I Go to Rio

Actually, I don't. I'm going to Cabo! But the Peter Allen song has been stuck in my head since I made my reservation a few hours ago. I had the hardest time figuring out where to go. (I know, first-world problems!) I was limited by airline (United) and time (five to six days so I could be back when my first summer class starts). I found a few good places -- I was looking at the Caribbean, thinking I could find someplace just a jaunt away that wouldn't use all my travel credit, and I would fly first class. That would have been great. But the few places to which United flies in the Caribbean have return flights anywhere from nineteen to twenty-seven hours. That's insane! I was able to find trips to those places that were around five or six hours, but without fail the returns were way too long.

Finally, I decided to go to Key West. I went there once but only for a few hours. I had been on Marco island and took a full-day boat trip to Key West. I did all the touristy things: drank a margarita and ate a cheeseburger at Cheeseburger in Paradise (or maybe it was called Margaritaville; it was a long time ago and I really don't remember). I rode around on the little town trolley and went to -- shoot! I can't remember the name of it now -- the place where Hemingway used to hang out, Joe's or something like that. I went in the big souvenir market. After all of that, I reboarded the boat just in time to catch the most gorgeous sunset I've ever seen, and went back to Marco Island.

So I had my flights all lined up, but I had to make the reservation by phone. I don't know why I couldn't just enter the credit code and PIN, but I couldn't. I called with my flight information ready (even going to Key West, the tickets were too expensive for me to fly first class). After navigating the automated phone system for ten minutes, I was put through to a representative. When I gave him my flight credit and plane information, he put me on hold. For a long time. When he came back, he advised me that, because those particular flights were technically operated by "associate airlines" I wouldn't be able to use my credit. Well, damn! I said, "Okay. I want to go to a beach. I was hoping for the Caribbean, but tell me what you've got." And he did. He was really pushing Hawaii at first, but I told him I've been there three times and, while it's lovely, I wasn't able to travel long enough this time to spend the full first and last days in flight. Finally, we hit on Mexico. He said I could go to Mexico City. No, thanks. I've been and it's okay (the buildings are beautiful) but I don't care about going back.

I had the United website up on my computer, looking through my options as he brought them up. I said, "What about Cabo? I've heard that's nice." He checked, and said that, yes, Cabo used United flights all the way through. So without further deliberation, I booked the flight -- for two weeks from today! I am so excited! My son, who is visiting for the weekend to attend the college graduation of his best friend (my young associate), was a big help. He was very encouraging when it came to my traveling to Mexico by myself and even getting a car. Expedia has a deal on a hotel/rental car bundle that's incredibly cheap. I'll book that tomorrow. In just two weeks, I'll be relaxing in Cabo San Lucas, on a beautiful beach just steps away from my hotel. And I'll be singing, "When my baby smiles at me I go to Cabo, San Lucas, Mexico," (it works if you say it fast) and sipping a margarita. In my mind, I'm there already.