Just approaching the end of our first week in Captiva and was pondering whether to post this or not, as we've done virtually nothing except lie by the pool with a big jug of margheritas a a pitcher of cold red wine. The weather is spectacular, the pool temperature is 92 and the suntan is coming on nicely. We've rented a house for a month and decided to take it really slow and relaxed.
Started last Saturday, with taxi collecting us at 6.30am for an 11am flight MAN-PHL. We knew before we left the house that the flight was delayed, but couldn't change the taxi time at that stage. We needed to get there early in any case because Mrs T had broken her ankle (just got out of plaster) and we needed to organise wheelchair etc. Also, frustratingly, because she travels on a visa, we couldn't check in online. Arrived at MAN in plenty of time, got a wheelchair sorted, checked in and headed to breakfast at the place which sounds like Ben and Jerry's but isn't. I can never remember the name.
There are lots of advantages to having a wheelchair in the party; you get to use the fast lane through security and board ahead of everyone else. On this occasion it made no difference however because there was no queue at all through security. I was surprised given it was the first school holiday weekend, I had imagined the place would be heaving. Anyway, we got away about 2 hrs or so late and had our first experience of the new US Airways 333. Decent seat pitch and width (although, having lost a chunk of weight recently, I may have confused whether the increased space was down to me or the seats). The entertainment system is way better than Virgin's and all in all an uneventful but pleasant flight.
All changed when we got to Philly. It was packed, noisy, slow and tiresome. The wheelchair made a difference. We got collected off the flight and, with the rest of us in tow, Mrs T was wheeled to the special line to clear immigration. It took about 45 mins, and we were now running very tight on time for the connecting flight to Fort Myers. Through customs with the usual questions, why Mrs T the only one with a Visa? What do you do for a living? Etc. The queues were the longest I have ever seen and all the staff were commenting the same. It seems just about all the flights in were delayed and all arrived at once. If we hadn't had the wheelchair advantage I doubt if we would have made the connection.
The really nice lady who had pushed Mrs T around for an hour or so got us to the gate with little fuss. The frustrating part is clearing immigration, then finding suitcases, then through customs, then security again, all the while having to show and reshow passports and boarding cards. It's a real pain. Usually, on this route we have plenty of time and it is no trouble, but this time, rushing to catch a flight, it was very frustrating.
It was then, arriving at the gate, that I made a terrible mistake which I will regret for years. I only discovered what it was when we arrived at Fort Myers. The lady who had pushed the wheelchair left us off at the gate, hung around a bit to make sure we were OK and left. Slowly...
I don't know how I didn't spot it. I put it down to us being novices with wheelchairs, but I assumed she was an airline employee and I remember thinking to myself I should make sure I tip her well, then wondering is that what you do for wheelchair assistance, then it was all rush to get on board and I thought no more about it. Until we reached Fort Myers and the guy doing the wheelchair thing there made it very clear he was not an airline employee, but a porter and expected a tip.
I've been puzzling how I could find the nice lady from Philly and apologise, plus give her a generous tip, but I fear it may be impossible. The guilt is keeping me awake nights!
So, to Fort Myers, off to Alamo to collect the car. Blasted self service machine scanned the pre booked voucher and announced 'go to desk'. No explanation. Hate it. So, queue for 30 mins, listening to everybody ahead of us trying to fend off the upgrade offers and extra insurance etc, then it was our turn. This time, there were only 5 of us and I had booked the full size SUV, which is great if it's a Tahoe or an Expedition, but rubbish if it's almost anything else (in my own humble opinion of course). The worst we ever had was a Durango, which we took on protest because there was nothing else, but we hated it with a passion. Of course this time, all they had was a Durango. Or upgrade to a Suburban. Now, normally we would do this and we have used a Suburban many times and like it, but we aren't doing much driving this time and it just seems a waste, so, with a bitter taste in my mouth, and because it was now very late, we took the flipping Durango. It turns out it has been restyled since our last one and is actually OK. A bit bigger and not nasty inside.
Then off to the bridge over the Causeway onto Sanibel, where we collected the Villa keys, and then the leisurely drive to Andy Rosse Lane on Captiva. It feels like coming home. This place is where we were meant to be. The house is very new, and huge by our UK standards. Sleep then up early to go back to Fort Myers for groceries.
I've just finished a rum and coke whilst writing this and we're just about to get changed to head to Doc Ford's for an early dinner, so more when I've got back. Enjoy the opening ceremony!
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