I didn't put my usual care into packing. Normally, I check to make sure I have everything I need. This comes from the days of traveling to places like Nicaragua in the 80s, where I even packed toilet paper, but for this trip, I thought I had everything in my toiletries bag, and what I didn't have, I'd be able to buy.
Well, as soon as I unpacked, I saw I was low on toothpaste. I knew I could squeeze one or two more brushings out of the tube, but I definitely would need more.
I went downstairs to look in the little store on the first floor. It was closed, but through the window, among the chotchkies on the shelves, I saw baby oil, baby wipes, ear buds and a few other random things, but I couldn't tell if they had toothpaste.
So I went to the front desk, thinking they might have toothpaste for guests who request it. After all, this is fancy hotel
The guy said they didn't have any. I asked if they had any in the little store and he said no. He said I could get it from the pharmacy, but today was a holiday, so I'd have to wait until tomorrow.
Seriously?
This morning, I passed the maid making her rounds and asked her if she had any. She asked for my room number. I thought, "ha, I'm smarter than they are!" and I expected a tube of toothpaste to appear in my bathroom after the maid cleaned my room.
I went to the pool and enjoyed the sun until it started to rain. I had a nice piece of grilled salmon and a salad without dressing, and when there was a break in the rain, I came back up to my room. I passed the maid again. She apologized that she didn't have any toothpaste.
What kind of fancy hotel is this?
I asked her if the pharmacy was closed today and she said no. I seemed to be getting all sorts of conflicting answers, depending on who I asked.
After resting a bit from my strenuous day at the pool, I went to the gym where I rode the cycle and tried to play solitaire on it. I don't think solitaire on a stationary bike is a good idea. I'd rather watch the housewives. I worked out a little but started feeling really hungry.
I also finally admitted that I have a low-level cough that has been bothering me for a few days. I think the exhaustion from traveling has made it worse.
I decided to see if I could get something Ubered here and sure enough I was able to order toothpaste and some natural cough syrup.
I then ordered room service because I was starving. I ordered grandma's chicken soup, buffalo chicken wings and a Caesar salad with chicken. Note to self: don't over order from room service when you are hungry.
The chicken soup was good, but next time I'll ask for it without chicken. I had tough chicken and that's usually what you get in chicken soup. There was a lot of it. I ate around it and ate the broth and the potatoes and carrots.
The chicken wings were good, but there were so many of them.
The Caesar salad was horrible. I thought I'd just eat the lettuce, but it was really wilted and tasted like it was made with mayonnaise.
As soon as I finished eating, my Uber driver contacted me and said he was here. I told him I was on my way down.
He said he was in the garden. I am not sure why he didn't just wait at reception, but maybe there's something about deliveries in the DR that I don't understand. Then he said he was at the door. I went to the door, and he was not there. I walked outside and he was not there. He messaged me again and said he as at the other door "that's what they tell me" So I walked to the back entrance, and he was not there. I said, "I don't see you" and he said, "I'm coming around". Of course, all of this was in Spanish, so I was not understanding the subtleties. I got a call from Uber saying my driver was looking for me. Well, I was looking for my driver. He messaged me again and said he was inside. I asked, "are you at the main entrance?" and he said yes. I got another message from Uber saying my driver was looking for me and they would cancel my order if I didn't show up. Seriously, why couldn't he just leave it with the front desk?
I walked back to the front entrance and he was standing there looking at his phone. I asked if he was at the other entrance and he said yes. I didn't bother to ask him why he didn't just wait for me there. I was very full and just wanted my cough syrup.
And so my plan for this evening is to read and relax. I have a detox massage and a pedicure scheduled for tomorrow. I'm learning what I should and shouldn't order from room service (no breakfast or salad). I'm hoping it won't rain tomorrow, but even if it does, it's better to be here in the rain than in chilly Richmond.
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