copyrighted to Aria(crune@coqui.net) 1998
Aria's Rendition to the Traditional Back to School Essay:
"How I spent my Summer Vacation" (well a small part of it)
by Aria(crune@coqui.net)--who else?
During this summer my parents and I took a vacation in Mexico. It
was ok, except that we suffered what is lovingly referred to as Montezuma's
Revenge, which, to anyone who has gone to Mexico, or knows someone who has,
means a fun-filled day or two of diarrhea, vomiting and general queasiness,
brought about by a certain type of bacteria found in Mexican water.
We arrived a Saturday and it was on Thursday that the 'bug' hit us.
In fact, we aren't even sure if it was Montezuma's Revenge, mainly because we
didn't drink the water in our ten days there . . . go figure.
Anyway, the fact remains that on Thursday, my family and I stayed in
the hotel room, while our tour went sightseeing around the Mexican State of
Guanajuato. That was no fun at all. The hotel had no air conditioning since
it was built on a mountain, and the room had only one window. This window
was basically useless, since we couldn't open it or draw open the curtains.
To do so was to let all the other tourists see directly into our room as they
climbed the stairs to their own rooms (we were located in the first floor,
next to the stairs). In other words, the only window in our tiny hotel room
had to be kept closed and with the curtains drawn--which gave the room a
dark, stuffy feel. I honestly wish I could say that this all faded with the
condition my body was in, but truth be told-- kneeling in front of the toilet
with your back sticky from the sweat running down it-- is not one of those
experiences I'd like to repeat.
It was so horrible to be stuck in that cramped hotel room and to be
getting up almost every ten minutes to go to the bathroom (which wasn't too
big either). At first I felt cold, due to the fever, but then, as it went
down, I started sweating, and the room felt like 100 degrees, I felt like
I was boiling! Taking baths didn't help too much, cold water stung my
feverish skin and hot water was out of the question. Two minutes later after
taking the bath, I began to sweat once again. Thank God it was only for a
day-- I bet if we had stayed longer the room would have started to stink of
sweat, mainly my sweat. . .eww.
We were lucky, though, to have the brunt of Montezuma's Revenge on
just one day-- and lucky too that it was a day in which we were allowed to
stay the entire twenty-four hours in the hotel room. I shudder to think what
might have happened if we had to make a one of those day-long bus trips.
Somehow, puking my guts out alongside a Mexican road or begging the bus
driver to make a rest-room stop every five minutes, isn't that appealing to
me.
We were sort of recovered by the next day and enjoyed our last four
days there. Of course, like always, I had to forget something-- and
effectively, the next day as we were arriving in Mexico City at 7:30 p.m.,
I realized I had left my favorite cassettes back in the wonderful Guanajuato
hotel room. Apparently, I had listened to them as my head pounded and my Mom
shoved Pepto Bismol chewables down my throat (not a pleasant experience) and
forgotten to put them back in my bag. Ah yes, my classic luck . . . or
stupidity, you be the judge-- I go either way.
Well, it's a relief to be home anyway (even if I did have to buy my
favorite cassettes again). The entire trip was a learning experience, but
I have to say that, honestly, my most vivid memories are of that fateful day
in Guanajuato. Now don't label me as bitter, I'm not (hence the numerous
times I've repeated that the trip was ok)-- it wasn't fun to be sick, but
Mexico was still interesting, after all, it is a whole different country.
Yet, home is home and I couldn't help but smile on the way back.
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End
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