I’m here everyone and what a beginning to my around the world adventure. First, the flight was smooth, no shoe bombers, short fused shorts, or disruptive behavior. In other words it was a most boring flight. But, remember boring is good when you are flying. One of my bags was the first out of the chute and the other one showed up a minute or so later. You ask ---so, what is this beginning I first mentioned. Well, it was at this point the fun began. No Holland American Line person could be found. I waited about 15 minutes and then pulled out the instruction sheet and was informed if there is no agent have them paged, which I did. No HAL agent. After another 15 minutes I had them paged again. No HAL agent. So, I pulled out the trusty instructions again and was informed to call an emergency number, which I did and there was a recording saying that no one was there. So, I walked back to the baggage claim area and fortunately there was the agent.

This agent scolded me for leaving the baggage claim area after having her paged but did proceed to find me on her list of incoming passengers but with no time of arrival or flight number. After much to do about the paperwork she did make up a voucher for the Super Shuttle which was to take me from Miami to my hotel in Fort Lauderdale, about a 20 minute trip. She made sure I was on the right shuttle , with the right driver.
WRONG. Think Gore vs. Bush; hanging chads, butterfly ballots and that whole stupid thing. After all, I was going from Dade County to Broward County.

After dropping another couple off at another hotel and another couple off at the airport to pick up luggage that went to that airport instead of Miami, it was my turn. She proceeded to drop me off at the Westin beach hotel. Now, this was after I kept saying it is located on Corporate Avenue, Drive or whatever and she assured me there was no problem. Needless to say, it was the wrong Westin Hotel. Some very nice girls managed to call her dispatcher to inform her of this fact and since she had stopped for a McBurger and McCoffee (No doubt with the $5.00 tip I gave her.) she wasn’t far away. I then asked her if she knew where she was going and she gave me assurances that she had it covered. After wandering around for another half hour or so she was given instructions again and tried to drop me off at the same Westin Hotel for the second time. Super shuttle, Super stupid.

Finally, after two more telephone calls to the Westin Hotel and continuing travel directions I was delivered to the correct hotel. My trip from Seattle to Miami was 5 hours; then 4 hours from time of arrival to hotel.

As a side note I am sure you have all heard that this area of Florida is freezing and the strawberry and orange crops are in danger of being lost. The Super Shuttle had no heat so this tourist was also in danger of freezing .