This trip seemed to gather a life if its own. It started with an invitation to be a journalist for ten days at the World Youth Pairs Bridge tournament in Atlanta.
Having had a taste of Mexico last trip I decided to take a side trip for twelve days to Playa Del Carmen. And for fifteen years I have wanted to do an Alaskan Cruise, so before I blinked it became a six week trip.
Countering that however is that I will be working for two weeks in Bali just 11 days after I get back from this trip and I don't foreshadow much overseas travel (maybe one in May next year) before my sixtieth birthday fest in August 2014. Luckily there isn't a bible near me right now!
The day before I left I visited the granddaughters and had some regrets about how long I was going to be away as I am starting to connect at each of them and am enjoying them on my knees and in my arms.
Anyway after playing poker with the airlines for six weeks over the cost of the trip - I was a small loser in this game - the day arrived. I packed two weeks ago and repacked a few times including a change of suitcase on the morning of departure and get to the airport to be greeted by a phone call that Sybil (mother-in-law) has fallen and broken her hip. I make some calls but luckily Justin takes up the role of liaison officer for this emergency and it seems she is being operated on forthwith and is well and in good spirits.
I was entitled to Economy Plus but because my frequent flyer number wasn't recorded when I booked I could only get a middle seat so I keep my economy window seat and board the shitty forty year old very tired looking jumbo jet with no private screens and equally old and tired looking cabin crew.
For many years now I have taken my own entertainment on board flights so you can only imagine the frustration of opening my iPad to be greeted by "your AnyHd player did not update try again" so all my shows and movies on my iPad and no way to watch them. Farking Hell!!!! Guess this isn't covered by travel insurance :-).
So up up and away. I am in LA for two days three nights and will have dinner with my friend David, and just relax to break my journey. The stopover was necessitated by the accommodation costing less than travelling three days later. Speaking of accommodation that sector has certainly recovered from the GFC.. I am staying at a reasonable airport hotel (Radisson) for $117 a night with a car (essential in LA) for $30 a day as all the Downtown and Hollywood hotels start at $250. Three years ago you could get those same hotels for $120 a night. But it is peak season!!
Well I'll settle back and listen to music and sleep for the next thirteen hours.
A sleeping pill and eight hours sleep and I wake up feeling really rested and with just three hours to go before landing this was a good flight.
Arrival, immigration and customs not too painful. I wait fifteen minutes for the car rental shuttle only to then watch one drive straight past the pickup point. Those who know me can only imagine the effect on me. Fark them I head to the hotel and cancel my booking deciding that I only need a car for one day so I make another booking - not surprisingly with another company.
Check in to the hotel, a shower, check emails for Sybil's progress (operated on and all well and in good spirits) and a relaxation with no plans for the rest of the day. My friend David may stop in on the way home from work for dinner at the hotel which has quite a nice restaurant (eaten there before).
Well nothing more as I post my opening gambit.
Hope all are well
D
Having had a taste of Mexico last trip I decided to take a side trip for twelve days to Playa Del Carmen. And for fifteen years I have wanted to do an Alaskan Cruise, so before I blinked it became a six week trip.
Countering that however is that I will be working for two weeks in Bali just 11 days after I get back from this trip and I don't foreshadow much overseas travel (maybe one in May next year) before my sixtieth birthday fest in August 2014. Luckily there isn't a bible near me right now!
The day before I left I visited the granddaughters and had some regrets about how long I was going to be away as I am starting to connect at each of them and am enjoying them on my knees and in my arms.
Anyway after playing poker with the airlines for six weeks over the cost of the trip - I was a small loser in this game - the day arrived. I packed two weeks ago and repacked a few times including a change of suitcase on the morning of departure and get to the airport to be greeted by a phone call that Sybil (mother-in-law) has fallen and broken her hip. I make some calls but luckily Justin takes up the role of liaison officer for this emergency and it seems she is being operated on forthwith and is well and in good spirits.
I was entitled to Economy Plus but because my frequent flyer number wasn't recorded when I booked I could only get a middle seat so I keep my economy window seat and board the shitty forty year old very tired looking jumbo jet with no private screens and equally old and tired looking cabin crew.
For many years now I have taken my own entertainment on board flights so you can only imagine the frustration of opening my iPad to be greeted by "your AnyHd player did not update try again" so all my shows and movies on my iPad and no way to watch them. Farking Hell!!!! Guess this isn't covered by travel insurance :-).
So up up and away. I am in LA for two days three nights and will have dinner with my friend David, and just relax to break my journey. The stopover was necessitated by the accommodation costing less than travelling three days later. Speaking of accommodation that sector has certainly recovered from the GFC.. I am staying at a reasonable airport hotel (Radisson) for $117 a night with a car (essential in LA) for $30 a day as all the Downtown and Hollywood hotels start at $250. Three years ago you could get those same hotels for $120 a night. But it is peak season!!
Well I'll settle back and listen to music and sleep for the next thirteen hours.
A sleeping pill and eight hours sleep and I wake up feeling really rested and with just three hours to go before landing this was a good flight.
Arrival, immigration and customs not too painful. I wait fifteen minutes for the car rental shuttle only to then watch one drive straight past the pickup point. Those who know me can only imagine the effect on me. Fark them I head to the hotel and cancel my booking deciding that I only need a car for one day so I make another booking - not surprisingly with another company.
Check in to the hotel, a shower, check emails for Sybil's progress (operated on and all well and in good spirits) and a relaxation with no plans for the rest of the day. My friend David may stop in on the way home from work for dinner at the hotel which has quite a nice restaurant (eaten there before).
Well nothing more as I post my opening gambit.
Hope all are well
D
