Tag Archives: key largo

Where Oh Where Are The Keys?

4 Dec

On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we were heading out to be with family. Hat? check, bathing suit? check, cell phone? check, keys?

Standing in front of our rental car I reached into the end pocket of my purse for the car keys. They weren’t there. I try my best to have a designated place for the keys. Mmmm. No keys.

Key Largo, Florida USA

In the parking lot of our condo, we began digging. Still no keys. Back inside, we searched through all the obvious and not so obvious places, pockets, counter tops, bathroom? Nope.

The conclusion was that they must be locked in the trunk from when we unloaded the car the night before. It didn’t make sense but where else could they be? We tried reaching the car rental company, a local lock smith, and finally a Nissan dealer thirty minutes away. My brother volunteered to come over and call AAA a roadside assistance company, when WE FOUND THEM (ok Lisa found them. Credit where credit is due.)

Drum roll, they were under the dresser in our bedroom. As near as I can figure, I placed them on the bed and when I climbed in, the keys went flying and slid under the dresser.

It was a very stressful hour with a happy ending.

DOS TORTAS

When all else fails?

Florida Same Only Different

19 Nov

After two days of intense travel that turned out to be even more difficult than I imagined, we are finally in Florida, USA. If you look on a globe, you’ll see that Bacalar and the Florida Keys are the same latitude more or less. I’m looking at the same swaying coconut palms from our Key Largo balcony.

Raining

There were some sweet moments over the last two travel days, like visiting with this child on the bus who was intensely studying my art journal. I love kids and am so happy that I have enough Spanish language skill to be able to talk to them.

She intently studied every sketch, turning the pages slowly.
Travel Art Journal
Adiós Mexico

Sunrise in our hotel room in Puerto Morelos, outside of Cancun.

Also the delightful couple who are minding our dogs while we are gone. Ben from Ireland and Katrin from Austria.

We will be enjoying my siblings and assorted nieces and nephews and a grand holiday meal. I’m sure all the crazy travel expenses and headaches will fade into the distance. Not!

DOS TORTAS

Go Directly To Jail – Do Not Pass Go – Do Not Collect $200

27 Nov

This week The Tortas traveled from Mexico to Florida to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday with  family. Passing through US customs should be a snap right? It can be, unless you forget to eat the apple.

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“Where’s the woman with the apple?”

The sign at the Miami airport said to be sure to declare any food in our bags. They made it sound so friendly that we told the agent, rather than act surprised if our wayward apple got discovered during inspection. We were surprised alright, just not in the way we expected.

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Stock photo but it looks just like this.

What followed taught us a huge lesson. NEVER leave food in your bag while crossing into the US from anywhere. Stay calm, do not get angry or indignant. Insert “yes sir or yes ma’m” into the conversation at every opportunity. Oh, and stay calm.

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The issue was resolved thanks to the “Washington” agricultural sticker on the apple and a bit of groveling on Lisa’s part. There were many people who weren’t so lucky.

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The TORTAS hanging out with our son.

The rest of our vacation has gone without incident. Key Largo looks a lot like Bacalar. The weather was perfect. It’s always a joy to visit with family. We’ll be home tomorrow. Gratitude, blessings and happy holidays to all.

DOS TORTAS 

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