This morning, I flew to Guatemala, where Nico is competing with Team USA in an international friendly amputee soccer tournament. By the time I cleared immigration and obtained a rental car (I had to wait an hour for my pre-booked car to be available), I missed the first game against Costa Rica, which ended in a scoreless tie. The playing field is somewhat less than optimal, if I am being kind. Technically, it is grass-covered, but the surface is rock-hard, with many undulations making the motion of the ball over it entirely unpredictable. That, combined with smaller-than-regulation-sized goals, led to the lack of scoring. Apparently, the US dominated shots on goal by a wide margin, but the inconsistent field surface made accurate passing and shooting very difficult.

I arrived in time for the second match against Honduras, during which the US adjusted its tactics to favor possession and patience on the ball until a high-percentage shot was available. The strategy paid off with a 7-0 win. Nico had 1 goal and assisted on several others. Pictured above, he is able to just beat the keeper to the ball, flicking it over his head to a teammate behind him who tapped it in for the goal.

Below is a view from the lobby of the Tikal Futura Hotel, where I am staying for the weekend. I generally prefer to avoid such high-end hotels in favor of basic accommodations. I’d rather spend money on reaching more destinations. In this case, however, its proximity to the soccer venue and high security ruled the choice. In this area of Guatemala City, tourists are advised not to walk around the streets after dark. Nico and the team are staying in dormitories at the school that is hosting the tournament, and I was not permitted to join him there.