Our spring break crew consisted of myself, my husband Kevin, my parents and our children: Ashlenn (15), Riley (17), Brysen (13) and Kyli (6).
We had one of the new Alaska Air non-stop flights out of PDX and were scheduled to take off at 9:56 a.m. and reach PV at 3:15. With the time change it was just a little over a 4 hour flight. We got to the airport and whizzed through everything so had time to stop in at Starbuck's for coffee and goodies. While we were sitting there you could see them working on a plane. Later we would find out that this was OUR plane! This might not be a big deal to some, but we have to medicate my father to even get him to the airport. At almost boarding time we see that our flight has been delayed a half hour. No biggy until they come on the PA system and say that the delay has been caused because when our plane came in from it's previous flight it was hit by lightening and had to have some new parts put on it AND they weren't sure if these new parts were going to fit right. We nearly lost my father right then and there! I just looked at him and said in my sternest voice "take another pill!" I was freaking out only because they were talking like the flight for the day might be cancelled. However, after about a half hour they again came over the PV system and said the plane went back together and we'd be loading in minutes. After all was said and done we were only set back about an hour. I have to say that straight flight was awesome. I haven't been able to find them any more on Alaska though. Does anyone know if they've done away with them already?
The customs line at the airport was long! We've been strictly May/October PV people because we prefer cheaper prices and less people! This trip was defiantly going to be different. By they time we got through our luggage was sitting waiting for us. We loaded up and the group in front of us got the red light so we had Kyli push the magic button and cheered when we got the green! Used the cash machine, then got a van ride to Villa del Palmar which was $40.
I had made reservations at Villa del Palmar 6 months ago. We had a 2 bedroom suite and my parent's had a large studio. I had also requested that we be fairly close to one another, at least in the same building. So we get there and a nice young woman puts me in a line at the counter, then the girl at the counter sends us over to the girl at the desk. I slowly realize that the girl at the desk is giving me the same type of room as my parents. I whipped out my confirmation and tell her I have a 2 bedroom suite - that I need beds for 6 people! They didn't have any 2 bedroom suites available. I wanted to go ballistic however I knew that would get me NO WHERE quick. I'm also reading A New Earth with Oprah and trying to be a nicer person. I asked when they would have a 2 bedroom available and she said the following day. So, she and I worked out an arrangement of 2 rooms for the night and then we would move the following afternoon. Still not that happy but what else are you going to do? My parents were on the same floor across the way. As we were leaving the reception area we were met by another nice young woman that stopped us and had a large folder and wanted to give us a tour and map of the facilities. I told her that we were very tired from traveling all day and that we just wanted to freshen up and head out to dinner. Oh no, she had a special card that we could use for a discount at our dinner if we wanted to take her tour. Thank God I knew this was coming in advance. I said "listen, we are all very tired and hungry and we aren't interested in what you want to do right now. We are not going with you." She says "oh, you are very angry". No, I was tired and hungry and that combination (just ask my husband) can be construed as very angry. We made it to our rooms, freshened up a bit and then caught taxis to Pips for dinner. The kids love Pipis - oh heck, we all love Pipi's. Had about a half hour wait but had a nice time talking with a couple from Oregon and Ashlenn, Kyli and my mom played in the playground across the street. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/SPrestegard/100_1916.jpg Dinner was good. Lots of food, lots of drink. Love the guacamole there. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/SPrestegard/100_1929.jpg
We left there and headed down toward the Malecon. We were just a little bit down the first block and my mom says "oh my God, there's a man in the street. I think he's been hit by a car." Well, there WAS a man in the street, lying cross ways and there was a car at the end of the block. Either A) the man fell after the car went by B) the car hit him or C) the car ran over the top of him. There was a couple ahead of us and they ran back to a store and asked the clerk to call for help. The man was dressed all in white, like a beach vendor and his arm was kinda up in the air and he was stiff as a board. Kevin grabbed his hand and his eyes fluttered a bit. There was just no response - nothing. It was like he was dead. Kyli said in her most panicked voice "I think we need to pray for him." So, I grabbed her hands and we said a prayer that the man would be okay. A crowd started gathering around and it was getting really upsetting for our kids, especially Kyli so we decided that there was really nothing more we could do, help had been called, so we decided to move on.
We made our way to the Malecon and enjoyed the whole Sunday night crowd. We stopped to look at the huge sand sculptures which are just incredible. http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/SPrestegard/100_1939.jpg Kyli had boxed up her dinner and the gentleman by the sculptures came over and asked if he could have her food. She gladly gave it to him and he sat down and ate like he hadn't eaten in days! We live in an area of very little need. Our children are fairly sheltered from the harsh realities of life in the big city coming from an island with not even a stop light. So, starting off our trip by seeing a guy laying injured in the road to a stranger asking for your food left us with some wide eyed kids. Time to call it a day! It was back to Villa del Palmar BUT the kids were adamant about trying out the pool. It was late and we had the whole pool to ourselves. I stepped down onto the ladder up to my ankles and the water was very cool. Didn't think I was going in until my lovely daughter came up behind me and gave me a big shove. So, swimming I went. We later went and settled into our two rooms and called it a day. A very long day.
