I woke up at about 6:30 for my 7:20 flight. When I realized the time, I jumped up, put on my clothes and called for a cab (perhaps not in that order), and was nearly ready, but I did the math in my head and realized that I wasn't going to make it. I looked online to see if I could book a slightly later flight. I couldn't see one on the website that wasn't $500 or more, so I called. I got booked on a flight at 2:45, and when the cab called, I said that I was sorry, but I wouldn't need a cab at that moment. I went right back to sleep and got 4 more hours, bringing me up to that magical 8.
When I got up the second time, I got ready and did a few things that I would have missed in the morning, like putting out the check for the cat sitter (along with a gift for her and her baby) and putting an empty water bottle in my luggage. As predicted, the 2:45 flight was delayed by about 40 minutes, or more, which gave me even more time. I went out for a meal at Natachee's, doing some Pokéwalking to the South Main Baptist Church along the way. I also got some pics of my travel outfit, featuring new pants.
People at Natachee's were shocked to see me, and amused at my tale of woe. I resolved to never, ever book early morning flights for vacation ever again.
When I got home, I called for another cab and was on my way to Hobby. I chatted with the cab driver about my travels.
Countdown to when all the construction will end too.
Security and my gate.
The flight was largely uneventful (at least as I remember it). And then we landed.
I took over a gym before getting my suitcase.
I got a cab and said "Park Plaza", and we were off through the underground highway. I hit a few pokéstops on the way, and then we were there. I checked in and went up to my room.
One more selfie before checking out what Boston had to offer for Pokéwalking.
A church near my hotel, by the Public Gardens.
And the Pokéwalking was good. Swanboats and Slowpokes, oh, and Drowzees everywhere.
I also met a dog named Mika, which is the name of a friend's dog. My friend's dog is much much smaller.
Never seen before.
There were plenty of people out, and four pokéstops with lures by a gym. I chatted with two guys by the bridge near the swanboats, and they asked me what was common in Houston. I couldn't think of what we had more frequently at that time, but after a week in Boston, then coming home, I noticed that I didn't see a single Exeggcute up there, but they are frequent here.
Without Pokémon GO, I would have never known that I had seen this place before.
The Cheers bar is also a gym that I never got to take over.
My phone died later, but I walked around a little more, including past the state house (is that right? I forget) and through Boston Commons. When I got back to my hotel room, I wasn't ready to go to bed yet, and kind of hungry, so I ordered delivery. It was so-so, then I went to bed for tomorrow's adventures.
I awoke today with enough time to get ready and leisurely check out. I did have the rest of my Special K bar before I left.
Also pictured, the notes I made last night while trying to figure out who was coming to brunch.
On the left is evidence of the 21st century car I got as a rental. Finally, no keys!
I didn't write out the directions to the restaurant, and I ended up missing one of the many, many highway changes on the route to St. Paul.
However, I wasn't too far away and made it there on time. I parked behind the building and took a photo to document it because I needed to ask if it was okay to park there. It said parking for residents and for the restaurant only, but sometimes, it's a different restaurant. I walked around the block and found a couple people from my party waiting for the restaurant to open.
Our group ended up being 8 people, and we had a great meal, with plenty of stories and more connections.
Fried chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos, and potatoes as ordered by friends.
I did my show and tell from Iran after the meal, and offered up the Iranian hotel toiletries as gifts. KPN got a great video of my Expo.
This marked the largest assemblage of old friends that I have amassed in the Twin Cities in all three of my visits, so I wanted a group photo. Everyone reacted like normal people do when a group photo is requested, and I think I heard a groan when I requested a re-take. I have posted both below.
Everyone took off, and I went to my car to pack everything up. I stayed outside for a little while to enjoy the weather and get good directions from Tongue in Cheek to the airport. I had to rewrite them when I made a correction and wrote directions to Terminal 2, instead of Terminal 1. One of the residents of the building and I chatted and I gave him the URL of my blog and phone number in case we could meet up and chat more next time I'm in the area. I also had a good text conversation with The Model, back in Iran, about his possible future trip to America. It was then time to get going to the airport, along the beautiful Minnesota highways.
The directions worked out great, until I got to the exit to the airport, which was also the exit to a National Cemetery. I got herded into the cemetery and had to turn around to get back on the road to the airport.
I did try to get to a gas station, but ended up getting turned around and was running too far behind. I would pay the higher fee for not filling my tank (which turned out to be about $10 or $15) to avoid being too late for my flight. i returned my rental car, but still was not able to use my Avis gift cards. It turns out that I have to either identify that I want to use them when I book the car or when I pick it up. Given the difficulty I've had using these, I would strongly recommend against getting Avis gift cards ever again.
Soon enough, I had checked in and was at the gate, waiting to board my flight to MCI, or Kansas City international Airport. I opted to sit near the front this time too, since I was transferring flights, and wanted to avoid any delays. While I had been driving, The Model called me via What's App, and I asked if that was intentional. It had been, and he had been talking to the guide from the trip before, who is bilingual, to help translate. I was happy to hear that he was working on our communication issue, but I had to get going. I wasn't going to buy wireless internet for the short flight, and we were about to take off. He would be asleep by the time I could connect again.
We flew over the Kansas or Nebraska or Missouri countryside, and then landed at the most *country* airport I've ever been to - and I've been to CWA. Ok, maybe I was being biased, but it also reminded me of some Star Wars outpost. The bathroom situation in the gate area was as close to a public health problem as I think we can get. Lines for the ladies rooms were asinine, since I guess each women's room only had two stalls. I opted to walk away from one line and wait in a different one where I wasn't forced to watch men go in and out of their restroom freely and quickly. I suggest a new bathroom regulation that for each toilet and urinal in a men's room, there is one toilet in a women's room, and if space is an issue, the women's room will just need to be bigger. So if there is one toilet and two urinals in a men's room, there need to be three toilets in a women's room, not two because they take up the same amount of space as two urinals.
Anyway, with that ordeal over, I got some food from one of the stands and went to wait for my final flight to Houston.
Maybe it doesn't look that country to you, but you weren't there.
We finally boarded the plane, which did not have wireless available, so I tried to nap away the flight, but did chat a little bit with the people in my seat. There seemed to be an abnormally high number of toddlers on the plane this time, and all of their noises slowly grated on my cheer.
This irritation lasted even to the baggage claim, and it was taking forever for our bags to come out. I saw a co-worker at the baggage claim too, but didn't want to talk long because I was in an unfortunate mood. Apparently, 12 flights landed at the same time, and the baggage handlers were a little overwhelmed, but finally, the Kansas City bags arrived and I could leave the airport! The cab driver seemed a little confused as we neared my apartment building, but we got there and I was, at last, home.
The Downtown skyline and a movie made from photos and videos from today.
