NRES 285/ 499

It was kind of a bummer having one of the travel days to write in here...but it looks like today could turn out to be kind of ridiculously exciting (in minor, endearing ways)after all. It seemed as though Crystal would be the only one to escape checking her bag while the rest of us would have to scramble to get ours in Phoenix (thanks, US Airways), but all the overhead bins in the plane were full as well. So, we're all in the same boat now. I've heard almost certain rumors of Mexican TSA workers confiscating the Tylenol in our first aid kits, and a possible second set of tents which may be called upon for folks at the San Diego Zoo to actually drive across the border if our first set is still held up in customs. Just little kinks here and there.

Fortunately for us, new TSA regulations begin today for "people traveling into the US and those going in 8 out of terrorist-related(??)/prone(??) countries." I don't know but that seems pretty vague to me. I'm just praying to god we don't have to go through these new body scanners. Nobody needs to see that. And we are just going to Mexico to study plants for crying out loud. Come on.

I think I saw Mike Adamle, the Chicago sportscaster who has like a million teeth, at the security checkpoint. He looked kind of pissed off (very uncharacteristic I think). However brief, a brush with "local celebrity" is always interesting. He refused to remove his sweater claiming it was his only shirt, though I'm pretty sure I saw a crew neck poking out. The security woman had him shake his upper torso in lieu of becoming "half-naked" before us. It was almost a shimmy, and I am still mildly disturbed about it.

Let it be said, however, that Mr. Adamle, along with most other travelers at O'Hare this morning were dressed impeccably in hardy, luxurious wool layers, yards of scarves wrapped effortlessly about their heads, and many a pair of Emperio Armani frames. Hardly any scuffy gym shoes to speak of, and that made me feel a tiny sense of pride for all Americans. I, on the other hand, was horribly self-conscious of my rather rag-tag outdoorsy get-up, mostly assembled from pieces I used to wear in middle school! As I was walking around the terminal looking for a spot to read, I felt the need to prominently display my camping pad on my back, in the desperate and sad hope that the sartorialists among me would realize I would be roughing it this time, and that perhaps they would be more understanding of my less than wonderful appearance.

But wearing hiking boots, an Illinois sweatshirt, and totally inappropriate outerwear for a Chicago winter day makes it very easy to spot similarly dressed travelers in our group, which is fantastic. It was so nice to meet everyone and match a voice with a face; kind of a strange experience actually ha ha. It makes me wonder if my face and voice match (if that is even the right word; who knows). But anyways, it is great we are all here together now (minus Zack M.) All squeezed into rows 12 and 13. I believe I was supposed to make some sort of peeved note in here about how Nathan, Kaitlynn, and Joe messed up the seating arrangements for the ENTIRE AIRPLANE.

But I won't.

Okay, I have never looked in a Sky Mall catalogue on an airplane for longer than 15 seconds, but I am seriously considering removing this one from the premises because it is ridiculously hilarious. I never understood the concept of shopping several miles above the earth's surface, but I really like what is going on here. Everyone else is sleeping as I try to contain myself from laughing uproariously. It seems like you could buy neck massagers and portable fireplaces just about anywhere, but where else could you find (what seems to me) the most extensive collection of cat and dog toilet training equipment...in one place? Sky Mall has it all. I believe there are at least five companies trying to sell you "potty bricks," patches of lawn with catchment basins, and floor plant pots that OMG double as litter boxes. No more embarrassment for you or your pet. I am blown away by how many choices pet-owners have as consumers.


I was also totally creeped out by:

1. Cheek-swap DNA sample you mail into a lab to have your famous ancestry delineated on a sweet certificate for $159.99 (also for dogs)

and,

2. The sunglasses with a VIDEO CAMERA implanted in the frames right between the lenses. To "discreetly record all you see" for something obscene like 2 hours.

I had no inclination to shop before, and now I feel even less so.

Tony's been at the US Airways (never again) customer service counter for at least 15 minutes, trying to wrestle our bags back. Julie and Stephanie are currently missing, and we've been told to go to Gate B29, which doesn't exist. At least its 76degrees out and smells like cinnamon rolls.

As far as I know, everyone is on this plane from Phoenix to Hermosillo. The kind folks at Aero Mexico somehow fabricated boarding passes for us at the gate, enabling us to not only bypass security but, as far as I'm concerned, completely ignore anything having to do with our checked baggage. So while I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the no-body scan campaign, I'm dually praying my dumb bag makes it into our final airport.

I'm sitting in the fake business class now, which is directly behind the real area. My neighbor asking me to switch seats with his son reinforced just how little Spanish I actually know, which is nothing.

Oh p.s.--tiny mountains. What is going on here! We're up in the air now and the look so cool! Different from any other range I've seen before, like there seem to be many peaks on top of one peak. Find they are a really nice brown color--a burnt sienna, if you will. I hope someone is taking pictures because my camera/ bag got confiscated into the bins (fake business class is not allowed to have stuff on the ground). Kind of upset...don't worry I am over it.

At Hermosillo airport:

How small is this plane? Can it hold all of us? This is adorable.

The landscape flying to Obregon is awesome, especially now with the sun setting and some body of water reflecting (I heard someone say the Sea of Cortez but I have no idea if that's right). Everything looks golden and dry and so majestic.

Greeted a whole lot of people at the airport--Stephanie Meyer, Crista Horn, David the driver/ expert birder, Luis, Bryan Endress, another guy whose name I can't remember, and we all piled all our junk in the truck and headed to the Best Western Restaurant. I was really surprised by the presence of speed bumps, seemingly coming out of nowhere in the middle of the highway. We also passed by a series of small controlled fires in the left lane, which marked the army. Stephanie told us more about the state and federal police, how they search some people more thoroughly than others for arms, drugs, and individuals.

"Mexican plate" and guac & chips and drinks at the restaurant. The sweet corn thing was a stand-out treat for most.

Back in the van for the final leg to our hotel in Alamos. The winding mountain roads lured everyone to sleep, but there were really interesting patches of architecture and lit food stands, clubs, lights, painted signs, gates, and activity. Alamos itself reminded me of some old grand European settlement. I can't wait to go exploring in it tomorrow.--Lenna O.

photos from skysports, skymall, Nathan S., & Lenna O.