Travel Tips

We had a very interesting trip to Tennessee, our friend's daughter was married in Nashville. It was a beautiful ceremony and we enjoyed a lovely reception with our friends.

I did learn a few things on this particular trip:

1. Before leaving write on the calendar that you need to take in the other car so you aren't doing it 5 minutes before you are supposed to be heading to the airport. Also make sure you have everything on the packing list.

2. Continue to expect very long lines for security at the airport in San Jose, and at the Starbucks, but that Hot White Mocha is worth the wait.

3. When you get lunch at the airport, be sure to check that you got everything in your bag before sitting down. And that person carrying the small dog into the Burger King line will likely be on your plane...and sit right next to you.

4. Plane seating is very cramped and trying to watch a movie on your laptop will cause you to have to redo your knitting later on, even if you try to pick up those dropped stitches.

5. Use the restroom on the plane because for some reason they will be cleaning every available one when you arrive at the airport.

6. Before make hotel reservations, check with them to see if there is any major event happening. It can be quite unnerving when you arrive to your hotel with about 5o bikers hanging out in the front of the lobby, smoking and drinking beer.

7. Do not try to go to dinner in downtown Nashville on Saturday after 6:00 p.m., not only is there no parking, there are people everywhere, and many of the same bikers from the hotel.

8. Check everything in the hotel that it works before you are late and heading out the door the following morning to find the batteries and video tapes that should have been on the packing list. It can only takes one an hour to change rooms and dress for a wedding. Fortunately the room we moved into was much nicer and worth the effort.

9. Sunday afternoon most bikers must have to return to work.

10. There is a new tradition at weddings called the the unity sand ceremony. Practice ahead of time pouring the sand so your bride doesn't smack your hand for not doing it right in the middle of the actual ceremony.

11. Spending Monday and Tuesday with friends makes you miss them even more, but also makes your very thankful for the little bit of time you got to spend with them on this trip.

12. Cracker Barrel Restaurants are always a great place to relax,enjoy a great breakfast or lunch, especially now that the ones in Tennessee are no all smoke free. And there is always something you can find in their store to bring back home.

13. When they offer you the GPS unit, take it, we did a lot of "sightseeing." Even by the time you leave you still don't really know the roads that well, and you can easily miss the turn off for the airport.

14. Planes get delayed and waiting in an airport for your next flight gives one plenty of time to knit. I actually got tired of knitting, and didn't even take out my knitting on the plane. I just wanted to be home, see my kids and sleep in my own bed.

As much as I enjoy traveling and taking vacations, Dorothy was right there really is "no place like home."