Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Continued....

Here is where I stayed. Just kidding. My hotel was the little one with the red roof, just to the right of the huge, rather posh hotel.
If you look closely, you can see that on the left side of the red-roofed hotel is an open-air restaurant.
This is a closer pic. You can't see the restaurant, but the dolphin statue is directly over the front door.



The first morning, I went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. The service was great. I did not want hash brown potatoes with my scrambled eggs and bacon, so the waiter suggested sliced tomato instead. Perfect! I was pleased. He seemed to know what I'd like. We chatted a bit about Fort Lauderdale and then I went to the beach.

One evening I had supper there. I ordered mahi-mahi served with veggies on a bed of rice. Ummmm - it was good. There was a man at the next table who struck up a conversation. He seemed friendly enough. We chatted about his internet business and his family.

"So what are you doing tomorrow? Not that I'm trying to ask you out!"
I didn't know whether to be insulted or to laugh.
I chose to laugh.
"I know you weren't."

Yikes - why did he have to justify a perfectly innocent question? I know he was just curious, or trying to make light conversation.

Then an older couple sat at the next table. I don't remember how they got involved in the conversation, but it was funny to be having a conversation with all these people as if we were at a dinner party. Except that we were seated at different tables, and had to shout a little to be heard over the noise of the other diners.

Breakfast time, on my last day of vacation. I wanted something simple and quick. There was a young lady sitting alone at the next table, eating blueberry pancakes. They looked yummy, so I ordered some. While waiting for my order, I started a conversation with the lady. We talked for a bit and then she left.

I was still waiting for breakfast and I was hungry. And getting crabby. I looked around and saw that other people (who had walked in after me) were already happily munching toast and bagels.

Now I was really getting annoyed. Where was my waitress? I hadn't seen her in a while. Did she go for coffee? Or home? To the beach?

I stopped a waiter "Is there a problem with my order? I haven't been served yet and they have." I made a sweeping motion with my arm to include the tables around me. And I didn't care if I sounded like a school kid.

"I'll go and check." he said amicably.

I waited a few minutes. My waitress still had not come back. Then I saw the waiter come back from the kitchen (where I presume he was checking on my order) and start clearing tables at the far end of the restaurant.

What the heck? Did he check for me or not? Well how about coming over to me and saying "your order's coming right up." Or "it will be just a few more minutes". Or... anything!

Now I was really mad. So up I got, once again, and angrily flounced away, down the sidewalk intending to pick up a ready-made sandwich at a convenience store.

I had gone about 2 blocks when I came across a familiar hotel. Wait a minute, didn't I stay here 4 or 5 years ago? With my Dolphin group? I'm sure of it! We stayed one night and the next day, departed for the Bahamas for a Swim with the Dolphins program. I remembered (back then) that breakfast had been included. Hmmmm. I wonder......

I walked right in. Said good-morning to the few people milling around. Popped a bagel into the toaster. Spread it with cream cheese. Poured a cup of coffee and took breakfast out on the terrace. Ahhhh this is more like it! My crabby self faded away. And Mrs. Crabby turned into Mrs. Full-stomach-satisfied. And Mrs. Satisfied turned into Mrs. Oh-no-did-I-really-do- that?

Walking back to my hotel, my conscience was prickling me. Maybe I should walk back and put a couple of dollars ..... where? It was a self-serve kitchen. There was no where to put any tips or money. Should I leave it at the front desk? The desk clerk would pocket it. Well so what? It would ease my conscience. But then I would have to explain....

Too late now anyway. I had to get packing. So I left a few dollars for the maid who cleaned my room.

I know. She had nothing to do with it. And it was a totally different hotel. But I felt better. And made blueberry pancakes for Hubby and me when I got home.

19 comments:

Morning Glories in Round Rock said...

But what a nice thing to do--to give a tip to someone you don't even know to say thanks. It's a karma thing for lack of a better word. You really couldn't pay for the complimentary breakfast at your old hotel, but you paid it forward by leaving the tip. I think that was a thoughtful thing to do. I am sure there were plenty of people staying at the old hotel that didn't take advantage of the breakfast, so it's not like you took food away from someone else.

Thanks for taking us along on your vacation. I am really enjoying experiencing your holiday through you pictures and posts.

Maggie May said...

That was funny! Not sure if I'd have had the nerve for that!!!!!! Good for you. Surprising what you do if you are hungry.
What I want to know is....... what happened to your breakfast order? Why didn't they serve you! I am the type that needs closure!!!!!
Enjoyed this post!

Cheryl said...

Ooooh Wendy.....I was cringing as I was reading that....I would not have the nerve.....

That scene would make a fabulous comedy.....It did make me laugh....

I like your hotel....I do not like large 'posh' hotels. I have stayed in them but they are way to formal for me. I love family run hotels the best....I like to chat with the people that own it.....
The hotel that we stayed in at Cornwall has been owned by the same family for over thirty years ......I like that...

Great post.......

Wendy said...

Hi Jen, thank you for your kindness. I still feel a little uneasy about taking breakfast that I didn't pay for. I know the hotel can afford it and nobody went without. But still...

Hi Maggie, I don't honestly know. So we can invent a closure. The waitress was busy down in the kitchen stuffing herself on blueberry pancakes (that Wendy ordered). Or, she totally forgot my order, since a cute guy started flirting with her. Who knows?

Hi Cheryl, thanks for coming along on my vacation. I think it's old age or maturity that makes me intolerant of bad service. And it's much worse if i'm hungry. I really do get irritable. Low blood sugar, I'm sure.
I remember your vacation in Cornwall. It is nicer to stay in a family owned place. Service is warmer, friendlier.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

My hubby is like you--very impatient when we have to wait on something at a restaurant. I'm not patient either--but don't get as upset as he does. We've never walked out before---but I admire you for doing it. When service is BAD--there is just no excuse..

Overall, it seemed as if you did have a wonderful vacation.

Hugs,
Betsy

Mark said...

Way to take control of the situation! It all worked out in the end, ha!

Shammickite said...

I had to smile when I read this post... good for you, popping into your previous hotel and getting a free breakfast, and also good for you by leaving a tip for your maid. One extra bagel here or there won't make a lot of difference to a hotel, and at least walked off with a full tummy! And wrote about it, giving us all a laugh!

Wendy said...

Hi Betsy, Oh yes I did have a wonderful vacation. These are only a couple of annoying things. I don't let minor things spoil vacations. There's always something that doesn't turn out right.

Hi Mark, yes it did!

Hi Shammickite, thanks for your support.

JeanMac said...

Wendy, I'm so glad you got away and had fun. Seems like a perfect getaway.

beckie said...

Funny! We are all guilty of something like that once in a while-makes you feel a little foolish, but then you have to laugh at yourself. I am so glad you enjoyed your trip. Sounds as though it was just what you needed. Thanks for sharing with us.

Abba's Girl said...

Isn't it odd - great service some meals and no service others...

Glad you had a wonderful time.

Lori B said...

Ha ha! Hunger surely escalates any emotion! Glad you were able to satisfy yours. The vacation looks wonderful and I love how everyone was talking at the restaurant in such an open friendly mood.

mj said...

Oh! That is just too funny! I admire your ability to get the job done. You recognized a need that had to be met and you dealt with it! I wouldn't feel guilty, it was just a bagel and besides you made up for it by leaving the cleaning lady a tip. Not every guest does that.

Rose said...

This is so funny, Wendy! I'm not sure I would have had the nerve to walk into the other hotel and help myself to breakfast, but I certainly would have felt the same guilt trip you did afterwards. Leaving the tip for the maid was a good way to deal with it; after all, the leftovers at the other hotel probably would have been thrown out anyway:)

I'm glad you finally got your blueberry pancakes:)

Abba's Girl said...

Hello Wendy, I deleted the emergency prayer request post...my friend's grand daughter got out of a taxi at her hotel last night in New Orleans waved to her friends who dropped her off on the way to Bourbon Street...Hannah disappeared and never made it in the door...I will have the details next week when her family returns from New Orleans. She was in dire trouble and said she could tell when people started praying...there are a couple of angels involved in the story. I will post more next week.

Annette

Unknown said...

Loved your post! Love the way you use your words!
I usually start a conversation with other guests/diners. And also love to see whether other diners are having anything that's mouth-watering to look at--makes ordering easier!! But when you're hungry and your order doesn't come---I can understand. I wonder what happened....

Wendy said...

Hi JeanMac, I certainly did and it was well worth it!

Hi Beckie, I did enjoy myself. Thanks for popping in and sharing with me.

Hi Annette - yeah, it's like that. Some days the service is wonderful and others, it sucks!

Hi LK, when I'm hungry - watch out! I liked it too. The open friendly atmosphere while eating. You often don't find that in a restaurant. People keep to themselves.

Hi Mary, oh I was ready for my breakfast all right. And the sandwich shop just too far away.

Hi Rose, if you look like you are where you belong, you can pass it off. Since I was familiar with that other hotel, I knew exactly where everything was. And I also figured out that the person at the desk would not remember every face, every day, since people change. I just said "good morning" to people as if I belonged there. No one questioned me.
I just had to make blueberry pancakes when I got home. It stayed on my mind all that time!

Hi Annette again, I do hope everything is o.k. Will check back with you.
Hugs

Hi Kanak, no idea. It's possible the order came minutes after I walked away. But I did not wait. My stomach was grumbling! It is fun talking to people and learning where they are from, what they do for a living, and all that stuff. I'm a people person, so naturally talk to others.

white_lilly said...

Hi Wendy! That was so funny and so random I can see you are ready to take on the world again :)

x0x0x0

Allie said...

You have guts, lady! That story made me smile.