Friday, April 1, 2011

Adios Lawrence (KS)
Hola Cuenca

ADIOS LAWRENCE:
Spending 10 days with the hijo and hija were fantastic. Can't say enough good about that.

Kansas weather is unpredictable. Sunny and warm the first few days. a couple days of rain. And a couple days of ..........


HOLA CUENCA:
What can I say. I love this place like I never thought possible.

LUGGAGE SAGA:
For the trip to the US, we took two suitcases. Inside each of them was another suitcase. We planned to fill up all four with much missed items for the return trip. We also each had a carry-on. With just enough clothes and personal items to get us to Kansas.

From Guayaquil to Kansas City:
American Airlines DID NOT LOSE either of the carry-ons. (Duh. We had them with us in the cabin.) Neither of the checked bags made it to Kansas City with us. They did show up the next day. Not lost ... just delayed.

From Kansas City to Guayaquil:
Once again, no carry on was lost for the same reason as above. Of the four checked bags, only one was lost ...... that would be my bag. Cigars for Randy and I. Chewing tobacco for Jim and I. Pretty much all the clothes that I bought Brenda bought me, and the guns, ammo and porn. Just kidding. None of the last 3 made it through airport security. The lost bag did arrive yesterday evening. Delayed ... not lost. So all is good with the world.

A SAD NOTE:
Our checked bags (4 of them) each weighed 50 - 50.5 pounds. We have a hand held luggage scale .... very handy.

The sad part. The JIF Creamy did not make the cut. I had to take it out of the checked bag. You can't have jars of peanut butter in your carry on either (voice of experience here). You know ..... it must be those famous peanut butter bombs that have everyone so scared. However, if you waddle your way through the new body scanners with a gut full of JIF. No problemo.

CHEESE:
We brought some of our favorite bricks of cheese with us in 2 & 2 1/2 pound loafs. Airport Security x-rays all bags. At the KC airport, I saw them opening the bag with the cheese and examining the cheese. It must have an x-ray profile similar to c-4 plastic explosive .... I guess. They examined every bit of it and wiped each one with those special wipe pads that tell them if it is explosive. The only way it would be explosive is ..... maybe, just maybe ..... if you ate too much at one setting???

It is great to be back home in Cuenca where ....

Life is sweet,
Clarke

PS: Oh jeez, I forgot to mention that it was nice to see Bugger and Wanker again. They had a great time at 'Randy and Karen's Summer Camp". Randy and Karen enjoyed it so much that they are hoping to have more dogs at their little camp. So be sure to get in touch with them. Thanks R & K!!!

3 comments:

  1. So happy you guys are back, and summer camp is over. It will be a exclusive summer camp for Bugger and Wanker though.. sorry to all those getting ready to make reservations..

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  2. So, Clarke, even if I hadn't dumped the peanut butter for luggage weight purposes, I still wouldn't have gotten the jar through security. Who would have thunk!

    Ah, Karen, I am so disappointed. I was just ready to run out to Feria Libre and buy a half a dozen dogs with a few live guinea pigs thrown in for good measure, to keep your summer camp well stocked. I'm all for having dogs as long as someone else is taking care of them, and walking them out in the rain when they need to do their duty. You sure you and Randy won't reconsider? You SURE you and Randy won't reconsider?

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  3. Jim,
    Regarding international transport of JIF, I have some experience. It cannot go in a carry on. But can go through in your checked bag. I wonder about air cargo?

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