Text 9700, 79 rader
Skriven 2014-02-09 02:25:00 av MICHAEL LOO (1:123/140)
Ärende: LAS trip 176
====================
I got this screaming fare out of Baltimore and so
endured the bus to the Metro to the commuter rail
to the bus routine, getting to the airport with an
hour and half before the flight, plenty given that
I have the PreCheck, and anyhow BWI is pretty much
a wasteland at this hour, so I debated getting a
burger someplace, as there would be no waiting, and
the Continental food would suck, but I didn't bother
and camped out near a US Air electric outlet instead.

UA1411 BWI IAH 1749 2018 738 3A

Moseyed to the United area toward the end of boarding
and had to rearrange some bags overhead to get my
stuff in (dirty looks). The seat was one of the
Continental seats so not conducive to sleeping, as it
was way too hard and way too upright. Luckily there
was DirecTV with Zimmern and other comic characters,
so that was incentive to sleep.

Courvoisier was - as it so often is these days - a
harsh mistress. I don't remember what the food was
and doubt that I ate it.

I had just time to check my e-mail before going to my
next gate. I got lost as I always do in Houston, turning
down the corridor toward the D gates rather then up the
other corridor to find the rest of the C gates (which
are in several different places). I swear one of the
signs is wrong.

UA1490 IAH LAS 2110 2237 739 3B

Again I was one of the last to board, only this time
I had the aisle (figuring I'd have old man problems,
which I did) and didn't bother anybody.

Snacks: I had Toblerones two, to which the flight
attendant nodded approvingly. More acrid Courvoisier.

Bumpy flight coming in to Vegas; we curled around the
city in an unfamiliar way before landing; perhaps I
was on the wrong side to see the Strip. Of course I
was on the wrong side to see the Strip.

I called the Doubletree shuttle; the driver said he'd
be there in 20 minutes; he was almost on time,
picking me up down at the semi-secret Level Zero,
which is where the city bus also stops. One usually
sees crew and airport employees here; it has a
pleasant underbelly feel to it and is generally
unknown to tourists, who are encouraged to use the
famously dishonest and overpriced taxis.

The shuttle driver complained that he had looked for
me at Terminal 3, despite the fact that I had told
him specifically to pick me up at Level Zero.
Apparently now that the new terminal is open, even
fewer people know about the regular place. Ten
minutes home, seemingly half going in circles on
flyovers and roundabouts and in tunnels under runways.

It's a nice enough hotel, and I'd stayed there before
with either Lilli or Benita, I forget whom. It is a
non-gaming hotel, so relatively quiet, and the staff
are pretty nice. The rooms and beds are comfortable
and reassuringly Hiltonish. Applebee's is the only
restaurant within walking distance, though two buses
serve the vicinity, plus the shuttle guy will take
you anywhere within I think 3 or 5 miles for a buck
tip, which means to the bus stop or the mall.
Applebee's serves beer.

The room was fine, but the heater couldn't accommodate
the unseasonably chilly weather. Bed was most welcome.

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