Two Bad Apples

Despite January, no long winter's nap for us. We arise at 3 A.M. to prepare for our faithful friend Terry's arrival and the trip to LAX. We meet Ron's sister and brother-in-law in Miami and decide to start the party immediately. By the time we arrive in Ecuador, we've been at it way too many hours but we perserve through the customs lines where I proudly say a word or two of Rosetta Stone Spanish. I'm even prouder when I understand that the customs agent is asking, en Enspanol, if I've ever been to Equdor before! In English, I answer the rest of his questions and we proceed to the next queue for bag check. Here I am shuttled aside with an indication that my carry-on will be checked. After a bit of conversation (thanks again Rosetta Stone) I determine that there will be no mas manzanas when the 2 apples I'd brought for a snack were confiscated and unceremoniously dumped in the Agricultural Inspection office. I had to wait a bit and sign a form describing the contraband and indicating the encounter's outcome: retention of my apples. I do hope someone ate them - nice ones from Costco. Since it's past midnight, we can't see much but our hotel is lovely. We gratefully get ready and fall into a delicious bed for a great night's sleep. Ahhhh.