WE ARE IN HALIFAX, CANADA!!!
After a long day of travel, we have made it. With one hour of sleep under my belt and a mother who pulled an all-nighter, we drove into the Birmingham airport at 5:00AM Tuesday morning. Good thing our flight from B’ham to LaGuardia was not even half full because my checked luggage weighed as much as a human being. Seriously.
Looking through my mother’s old photos, I came across one in particular with little Louisa with her pile of suitcases ready to set sail. I laughed and thought there was no way I would take that much stuff! And while I did not take as many bags as her – two heavy rolling duffel bags does seem excessive. Thank goodness that once I get it into the cabin, I’m good to go for 109 days!
So, the LaGuardia airport was frustrating. We came in on a small plane, exited the plane down stairs onto the runway, boarded a bus to transport us to a building, walked around asking every person in a uniform where the Air Canada terminal could be found. We were directed to hop on another bus. Once we reached the main terminal, we had to pass through security again – which I must interrupt myself to ask a question. When we take our shoes off in security to walk through – what fungi on the ground are we stepping on? All I know is from here on out I’m always wearing socks to the airport.
Okay, well once down the terminal, which is not air conditioned but decorated nicely with huge commercial fans – mom notices all the people sneezing, and we both start to feel like we are surrounded by the swine flu. I talked and laughed with Caroline on the phone for a while, and then thank goodness boarded the plane and off to Canada!
Now we are in Nova Scotia. Which is beautiful by the way! We squeeze my extra human body (luggage) into the car and drive away ready to reach the hotel and SLEEP.
Now that I'm going to share a little secret with you. I have no sense of direction, so why my mother trusted me to get us to the hotel is beyond me. But, I sat up straight and buckled-up determined to get it right. Everything was going great. I was feeling so good about it that I talked to Paige on the phone for a bit and was looking off enjoying our lush surroundings. Well, I was supposed to get us to the MacKay Bridge. Here is what I was looking for:
Seems like it would be pretty manageable for a 20-year-old to find, right? WRONG.
We missed the exit without knowing. End up in a shopping mall, ask random guys how to get to the Westin. Attempt to follow directions, but because the little symbols on Canadian road signs are impossible to read unless you have 20/15 vision – we miss it AGAIN. End up in another shopping complex.
This time Mom takes things into her own hands. Goes up to a random man waiting outside a steak house. This time with a map – she is taking notes. Back on the road, we finally get it right. Hit a toll – don’t have Canadian money. Mom uses our default excuse – “WE ARE FROM ALABAMA.” He laughs and says to toss 3 American quarters in the bucket.
Now we are cruisin’ down Barrington street – almost there! We are excited. Somehow miss the turn onto Hollis Street. One thing that is fascinating about these Canadian people is I don’t that they make mistakes when driving. Why you ask? There is NO WHERE to turn around if you screw up! Trust me. Mom and I know. Well, even though we are exhausted we get here. I make the bell boys at the front get the extra human out of the car.
Regardless, WE HAVE MADE IT!
