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Published: December 11th 2011
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Farewell to Nova Scotia
Leaving teh Halifax Airport all full of piss and vinegar Well that is with the exception of me showing up on time for a flight. I really had the best of intentions this time of being at the airport a full 2hrs ahead of the flight as recommended. The key word is recommended and I think subconsciously my brain interprets that as "I'm sure they won't let the flight leave without me." Donald, my brother, stressfully drove me to the airport, where I arrived to claim the prize of last person to check in. I thought that was a good omen, however that was short lived when I arrived at the gate and found out the flight was delayed 1.5 hrs. That wouldn't have bothered me except for the fact that the flight I was suppose to connect to in Washington DC going to South America only had a 1hr connection time. So simple math told me that 1-1.5 equals NOT GOOD! However, the internal optimistist in me said it will all work out one way or the other and my drink of black rum and coke was over half full at the time. So really what was there to worry about. 😊
I kinda figured things didn't look good
for catching my South American flight when we were taxiing to the gate in Washington at 10:15 and my other flight was suppose to have left at 10:07. I was holding out for a hail merry Touch Down pass (ie flight is delayed) which has happened quite a few times for me in the past. Alas that night the pass went incomplete and I ran through a frigging big airport for nothing.
Immediately I thought, ok, maybe there is a silver lining. United Airlines will pay for my hotel and upgrade me to 1st class. That may have been a little over optimistic, however you gotta shoot for the stars, right? Instead I was told they would book me on tomorrow's flight at the same time and gave me a voucher for 50% off a room which still amounted to about $80. So I thought, this is an adventure and therefore I should start it off right by sleeping in the airport. After a lovely chat with the lady manning the convenience store I settled in for the night at gate c12, which I had all to myself until about 6am.
Fortunately my accommodations came en suite and
the bathroom was only a few feet away. After splashing some water on my face in the early am I was ready to make a plan. First thing first, I found a map of DC and tracked down the transit into DC, which was not easy to find. I guess someone doesn't like promoting a service that cost fractions of what taxis and the shuttle bus charge.
On the 1hr bus ride in I got to see my first major sight - The Pentagon. Cool. 😊 A day in DC is hectic if you want to see everything on foot. Impressions of DC - big buildings and even bigger monuments. What is so impressive is the amount of museums and monuments in such a small area around Capital Hill. The area is one giant museum of civilization. I walked from Capitol Hill to the Lincoln Memorial. From the Whitehouse to Jefferon's Memorial and back.
I got a chance to go through one of the Occupy DC sites and met the original Occupy DC lady, Conception Thomas. She has been occupying in front of the whitehouse for over 30yrs; living underneath a table umbrella covered over with plastic. She
is protesting nuclear arms.
My last stop was the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. It was a quick tour, but still very impressive. I really wanted to try out the flight simulators, but didn't want to risk missing another flight. 😊
After 8 hrs of non stop walking (about 15 miles) my feet were asking for a break and besides my goal was to be back at the airport and CHECKED IN 4 hrs before departure. Mission accomplished.
So my first full day turned out to be a great one. I got to unexpectedly see Washington DC. No harm no foul.
So one lesson and one moral from my first day's story. Always expect the unexpected and remember "it's about the journey, not the destination." So roll with it. 😊
Joel
p.s. picture capotions to follow
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