Day 1 - the local language is actually clicks, whistles, and sign language

Our flight left pearson 45 minutes late, we watched zorro (crap) and Corpse Bride (awesome). We arrived at night in the Venezuelan airport of Porlamar on the Island of Margarita, and we are not disappointed. Quite to the contrary. It was comical how when we got into the small terminal we were immediately surrounded by cigarette smoke. It wafted into our noses from over half of the passengers which had accompanied us on the plane, now standing around looking like smoke stacks and volcanoes. We thought this was a little disrespectful since the captain had announced smoking was only allowed in designated areas, but I suppose that was a formality – the Hispanic customs agent leaning casually against the x-ray machine had a butt dangling lazily from his fingers as he eyed the passing crowd rather than their belongings. We were directed in an organized way to a waiting Mercedes bus and we got on. The roads are wide and developed here, and our first impression of the people is that they are friendly, polite, and organized. It was a relief not to have to be the one controlling the wheel for once, and to enjoy the scenery even though it was mostly black. It's dark by 6:30 11 degrees from the equator. Our accommodation (the tropical refuge as it is called) is incredible. It is an earthy, modest complex of adobe buildings, nicely landscaped around pools, grass and palm trees. It has a very rustic feel to it, as many of the windows are barred with bamboo trunks, rather than a big hotel feel. So far we feel that the price we paid to get here was a great deal, but that remains to be seen! A Venezuelan who spoke zero English but smiled all the time led us to our room and left us there. After we removed two extra tenants from our bathroom (HUGE crickets) and welcomed another (Jorge the gecko who lives under the lamp outside our front door) we were settled in. A quick walk around the property left us thoroughly impressed, and we are going to head to bed to get some sleep. We are excited for whatever tomorrow might bring.