Text 20289, 68 rader
Skriven 2014-12-09 19:54:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: trip 414
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UA 526 LAS IAD 1333 2055 752 3F

Catering didn't load any red wine. This didn't affect me, as
I generally hate the onboard red wine. The guy next, though,
was not pleased. He punished the airline by requiring lots
of water.

The choices: chicken stromboli or chicken breast over salad.
As usual when faced with two equally unpalatable choices I
said I didn't care, which behavior was greatly praised by
the FA taking my order. Later I heard them offering only
the salad, so I guess I made one person happy. The salad
was not awful, and its chicken was of that brined tenderness
that I have come to expect. There was tomato bisque, pretty
good but for some shardlike things that I thought must be
underrehydrated onion or something but turned out to be
potato slivers.

The flight was fine, and they kept me in Courvoisier as
long as they could (3 minis); to go with my cranberry
white chocolate oatmeal cookie the FA offered a Jack, as
the brandy was out. What came was a Jim, which was fine
with me.

--

Hampton Inn Dulles South: a good cheap joint for a mattress
run; chatty young student driving the shuttle. He refused a
tip; I admonished him, and he still refused, saying that the
conversation was enough. I hope he gets his O.T. degree and a
job before he loses his bright-eyed bushy-tailed enthusiasm.

A very cheery check-in girl. I was beginning to wonder what
planet I had alit on.

The lobby is under construction and is very constricted. But
how much time does one spend in a lobby. I got my room as
far from the elevator as possible (my usual request) - it
turned out to be an L-shaped thing wrapped around the fire
stairs, which were used only once that I heard, probably by
the night watch. Best bathroom of the trip.

Breakfast was the usual Hampton thing but in a conference
room because of the construction. Partway through an
attendant came by handing out blueberries and strawberries,
both of which were surprisingly good.

--

Lunch at Harry's Tap Room

The place had two Virginia Cab Fs on offer, which the
uberhot bartender allowed me to sample before buying:

Prince Michel at $6 or 9 for a big pour - this was sort of
like what you get for free at the airline club - sweet
toffee and Concord jam on the nose, rather cloying to taste;

Barboursville at $9 or 12 - semi-delicious, dryish, cherries
and currants on nose and palate, good long finish.

I got a beautiful burger done rare as ordered, substituting
a rather spicy and unsweet slaw (good) for the carbier
choices - getting hungry again thinking about it.

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