Christmas Magic: Travel Day
Packing
This is my first time flying to a cruise so I’m going to have to figure out how to go from the 30-inch monstrosity I call a suitcase and the 19-inch pack that makes it look like my back is expecting twins to my new air travel friendly 21-inch suitcase and 13-inch backpack.
I’m also going to try attempt to stay within the weight limit that will allow me to avoid incurring additional charges. I believe that is 40lbs on this particular airline.
I have no idea how many lbs I’ve been rolling on these cruises. As long as the porter can get it on the cart, I feel like I’m good. I just make the the tip commensurate with how loud he grunts when he lifts the beast.
When shopping for my new luggage I wasn’t sure if I should go down to a 25-inch suitcase or a 21-inch suitcase. When I found this deal on a 21-incher, my decision was made. I like that it fits inside my 30-inch suitcase for storage.
Now for the 19-inch backpack. I don’t think it’s going to fit under the seat in front of me. I picked that one so it would fit my 19-inch laptop. I still like having the big laptop if I’m staying in a hotel and have a big desk, but I haven’t been using it on cruises. I’ve been bringing a tablet for a couple cruises now. That’s all I really need.
Sometimes on amazon you’ll find items that are cheaper in certain colors. One of the backpacks I was looking at was $60 in charcoal and only $25 in olive. I look at Best Buy and find the olive colored backpack for $60. I decide…olive works for me.
I needed something to weigh my suitcase. Sometimes Amazon has these digital coupons where you put something in your cart, click a coupon checkbox, and boom you get the discount.
This doohickey was $10 with a $3 discount in the cart so I got it for $7. Digital scales were $10 but then you have to worry about batteries. I can only imagine being on the ship and going to weigh my suitcase for the return trip and then needing new batteries to do it.
Fortunately I’m a poor judge of suitcase weight. I think I have just about everything I need in the suitcase and the doohickey is telling me it weighs only 32lbs.
The outside pockets on my suitcase are empty and all I have in my backpack so far is my travel documents and my tablet, leaving to add items if needed.
Fred
I got a little surprise gift two days before the cruise. I woke up and my lip didn’t seem right. It felt like I was punched in the mouth the night before. It turns out I developed some form of a cold sore or blister overnight.
Whatever it is I’m calling it Fred. I started searching the internet for a way to get rid of Fred quickly. I find something saying Abreva can get rid of them in 2 1/2 days. Great. I’m heading to the drug store because I need some Abreva immediately.
I stopped at a Walgreens on the way to my to a get together. Or maybe it was a CVS. I don’t know. I feel like they’re the same store with a different name. On Canal street there are like four Walgreens/CVS stores within three blocks of each other.
I find the lip care aisle and bypass the chapstick, blistex, and carmex looking this magical healing cream called Abreva. $22.99 for a tube of this stuff about the size of a super glue tube. I check for a CVS/Walgreens brand of this stuff and don’t find any. They also have Abreva in this chapstick type dispenser with a pump. The price is the same so I buy that one. $24.99 after tax.
It says I’m supposed to apply this stuff to the affected area five times per day. I’m taking it seriously and making sure I get the five times in. Hopefully it works because I really don’t want to take Fred to the Steakhouse on Sunday night.
Lunch
Am I in Los Angeles? No. Las Vegas? No. Actually I’m in Las Colinas. Technically Irving but practically Las Colinas. I’m flying out of DFW airport this afternoon.
This is one of the eastern most In-N-Out Burgers in existence. They have about 20 locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The reason they haven’t expanded further is everything here is fresh and any further east would be too far from their distribution centers. They also refuse to sell franchises.
They are serious about the quality of their food here. One day at lunch time I pulled into this location and was stopped in the parking lot by an employee who informed me they were closed because the food quality wasn’t up to their standards. I appreciated them not selling me a substandard product and had no problem driving an extra five miles to their next closest store.
The employees here rival Chick-Fil-A for the friendliest fast food employees I’ve ever encountered. Maybe it’s because their minimum wage is $12.
This is a double double meal which is double meat, double cheese. It’s a pretty basic menu here but what they do, they do well. Their ketchup could use some work though.
So for the same price of a Big Mac meal I can get a better quality and better service from people who are making better money. And oh by the way, this store makes almost double what a McDonald’s makes. I’ll sign up for that.
I do recommend bringing your own ketchup.
I have to admit. I am an In-N-Out Burger fan.
A little something down the street for the New Yorker’s.
They have good food and a much bigger menu. But be prepared to pay about twice as much and don’t expect to find any lids or straws for your drinks in there.
A little something for Louisiana.
All Covered Parking Facility
I’m parking at a facility called All Covered Parking. The last time I flew out of here was probably 10 years ago. I used Park N’ Fly that time which is the name brand place like this. I guess this one is the CVS/Walgreens brand parking lot.
I have a spot here from 12am this morning until 12am the day after I get back. It cost me $43. Park N’ Fly wanted over $100.
For some reason booking online would’ve added a $5 service fee. I used the Spot Hero app and avoided that fee.
It says pull in and call a number for the shuttle. I called they said it would be 10 minutes.
I called at 1:20 and the shuttle was here at 1:30. It’s just me and one other guy. It took five minutes for both of us to check-in and we’re rolling. I don’t think there’s any A/C running on this shuttle which may sound weird this time of year, but it’s in the 70’s outside and it’s warm in here. It should be a short ride.
DFW Airport
I was off of the shuttle at 1:45. The driver made it easy on me, dropping me off right outside an elevator that takes me right to the baggage drop off.
Apparently when I booked online I only paid for a bag on the return flight. I have to pay $50 for my bag which is $18 more than it would’ve been prepaid which is why I prepaid (or tried to).
It’s just a short walk to Security from there.
And there was no line.
When I got through security there were bathrooms, an electronics store, a candy store, Wendy’s, Panda Express, a bar and a seating area with a TV on the Alabama-Auburn game in the immediate area. My gate was right there as well.
This is my gate. I have plenty of time.
A little further down was a Mexican restaurant/bar with several TVs on football.
Here is the full dining directory for terminal E.
I settled in at TGI Friday’s with local beer I like. This is the Revolver – Blood & Honey. The Mexican place was closer to my gate but they didn’t have this beer.
At TGI’s I noticed my tablet was not charging. I also realized I failed to bring a wall plug for my phone charger. I do have two cables but not the wall plug. I charged my phone with my external charger and just dealt with losing battery on my tablet.
The game I wanted to watch was in Weather delay so I headed out. The beer came to $8.22.
I stopped by my gate at 4pm. No plane yet but a lot of people waiting to board. After verifying the charging cable for my tablet does indeed work, I stopped by the Blue Mesa to charge and grab a Shiner.
I just need to make sure I don’t miss the plane. I almost did that drinking in an airport bar once..Denver I believe. I was returning from temporary duty and was afraid I was going to get in trouble so I pulled the military card with the gate girl. They stopped the plane and drove me out to it. I feel bad about that now.
I paid for the Shiner and made my way to the gate. It was $9.75 for the smaller Shiner at the Blue Mesa. The people on my plane are disembarking now.
They call it deplaning here. We are now scheduled to leave 8 minutes later which brings it to a total of 20 minutes later than what I booked several months back.
Here is a look at our flight path. I don’t know why we have to fly over the ocean. It seems like we could go around it.
If you are a yoga person you can sit here and do yoga while you look at my plane. Or stand here and do yoga. Whatever it is yoga people do when they do yoga. You can do it here while you look at my plane. Or while you look at an empty gate depending on when you do it.
On time? I can guarantee we aren’t taking off at 4:47 because it’s 450 and I’m not on the plane yet.
As you can see I finally made it to the plane.
Fort Lauderdale Airport
That flight wasn’t too bad. I played two games of Monopoly on my phone and by the time the second one was over, we were here.
It was quite a hike to the baggage claim. Not much of a wait though. My bag was among the first out. I put the duct tape on to make it easily recognizable.
I called the hotel to let them know I needed a shuttle. They needed to know which terminal I was in. I didn’t know so I asked the info desk. It turns out this is terminal 4. They told me to step outside, take a right to the white tents and wait. It could be up to 45 minutes. Let’s hope not.
The white tent looks empty but around the corner about 50 people are waiting for various hotel and parking lot shuttles–A number that would grow to well over 75.
After a good 45 minute wait, finally my shuttle pulls up. It says Comfort Suites on it but the guy honks the horn and holds up a Cambria sign. I think he may have been through before but I missed it because it said Comfort Suites.
Three people are on this shuttle. I think he picked up the other two at another terminal.
I saw another shuttle pulling out of the hotel with a Cambria sign taped on the side. That’s better than this one.
I have plans to eat at this Cuban restaurant that is basically across the street from the hotel.
I made it to the Cuban restaurant but since I’m here so late I scratched the main course I had planned on ordering because the waiter was really pushing the daily special. I’m guessing that’s something that’ll be easier on the kitchen. I did get the sides I planned on ordering.
Beef Empanadas
Presidente beer
Garlic bread
Rice, Sweet plantains and the other is supposed to be yucca but they gave me fries instead.
Here is the special. It looks like Steak and Shrimp.
The waiter noticed the error and brought me some yucca.
I felt bad when I came in because I was the only person in here and they close at 11. But like 5 minutes after I ordered was the rush. Four more tables came in.
That main course was really good. The empanadas were really good. The sweet plantains were pretty good. I don’t think I’m a big plantain guy though. I’m definitely not a yucca guy. I had a desert planned but it’s not going to happen. I had a lot of food and there’s a lot of food left over. The waiter seemed disappointed that I didn’t want a to go box. He doesn’t know I’m getting on a ship in the morning and I’m not going to eat this stuff for breakfast.
Not a bad total for all of that food and a beer. With steak and shrimp I expected it to be more.
Here is a look at my hotel suite. I guess I got an accessible one. It happens sometimes with Hotwire. Sometimes I think they do it just in case.
I got my luggage tags attached and I’m off to bed. I’m going to have to pickup a wall plug for my iPhone tomorrow since I don’t know whether or not my room is going to have a USB plug. This room doesn’t have one so I’m using my portable charger to charge my phone for now.
Tomorrow is embarkation day. Good night.
