Anticipating a late afternoon appointment on Wednesday, I booked a morning flight back to Austin for yesterday. Over the past several months, I've chosen to fly out of San Antonio. It is only 40 miles from my home. The Austin airport is 57 miles and getting through road construction on Hwy 290 is an added stress factor. Why not simplify my life?
When I made my flight reservation about three weeks ago, I compared prices between San Antonio and Austin, and I saved a significant amount going out of Austin. In addition, I didn't have to change planes on the flight back to Austin. That was worthy of driving an extra 17 miles one way.
It didn't occur to me until yesterday morning that I'd be in the air at noon. Wouldn't you know it, the thought of skipping lunch left me hungry. So maybe I needed to eat breakfast? After packing my luggage, I ventured down to the hotel lobby to ask if they could recommend a restaurant.
Without hesitation, the clerk recommended the restaurant on the lower level of the hotel. I didn't even know the hotel had a restaurant. How could I go wrong with that suggestion?
As I made my down the stairs and into the restaurant, I was surprised that it resembled a 1950s diner. The tables and the counter sitting area, had chrome trim. The casual appearance took me back in time. During my childhood years, our kitchen table had chrome trim and vinyl covered chair backs and seats.
A waiter directed me to a table that already had menus on the table. The first breakfast item caught my attention. It was pancakes. It didn't come with bacon or hashbrowns. Of course, I may be mistaken. I didn't take the time to read the small print. What I had no difficulty reading was the price.
An order of pancakes was $36. I left the table without ordering and went back to my room. I would go on a hunger strike before I paid $36 for pancakes. Enough is enough! By the time you added coffee, tax and a 20% tip, you would need a lot more than $50 to get out the door. I wasn't that hungry!
The decision to check out of the hotel and make my way toward the Metro station early turned out to be a good choice. After walking several blocks, at the intersection where I turned left, there was a coffee shop. The pastries looked delicious. I ordered a large coffee and two small loaves of lemon cake. The cost was under $13.
I am resistive to the notion of spending three times the normal cost of anything simply for the convenience of having it at hand. Particularly when food is concerned, I will go on a hunger strike first.
All My Best!
Don
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