Estamos aqui en Guadalajara! We are here in Guadalajara!!

Our flights were nearly uneventful. Jodi was enjoying a cherry cough drop as we sat down on the 1st flight. The Texan woman behind us rudely remarked that someone was wearing menthol Bengay rub and she was certainly going to throw-up from the odor. (“I already have a headache.”) J immediately spit it out. The woman's daughter, probably 5 years old, kicked K’s seat and talked/sang at the top of her lungs the whole trip without either parent shushing her. Of course, we didn’t say a word, just put in some earplugs as tightly as they would fit and pretended to sleep.
We spent the night in Dallas at a Drury Inn. They served us dinner & breakfast as well as transporting us to and from the airport so we were very happy campers. We also watched a romantic, boring movie.
We met a very nice Mexican-American, Sara, and her grandson, Carlos, at the Dallas airport and passed the time pleasantly chatting in Spanish as we waited for the flight to Guadalajara.
We were very lucky that Jodi was able to travel on the same flight as Keith…stand-by works! The American gatekeepers broke the international rules by letting us fly stand-by and they bumped other lucky people into 1st class to make room in coach. Very kind!
The taxi ride from the airport to the city center here in Guadalajara is quite ugly. We remarked later that both of us wondered what Shana Jan will think on that journey. On the way Keith discussed the economic struggles of both Mexico and the US with the taxi driver. The driver remarked how hopeful he is for the future with OBAMA… less than 30 days away now! He guessed that we were Canadians and instead of responding “thank you” as I have in the past, I sat thinking I am once again proud to be an American. These are hopeful times.
Our hotel, Posada Regis, is an 130 year old home converted into a 19 room inn. It looks a bit scary on the outside but quite elegant on the inside, simple, but adequate (at $34.00 a night, no complaining here). We have two second-floor balcony walkouts with Christmas decoration at an arm’s length.
Right below our window is the highly recommended restaurant, La Chata. We stood in line for 30 minutes to get seated at four in the afternoon, a very good sign. A waiter came by with a tray of free beers twice to help sweeten the wait; that was the first time I’ve experienced that! Our meal was outstanding!! Next time we will split what Keith ordered, Carne Asada, and still both need a rest after we eat.
Keith is napping now. He is getting by without complaining at all though I know he hurts. We will be traveling more slowly than is our custom. We feel very blessed to be here together.
I am listening to the new Mana CD on my laptop as I write my memories of the past two days. We will take a little stroll two blocks down to the Cathedral to people-watch soon. Tomorrow we will begin to explore what Guadalajara, Mexico’s 2nd largest city and home to 6,000,000 people has to offer.
Best wishes to all of our readers for a peaceful pre-Christmas preparation time. A big thank you to our daugher & parents for their support of our annual Holiday excursion. And thanks to our dear friend Victor for loving and caring for the Airedale.