Spring Break in Florida (Journal Included)

We left Beltsville at 5:15 p.m. to go to BWI Airport for our 7:40 p.m. flight. There was no traffic and we were there by 5:45 p.m. The line inside the airport to check bags looked kind of long and there were not many people at the porter desk, so we checked our bags with a porter outside (who is a Southwest-authorized independent worker, whom you are supposed to tip, unlike the full time Southwest agents behind the counters inside the building). I had heard that there was a new, large Hudson News near the D concourse, outside the security gates, so we went in search of it. I was trying to find one more "made in Maryland" souvenir. We did find a Hudson News (or two), but it was nothing different or special. Note that there is an interior walkway where most of the stores are.

Our flight left 1/2 an hour late. Another flight left out of the same gate before us and people from our flight were mistakenly queuing up to go to Long Island, Islip -- quite different from Orlando. Even as the flight to Long Island was boarding, the Southwest agents said, "This flight is going to New York, NOT Florida," six or seven times. I wonder if someone still sat down on that plane and asked, "Where is this plane going?!!?"

We boarded without trouble, despite the plane being full. We were thankful that the flight was short, because it was awfully bumpy. The seat belt sign was only off for a very brief amount of time. The food was peanuts and 100 calorie packs of cheese nips.

The Orlando airport was incredibly busy at 10:30 p.m. By the time we got our luggage, we arrived at the Budget rental car counter around 11 p.m. I was surprised to find a longer line than I have ever seen at a rental car counter. It turned out their computers were down, so all the paperwork was being completed by hand. It seemed like everyone had some problem with reservations, too (questions about the rate they thought they booked, type of car, inclusion of GPS, the cost of child seats, and on and on). I was shocked by how many people did not have printed copies of their reservations. Most people had only brought along their confirmation number. I bet some, if not all, of the problems would not have existed if the people had brought a printed copy of their reservation receipt with them (so much for a paperless society, eh?). I think it was Midnight when I got up to the counter. I had a printed copy of my reservation with me, so she copied it by hand on to her forms. I had my keys in a little less than 10 minutes. 

The drive was uneventful. It was 10 miles on the Beachline Expressway (which is a toll road, like many roads in Florida) from the airport to the turn to get on to I-Drive to get to Horizons by Marriott. Check in was uneventful. 

We unpacked a few things, but went to bed very soon after getting to the condo. I looked at the clock as I went to bed: 1:30 a.m.