Flossbolna
Sea days are just so relaxing!
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2006
Flying Home
August 30: Flight to Germany
This is really just to bring the trip report to an end. There is not much to say. My trip notes say that I had the free breakfast at the Embassy Suites. It was quite good, but I think by now I was more sad about the vacation ending than interested in breakfast. And it did not compare well with yesterday’s breakfast at the Copper Café.
Afterwards I packed for quite some time. I tried to get rid of stuff that I did not need (plastic bags, brochures and such) to avoid being over the weight limit. And then we drove to the airport. I insisted that we had a last lunch at In-N-Out Burger. The restaurant was very crowded and somehow this was one visit to many. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing and this was definitely one case of it. Yup. I let her decide and we went to the one in Hawthorne, right off the 405 -- and very close to where I stayed for part of my trip last month. It was VERY crowded and neither one of us were feeling the vibe that we made a good choice, although the food was fine -- as it always is.
Michael dropped me off at the airport without any problem and we said goodbye when it was time for me to go through security. After having such a horrible time there in 2014, now they have rebuilt the security check for the international terminal in LAX and it was a breeze. I spent some time checking out the very pretty international terminal:
I picked up a box of See’s peanut brittle for my parents (my father loved it, so good choice!) and at some point it was time to board the plane. I had a window seat and was enjoying the view when I realized on the flight map that was displayed on the entertainment system that our flight pass was kind of going over Anaheim and I was wondering if I would be able to see Disneyland…
And yes, there it was:
Or zoomed in for better recognition:
The flight was uneventful and long and I got home the next day, felt lousy and hated the jet lag that kept bothering me for the next week…
I was sad, of course, that M was leaving but I wasn't about to not enjoy my remaining time! So I made a beeline back to Anaheim ... or Garden Grove and went right to Joe's for some more world-class Italian ice. Naturally, there were more people and cars than parking, so I parked illegally -- what one will do for something worthwhile -- and got a great ice. Actually, it was their Cherry -- but the variety that has actual cherries in it -- mixed with vanilla soft serve ice cream. Because of the parking situation I decided to enjoy it while walking around DD, so I drove over, parked and did just that. After that, I did something that M wouldn't allow when she was there. I had dinner at the KFC on Ball Rd. behind DL. Chicken tenders, taters and gravy, cole slaw, a biscuit and a chocolate chip cookie. I don't know why, but after a month of largely eating very well, it really tasted good. I am glad that he waited until he got KFC for me to have departed. Not a fan.
I went back to the hotel and spent 90 minutes in the indoor pool and jacuzzi. I met a nice family down from the Bay Area for one son's 13th birthday and we chatted for a bit. Then, it was upstairs to the realization that I only had one day left myself. But I made it count with a visit to Knott's Berry Farm (comped thanks to friends in high places) with a dear friend and dinner with another friend and his lovely wife at DD. Knott's was blissfully empty on a Monday after most SoCal school had gone back. There were places where you couldn't see another visitor and I loved that. I really want to get M to this SoCal treasure. After a brief visit back to the hotel for a shower, I met D&S for a lovely dinner at Ralph Brennan's at DD. If I recall, sorry but have no pics, I wound up ordering very lightly. Think I had soup and salad. The meal was great as was the company. After a near nervous breakdown the next day over packing -- I have come to rely on M to do this for me -- and making the flight, I returned car No. 3, got a 10% rebate (should have been more, but you can't fight everyone all the time) for having to go through three cars and made my flight. All I recall was it was my first trip to Houston's Hobby Airport and I was one of eight people who were staying onboard for FLL. They gave us passes and let us off into the terminal where I (fittingly?) ended the trip as I had started it a month ago in New Orleans: with a meal from Subway. And that is the end of the adventure. Our final thoughts to come.
Up Next: Final Thoughts
August 30: Flight to Germany
This is really just to bring the trip report to an end. There is not much to say. My trip notes say that I had the free breakfast at the Embassy Suites. It was quite good, but I think by now I was more sad about the vacation ending than interested in breakfast. And it did not compare well with yesterday’s breakfast at the Copper Café.
Afterwards I packed for quite some time. I tried to get rid of stuff that I did not need (plastic bags, brochures and such) to avoid being over the weight limit. And then we drove to the airport. I insisted that we had a last lunch at In-N-Out Burger. The restaurant was very crowded and somehow this was one visit to many. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing and this was definitely one case of it. Yup. I let her decide and we went to the one in Hawthorne, right off the 405 -- and very close to where I stayed for part of my trip last month. It was VERY crowded and neither one of us were feeling the vibe that we made a good choice, although the food was fine -- as it always is.
Michael dropped me off at the airport without any problem and we said goodbye when it was time for me to go through security. After having such a horrible time there in 2014, now they have rebuilt the security check for the international terminal in LAX and it was a breeze. I spent some time checking out the very pretty international terminal:
I picked up a box of See’s peanut brittle for my parents (my father loved it, so good choice!) and at some point it was time to board the plane. I had a window seat and was enjoying the view when I realized on the flight map that was displayed on the entertainment system that our flight pass was kind of going over Anaheim and I was wondering if I would be able to see Disneyland…
And yes, there it was:
Or zoomed in for better recognition:
The flight was uneventful and long and I got home the next day, felt lousy and hated the jet lag that kept bothering me for the next week…
I was sad, of course, that M was leaving but I wasn't about to not enjoy my remaining time! So I made a beeline back to Anaheim ... or Garden Grove and went right to Joe's for some more world-class Italian ice. Naturally, there were more people and cars than parking, so I parked illegally -- what one will do for something worthwhile -- and got a great ice. Actually, it was their Cherry -- but the variety that has actual cherries in it -- mixed with vanilla soft serve ice cream. Because of the parking situation I decided to enjoy it while walking around DD, so I drove over, parked and did just that. After that, I did something that M wouldn't allow when she was there. I had dinner at the KFC on Ball Rd. behind DL. Chicken tenders, taters and gravy, cole slaw, a biscuit and a chocolate chip cookie. I don't know why, but after a month of largely eating very well, it really tasted good. I am glad that he waited until he got KFC for me to have departed. Not a fan.
I went back to the hotel and spent 90 minutes in the indoor pool and jacuzzi. I met a nice family down from the Bay Area for one son's 13th birthday and we chatted for a bit. Then, it was upstairs to the realization that I only had one day left myself. But I made it count with a visit to Knott's Berry Farm (comped thanks to friends in high places) with a dear friend and dinner with another friend and his lovely wife at DD. Knott's was blissfully empty on a Monday after most SoCal school had gone back. There were places where you couldn't see another visitor and I loved that. I really want to get M to this SoCal treasure. After a brief visit back to the hotel for a shower, I met D&S for a lovely dinner at Ralph Brennan's at DD. If I recall, sorry but have no pics, I wound up ordering very lightly. Think I had soup and salad. The meal was great as was the company. After a near nervous breakdown the next day over packing -- I have come to rely on M to do this for me -- and making the flight, I returned car No. 3, got a 10% rebate (should have been more, but you can't fight everyone all the time) for having to go through three cars and made my flight. All I recall was it was my first trip to Houston's Hobby Airport and I was one of eight people who were staying onboard for FLL. They gave us passes and let us off into the terminal where I (fittingly?) ended the trip as I had started it a month ago in New Orleans: with a meal from Subway. And that is the end of the adventure. Our final thoughts to come.
Up Next: Final Thoughts