From VIP to VUP, Ignorance WAS bliss

My idea of tea and crumpets didn't pan out exactly the way that I thought it would, let me explain. Crumpets, apparently, are a morning food, meaning you have to actually wake up during breakfast hours to expect to find them available at restaurants, which we failed to do. However, in our search for a good Sunday brunch, we found ourselves at The Wolseley, a very high class place that changes menus 4 times a day, for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. With a 3 course meal, it was easily the most formal brunch I've ever partaken in, I even felt a bit underdressed (for brunch!). I did order tea and it came in a real silver pot with a strainer and everything, I almost didn't even know how to use it. We ordered a strange combination of foods, not including crumpets, but it was a very nice experience that lasted about 2 1/2 hours. For two foodies like me and Rob, it was a great use of time! The last day in the UK Michelle and I went to Southend on Sea, a nice little town on the coast (only about an hour from London). This town boasts the longest pier in the world, which actually has a train on it for those who don't feel like walking, but we didn't go on the pier because we didn't feel like paying. Instead we ate fish & chips (well I did) on the beach, and enjoyed our last sunset in Europe.

Rob and I changed our tickets to go back to the States a few days early, because we had accomplished a lot and had come to a good stopping point, for lack of better words. I had only gotten about an hour of sleep by the time we had to leave in the early morning for our flights, Michelle's flight was also that morning, so we said our goodbyes at the airport. Luckily we had again managed to get business class, this time the plane had JUST been upgraded, and we were literally the first flight with the new gear. Brand new lay flat seat, flat screen TV, my own aisle etc. it was the same as first class and I was even able to get a bit of much needed sleep in between episodes of Two and a Half Men. How am I ever going to go back to coach and hostels after this trip? The wind in Chicago was ridiculous, remember the tornados and news stories about the raging wind this last week? Well luckily but very very shakily we were able to land amidst that wind. Rob and I parted ways and that's when the bliss of being VIP disappeared and everything went back to being a normal peon traveler. My flight through Phoenix was cancelled because of the wind, but for some reason I was allowed to go through Dallas, had to "rush" to get to that flight after waiting in the only security line with working computers with a bunch of rookies who didn't know to take of shoes, belts, etc. COME ON PEOPLE. I watched sadly as the business classers went straight to the front, my turn was over. I made my flight, and luckily it made it up through the violent wind, although I'm sure there were some people on the plane that thought it was going to crash. I've never experienced that much windy turbulence. The only two people in my row both had to literally climb over me to get out and use the loo, the food-that-you-have-to-pay-for-cart slammed my elbow on the way down the aisle, and no way was I getting any sleep. My three hour layover in Dallas luckily went by smoothly, and I enjoyed my last meal on the company: Taco Bell and smoothie, I always seem to run for the border as soon as I get Stateside. Coincidence? Anyway 24 hours after we left our apartment in London, I FINALLY got to Reno and got to see Nate at the gate and I felt SO much better. That lasted until my suitcase didn't show up on the baggage claim. Nope, no more priority tag, which means my suitcase somehow got left in Texas. The airline offered me a toothbrush, thank you. Do you have underwear back there too? I had nothing. That was a LOOOOONG day.

As you may or may not be aware, United lost my bags last year on my way over to Europe, for FIVE DAYS. This time, oh so luckily, it only took 24 hours to be delivered to me. Now I'm enjoying my one week in the US before departing to Costa Rica on Wednesday, soaking up the fall, the World Series, seeing friends, and looking forward to laying on a beach. After traveling for a month on someone else's budget, taste in hotels, and expectance of priority, I only hope I can cope with returning to my normal way of travel. It's crazy how different it is from what I've just been through. I'm definitely lucky to have had this opportunity, I learned a lot. And I might just be done with hostel dorms...

One more thing, as I said, my goal sort of failed to have crumpets. But I had a backup plan, I went to the grocery store late the night before we left, and guess what I brought home...   :) Delicious!