retro post: a quick trip to Madison
To regale you with my travels in June, let's start back on the 12th-13th when I went to Madison, WI. As you recall, I've been to Madison before. In fact, I must have been a few times, because I remember renting and returning cars at the airport and the correct route to the VA Medical Center. I stayed again at the Best Western near the VAMC campus, and I have to say it was much different from my previous experience. I was not on the concierge level and was not impressed with the hotel at all. If I return, I will ensure I'm on the fourth floor, where cookies appear on your pillow and drinks are free from 5-7. The highlight of this trip though were the cab rides.
On the way from the airport, my cabbie asked if I had been to Madison before, and I told him I had. "Ah, then you don't need the grand tour," he said. "Heck yeah," I said, "tour away." I swear this guy knew something about a building in at least every block. The Onion reporter who had a toilet paper museum, the vet school that makes fresh ice cream, the lake into which Otis Redding's plane crashed. Glad I heard that one after I landed. Madison has the most restaurants per capita, and also the most lawyers. Apparently the U of Wisc law school is so high class that if you graduate with a degree from the school, the state waives your bar exam. One of my most interesting cab rides, perhaps second to only New York City. At the end of the ride, the driver mentioned that he also gives city tours for $42/hr. My 20 min ride was $26, so I suppose the tours are a deal.
The cab ride back to the airport was less than stellar. A co-worker had a card from the driver who had brought him in from the airport, so he called the company. Three of us piled in, and off we went to the airport. Instantly we were stuck in construction, and sat for minutes at a four way stop while the cab driver motioned other folks in front of him. Out of the traffic, he made a left off the main road and pulled a u-turn in front of the library. What the ...?? He pulls into the parking lot (double parked), slams it in park, and jumps out, calling over his shoulder, "I have to drop off a package." We considered stealing the car since he left the keys, but it turns out this was a ride share service. Our co-worker now admits that he rode with two people he didn't know to other hotels on the way in. Geez.
We made it to Chicago, almost in time for the earlier flight. Almost. Oh well. The next plane ride started out great. I didn't have a seat assignment, which is never a good thing, and then the gate agent told my co-worker to back away as she still had to finish up the last flight. They then announced the flight was full and they were taking no standbys. They called me up and gave me a boarding pass ... I was in the exit row!! My co-worker was stuck with his middle seat. Mwaaahahaha
Due to weather in the DC area, our flight was delayed for about 2.5 hours on the tarmac. They were promising updates "at the top of the hour". Oy. It was a United flight, so you can listen to Air Traffic Control and those guys are a hoot, so that passed the time. I got home just after midnight and our client meeting was at 8:30 am. Lots of coffee for that one.
On the way from the airport, my cabbie asked if I had been to Madison before, and I told him I had. "Ah, then you don't need the grand tour," he said. "Heck yeah," I said, "tour away." I swear this guy knew something about a building in at least every block. The Onion reporter who had a toilet paper museum, the vet school that makes fresh ice cream, the lake into which Otis Redding's plane crashed. Glad I heard that one after I landed. Madison has the most restaurants per capita, and also the most lawyers. Apparently the U of Wisc law school is so high class that if you graduate with a degree from the school, the state waives your bar exam. One of my most interesting cab rides, perhaps second to only New York City. At the end of the ride, the driver mentioned that he also gives city tours for $42/hr. My 20 min ride was $26, so I suppose the tours are a deal.
The cab ride back to the airport was less than stellar. A co-worker had a card from the driver who had brought him in from the airport, so he called the company. Three of us piled in, and off we went to the airport. Instantly we were stuck in construction, and sat for minutes at a four way stop while the cab driver motioned other folks in front of him. Out of the traffic, he made a left off the main road and pulled a u-turn in front of the library. What the ...?? He pulls into the parking lot (double parked), slams it in park, and jumps out, calling over his shoulder, "I have to drop off a package." We considered stealing the car since he left the keys, but it turns out this was a ride share service. Our co-worker now admits that he rode with two people he didn't know to other hotels on the way in. Geez.
We made it to Chicago, almost in time for the earlier flight. Almost. Oh well. The next plane ride started out great. I didn't have a seat assignment, which is never a good thing, and then the gate agent told my co-worker to back away as she still had to finish up the last flight. They then announced the flight was full and they were taking no standbys. They called me up and gave me a boarding pass ... I was in the exit row!! My co-worker was stuck with his middle seat. Mwaaahahaha
Due to weather in the DC area, our flight was delayed for about 2.5 hours on the tarmac. They were promising updates "at the top of the hour". Oy. It was a United flight, so you can listen to Air Traffic Control and those guys are a hoot, so that passed the time. I got home just after midnight and our client meeting was at 8:30 am. Lots of coffee for that one.
Labels: travel
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