We bought a guacamaya in Guadalajara, and he likes guacamole!

On a recent shopping trip to Guadalajara, Lawrie spotted a five-foot-tall fibreglass and resin rendition of a parrot, which, as it turns out, was actually a macaw, or as it is known in Mexico, a guacamaya. He needed it! It would add a bit of colour to our outside seating area on the patio. A real macaw or guacamaya is noisy, demanding, and messy. A macaw can be expected to live up to seventy-five years even in captivity. That is a bit beyond what we can realistically look forward to at this point in our lives, so a resin bird will be just fine.  

(Everyone can breathe a sigh of relief now.  We won’t be bequeathing an ornery screeching bird to anyone.)

Just for laughs, we decided to document Guac’s journey, similar to the people who take garden gnomes along on vacation and then post the inane vacation photos on the web. We have way too much time on our hands!  During the three nights that we were in Guadalajara, we had to move three times. Most of the hotels were filled to capacity with a variety of conventions, book fairs, and events. Guacamaya was treated to a night at the Hotel Morelos in the historic centre of town, a night at the Hilton across from the convention centre, and a final night at the Intercontinental Hotel across from the Plaza del Sol shopping area. Every morning, we stuffed him headfirst into another taxi to make the move to the next hotel. Are we having fun yet?

To get Guac back to Isla, it necessitated a ride on an airplane. We arrived at the airport, lined up for the check-in, and had a lot of giggles with the security people as they first of all decided whether or not Guac should be patted down, or if he even could be shipped.  

The decision was to get him double-wrapped by the baggage-wrapping guys, and the airline would ship him.  It took two guys twenty minutes to wrap and re-wrap this awkward piece. Around, and around, up and down, and start over again.  

Finally, done. Then we waited patiently at the windows of the airport, keeping an eye out for Guac. There he is! On the baggage cart. Okay, we can board the plane now.  

(What?  Wouldn’t you abandon your flight plans if your macaw didn’t make the flight?)

In Cancun, Guac arrived just fine, sliding off the baggage carousel in good condition.  

Next was the ADO bus ride into Cancun, with Guac stuffed under the bus in the baggage compartment, then another taxi ride from the bus depot to the UltraMar boats.  

At the ferry docks, we were greeted by family members Richard, Linda, Richard, and Karen, who coincidentally were waiting for the arrival of four more Canadian friends.  They gave us a ride home, and then returned to meet the next boat with Chuck and Marcy, Robyn and Al, plus stacks of luggage, and a very relieved dog named Sombra. 

By the time we got the bird, Guac, to our house, he had been in five taxis, one airplane, a bus, and a boat, plus a car.  

Next time you are passing our house, come and say hi to the most expensive bird in the world, our guacamaya named Guac that we bought in Guadalajara.

Hasta luego

Lynda & Lawrie

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