The initial plan was for all of us to travel together as we have always done in the past. Well, since the tickets are not as cheap going home versus flying into the country, Hector and our son Ashton decided to sit this trip out and opted for me to bring them some things back. So me and our two other kids are traveling together. I booked our flights, paid for the tickets and we await our destination day. A week later Hector's mom surprised him and paid for both their tickets. So they would be traveling on a different flight, different airline, etc., hence, our first time traveling separately. Both of our travels dictated that we leave for Guayaquil at 10 p.m. a week apart from each other (Approx. 4 hours down the mountain) so that we can check in at 3 a.m. to catch our flight at 5:30 a.m. So off we go, me and my oldest son and my daughter, all the way to Guayaquil. We get to the bus terminal, take a taxi ride (which is scary in itself, because they are just not safe in Guayaquil) to the airport about 8 minutes away, check in at the airport and wait two hours to check our luggage in. Finally, it's 3 a.m., we go check our luggage, they give us our tickets, we head to immigration. Everything is great, we are minutes away from getting past immigration to go wait to board our flight... when they ask me a question: "Where is your husband?" I'm like, "He's in Cuenca; he will be traveling on another flight on a different day." They say, "We have a problem". Long story short, we could not get on the flight. Due to the fact that I am a resident of Ecuador, Ecuadorian laws apply to me and my husband and they state that I needed notarized authorization from Hector to travel with our minor children. Hector would need the same, an authorized document from me to travel with our son.
You talk about someone kicking you in the gut. My poor daughter was balling her eyes out, my son's jaw was clenched so tight, I thought he was going to turn into the incredible hulk. I thought I was going to turn into the incredible hulk. I was about to lose it...and then a calm came over me. A guy came over and walked us to the entrance where we first came in. Handed me our passports and basically said "Deuces"! We all sat down like... what just happened. I called my husband (who was 4 hours away by bus, and 1 hour away by plane; even if he was to try to fly out to meet me, flights don't begin to take off in Cuenca until 7:30 a.m.) and cried into the phone, my exact words were: "DO SOMETHING", like in the movie John Q. But there was nothing he could do for us. We waited for Avianca Airlines to open to see if we could salvage what was left of our trip and they said, "of course you can for an additional $2700". The rest of what happened is a blur. Next thing you know we are on a bus back to Cuenca with shattered hopes and dreams. Sixteen hours of nothing accomplished.
We are back in Cuenca. I spend literally 2 hours on a Skype call with an Avianca Representative who was so patient and so kind. She looked and looked for flights into Orlando and still with the ticket change fee of $200 plus the difference of the flight we were looking at over $2500. So I had an ah-ha moment...change the destination to Miami. She found a much better fare into Miami and our total fare change for the three of us was $1,000. Thank goodness for social media, because when all of that was happening in Guayaquil, I wrote on my FB page about our snafu. My sister Candace called my brother Patrick and next thing you know by the time we got to Cuenca, I received an email to call my brother. My brother took care of the difference for me! That was such a blessing! The next day my husband and I went to retrieve the necessary documents for both of our flights ($100 for notarized documents to travel with minor children). Was there a lesson in this? Yes, a bunch...but the most important lesson: I'm never travelling separately without my husband again! If I can help it:-) lol All in all, we did arrive safely and enjoyed our trip with friends and family! I'm actually still here..leaving in July!
Here are a few pics from our wonderful trip back to the U.S. Vale la Pena!
Seeing my brother Patrick for the first time in 2 years!
Mami seeing her son for the first time in 2 years!
Meeting my niece Lauren...she was trying to pull my lips off! Lol
On Marco Island with My Family
(l-r Patrick's twin, our baby sis Patricia, Candace, Shane, Patrick, Lauren, Alex & Ashton)
bottom- Aria, Hector, me, Shania & Taylor
My brother Patrick & My Nieces
My sister Candace, brother n law- Shane & Kids
Candace & My nieces
My sibblings
Mi Hermanas
Cousins
Our baby girl
Hector & his Mom
Hector's Mom, Brother & Cousins
Hector and his Sibblings
(l-r Liz, Hector, Magdi & Moises)
Me and the Girls
Sibblings
Aunt & Nieces
Cousins
The whole gang is here! Cousins!
Family Bike Ride
My first babies...Sibblings
My Sis-n-Law Caila
My Friend from Philly!
Celeste flew out for the weekend from Philly to see ME!
Me, my daughter and the nieces! Love my girls!
Lauren, Caila & Me
We absolutely loved being back home with our friends and our family. It was worth all of the headache at the airport. Now we will be heading back to Ecuador refreshed and ready to tackle the next 2 years there! Until next time! Ciao! Oh and I will be adding more pics of our trip so stay tuned:-)
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all who contributed to our trip back to the States! We love you so much!
The Serrano's
