ingles solo espanol´´

My dad dropped me off at the United International Terminal at LAX and after asking 3 people I finally find the right line. I stand behind a nice gentleman who asks me something. I don´t understand, but I think he asked me where I am going and I say ¨I am going to Guatemala.´ To which he responds ´no ingles solo espanol´ And thus began my adventure into understanding about 30 percent of what was being asked or said to me.

My flight was full but I got a window exit seat (score) but the seat did not recline (sad). I was so tired from waking up at 6 am that I fell asleep for most of the flight but then couldn´t sleep so started watching ¨Last Holiday¨ with Queen Latifah, but fell asleep before the end, I am pretty sure it ended happily but really who knows. Some things are ok left as mysteries.

I arrived in Guatemala City after 2 misidentified giant backpacks, I finally find the right one. All in one piece in the giant plastic bag I had to pack it in. Its a struggle to get it out of the plastic bag and I am wondering ´Maybe I didn´t need this much stuff. Next trip I will listen to Heather.´ So after I look oh so hot after sleeping and flying with my two backpacks, one on my tummy and one on my back, I proceed to the outside. There are lots of people considering there is just one flight, but I think picking up people at the airport in Guatemala is a family affair. I look for my sign and I can´t find it I panic for about 30 seconds, the amount of time it takes to continue walking down the walkway to find my name in bold on a mania envelope.

Jorge is my driver. I am riding in style - Toyota Corolla station wagon. Jorge is desperately trying to start a conversation half Englishin Spanish, most of which I understand even before the English translation, but I am too tired to try speaking Spanish but we understand each other. I do manage to tell him ¨cuatro semanas´´ after he doesnt understand my English response. It takes about 50 minutes to get to Antigua and then like 20 minutes to drive through the cobblestone streets. I arrive at my posada and I have to wait until 1pm to check in. So with 6 hours to kill and a much needed nap, I sit down and veg on a chair for about an hour. Then I drop off my big backpack, lock valuables in a safe deposit box and start walking around the city.

I found Cafe Opera (Mara´s must see) but it is closed, so I keep walking. I accidentally walk into Cafe Condesa (the tour book´s must see) and have breakfast-50 quetzals.
With my belly full I walk around stop by a cathedral where Sunday mass is going on. I stop by the tour office, the guide suggests a volcano hike at one, but I am pretty sure that conflicts with my nap time so mayb next week. So I keep walking and I realize that I forgot a clock or a watch and since I have to be at school at 8am I figured I needed an alarm so I go into a local shop and ask for a ´relejo por la mesa´ (yeah I am sturggling with the espanol) We figure it out and 20 quetzals later I am a proud owner of an alarm clock with a light. School starts tomorrow so hopefully I won´t have to continue to act like a fool trying to pretend I know spanish words.

Hasta