Heading North Again

Tomorrow, we will be flying north to Ohio again.  The primary reason behind this trip will be to attend my high school reunion, as well as give my Christmas cards to a friend so that they can be sent out after Thanksgiving.  During the two weeks that we are there, I have tried to schedule visits with as many friends as possible, but unfortunately in twelve days I couldn't fit everyone in.  As it is, every day is booked with social engagements.

My suitcases are packed.  The yellow one is filled with gifts to take to friends; the blue one with clothes.  Today, all I have left to do is pack my carry-on backpack, and check-in online.

When I booked the flights, once again I was able to find a round trip, first/business class fare at an excellent price... around $850.  And incredibly, it cost less than "economy plus".  The schedule is not too bad.  We leave Mexico City in the late morning, fly to Houston, and arrive in Cleveland at night.  Coming home we will have to be at Cleveland airport in the wee hours of the morning for an early flight, but we will be in Mexico City in the early afternoon.  Both going and returning we have layovers of around three hours... long enough so that I don't have to worry much about missed connections, but not an excessive amount of time.

My biggest worry was that I would receive permission to leave the country in time for the trip.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I am in the process of applying for my permanent Mexican residency visa.  While that application is going through, I cannot leave the country without a special document from the government.  I hired an immigration lawyer to handle it for me, and yesterday the document was delivered to me.  The paper has to be stamped by Mexican immigration at the airport before departure, and then stamped again when I return to Mexico.  Then, within ten days of my return I have to hand in the document at the Mexican immigration headquarters.  I am hoping that by the time I return, my permanent visa will have been approved, and I will not have to deal with this bureaucracy ever again.