Start with the End.

The past few trips we've done, I kept written notes.  Not a journal - that's soo college.  As a matter of fact, I write manifestos.  If you've been lucky enough to have travelled with us, you already know this.  If not, then you are probably hoping we'll invite you on our next one, just so you can read what I scribble down.
I will tell you one tidbit I wrote in caps: "START WITH THE END."  It's a warning to myself to plan all trips starting on the last day of the journey.

As such, I made sure that our departure taxes and tourist tax fee for Mexico have already been paid.  When I added Shane to our itinerary, the airline assured me that Shane's was paid as well.  This made me check my visa bill - because I know that airlines say the opposite of what they mean to say.  It's not their fault, they just live in opposite land.  I can see from the lack of a charge that I will also have to set aside the cash funds for him.

You might be wondering: "How could they tax an  infant who weighs less than carry on luggage?"  Trust me, they do.  Costa Rica nailed us for Logan.  I'm taking advice from Dubya: "Fool me twice, shame on me."  I only pay fees in U.S. funds.  Dubya would like this too.

Also, we packed a duffle bag filled with our winter clothes. The bag will come with our parents when they  pick us up in the dead of winter at the airport. We will enjoy watching those other people at Pearson with flip flops and their Senor Frogs shirts as they exit the terminal and freeze.  Clearly they were not invited to read this travel blog.