The Flight

Flying is always a hassle. Through luck and a last minute shopping trip for a camera, I arrived at the SLC airport at the perfect time and only waited for 20 minutes before boarding. My layover would be in Houston, and the apparel of my fellow boarders made my lips quirk in a smile.

I "slept" for most of the 3 hour 24 minute flight accompanied by a deep lined silver-haired man who started dozing after take-off. I don't think anyone can truly sleep in an airplane. The lack of circulating air, constant jostling from your neighbor, and perforating smell of sweat steal away an chance of enticing REM's company.

I flipped through the flight magazines tucked into the seat pocket in front of me in the hope that I could find the dollar bill origami that I usually make on my flights. But, evidently this airline didn't host middle page origami. I did however like this ad.

Some pages over I found this nifty map; my flight to Mexico would be from E23. 

When we touched down I went to Subway and got a footlong for $6.75 before surfing on my laptop for instructions about what to do when I landed.  I would be traveling alone to the hotel and needed to make sure I took a reliable taxi, safely exchanged money, etc.

My flight to Mexico was even longer than the first timing in at 3 hours and 34 minutes due to a heavy rain/hail storm.We were not allowed to land and flew in circles for a half an hour before getting in line for the terminals.  I spent the time filling out my visa and customs papers. I had brought candy with me for my host family, so I would have to have my bags checked. Everyone quickly hurried out of the plane, and I waited until they cleared out before grabbing my bags.

Customs and the passport-check line passed by without a problem. I was the very last one in line and had a quaint conversation with a lady who traveled for business as a programmer. I think I amused her. My bags were the only ones left when  I arrived at the baggage claim, and they were being hauled off by a security guy. I told him they were mine, and he requested the receipts- which luckily I hadn't lost. 

I then exchanged and pulled out money of an ATM. The peso to dollar rate is about 15:1. As I walked down a long corridor on my way to the taxis outside, I was consistently accosted by men offering taxi rides, and I wondered why there weren't any women. I quickly caught a ride outside and my driver and I zoomed through the city splashing in large puddles. Car lanes and traffic signals are suggestions more than they are rules. I was dropped outside in the historic Zocalo. I was supposed to go to the Hotel Zocalo, but the taxi driver didn't know where it was. 

My Hotel

After asking a stranger and the guy at McDonald's, a man at Best Western directed me to my Hotel. The name had evidently changed in recent years; it used to be a Holiday Inn. I was grateful to have traveled without any real problems and flopped on my bed in a room I would be sharing with Natalie and Alena for the next few days.

Later, I found out that my professor had been waiting for me. I was told that I would travel alone, but he thought he could catch me at the airport.

I am excited to be here like a fire crackling in anticipation. The plaza is old and there is so much history here in Mexico.