Kicked out of Guatemala.

In this amusing game of chutes and ladders that we call life, I just landed on a big 'ol chute.

I went to the Immigration offices today (pause for the groans of anyone anywhere who has ever had to go to an Immigration office for any reason.) My visa was about to expire, so I went to request an extension.

The irony is that I couldn't stop my visa from expiring because my Visa had expired.

Long (admittedly boring) story short: in order to request an extension, you need to present a credit card. Somehow this proves to the powers-that-be that you are financially sound enough to remain in Guatemala for another 90 days.

The problem is that my Visa card had expired last week. Sure, the new card had arrived in NY and had been activated by my sister (who is no doubt using it to shop on Ebay as we speak.) Sure, the only difference between the card that I held in my hand and the card in NY is that the other has "08" in the expiration date. Sure, I tried to explain this to the zombie-like bureaucrat behind the glass...

So now I have to leave the country. In order to renew my visa I have to hightail it across the border for 3 days. I have chosen El Salvador as my migra-imposed place of exile.

The funny part is... I have no idea where I'm going! I've asked a friend of mine to drop me at the border and then I'll "wing it" from there. I figure that as long as I have my camera, a good book, and a sense of adventure, I'll be fine.

Looks like I'm taking some vacation days after all!