Time flies when you should be having fun eh. It’s time to check out and of course my last. Cortado. Her tears were embarrassing but hey she is only human.
Saw it was a 50 min drive to OHairy so of course left way too early but would rather sit around aimlessly at airport with bag checked in and security cleared then to sit aimlessly at the hotel thinking about the extras on the bill 😏 Good run out , friendly driver saw no meter ticking over so assumed was on the $35 flat rate fee. Ah no , that will be $65 mate ( we had bonded) or as we call it $75 with tip. Forced myself not to automatically recalculate to AUD but know it’s 3 figures . Fuck me. Breathe Breathe . So smooth curb side drop off – cachinge cachinge – and the “priority” caper helps with security. Tarmac adjacent with a mere 3 hrs to spare . Sweet. Where in my Flagship Lounge and free piss. Hey it’s after 8 am.
Found my close by gate and lounge . Fronted up to Broom Hilda who may have been tired after last night. Handed over FF card and Ruby OW boarding pass. “ No Sir you have to be Emerald or Sapphire OW for access “ But I was in LAX Flagship lounge. I have a cool T shirt . I have a cane FFS. Blank look. “ Must be a bitch waiting another year for your second gig eh “ Limped out . But wasn’t done. I hadn’t drunk anything yet so started thinking, must be missing something. AhHa , Qantas Club membership . So waited in line again and 3 staff on. But made sure I got BH .” Does this make a difference Sweetheart? “ Of course Sir, welcome to Admirals Club . “ Flagship Lounge ? “ In your dreams , no magic black invite card handed over. Oh well.
Admirals Club was fine. No personal omelette chef etc but a bar. “ A glass of Champers please my good Man” That will be $16 . WTF . Quickly google “ free alcohol at Admirals Club” It had been an expensive morning and still in Chicago 😳 With 2 hrs to boarding .
As usual it’s hard finding the exact thing you want in the net so asked Billy Bob at the Bar – there has to be some free stuff here , can you see the T Shirt and Cane mate ? It worked , and turned my frown upside down . Yeah right. Have you clowns learned nothing yet 🥸
Only a 2 hr flight . The owner of VRBO has been excellent but only found out last night that I could have got in much earlier today which would have been great but an earlier flight probably would have screwed up my sleep last night which was surprisingly good and would not have got my edumacation about Admirals Club. A full 5 days/6 nights in Philly so ok if first night a bit of a wash. Just wonder how will navigate 3 flights of narrow, steep stairs 🤔 I ain’t happy if I ain’t got something to worry about eh . Apart from the taxi fare from airport at Philly 😢 And don’t be fooled that Uber is a cheap option kiddies
Good flight and got to gate maybe 15 mins late . Quick bag and quick Taxi find evened it all out and was Pining at 523 by about 330 pm. And Taxi was only $35 Knobber Knobber. Then came the 3 sets of stairs
Ouch. The rental is on 3rd floor and a Row House so rather creaky . Would not like to be on second floor – apart from one less set of stairs natch. It’s great to really spread out after 2 hotel rooms S and actually have a chair to sit and watch TV .
Once quick inspection of kitchen revealed great appliances including a toaster ✅ decided to get some groceries before that first sherbert. The local store was literally only 3 mins away . Bought some meals to heat up etc so really probably only buy lunch out next few days which will be a saving. As long as I don’t catch a taxi to the restaurant . It is a lovely quiet neighbourhood
Now was time for a well earned drink. I may mention at this stage that going down the stairs is actually harder than going up. Checked Google maps and some bars a mere 10 min walk. Hey what do you know – this is Abbots Square where I actually stayed back in 2015. Great area and actually went to same first Pub I did all those years ago – The Twisted Tail.
Had my first beer and there was a guy sitting across from me maybe 4 feet. After 10 mins . Thought why not, little social butterfly me . His name was Bob was a local and after 3 more beers time to head home . Great happy hour ,I may return. Somehow the sun had disappeared when I left the Pub
A pretty useful first foray suggests I may enjoy Philly. Hope it starts to cool down soon as rather mild . Still hope to go to Atlantic City on Thursday so tomorrow will be spent getting lay of land and working out the Septa transport system
When I sober up ….
flashman181 