Nicaragua 8.2

Bienvenidos a Nicaragua. Sin el equipaje de surf boards. AJ, "oh my god, how come that's in Spanish?" Emari, "because I wrote that." So here we are, almost a full 24 hours since we embarked on our trip, starting with the schlep to JFK, which I dozed through. When we arrived at the long term parking area, we easily made our way to the air rail and to our terminal. To our great surprise, though we were early, we were at the end of a huge line of families with overstuffed luggage carts with flat screen tvs, computers, toys, and suitcases busting with American goods. After an hour wait, we finally approached the check-in desk and were charged $125 for our surf bag that weighed less than every single suitcase surrounding us in line. Before we could proceed through security, we had to bring our bags to the screening area and pay for the shipping so that we could obtain AJ's final boarding pass. Another long wait later and we made our way to security. Just as we're about to go through AJ discovers that he has two boarding passes for the same flight. He was ready to rip someone's head off. And he had been so good! No cranky outbursts, no sarcastic rants that might get us hauled away by security, just a little touchy about his shirt, which was all sweaty in the back. When I leaned in for a hug, I thought he was going to hiss at me. So he proceeds to run back to the check-in area, and I hustle, but not too much, (I am tired and I don't really want to see how bad this might get). But he only cuts in front of 60 people to speak to "our" service representative. And though he looks really pissed, I don't think he's used any foul language because the lady is being really polite and helpful. In a minute we have his boarding pass and we get to go express through security. Finally, we're able to rest and it's time to board the plane for five hours of unrestful neck-snapping. We were served s scrumptious egg and potato breakfast with strawberry yogurt. I know, the vomit would have been amazing if we hit turbulence over Miami, where the captain said there was a thunderstorm. We landed in San Salvador and reboarded the same plane at the same gate for a forty minute flight to Managua. Long enough for the flight attendants to pass out candies and for us to eat them! In Managua, we cleared immigration easily and went to get our bags. The one duffel bag we checked popped up quickly, but the surfboards did not. AJ began to pace the carousel and scowled at the baggage carriers outside. Though a few more bags were coming up the belt, he was already shaking his head and making a mean face. I asked an attendant if there were any more bags and he directed me to the delayed baggage desk. To our great fortune, they already knew our bag wasn't there. What the hell? There was a customized printout waiting for us, indicating that the bag would be coming tomorrow. As if the number of tvs and duffel bags stuffed with pantyhose and GAP t-shirts made it impossible to fit a surfboard bag. AJ wanted to rip someone's head off again, but he didn't. I think the language barrier mellowed him out some. As we filled out the form, we realized we didn't have a number for the surf camp and had to put down the only local phone number we knew, the guy who is the property manager for our unbuilt house. We left the airport and walked across the street to Best Western Managua, Las Mercedes. Mario checked us in early and we spent the next two hours trying to find a number for the surf camp. Tonight, everything is resolved, as long as the boards show up. We'll be on our way to the camp at 7 and AJ will be in the water around noon, even if it's on a borrowed board. Other highlights: super cute tiny cat roaming the hotel restaurant and another big Scrabble win for Emari, who feels so fortunate that AJ continues to play! Buenos Noche!