Once again this year, my friend Donna and I traveled to Florida for our third "girls" getaway. We went to the Atlantic side this time, stayed at a lovely condo in New Smyrna Beach. Clean place, wonderful beach, friendly people.
It's so nice to travel, especially with my wonderful partner in crime and friend of 43 years, Donna. It's nice to get home, too. Rehashing the trip in my mind, I have to say the fun and good times way outnumbered the pains of using Frontier Airlines, who did redeem themselves in Orlando by being way better than in PHL, where they were the only airline with NO agents at the ticket counters to check luggage. They weren't open until two hours before flight. Before the TSA lines. NO SIGNS telling you this, no representative available to give information. Thirty people in line to check luggage, no one at the counters. No wonder people want to cram their 200 pounds of shit into the overheads!
When they DID finally show up, they were surly for the most part. Then I guess they're overworked, too, as they were the same three people at the boarding gate. We started to think they were also going to load the luggage and fly the plane. The flight attendants were also pretty grumpy, and bordered on downright nasty. Not good. In Orlando they were much better staffed, though the flight attendants were too loud and a bit grumpy. That being said, I give them credit, I could NOT do what they do - putting up with the asshats who insist trying to powerlift their 200 pounds of shit into the overheads.
However, next time NO FLYING. Not worth the cattle-like way you are treated at airports, the anxiety of not knowing how long you will wait in any particular line, and the TSA. You arrive at the airport ridiculously early only to hurry up and sit. Then you're crowded to the point that you are way too well acquainted with your neighbor. The sleazeball in front of you has to put his seatback in your face. The bitch behind you won't stop her brat from kicking your seat. Homicidal thoughts ensue. Yuck. Not worth the trouble. I will be driving next time. No doubt.
What WAS worth the trouble was to see the Space Shuttle Atlantis up close and personal at Kennedy Space Center. Saw the live launch in July, 2011, and saw it at the Atlantis exhibit. Thrilling to this child of the sixties, and NASA Junkie. I didn't know if my travel companion/ would be all that excited about the Kennedy Space Center, but she was wonderful to come along, and enjoyed learning much about the space program. We would have liked to have lunch with Mark Kelly but... oh well, that didn't happen!
SPOILER ALERT ON THE EXHIBIT, so if you don't want to know, don't read any further!!!
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The Atlantis exhibit has the fuel tank and rocket boosters out front, and the exhibit inside about most aspects of the Shuttle's purpose. What I did NOT know was that it wasn't only an exhibit - it houses the ACTUAL Atlantis - the very one that I watched take flight, in person, in July, 2011. Saw the fire, heard the sounds, felt the rumble. They walk you through the shuttle program in a 360 degree film that makes you feel like you're in motion. Then, the last shot is of the nose of the shuttle. The "doors" open, and there, facing you, is the nose of the Atlantis itself! I don't know how excited everyone else was, but to me, it was absolutely breathtaking to see it, right there, in front of my face, after traveling almost 126 MILLION miles. I got the chills, laughed, hopped up and down a few times like a giddy little kid, and I know I had the biggest grin on my face and tears in my eyes. I couldn't STOP smiling. It is certainly a fitting place for it to rest after such a well traveled career!
So, if you ever get the chance, and were/are a fan of the Space Program, GO SEE THE ATLANTIS. Take the Kennedy Space Center tour - it's not cheap but it's worth every penny, and it beats buying fastpasses and standing in lines at Disney *and it's cheaper!* Sorry, I love Disney, but... ATLANTIS!!!
Remember, the Space Program gave you MRIs, space blankets, Teflon, and the technology you're using to read this blog, which may be your desktop, laptop, or your ever present, ever important cellphone. Oh, not to mention your satellite radio, and cable TV, weather satellites, and that GPS that talks back to you in the car. Don't forget firefighting equipment, solar cells, and Velcro.
Oh well so much for another trip... thanks for reading. If this blog offended anyone, you need another hobby, and/or a real life.
:)
I loved your entertaining description of your trip! Nothing offends me. I'm a sixth generation Texan. We don't "do" PC and like people telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed it! I love people who don't "Do" PC. Thank you for reading!
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