THIS IS A JOKE, THIS IS ONLY A JOKE!

WHEN MY SISTER-IN LAW, DANA, AND I WERE IN G U A T. LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME, WE GOT A LITTLE RESTLESS AND SENT A LETTER TO OUR FAMILY...THIS IS ONLY A JOKE IT WAS NOT PUBLISHED ANYWHERE AND IT IS NOT INTENDED TO OFFEND ANYONE...HERE GOES....

Dear family, WOW, today was a hair raiser. It started off really well in our hotel, but got a little scary when we ventured outside. First of all, thank goodness baby Sonja was attached safely to Aunt Lori because otherwise things could have gotten really ugly. We had no sooner stepped outside of the hotel when Lori noticed that there seemed to be more city police officers around the area than there had been previously. We had seen a couple here and there, and of course all of the security guards at the entrances to businesses, but not as many actual officers. It probably was a good thing that she noticed that because she instantly became more aware of our surroundings. We continued down the street, another way than the other days as to get a good grasp as to what is around the hotel on all sides. We saw the Farmacia, which is where I had bought some juice on Monday so we decided to go in and get some more for Sonja. When we were inside Lori noticed a silver car parked along the sidewalk outside. Well, they didn't have any juice today, so we left. We continued down the sidewalk when Lori said, "I don't know if it is satan trying to scare me, or God trying to warn me, but I feel a little leery walking right now." and I had just responded, "Well, Sergio always told me I needed to be careful when I am walking anywhere and don't be so naive and trusting... I need to walk with street smarts, so I guess we need to make sure we do that right now. Here, you walk on the inside of the sidewalk." Well, we had walked about 20 yards down the sidewalk when the silver car pulled out and slowly drove alongside us. We kept walking, and the car slowly pulled a bit ahead of us, but with his flashers on and driving snug up alongside the sidewalk. Lori mentioned the car and when I got a good look at it, it had four men in it. It then pulled up a bit farther and stopped, like it was waiting for someone to exit a shop that was there. Well, Lori felt really worried, because of course she had heard all of the harassment stories from others who have been here before. We decided to stop in our tracks and go back the other way. Well you can just imagine how we really freaked out when they started going in reverse. You know the feeling when the hair on the back of your neck stands up? Well times that by 100 thousand. It didn't take long to realize that we may be in real trouble here. Lori quickened her steps and I jumped right into step. I said, "If they keep coming let's duck into this travel agency." Well, when I looked back they had stopped. We kept walking away from the car down the sidewalk when I yelled, "Hey Lori,...


THAT WAS THE FIRST HALF OF THE LETTER THAT DANA SENT AND IT WAS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SHE GOT THE OTHER ONE SENT OFF AND HERE IT IS....



(sorry, I got kicked off so had to send before I lost the info... then I got a message that it did not go through, so had to resend, then resent again... came to realize that it was only Nicolai's address that didn't get through... sorry, you got three of the same message. the saga continues...where was I?)

Oh yeah, I was just yelling to Lori to hop into the tourist shop that was a couple of yards away... had to yell as a bus was passing... and I was going to go back up the street and get the license number of the car and the make as well. So, she went into a quaint little shop and I proceeded to walk towards the car, which in the mean time had gone back forward up the street to where it had originally parked. flashers still flashing, and four men still inside, just waiting. Well, I didn't want them to think I was doing what I was doing so I got my map out and was trying to look like I was looking for the street sign. I kept trying to see what the license number was, but since I am so blind, I had to literally walk up to the drivers side and knock on the window and ask him what the number is. When I was jotting things down it squealed out into traffic and out of sight. I went back to Lori and she was tucked safely inside the blanket pile of the shop. I wish I had a picture of the owner's face... I have never seen such a look of dismay. Once we felt comfortable, we proceeded down the street again on our way to stake out the Chili's which was supposed to be a couple of blocks away. Well, it is a couple of blocks away, but it was being demolished in order for them to rebuild something else... a casino. We only ran into the silver car once more, but thank goodness I jotted down the make and number and realized it wasn't even the Silver Volvo, but a silver VW. Okay, maybe I embellished this story a bit, but wasn't it a fun read? Mom, you can change your pants now... We actually did see one officer outside on the sidewalk and there really was the car, and we really did get scared because it did seem like it was following us etc., I did walk closer to get the license number and make, and Lori did slip into the little shop. As I walked up the sidewalk to jot down the number, it did drive away, but in a normal fashion. It WAS a scary situation for us, and MAYBE it really was a dangerous situation, but all ended okay. We DEFINITELY became more aware of our surroundings after that and stayed with our heads up. The walk was wonderful, we even ran into two Mormon missionary boys. As they were walking down the sidewalk I motioned to Lori to look at the two Mormon boys. She said really? So of course when we came upon each other I had to ask them. Of course they were and were lost trying to get to some meeting. We visited for a while, both feeling comforted to see a couple of Gringas who spoke English. Then they were off in the opposite direction and off we went in our direction. Well, my fingers are getting tired from writing about our exciting day. Sorry to scare you, but thought I would get your mind reeling, Mom, after your kidnapping comment. It really is safe outside, but of course, you need to have Street Smarts. Well gotta’ send as I just got the session ending message again. Love to all, You can chastise Lori for this message, it was her idea...lol !!

WE GOT A SCOLDING EMAIL FROM HER MOM, MY MOTHER-IN LAW!! It was all in good fun and we got a great chuckle out of it!!