I’m always up for a good rollercoaster, but I didn’t expect such a wild one this weekend in Guatemala. 

Good news:  We planned our third weekend trip to the jewel city of Central America, Antigua.  This time the main purpose was for learning Spanish (although, “coincidentally” Antigua is also a place where we know we can access ABC for ND away games).  We booked 2 mornings of private lessons at the school San Jose el Viejo, which is also where we stayed for 2 nights.  After school on Friday, our private shuttle was early and ready to roll.

Bad news:  The school’s buses did not run because of the horrible traffic.

Good news:  Our driver knows a shortcut and we make great time considering…

Bad news:  We find the restaurant listed number one in our guide book, but we are literally the only ones there.  Judging by the 3 tortilla chips brought to the table, I’m gonna leave hungry.

Good news:  The portions aren’t exactly “Cheesecake Factory-esque,” but the food is great and the bread pudding and almond truffle desserts are amazing.

Even better news:  Bill = $22

Bad news:  I have to wake up early on a Saturday, and the game isn’t until 7:00 at night.

Good news:  We go to my favorite Bagel/Coffee shop for breakfast.  Sarah has never liked coffee, but vowed to give arguably the best coffee in the world a shot.  She had been holding out for this moment when she knew it was definitely the “good stuff.”  Her first sip turned into her first of 3 big cups over the weekend.  There’s suddenly big-time hope for a wanna-be coffee drinker.  We must now look into importing Antigua coffee to the states, since we can only carry so much in our suitcases.

Bad news:  Spanish lessons start and I’ve got a long way to go.

Good news:  4 hours of lessons fly by speaking only Spanish… or some semblance of.

Bad news:  A beautiful clear day turns into dreary rain. 

Good news:  We trudge along on a mission to take advantage of Antigua’s countless adventure travel agencies.  We find and plan some AMAZING trips and pencil in a plan for every break from school we have.

Bad news:  My stalling technique wears out and Sarah wants to shop.  Market here we come.

Good news:  20 minutes until kickoff.  We head to our favorite American sports bar, The Mono Loco (Crazy Monkey) and “ABC East” is available on the satellite listing.  The owner is obviously from Boston (see picture).

Crushing News:  ABC East is not picking up a signal.  Only ABC West is working with the USC/AZ game.

Good News:  We have hope.  The bartender says another bar might have it.  We take off, but buy some phone cards on the way in case we have to resort to calling home to get the play-by-play from experienced football announcer GOC (my dad).

“Praise God” News:  The bartender at “Reds” puts on the game.  He gives me a dirty look when I kiss his hand, but I don’t care.

Bad News:  The Irish are already down 7-0.

Good News:  The bar also has food.

Bad News:  I can only taste mayo on my “Parmesan, Peppered Chicken Sandwich,” and the salad tastes like it’s imported from the states.  Also, loud-mouth Florida State/Anti-ND fan at the end of the bar starts yapping.

“I’m gonna throw up” News:  Not from the food:  The Irish are down 17-0 at the end of the first quarter.  Also, they show a clip of the always dignified MSU coach discussing the disrespectful flag incident.  Given the chance apologize for his players planting their flag in the middle of ND Stadium’s field after a win, Smith said, “The only thing I was upset about was that they couldn’t even do that right and hit the 50-yard-line.”  Doesn’t he just fit right in with those classy Big Ten coaches?

Good news:  Rhema McKnight makes a leaping TD catch that his buddy Big Mo Stovall must have taught him.

Bad news:  Brady Quinn’s INT returned for TD was the worst pass he’s ever thrown, even worse than when Diedrick was his coach.  Then, already down 17, Weis makes the ludicrous, irresponsible call to go for it on 4^th down from his own 37.

Good news:  A play-action pass results in 30 yards and leads to a TD.  Genius call.

Bad news:  Spartans take 31-14 halftime lead.

Great News:  During halftime I notice a pirate in a red suit peeking at me from around the corner of a bar shelf.  It’s my first Captain sighting in Guate.  Things are about to turn around!  Sure enough, Irish show life in the third quarter with bomb to Carlson.

Bad News:  Two MSU grads walk into the bar.  Zbikowski drops the punt.

Good News:  He picks it up and goes the distance!

Bad News:  TD called back, refs call holding on #10… that’s Brady who, of course, wasn’t on the field.  Somewhat of a desperate move by Quinn, and he got caught.

Good News:  Down by 17, in a driving rainstorm I think of a brilliant plan to make an offering to the Cotton Bowl gods by eating some chicken soup to invoke the fuel/spirit of the Montana-led greatest of ND comebacks. 

Bad News:  No soup on the menu.

Good News:  Wet, sloppy third quarter comes to a close.  Brady has trouble passing against the wind and hanging on to the snap, but at least we will have the wind at our backs in the fourth quarter.

Scary News:  The monsoon does a complete 180 and is in our faces again!  Is Allah angry with the Pope’s comments?

Euphoric news:  You know the rest.  Ara Parseghian stops the rain, the Irish D makes up for 2 early Irish turnovers, and Brady and company return to form.  19 points in 5 minutes make it 40-37 Irish.  Local Guatemalans had never seen a gringo do the Irish jig on top of a bar, but there’s a first for everything.

Bad news:  Sarah makes me buy the Michigan State grad a drink for celebrating too much.  We head back to the school and “ESPN Deportes” has only soccer highlights!

Good news:  We cover a ton of Spanish in 4 hours on Sunday.

Bad news:  We go to Mass and can’t understand a word.

Ending on a good note:  We head back to the city and touch base with family to discuss the big comeback.  I’m always grateful for how sports can bond and link people together (more on this subject later).  Being a continent away and missing home, it’s awesome to think about my grandma jumping up and down in her living room at the same moment we are dancing around a bar in Guatemala (along with many family/friends from Indiana to Denver and fans around the world)…. well, that is, all except for Sarah’s dad who actually gave up on the Irish and went to bed, missing the comeback!  Two questions for Chet:  1 - did he go to confession on Sunday morning? And 2 – did he at least eat some chicken soup before turning out the lights?