COLORADO TRIP

Bob and I got up at 2:00 am EST and got ready to leave for our trip to Colorado. We left at 3:00 and arrived at BWI by 4:30 and greeted our fellow sleepy travelers.

On our way to the airport, Bob and I laughed about another early trip we took several years ago when we headed to England. It was a morning just like this morning, a little chillier, perhaps since it was October, but a very early start just the same. We waited for the shuttle in long term parking lot, boarded and rode with our fellow passengers toward the terminals. On the way to the terminals, the driver spotted 2 more passengers standing on the side, waiting for a shuttle. He was about to keep going and then, maybe feeling a little guilty, he decided to stop for the 2 additional passengers. Imagine the shock we all felt when suddenly the doors to a van burst open, and HUNDREDS of people got out of the van, along with HUNDREDS of suitcases. We all kept exchanging looks--and the poor driver--you could tell he wanted to kick himself. I turned to the man next to me and said, "And my husband thinks I take too much stuff."

When I told Mom this story, she said the scene with the van exploding and all those people coming out reminded her of the clowns coming out of the little tiny car.

Anyway, we didn't have anything like that happen today. But the airport seemed so JAMMED for that time of day. As I looked around at the crowd, I realized that most of the passengers looked like college kids--probably headed out for spring break. And there were a lot of families, probably also headed out for a spring break trip with their kids.

Our flight took off on time and landed early in Cincinnati. We had enough time for bathroom breaks in Cincinnati and then it was time to head to our gate. Again, we took off on time and landed on time.

During the flight to Denver, which was about 2 1/2 hours, they offered us a chance to buy a meal if we wanted. I chose the fruit and cheese plate. It came with crackers. It was very good. That was the first time I was on a flight where they offered the chance to buy a meal. Usually they just toss out the microscopic bags of peanuts or pretzels. That has been one of my biggest complaints about flying lately--they don't serve meals anymore. The average person needs regular meals. I don't do well on just 2 pretzels in an 8 hour (or longer) day.

I had heard that airlines were offering meals to purchase, but I hadn't seen it until today. I was glad to pay. I just wanted a meal. I felt better today because I wasn't starving to death when I arrived in Denver.

After getting the rental car we went for a drive to see the city since it was too early to check into the hotel. We did a little shopping, had lunch then checked into the hotel. We relaxed for a bit, freshened up then headed back out. We found a nearby mall, and decided to go stroll around the mall for a bit. We bought a few things, then I turned around and couldn't believe what I saw--a Godiva chocolate store. I had to go in there. I came out with dark chocolate covered cashews. Mmmm.....

After that we decided to come back here.

So, that was our first day of our trip. We are relaxing in the hotel room now with a movie.