We knew our trip was in trouble when we got to the airport and found out we weren't sitting together. The flight was oversold so we were left to beg someone to give up their seat - which they ultimately did. Okay - not bad.
We get to DC, pick up the rental car which came equipped with an "EZ Pass" which automatically pays for all toll roads so you can drive through the fast toll booth. Uh huh. I'll get back to you on that one. We then go and eat at one of our favorite restaurants before driving to our hotel. This is where you add one of three pounds I gained during the trip.
The GPS on my phone got us to our hotel but it was not helpful in finding a parking place underneath it. The parking is always challenging in DC but this underground garage was particularly difficult. Unless you are driving a smart car, bicycle or mini cooper you can forget trying to get between the two massive pillars that give you two inches on each side. Luckily we made it into a spot after driving in circles for 20 minutes. By this time we began our day at 4:00am San Diego time and it is now 10pm EST.
We drag our suitcases to the lobby and begin the check-in. The first clue something was wrong was when the desk clerk repeatedly asked our name while furiously clicking keys on the computer and simultaneously shaking his head. He finally said "could you wait just a moment please....and went into the back room. When he came back I offered him our confirmation number and after a few more clicks on the computer we were informed that we were in the wrong hotel.
We schlep our bags back down to the dungeon parking lot, get into the rental car and punch the coordinates into the GPS.
My GPS to our next hotel has us driving in circles - stupid GPS. We finally stop and ask a security guard in a parking lot if he could help us find the Embassy Suites Hotel. He gives us a funny look and points ---wait for it ---ACROSS THE STREET.
This time we pull in the front of the hotel, check-in and then drive into the underground garage before unloading the luggage. Finally happy that we have a room key in our hands we take the elevator up to the lobby where you have to then transfer to the hotel elevator. Our first stop from the garage elevator has the manager standing waiting for us, saying "so sorry Mr. & Mrs. B. we made a mistake....my heart palpations begin....we gave you the wrong keys to the wrong room. He then runs off to get us new keys. We finally get in our room and collapse.
Sunday morning we wake up at 11am and decide to go to breakfast at another favorite. The weather is cold and windy outside. We wait about 30 minutes to be seated...and then we are seated in front of the door between patio and restaurant seating. The door opens every 5 seconds and the wind takes my breath away. Can't enjoy breakfast because I am trying to keep my circulation going so as not to get frostbite or hypothermia. Some people are dining outside - without coats on! I am so San Diego spoiled.
After breakfast we move on to shopping (ahhh my favorite) now I will warm up. We stop at one mall where my husband had seen some shirts he wanted so we went back to get them. Mission accomplished - no incidents. We then planned to drive to "the Plains". The Plains is in the beautiful countryside in Virginia, west of DC where they have a quaint town with some little shops we like. Their most famous resident, Robert Duvall, lives there. We get to our destination and realize it's Sunday and everything closes early. We now have 30 minutes until all the shops close. I go into hyper-supersonic shopping mode and believe it or not, I make every store and find a cute jacket to boot.
Back at the hotel I can't get used to the time change and get to sleep around 3am.
Monday morning - 6am (3am San Diego time) spring break kids are outside our window waiting on their bus for their tour of Washington DC. Very loud and very annoying. I am not destined to get anymore sleep.
So off to work for the husband I decide to walk to the Pentagon City Mall. Nice little walk, nice weather, what could go wrong? Did some shopping and was getting into the groove, when the bus pulls in and unloads another group of rowdy springbreak kids. Shouldn't they be at the Smithonian? Shouldn't I? Time to go.
Tuesday we decide to go to dinner. We have to drive where there are toll roads. Oh good we have an EZ Pass. As we go through the toll booth the electronic eye shows red for "Toll Not Paid". Okay, you probably could see that coming. We then proceed to go through all the tolls and pay cash knowing a big ticket is already in the mail.
We return to our hotel and are riding the elevator up from the garage when...it gets stuck. We are trapped with Michael Correlone from New York who is busy cursing our bad luck while I am ringing the bell to tell people we are trapped. Finally the hotel staff releases us from our unfortunate circumstance. Michael gives the management a piece of his New York mind. We just laugh and are glad we are in the right hotel. Forget about it.
Wednesday is a big day. We have dinner reservations at our all time favorite restaurant in the U.S. - The Inn At Little Washington. Everything goes as planned, wonderful dinner, wonderful night. There must be a price to be paid for this.
Thursday is going back home day. Going to the airport, early as usual, the husband must be in the gate area no later than two hours prior to the flight. So we start out leisurely enough, have lunch, then go to gas up the car before returning it - BIG traffic accident stops traffic to a grinding halt. We slowly get through that, and make it to the airport and the gate with only one hour to spare - WHEW!!
Again not sitting together, have to bribe someone, it works but...crying baby in the row in front and a crying baby in the row behind. Pass me the headphones - I'll watch the movie. Oh God - It's the new Tron - decide after a few minutes its easier to listen to babies cry. What was Jeff Bridges thinking?
Back on the ground in San Diego - I kiss the ground and then everything starts to go right. Our luggage comes off first, our shuttle to the parking lot pulls up just as we get there and our drive home is a breeze.
To quote a famous little girl from Kansas "there's no place like home".
HAP"BEE" EASTER
