Dusting off the passport

Yes, it's true, my life has meaning again! Yes, it's true, that's hyperbolic, but I am just so very excited that WE ARE GOING ON A TRIP! Guatemala, here we come.

Photo by Flickr user pjwar

It's been in the works since Christmas, thanks to some merry little elves who put the wheels in motion, but now the tickets are booked. Commence Reisefieber a.k.a. "travel fever" which is an all-around great word to describe the mania that sets in when you know you're going somewhere. (Isn't it handy how zee Germans have all of these wonderful words that encapsulate so much in so few letters?)

Photo by Flickr user Abe K

It'll be my first time in the country, and C's second. Hopefully that will do me more good on the ground than it has done at home. A sample conversation:

G: ARGH! I can't make up my mind about which zone we should stay in in Guatemala City! What do you think?
C: Oh. Whichever.
G: *$)#(*@. *^)@&$# hotels. Where did you stay?
C: I don't know. That one Web site kind of looked like it.
G: What was it like? How was the location?
C: It was fine. I don't know.
G:*(&)@#($.
C: ... I mean, I think it was fine.
G: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN.
C: I don't know if you'll like it.
G: I am not that picky! Think about the place in Lima, was it like that?
C: I don't know.
G: ...
G: ... What about Antigua? Do you remember where you stayed there?
C: No. Maybe if I look at the street map ...
G: *gives him the map*
C: I don't know.

ANYWAY, I love him and he is the kind of laid back person that a psychotic, stampeding wildebeest of planning like me needs. I booked hotels for the two most crucial locations, and I have promised to take my Calm Drops (homeopathic tranquilizer candies, buy them for the crazies in your life!) and be a good girl and play the other spots by ear.

I have the unfortunate habit of becoming profoundly nervous before traveling (I am fairly certain that this is chemical and could be diagnosed by a professional), but underneath the frothing at the mouth, I am profoundly excited to be going somewhere so interesting and so chock full of some of my favorite things—markets and textiles and culture, oh my. The availability of tropical fruit doesn't hurt matters, either.

Photo by Flickr user chris_keller

I'll be doing my best to post updates throughout the trip on my Examiner page, so come and read all about it!