Vacay Gone Cray Cray

My trip to Spain was so crazy! After spending days packing for my 10 day vaca, when we arrived in the airport in Spain, we found out our luggage never made it.

Nearly 3 years ago I found myself unemployed after having worked nearly all my adult life. 54 yo and in a slump, couldn't find a job, I started entering contests. I was pretty shocked to receive word I had won a trip to Florida, for 4. Ended up taking my son and another couple. We only had 2 days to explore so went all the way down the Keys one day then the next hit the Everglades National Park before exploring South Beach. I thought I had some pretty cool traveling partners, didn't know flying made them crazy. While at Everglades there were alligators everywhere, in the water, on the walkways...now what would make otherwise normal people grab a gator by the tail and shake it?? It was hissing at her, my son was telling her she should let it go, she was making it mad... well, she finally let it go and I'm happy to say she still has her arm and all her fingers, lol. We laugh about it now, she said she didn't know what got into her, she would have slapped her kids if they had tried something like that. Would I travel with them again? Absolutely!!! Would I take them where there were wild animals??? NO!!!! Ha ha.

We went to our trailer at the beach and brought my daughters friend from Fl. We all went to bed and I woke up with the blinds banging on the window. Got up tried to shut windows and yelled for my husband to get up to help. Went into Florida room to shut windows where my daughter was sleeping and we r returning windows and her friend heard all the commotion and he came out to see what was going on. The kids ran outside to bring in deck furniture and the flag. Everything was blowing all over and pouring rain. Next thing wind blowing so bad we r trying to shut door to outside and a few window broke from wind so we got 2 of r dogs and got into other room to shut door and it wouldn't shut with 4 of us pushing it as my husbands thumb there so finally got door shut and took cover. My husband went into bedroom to get other dog out of her cage and thank goodness she was still there as he said it sounded like a train it took off our bedroom roof halfway and blew out more windows in there. Our neighbors roof blew off into our shed and bedroom wall. Our little boat was blown to lot next door and motor in another direction. After a fun day of fishing and crabbing this was a end to our vacation. A tornado came through, no warning by weathermen.

This disaster of a vacation started when we were going in an RV to a national archery tournament I was going to since my team won at states. We got in the RV for a 10 hour trip. The first 2 hours were fine. We were hungry so we decided to go up a hill to a restaurant. But then as we were turning the RV stopped and lost all power. We called the police and waited for a few hours. They finally came and called the tow truck. It came a few hours later. Then we had to sit in the police car while riding to the repair place. It was dirty. Then the mechanics took all day trying to fix it with my dad. They said they fixed it but we were not sure so we went home. I did not get to go to the competition. It will probably be never fixed.

Me and my boyfriend went camping this summer in Chippoke VA on the James river. The first night there we did some exploring and found a secluded beach area by the river where we walked about a mile up and down throwing rocks and putting our feet in the water. When we got back to the camp sight we realized our keys were missing. Since it was dark we figured we'd wait until the morning to go back to look for them. The next morning we went to the camp office to see if anyone had turned them in and after having no luck, returned to the river to see if we could find them. When we walked the beach again and we were quickly getting worried (being four hours away from home and not wanting to have to call my mother to drive said four hours to bring me a spare key.) Our weekend getawy was about to turn into a nightmare! We were about to give up when we saw them hanging in a tree near some lovely Korean women who had been fishing! They saw my excitement (as i was shouting and dancing on the beach) and came over telling me that they had fished the keys out of the river over a mile down the earlier that morning! Seriously a miracle! I snapped a picture of the ladies fishing as we left the beach.

So one year, my mom and I travelled Europe for Christmas break. On Christmas day, we were in Ireland, and decided to go hiking that afternoon a few miles outside of Dublin in a park my mom had found online. As we began our hike, one that I anticipated to only last about an hour, we seemed to be only traveling in straight direction. Though my mom keep telling me we were almost done with the trail, I was not as sure. After about 4 hours, through woods, fields, and occasionally roads, we found our way back to a parking lot. But it was not the same lot we had parked it. It turns out we were in fact on a trail that would take 3 days to complete, not an hour or two. Luckily, a car full of older men pulled up and offered to help us find our car and the correct parking lot. After a thirty minute drive and having to ask for directions from a runner, using this picture as the only clue to where we parked, we finally were able to find our way back to our starting point. The entire drive back, the men could not believe that we had walked as far as we had. I, on the other hand, could definitely believe, since we had left our lunches in the car, and my stomach had starting growling hours ago.

My dad and I left from Kansas and traveled to Ft.WorthTexas. We were at this little campground. We had our tents set up fire pit ready And we were just about to cook some food. The skies started getting dark and we heard on the radio Tornado waning issued for Ft Worth TX and the owner from the camp ground game and said time to take shelter. My dad grabbed everything threw it in the truck and we got out of there. We drove away from the storm and was safe. After the storm passed we came back to the campground set everything back up and the owner came and said I came back for you guys and you and everything was gone I never seen anyone pack there camp site up that fast.

Our whole family was looking forward to a road trip to Kansas to see relatives this summer. But just two days before the trip our car got stolen. Being the troopers that we are we decided to forget our troubles for a week and carry on with our trip, renting a car to take us there. One the first day after we arrived at Grandma's my sons and their cousins (all boys) headed out for some dirt bikin'. My youngest son loved flying across the tracks and over the ramps and after just a few hours he fell hard with the muffler of the bike against his leg burning it pretty badly! All the others boys kept riding and so after a day he wanted back out there and bandaged up his leg only to get on the quad and sprain his wrist so that was able to do even less. Determined to find something fun for the boys to do my husband took them all out to the video game store to buy games. When they were returning a semi truck decided to pass the rental car on the left in a no passing zone and boom! The truck driver got to close and hit the front of the car totaling it. No one was hurt. But our vacation was a complete failure! We decided to head back to Chicago a few days early!

It was my first overseas trip, first day ever out of the country as headed out around the world. First stop Paris 7:30 am arrival. First hiccup came at the baggage claim. My luggage did not arrive as safe and sound as I did. They decided to take a trip to London instead. Maybe my backpack was smarter than me ! I soldiered on alone without my backpack and arrived at my hotel. The hotel claimed they had no record of my reservation, despite the fact that I was able to show them a printed confirmation that they had only sent me a week before. It was Saturday night and it seems like everyone from the UK and Europe visits Paris for the weekend as I could not find another hotel. I finally found one at a cost of around $400 a night. After finally getting my backpack from the airport I arrived at my new hotel that evening only to find they had given my room away to someone else. But I had a reservation, I argued, how could you do that ? They wouldn't let me use their phone to make a call. I couldn't work out how to use the pay phones in the streets and no one I asked for assistance would help. In the end I slept on someone's apartment doorstep and got the first train out of there to Amsterdam the next morning. The rest of the trip thankfully was a much better experience.

My husband and I decided to take our kids to Myrtle beach for spring vacation. We drove and the trip there was great ! Our hotel was awesome and all was going well ( I was even having fun watching the spring break kids ) Our first day there we explored and all was good. The second day started the nightmare.... The kids said they were going to cook supper so hubby and I decided to walk on the beach, We got to the lobby and the fire alarms started going off, the fire panel showed fire on the 8th floor, yup our floor ! Elevators quit so we RAN up eight flights, no fire in our room. The next day there was a tornado, our van window got smashed and we had to stay in our rooms until there was an all clear...most of the afternoon ! The next day we decided to go on a charter fishing trip...It definitely was a trip...I tripped on the boat and broke my foot ! We decided it was time to head home as I was going to have to have surgery on my foot and I wanted to be at my home hospital. That trip is one we still talk about often because there is no way that all those things should happen to one family on one vacation !!!

While vacationing in British Columbia we took a drive up the sunshine coast. It's so beautiful and lush and the roads just come to an end and you have to take a small ferry across the ocean inlets to continue. We were one of the last cars on this one ferry ride so it meant we would be one of the first cars off. While crossing, everyone gets on deck to enjoy the views. Well, I decided to go back to the car and get the camera I'd left. When I slammed the door shut is when I realized I'd left the keys in the car. I went to the crew for help to see if they could Jimmy it open. They tried and tried while everyone on deck was watching and I was so embarrassed. We were just about to pull into port and they were about to break my window, because my car would have blocked everyone's exit from the ferry. Just as the crewman was about to break the window another one popped the lock and all was saved. Glad we got to leave shortly afterwards.

We lived in the Midwest when my little ones were growing up. Our favorite vacations always included a trip to the local zoo. We were on a landing watching the gorillas and I had my purse with baby supplies hanging on the stroller. It had diapers, wipes, juice drinks and snacks. While we were watching the gorillas play, someone actually grabbed my purse and took off running. Bet they just loved the diapers and all. When we left the zoo, we thought we'd have a relaxing time in the hotel pool. Well, they had resident ducks there and we couldn't get in the pool without them flying at us. We headed home the next morning and still have to laugh when we see a flock of ducks anywhere.

Michael and I went to Maui on our Honeymoon, 17 years ago. Neither one of us had been snorkeling before so we decided to give it a try. Mike was afraid someone was going to steal his keys and wallet. So he devised a plan to bury them in the sand. He stuck a big stick in the sand to mark the spot. Then he got a brilliant idea, "hey your finger is going to get cold in the water, give me your wedding ring, so it won't fall off". I objected, but he insisted on burying my ring too. We were having a great time, but when we were way out from shore Michael saw a huge eel. It saw him too, and he was mean! I hung back and stayed still, and watched that eel chase Mike down the coast! Mike never moved so fast, not even on land. He swam for about a half mile down the coast, trying to get away from that deranged eel. I was laughing and screaming, "swim faster!" Grumpily he walked back to where I was and glanced back up at the beach, there were dozens of big sticks in the sand! I sat down and laughed while he spent the next half hour digging holes. Michael kept saying "I hate the beach". I took pity on him and helped him dig, even though I loved telling him "I told you so". I never laughed so hard. (Eventually wefound theright hole.)

We decided to celebrate Christmas in the Bahamas in 2012. My daughter and husband were very excited and could not wait to hit the beach. We were escorted to our room as soon as we arrived at the hotel. My daughter started crying the moment she saw the room. The beds were not made, the carpet was filthy and the room smelled of cigarette smoke. I went to the front desk and demanded an upgrade which was clean but still a dump. The food served on Christmas morning was stale and not edible. We packed our belongings and paid extra for a nicer hotel to save our Christmas Holiday.

When we got off the plane in Ireland and the luggage was lost we should have recognized it as an omen. Instead of heading north to see the Giant Causeway we were stuck circling the airport, checking in every day to hear "Sorry...no luggage yet." We couldn't just continue our trip and have them ship it, because we had no booked lodgings...we were staying at bed and breakfasts, stopping when we got tired. On the 7th day the luggage came in. It had gone to Israel instead of Ireland. They both start with "I", right? Abandoning dreams of Northern Ireland we headed south in our tiny rental car. We were on a small country lane when we got hit by the cow. Yes, she hit us. We saw a herd of cows approaching and pulled to the side of the road and stopped. The herdsman, apparently in a hurry to pass us by, started switching the cows. They started to run...but there wasn't room for all to pass to the right and one cow panicked and tried to jump our car. She didn't make it, and neither did our driver side mirror...shattered. Shaken, we continued on, only to come to a multi-lane intersection signed as only the Irish can do -- incomprehensible! Yes, we got lost. MANY TIMES (no GPS.) We leave this miserable saga with the final scene of us trying to explain to the rental car agency how the COW hit US!

Back in 2005, my husband was studying overseas so when the opportunity to travel to Beijing came up during his short break, we thought that it would be a great time for a mini vacation. At the time my kids were 4,3 and a little under one but they were troopers as we dragged them around. Along with seeing the sights, my husband and the students we were traveling with were meeting up with Chinese university students who wanted to practice speaking English. On the last day of our trip, I was having a personal pity party as I was about to head back to the hotel with the kids to watch Chinese Opera on TV, again while my husband was out "having all the fun". Suddenly I was apprehended by a man frantically waving his arms. He was desperately trying to communicate something but all I could make out was MTV. After motioning for me to stay he returned with another man who could speak some English. It turned out that they were part of a crew filming a commercial for the Beijing Olympics. The "baby" who was supposed to be filmed that day had droppped out and they need a replacement right away. Serendipitously, we found ourselves driving through the streets of Beijing with a camera man and a director filming my little daughter beaming and waving an Olympic flag out the window. It was a beautiful and unexpected way to end our trip to China.

"Let's drive there so we can see things we'll probably never see again" has always been my Dad's favorite approach to vacationing. It has lead us on many adventures. My favorite adventure was our trip to visit my brother and his family in Orlando. We drove and decided to visit the beach to spend the day fishing in the surf and relaxing before packing up and heading to my brother's house in Orlando. In the morning, my husband and father decided to go with my brother to play basketball at his fancy gym in Orlando. Much to their surprise, they ended up playing basketball with a few very famous NBA players. After a couple of hours playing basketball, the three NBA players, along with my husband and my dad, got into a giant hot tub to relax. After 15 to 20 minutes of great conversation, the bubbles timed out and turned off. During a brief but awkward moment of silence, they all simultaneously noticed a shrimp pop up and start floating in the hot tub! My dad, apparently still wearing the shorts he wore to fish the day before, had left some bait in his pocket. Embarrassed and not wanting to admit to it, he abruptly shouted "what's going on in here?" and quickly exited the hot tub without looking back. I bet those NBA guys still talk about that hot tub shrimp today. It is surely something that they'll "probably never see again".