Our Romantic Vacation....Phase 1 - Getting There

So, for Valentine's Day this year I decided to make things easy on DaveBrown and suggested that we take a romantic tropical vacation as our gift to each other. After a little research on some Caribbean islands that we have yet to visit we decided to go to Antigua. But since we are both lazy procrastinators, by the time we went to make the reservations, the resort was sold out.....so we did some more looking and decided on visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. When we found out that the Providenciales island has one of the best beaches in the world, we picked a resort there called Coral Gardens. It was set, we were to depart on Sat. Feb. 12 and return on Thurs. Feb. 17.

So just before we left, I started feeling a little under the weather. With the pressure to finish several work projects, laundry, boarding the animals and packing - my poor little body fell prey to a head cold. I should have known then, that the romantic vacation that I had envisioned wasn't going to live up to my high expectations. We overslept an hour for our 7am flight - but luckily made it to the airport in time. While waiting to board the plane, my romantic runny nose started - along with the ever seductive hocking up of the loogies. DaveBrown wasn't going to be able to resist me! Our flight to Charlotte was uneventful, I got a much needed nap. We had a 2 hour layover in Charlotte - and this wasn't bad. They even have a line of rocking chairs lined up in the main area of the terminal for relaxing and listening to a person playing a baby grand piano. We searched for a pair of Carolina Panthers shorts to replace the ones that I have somehow grown out of - but were unlucky.

The flight from Charlotte to Providenciales (Provo) was twice as long as the first leg and was twice as entertaining. We were lucky enough to be seated across the aisle from a local NC redneck couple who probably won some rock radio station contest. They were in their late 40s - early 50s complete with bad hair, NASCAR gear and their own 6-pack of Natty Light. They cracked them open as soon as we were in the air and even ran out and had to buy a few beers from the flight attendants. The gentleman spent most of the flight hiding under his coat - he even got hit with the refreshment cart and didn't budge - not that's a real beer drinker. They were such a classy couple that I noticed the woman using her finger as a utensil when finishing the airline snack of spreadable cheese - which wasn't even as good as Easy Cheese.

Another aspect of this flight that made it so entertaining was that it was chocked full of kids. For those that don't know, the Turks and Caicos islands are not very commercial and can be quite expensive - so we weren't prepared for the onslaught of kids that we encountered at the airport gate. It appeared that some lucky couple was getting married and had invited evey relative that had spit out at least 2 kids. There is a Beaches resort on Provo - which is extremely kid friendly - so my guess is that this was their destination.

While listening to some music and reading at the aiport gate in Charlotte, the trail of kids started arriving. First it was the family who insisted on sitting in the seats directly behind us - you know the ones that are connected at the seatbacks. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the kids were running around like savages and their mom was less than graceful when sitting. It was as if someone was pushing her into the seat with all their force each time she returned from chasing her kids. It was knocking me and DaveBrown all around, so we found new seats. This time, we decided to sit in the seats that were connected to ones that had a wedding dress laid across them. No one would dare move or sit on someone's wedding dress - so we were safe. Then, Batman arrived.

Ok, it wasn't Val Kilmer or even Michael Keaton, it was a 6 yr. old in a Batman t-shirt and he was more super-sissy material than super-hero. He started off fine playing with the other kids in the area. But when they started boarding the plane, he immediately turned on his super-cry-baby powers. He was whining 'Nooooooo, I don't want to' and laying on the floor. His parents appeared to have lost total control at this point. I understand not wanting to make a scene in the airport - but really, can't you do a little more to control your kid? (said the woman without any kids - ha ha!) His dad went over and tried to reason with Batman, but he wasn't having it. He even started crying - loudly. The funny part was that his kid brother was very well behaved and sitting nicely by their mother. Luckily we were able to board the plane before Batman, so we didn't have to endure too much of his super repelling powers. And even better - on the flight, Batman slept.

The funniest part of the flight had to be when we were preparing to land in Provo. The flight attendants were coming around collecting trash and reminding folks to put their seats and trays upright. Well, redneck man pulled a classic move by handing the flight attendant an empty Natty Light can - they don't sell Natty Light on these flights. He immediately got a mini-inquisition about where he got that Natural Light beer. When he refused to answer he was told - Don't you EVER bring any alcohol on a flight again. Do you understand me? I said, do you understand me? I swear - it was like my mother was scolding him and I was pointing and laughing in delight....Priceless.

So, we landed without anyone being taken to jail - although I must admit, that DaveBrown was hoping they would teach the redneck couple a lesson. I however, realize that this is just the mentality of many people that I grew up with - and it wasn't too long ago that I would have done the same thing....except for give my trash to the flight attendant. Just a taste of home that almost makes me homesick.

Stay tuned for Phase 2 - Customs and the Resort....