26th September: Seattle day 2
September 29, 2009
After a nice long sleep, we got up and decided to go get some breakfast at IHOP as well as make sure where we were dropping off the car the next morning. We had a 7.15am flight, which meant having to drop the car off well before 6am.
The drop off point for the car was in the airport compound, but after some GPS issues again, we eventually managed to find the Alamo car rental drop-off point. I just wanted to check that Alamo was going to be open when we arrived the next morning, and luckily it was. But, on the way out, we were stopped at a security checkpoint and were asked for out licence and contract details from the guard/already-angry-wifey. When we said that we didnt have our contract on us because we werent picking up or dropping off a car, she gave us a rollicking, and stormed off to phone someone from Alamo. After a 5minute wait, an angry guy appeared with a copy of our contract who then said that this should have been carried with us in the car at all times, as seemingly if we got stopped by the police and didnt have it, we’d go to jail. Their attitudes and customer service levels were terrible, and rather than politely tell us that we should carry it at all times (which had never occurred when we picked the car up in Miami), he angrily emphasised again that we could get sent to jail. Idiots.
Up to this point, we were considering cleaning out the car, and trying to wipe up the ant spray that had stained some of the seats before dropping it off the next day. But after the abuse we got from the staff, we decided against it, and let them clean up the mess. I don’t someone telling me that i’ve done something wrong, but they should never ever give folk abuse and speak to us in the way that they did. When i get back i’ll be sending an email of complain to the car rental company anyway. I’m happily turning into Victor Meldrew. If any hotel or restaurant has been rubbish, i’m gonna go and write bad reviews of them on Expedia and Trip Advisor, as that will have more effect.
After we got back to the hotel, it was a really hot day still, so we just went out and sat down outside the hotel next to the bar, where we soaked up some sun (i’m still pasty white compared to Lauren) and read our books and i mucked about on my laptop, before heading inside the bar for a couple of games of pool when it started to cool down outside.
I then went and checked in for our flights online, as well as some more researching on stuff to do in New York, before heading off for dinner in the hotel again. This time, it was rubbish. We were the only ones in the place, and i think it must have been the chefs day off, as the food i got was tastless. I’d ordered ravioli from the menu, but when it arrived, it was just a plate of boiled veg covered in a single sheet of plain dry pasta. It was tasteless. Its probably the worst meal i’ve had whilst away.
After this we had to pack up all our stuff we’d accumulated in the last several weeks into our 4 pieces of luggage. This is an art in itself, as you are only allowed 50kg per person for baggage to put in the hold, as well as an unweighed piece of hand luggage that has to be a certain size to make sure it can fit in the overhead cupboards on the plane. As i’ve got my laptop with me, this counts as my carry on luggage, so i only had limited space in the laptop bag to fill up with the heaviest stuff that i could carry. You get charged a fortune even if you are 1kg over your limit, or $100 for each piece of additional luggage that you want to check in. So we did our best, and then settled down to try and get an early night. But, we ended up watching True Blood until well after midnight, which wasnt good when we were expecting a 5am wake up call.
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