St. Maarten: Flight Time

There’s something about a trip that brings a smile to your face as you escape from the normalness of the day, experience life in a new way, and see a little more of the world. This trip was different but memorable in a sense where we went to a place we’d been only a year ago but we took a fresh set of faces. We took Randy and Michele to St. Maarten. We’d gotten a great deal on a junior suite and teamed up with Eric to deliver a great Christmas present. The only problem with a Caribbean stay is that it takes a full day to get there. 

So that’s where we’ll start, with a 14 hour layover in Minnesota. One we didn’t plan well as we had already left the sterile area when we found out that Kevin was there as well as he was the saving grace that came to watch Grandma so Randy and Michele could escape a bit. So with so much time, we headed over to the Mall of America, which according to Matt is a “National Monument”.

We perused a few stores and enjoyed bagels, coffee, and lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp. I had a soup and salad combo with Caesar and shrimp bisque and Matt had the Jambalaya and french fries, which he was thoroughly impressed with. Ironically, the only thing we purchased from the Mall was food but went into some cute shops and looked at everything from electronics to clothes to candy to Williams Sonoma where I drooled over some great kitchen gadgets and fun. 

Then Matt thought I tried to kill him. On the Nickelodeon themed ride called the Orange slide or something like that, which is a roller coaster, and the Fairly Oddparents Ride, which is a combination of a roller coaster and a teacup. It wasn’t pretty. We also went on the Oddparents ride because he exceeded the height limit for the brain surge. 

We met up with Randy and Michele that afternoon, who flew in from Minot and we took off for Hotlanta. This year was a bit different than last year as we stayed overnight in a nearby hotel. Not much time in the bed but it was much better than the lobby couch. For supper that night we enjoyed airport pizza…not too bad of deal per slice.

Best meal of the day: Lunch at Bubba Gump’s. 

MJR: Last year was better.

ALR: We are only a day in, what are you getting at?

MJR: No, the whole first class thing. I had leg room. 

ALR: You can say that this year you won’t sneer at me for taking the first class pillow and blanket. Should we show your parents where we stayed? Right outside of the IHOP?

MJR: I hate this! I hate this!

5th grade boy in front of me looks back at ALR and MJR

ALR: He doesn’t do well with rides.

5th grade boy in front of me: It’s not that bad, it just goes fast.

ALR: See, you’ll be fine, honey.

MJR: ##@$%

Day 1