Dana had asked me where I wanted to go on our three day weekend, and I had no idea. After all, when you have been 'collecting' states for the past fifteen years, and have a full set, where do you go? We spent a little bit of time 'surfing' to find some 'deals', and not getting anywhere. It got to the point to where I felt as if I had been on a long journey with no sleep! When did booking a vacation leave you needing two vacations! I planned for a weekend at home. After all, I had just spent the entire week complaining about jet lag ......!
My long suffering husband was not about to give up. I had mentioned a few places I would like to see, one of them being Savannah, Georgia. I had always heard how beautifully colonial it was and how the views were spectacular. Perhaps this was our chance to explore. However, there was a hurricane looming and all sites with trips to the East Coast were accompanied by warnings that there may be disruption. Now was not the time to go in that direction.
"I booked to go to Denver!" I was told on Thursday morning. We had already returned to the hotel once, and knew that the weekend would be relaxing, and the food would be good. Dana didn't want to do 'too' much, and I was happy not to do too much exploring. Why was Savannah an option, you may well ask!
The warning signs were there from the beginning. I called the airline, to get a 'confirmation' number so that I could secure seats, and noticed that the return flight on Monday was in the evening, and we would not be arriving back in Austin until midnight! Dana was not amused. The airline could not help as we booked through a third party, and the third party could not help as they did not 'control' the airlines. The trip was cancelled. The trip was re booked! I called the airline again. I received another confirmation number and secured seats together, as those we had been given were about as far apart from each other as the trip distance itself!
Our trip started quite nicely. We arrived at Austin, parked the car (albeit at the furthest point from the terminal) and strode through the 'pre' line. The flight had been delayed but there was enough time to make our connection. We had both been upgraded to first class and were still sitting together. It was a short flight to Houston. However, once on board and taxiing to the runway, the plane took a 'left turn' out of the line for take off. It appears that because we were delayed, we were going to have to 'give way' to others in the queue, who were 'punctual'. Calculating the time, we would still make our flight, but others were starting to panic. Eventually, we took off and arrived in Houston at terminal 'E'. Our next flight was out of C41. I started to march. Dana found it hard to keep up with me! The gates went in reverse order. Gates 1-15, started with 15. Gates 15-25 started with gate 25. Gates 26 to 41 started with 26! Of course! We reached the gate just in time and were among the last to board. A lady came up behind us, puffing and gasping for breath. "I just ran from C11. Y'all just made it too!" Again, we had been upgraded so there was enough baggage space, and our seats were comfortable. The doors closed, we backed out and waited. "Um, folks, this is the captain. Um. We have a slight problem. One of the sparks is not firing so we can't start the left engine. We shall have to return to the gate, and see if we can't get this fixed". Surprisingly enough, I was very calm. I did not scream "Get me off this plane". Instead, again surprisingly enough, I hoped they could remedy the problem. At one time I would not have trusted a 'fix', but my trip in the two seater gave me a sense of perspective. At least I think it did! The captain came back over the tannoy to tell us that they were not sure if we would have to deplane, but as soon as the flight crew put on their jackets, it was 'all she wrote' for me and I knew we were going to have to get off. Dana told me to be patient, and wait to be told. They could probably fix it. "Um, folks. We are going to have to deplane!", said the captain.
We sat for a few minutes at the gate before being told that a 'new' plane was waiting for us at Gate C11. A muffled sound from somewhere was heard. "No!" I knew from whom it was being cried! We all set off towards the new gate. Part way along the walk, phones started to 'ping'. The message said that we were getting on a new plane at C41. Those of us who received the text stopped and looked in confusion. Everyone else continued to walk. However, like robots, we all read the message, and stood still. It appeared the message was badly worded, and the new plane was at gate C11. Waiting to board, we sat patiently.
The plane was identical so we sat in our comfortable seats, and I ordered a Disaronno on the rocks. After all, I was on holiday! I took out my kindle, and connected to the airplane wifi, and reluctantly started to watch the only film that was remotely appealing, 'Mary Poppins Returns'. I had resisted watching due to my total devotion to the 'one and only' Poppins, namely 'the one and only' Julie Andrews. I felt thoroughly disloyal, and mostly disappointed as the plane flew from Texas to Colorado, as I was enjoying the film more than I could have imagined, despite my reservations. I consoled myself with the fact it was not a remake.
After a very smooth and enjoyable flight, having been relaxed by the 'liquid marzipan' tasting beverage, we deplaned, again, and went in search of the bus to take us to the car hire facility. We waited, and waited. "Be along in a minute", we were told when asking another bus driver if they knew when our bus would come. "Oh, they close at midnight", said another. Stranded at the airport, we weighed up our options. I would still turn to Julie Andrew's Mary for an answer, as I was not far enough in to see what 'Emily' would do! Our options were few. "Perhaps we should get on a bus and go to a hire facility to see if they have a car?" I suggested. Why we got on the bus to Avis, I have no idea. Much as I am sure it is a very well run organisation, we have always experienced a disappointment when booking a car through the company. With about fifty people in front of us and three people manning the desks, the wait was going to be very long. I strode to the front, and walked up to the representative who had just become 'free', causing gasps from waiting patrons. "What is the chance of getting a car if we have not booked?" I asked. I think it was the sneer, and the (perceived - without prejudice) look of 'You stupid woman', that caused offense, but I remained at the desk smiling and waited for an answer. When he saw that the sneer and perceived look of 'what are you still doing here', did not work, he responded with a "Duh. Virtually none!" Enough said. No, I did not get his name, but my preferences for car hire companies have definitely been reduced by one!
Standing in the dark, outside the main building, wondering, "What now", I saw a bus sitting at the 'preferred' customer site. "Going back to the airport?" he asked. An angel I perceived, as he was an answer to my silent prayer. After all, why would he be going back to a closed airport, when all flights were in, and no one would be wanting to travel to or from the building. The driver was quite chatty, and sympathetic. He could not help us, but dropped us off at the main entrance, and suggested we get a taxi. I called the hotel to see if they had a shuttle, or a suggestion. After having a slight disagreement with the receptionist over the fact that my preference was not an Uber or Lyft, as I preferred a vehicle that was actually insured to take passengers, and I could not be thoroughly convinced that either of the former would be able to provide me with such, and I was sure I would not be 'ripped off' by someone who could provide me safe passage, she suggested I go into the airport building and ask someone where I could hire such a vehicle. As it happens, three drivers were on the 'rank' just about to 'call it a night'. Dana asked how much the journey would be, and the driver replied with an estimate and then those four little words that mean so much to me, as an ex-licensed London cabbie, "Whatever the meter says!" Security!
We arrived at the hotel a little after 2:30 am, went to our room, and I was asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
Breakfast was delightful, with a wonderful buffet, and omelettes
Usually, I am not a fan of being 'stuck' in a hotel room with nothing to do but watch television and check emails, but after a busy week and the 'jet lag' syndrome, I was not complaining. I had the option of swimming, or going to the hotel gym (which is the only time I go to a gym!) but I chose not to do so. Instead, I relaxed. A totally novel idea! Relax on holiday! Eventually, the travel company called back. We could go to the airport, (they would pay for a taxi,) and get a bus to the car hire facility, but they could not promise a car, as the one we ordered was for yesterday. That was not an option, in my opinion. They could not arrange a car to be brought to us, despite the promise of some companies to do just that. In fact, the option of a car was dwindling. Why? "It's the hurricane". I sat, eyes wide open, with the same look of contempt that the guy at Avis had for me. "You stupid woman", I said not, but I was thinking it. (The difference was that she could not see me!) "What hurricane?", I asked. "Dorian", was the response. "Oh! The one that is devastating the Bahamas (and please believe me when I say my prayers and compassion are very much with those people) but is stalled, and has not made it to the coast, any coast, of the USA as of yet?" The answer was a simple, "Yes". We were in Colorado. A land locked state, that despite experiencing tornadoes, would with almost a 100% of certainty, not be affected by a storm that is on course to possibly (and I use the words used by weathermen) hit the Floridian coast on the day we leave! "But it's a bad storm", was the response. Perhaps I am not a meteorologist, but even with my geographically challenged mind, hurricanes may affect people emotionally 2,000 miles away, but would not cause structural damage or local disruption. Would they? Obviously, I was wrong!
However, our weekend was not to be ruined by not having a car, and we were grateful for not being in a place that was suffering devastation. We had a secure roof over our head, and luxury at our fingertips. After watching a film, we took a leisurely walk across to the restaurant where we planned to have dinner, and booked a table. We then sat in another restaurant where we ordered a couple of appetizers and fruit lemonade, being entertained by two divorced females on the next table, vying for whom had suffered through the worst marriage! Neither were looking for a new husband, but had decided that 'carbs' were off the menu, 'just in case'. I wondered if 'sit-com' writers come to restaurants for inspiration! Dana and I would, no doubt, provide entertainment for some witty scriptwriter! Or perhaps we would be in the dramatic soap opera category! If you can't laugh at yourself....!
'Happy hour' was definitely that for me! One glass of white wine, and I felt as light as a feather! "Hello, I heard the English accent", I said to the couple whom I had heard at breakfast, and spotted sitting just across from us in the bar area. "Hello", said the female. I launched into my schpeil of how I live in Texas, been there for fifteen years, ears attuned to English accents, etc etc, and the male of the couple nodded and said, "I can imagine". They were on holiday. They had arrived in Denver yesterday, were going through Utah and on to El Paso, where they had friends". After my glass of wine, my words were not necessarily coherent, and definitely not in the right order! I wished them a pleasant stay, and when the husband said "Cheerio", I thanked him! Why? I was waiting for them to say, "You too", and did not listen long enough to answer correctly! Our room had not been cleaned when we returned. In fact, the sign that said 'Please clean the room', had been taken from the door and thrown into the room. I found this to be somewhat amusing, no doubt due to my intoxicated state. After a long soak in a very deep bath, I felt as light headed as ever, and danced across to the restaurant, where I feasted on bison steak! It was delicious, and several glasses of water later, I felt somewhat less inebriated. We walked back to the hotel, and I told the front desk about the room having not been cleaned. I was very pleasant and they were most apologetic. I told them that all I required was clean towels. We could make the bed ourselves. I saw no reason for legalism! We returned to our room and a little while later there was a knock at the door. A 'chamber maid' was standing holding enough towels for a week! I rolled and folded them, and put them in the appropriate place, as per the original set
The nice surprise that we had been upgraded for our return trip occurred on Sunday morning before breakfast. We headed downstairs, and printed off our tickets. The restaurant was busy but only two people were on duty. They were finding it hard to keep up with the demand of the morning, but only one person was heard to complain. The rest of us appeared to have compassion on their plight. "I wonder why they only have two people on today?" said Dana. "Perhaps its the hurricane", I responded. Although there was no omelette station, breakfast was a feast and we enjoyed it. We went to order a 'shuttle' to take us to the airport the following day, and I mentioned about the two wait staff being the only two on duty. "Oh I am so sorry about that", said the receptionist, looking terrified. I told her that the only reason I mentioned it was to say they were doing a phenomenal job and should be congratulated. Surprise hit her face like the sun coming out after a storm. No complaint? Wow!
The rest of the day was as relaxing as the previous day, albeit we did not have to wait for phone calls to tell us that we were not going to be mobile. It mattered not. We enjoyed a walk and booked our table for our evening meal, and sauntered back to the hotel. The room had been cleaned, and the dirty towels removed. Also removed were the excess towels, and we had a full, but not surplus compliment! Once again, we went to 'happy hour'. Noticing my struggle to finish the wine in my glass the previous evening, Dana had asked for the beverage to be put in a 'smaller' glass. It was. It was poured into a brandy glass, but the volume was the same. The bar staff were slightly bemused by his request, but did not argue. "Less wine, not a smaller glass", I suggested he request another time. I had no problem finishing the drink, but once again, was not in a state to operate machinery, including the buttons in the lift! Thankfully, my husband was sober, and pressed the correct buttons, leaving me to contemplate why my method had not worked!Once again, dinner was superb. Having eaten a larger steak than I would normally, (bison is less 'condensed') we headed back and packed for our return trip. We were going to have to get up early and as breakfast started at 5:30, this gave us enough time to eat before departure.
There were several people eating an early breakfast on Monday morning. The staff were plentiful, as was the food served an hour before dawn. When finished, we had leisurely trip to the airport which made a nice change. Not having to return a car and wait for a bus was quite the delight. After negotiating security, separately, as I was 'pre' and Dana was not, we headed for our gate. The journey home was most pleasant. I continued to watch Mary Poppins Returns, and was as disappointed when it came to the end, as I was in myself for having thoroughly enjoyed it. Should I see what Julie had to say?
I spent the afternoon by the pool, swimming, reading, and sleeping, before my neighbour arrived with his extended family. It was a pleasant afternoon, and watching the kids in the water was somewhat of a reminder that unstructured leisure time can be fun! I did not miss not having a car, and the weekend was definitely more relaxing than usual! Perhaps forced relaxation was the ticket!
Returning to work on Tuesday was not the ordeal that it was the Friday nearly a fortnight previously. Although we did not get home until quite late, I felt rather refreshed, and ready to face the world the next day, or at least the barrage of phone calls that came through.
The week went by very quickly, and the trip was soon filed away in my memory library. I did find out that Julie Andrews refused a 'cameo' in the 'Poppins' movie as she did not want to 'overshadow' the 'new recruit'. I felt somewhat better. If Julie could be so gracious, then so could I! Emily Blunt was brilliant! Julie will always be Mary, and the 'one and only', but close seconds are permitted, and Emily could be Mary too! My weekend could now be categorized as 'practically perfect'!
Into September we roll, and the weathermen have promised that the temperatures will drop to the mid nineties this week. It will be most welcome! We talked about future trips, but they will be a long way off, and we still have to get some ''practical' things solved in our condo, so for the time being, everything will be put on hold! Having a weekend guest made our leaking shower a priority. No, it still has not been repaired but we have the luxury of two! I know we are a couple of months away from Thanksgiving, but I am thanksgiving everyday for duplicates!
Life continues in the world of this Englishwoman abroad, and all that sail 'with' her! Interesting or not, I shall be here next week, with ....... another story!
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