This blog was supposed to be about our trip to Ireland and Scotland that we had planned for May/June. That of course was rescheduled due to and the severe travel restrictions. It is tentatively set for October/November of this year, but if the quarantines are still in affect in Ireland and Scotland, that is likely to get rescheduled yet again.
We do have a Plan B and Plan C for out October trip, but Plan B (Southern Driving Tour) has already been scrapped because of Covid. Plan C Autumn in New England, is in the planning stages, but again unless states lift the quarantine, that is likely to not happen.
That brings us to this 4th of July weekend trip. We are in the middle of phase 2 and 3 reopenings, but yet the cases of Covid are rising everywhere except here in the NE. Hotels are slowly opening, restaurants are in between outside and inside seating, with all of this we were able to find an Inn in NW Connecticut (Litchfield Hills) where the rich and famous play. We are of course neither. I booked us a room at the Interlaken Inn, just outside
Lakeville CT, in a King Suite room, the only one that allowed Tarragon with us. They did have another pet friendly building, but where we are is an old Victorian Style house. There is lots of grass so Tarragon can get some outside time while we play boccia ball.
We have not owned a car since moving to NYC, so we usually get a zipcar when we go anywhere. There are several a blog away from us, so the convenience is great. In this case I booked and paid for the car a month in advance. We were leaving town at 1 which would have given us plenty of time to get to the Inn and stop for lunch along the way. Well, as they say the best laid plans . . . Three days before we were schedule to leave, I get a notification that they have changed our reservation, thinking it was a different car, I wasnt really concerned until I read the details. Not only did they change the car, the location was changed from a block away to over 7 miles away and deep in the heart of the
Bronx, thus defeating the entire purpose of a Zipcar which is convenience. Fast forward to the day we are leaving. I walk up to the corner of 145th and Broadway and spend 30 minutes trying to hail a cab (in the 80%!h(MISSING)umidity and blaring sun.) Great start to the mini vacation. Finally securing a cab $30 and 40 minutes later I arrive at the garage where I am to pick up the car. No issue, right? WRONG, the car was not there and the entitled 20 somethings that had rented before me were 45 minutes late returning it (meanwhile I had been on hold with Zipcar trying to figure out what was going on) they didnt even say F*** you very much let alone apologize for not returning it on time. Needless to say, Zipcar will be getting quite an earful from me later.
A bit of a story to tell that occurred while I was waiting for the Zipcar to show up. I am standing on the slope of the driveway inside the parking garage, on hold with Zipcar, sweating and not overall a pretty sight with the mask on my face and beads of sweat
on my forehead. As I am standing there, trying hard to remain clam (patience is not a virtue I possess) and minding my own business, not one but two male prostitutes attempt to solicit me. Really, I am hanging around in weather in a parking garage because I am looking for sex? REALLY? So, you can see that this was not exactly the best part of the Bronx, I did get to practice my Spanish.
I was very stressed by this time and sweating like the pig (do pigs even sweat?) but at least I was I the car programing my route back to Hamilton Heights. The drive back was not so bad, I can drive like a New Yorker if I have to. So, 2 hours behind schedule we were locked and loaded. Our first stop was PJ Wine & Spirits in Washington Heights, to get the weekend beverages (great discount liquor store). I double park while Jerry went in.
