Wednesday 8 April 1981 - Stamford
We decided to have a rest day today
because we have been moving pretty fast for a couple of weeks, so Rab and Nora
went off to look at the local shops, while Uli took Matt and me to the local
toy shop - Sols. What a shop! It was just as Matt had imagined Schwarz to be
and had a marvellous collection of Star Wars figures, some at half the price of
Schwarz! He got a good selection, but he could have had $24 more if we hadn't
bought anything in NY, which would have got a lot more for him.
Uli and I spent the rest of the
morning loafing around, playing games and chatting and then in the afternoon
had a game of racketball. I enjoyed that thoroughly because I haven't had any
exercise for a long time. It took us a long time to get used to the very odd
bounce of the ball, but we had an enjoyable game nonetheless. I had intended
going to Fantasia (the old Disney film, which was showing locally) that
night, but the women had nipped off to do some shopping when we got back from
the courts, so we just had an early night.
Thursday 9 April 1981 - Stamford
We had intended going up to Mystic today,
but Vicki wasn't 100 per cent and neither Rab nor Matt felt like a long drive
(+- 3 hours each way), so after a late breakfast, we just spent the morning and
early afternoon cruising the back roads of Connecticut. It was very interesting
and we saw some lovely homes.
We packed when we got back to the
condominium - where the hell we acquired all the extra goods which are now
bulging our suitcases, I just do not know. Once again, we had a relaxed evening
with the Schafers. It really was pleasant seeing them again.
Friday 10 April 1981 - Disneyland
Up early this morning - about 06.00 - and
finished the packing. After a quick bite to eat, we set out soon after 07.00
for La Guardia. We only had to be there at 09.00, but Uli was worried about the
early morning traffic. As it turned out, there was very little traffic and we
got there soon after 08.00.
We bade farewell to the Schafers and
checked in at the Eastern Airlines desk, where Matt was given a Disneyland play packet! It turns out that Eastern are the
official Disneyland airline. The flight down
was very nice - we even got breakfast, consisting of three chipolatas and two
pancakes with blueberry jelly. It was as hot as hell when we got here and very
muggy - reminded me of Durban.
 |
| How about that denim stetson? |
The travel agents had cocked up our
hotel booking. We should have been in Ramada Inn South, where the transport was
all laid on. We are in Ramada West, with no transport! So we hired a car (with
some difficulty, because the space shuttle is being launched this weekend and
there are not many cars available) - a Plymouth TC3, which is a compact and
quite big enough for us. I felt a bit of a fool when I tried to drive off because I couldn’t release the parking brake.
I had worked out how to set the brake –
with a pedal on the floor, which was unusual as all the parking brakes I had
ever used were handbrakes. But how to unset it? I had to trek back from the far
corner of the lot where the car was to ask at the office. The boys there
laughed and explained to me that there was
handle on the dash that released the brake. So we managed to get going There
is a bit of a problem with the air conditioner and we may have to swap it. We
finally got to the hotel at about 13.45, having come the long way round and Matt
and I had a cooling swim. The hotel isn't up to much, but as a base it is fine.
We had a bowl of chilli at Wendys
and a couple of burgers and then were off to the waxworks, which Matt and Rab
enjoyed. I must say they were very lifelike. (The waxworks that is, not Rab
and Matt) We picked up some provisions on the way home and got back about
19.30. We had a snack supper and watched some pretty awful TV until we all fell
asleep.
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