we did reach the airport in time and, more miraculously, in one piece.
Our airplane journeys passed without much incident except for Emma's
too near neighbour between Miami and New York who was a large, sleepy
Scot with halitosis. Most of our air related excitement came when we tried to
board or leave planes, something I have talked about already, and which still
gives me flashbacks.
And then there was the toy-transport. This was called things like 'sightseeing
trains' (in St Augustine) or the 'trolley tour' (Key West). Whatever the name
the vehicle was the same - a golf cart sized vehicle pulling several trailers with
bench seats and awning roofs - glamorous! In spite of the fact these only
travel at about five miles an hour they are a good way to see and hear about
the places you are visiting. You therefore get a very different client base than
on 'grown up' trains or buses.
No locals here because either they have heard it before, or they
actually have to move faster than snails. I cannot see a businessman sitting
patiently at five to nine on a Monday morning briefcase and umbrella in hand
with the 'train' snaking in circles round the city monument/celebrity. Unless
said businessman was British of course. No homeless/jobless people
randomly starting conversations on these trains either as the tours are too
expensive and are no warmer or more comfortable than park benches.
The only crazies you get are the drivers, and it is not surprising if they
are slightly unstable having listened to/said the same spiel a million times.
Spiel that included such great presentation techniques as having impressions
of Kermit the frog or Humphrey Bogart giving the safety instructions - keep