First Impressions

All is not as it seems. I am so confused. It was difficult to get on a plane at suppertime, but they only served us a snack. We flew to Detroit where it was now late, and we had not had supper. We ate at McDonald’s in the airport, and got on another plane for Amsterdam. On that plane well into the flight, they served us supper. A few hours later, they served us breakfast. Of course we were not hungry, because we had just had supper. Once in Amsterdam, we really needed coffee to get ourselves going, but it was lunchtime. Of course, we did not eat lunch, because we just had breakfast. On the plane to Aberdeen, I was beginning to get hungry for lunch, but they only served a snack of cookies. We landed in Aberdeen around 5:30 PM, went through customs, got our luggage and caught a taxi to the hotel. It should have been time for supper, but by now, I was too confused to eat. After we checked in, Toby and I went for a walk, bought a Fanta and some potato chips that were flavored like chicken (I kid you not). We snacked and stayed awake until 8:30 before we were too exhausted to do any more and went to bed. I awoke after being dead to the world, hearing footsteps in the living room. I did some quick math (I’m in bed. Toby is beside me. Who the heck is in walking around?) Oh yeah, this is a hotel – people come and go, but it had been so quiet all night. It must be morning. Now I was fully awake and my brain had kicked into high gear, but a look at the clock told me it was only 11:30 PM. At home it would be about 5:30 AM and we would be getting up, but it was time to sleep. After some tylenol and a drink of water and much flipping and flopping, we slept. When the alarm went off at 5:30, I thought, "are you kidding – now I’m sleepy!"

First impressions
It was almost dark when we landed in Aberdeen, so I did not get to see much of the countryside. It was clear and cool while waiting for the taxi. The taxi driver was an older grandfatherly-type man (short, chubby and cute as the dickens). He was very talkative, and I wish I could write using his wonderful Scottish accent. He had traveled and seen more of America than I had, and began telling stories. He told us that he had recently been to Colorado on a dude ranch. It was sure cold wearing his kilt while trying to ride a horse! He told us that he had run into a charming lady who noticed his accent and struck up a conversation:
Lady: You have a wonderful accent; where are you from?
Man: From Aberdeen.
Lady: Oh, I have seen the movie "Braveheart."
Man: I was in that movie!
At this point he said his wife’s eyes rolled back in her head wondering what he was going to say next.
Lady: Oh really!
Man: Yeah! You know the scene where the English are coming up the hill and the Scots are lined up. Then the Scots turn and flip up their kilts and show their bottoms? Well, I was the third bottom from the left.
The lady looked skeptical.
Man: Do you want me to prove it to you? I’ll show you!
Man’s wife: No! Do not show her! It is not a pretty sight.
The taxi driver continued telling us all sorts of stories about his USA travel including meeting and being the guest of Alan Jackson at the Wild Horse Saloon in Tennessee. I was totally charmed.

Our hotel was not what we thought it was going to be. The photos and descriptions were great, but the reality was a little different. After we checked in to a small lobby in a downtown building, we were taken down the street and around the corner to another entrance. We went up a flight of stairs to our suite. It was old, but quaint. Our first impression was disappointment. It was rather shabby-chic and small. Our second impression after our walk, was better – it is rather funky. It is clean. It will probably do us fine, but not when Jesse and Mom come over. We may need to look around. For the money, it should be better. I may do some comparison-shopping before I settle in. I don’t want to complain. After all, I am in Scotland! All will be good.