Day 2 - Becoming Legit

I set my alarm for early morning so that I could work out in the fitness room, but dreams of parking attendants jumping up and down on my van waving flags as a towing company hauled off my vehicle had me deciding to take care of my car situation first. I told Susan my plans, grabbed my ID, and slipped out of the unit.

On Mondays Wyndham has a "Welcome Breakfast" for all owners and because my last breakfast was such a downer in the North Carolina resort I felt that I should check out this resort's offerings. It was on the 8th floor in the ballroom so I exited the elevators and found myself in a huge foyer with the ballroom to my left and a young girl seated behind a desk full of stuffed animals to my right. A large window to the outside was in front of me. I looked around, located the ballroom doors, which were closed, and started in that direction.

"May I help you?" asked the stuffed animal girl.

"I'm just going into the breakfast," I replied smiling.

"Oh, well, the doors are closed."

I looked at the doors and looked at her and nodded. Yes, thank you and why is it that you Daytonaians feel the need to point out things that we can see for ourselves?

"The breakfast started at 8:00 and now the doors are closed so you can't go in there," she continued. "I'm sorry. You can come back at the next one at 10:00."

Several thoughts passed through my brain:

1. The pamphlet in my kit said the breakfast was from 8 - 10 so what are you talking about? 
2. What does a closed door have to do with eating breakfast? 
3. Why the hell are you sitting out here with a bunch of stuffed animals?

Instead, I ignored those thoughts and asked her directions to the Bus Depot. She looked at me with great despair.

Her: "Oh, you have more than one car here? Well, okay, you know how to get across that thing to the garage?"

Me: "The catwalk?"

Her: "Yes, the catwalk. Well, go across that and go down to the first floor. When you get down there walk underneath the bridge. You know the bridge right? The bridge that goes across?"

Me: "The catwalk?"

Her: "Yes, the catwalk. Walk underneath that and walk down the side where there is this walk that you can walk on. Walk on that until you reach the Bus Office. You'll have to walk around the side because the door is hard to see, but it says "Office" on it so that is how you can tell."

I thanked her and began to follow those directions. I got back on the elevator and rode it down to the 4th floor, stopping to pick up people on each floor. I exited, walked down the long corridor past all of the eager salespeople hoping to sell me more Wyndham points, and exited onto Ocean Walk.

From there, I took the catwalk across, walked down two flights of stairs, passed under the catwalk onto the concrete walkway that went behind the restaurants and the garage. I walked the entire length of the garage searching for a door. To no avail. I turned the corner and found myself in the back entrance into the garage.

I walked up to the attendant in the little house and asked him where the office was located.

Him: "Go out this way (pointing in the direction I just came) and walk along the walkway about halfway until you see this blue door. It is hard to spot because above it there is a sign that says "Exit" but on the door itself, it says "Office". That's how you know that it is the right door. It is hard to spot, but that "Office" on the door will let you know you are right where you should be."

I thanked him, left, walked back down the way I had just come until I reached the catwalk. There was no blue door marked with anything. There was no door anywhere along that garage. The only thing was a rail that went the entire length of the back of the garage. By now I was muttering and cursing and sweating, and thinking I would cool off I entered the parking garage where I had come down the stairs. Sitting in the middle of the garage were two men in a golf cart talking to two other men who then thanked them and heading back into the depths of the garage. I went up to them and asked directions to the Bus Office.

Them: "Follow those men,"

They jerked their thumbs to the two men they had just been talking to and I did I as I was told. I followed the men through the garage to a sidewalk were we walked until we came to a blue door that said "Office." Ta Da!

Inside, was a long corridor and at the end of the corridor was a door to the left marked "Office." Inside this office was a harried-looking woman who spouted out, "We take checks or cash and it will be $60 for the week for parking for Wyndham guests. I won't charge you for this Sunday or next Sunday. Fill out this form."

I realized I did not have anymore than $20 on my body so I retraced my steps back through the garage, up the stairs, over the catwalk, up the stairs, into the resort, up the elevator, into our room, got the money, and then did the whole thing over again to pay my $60 for parking at a resort!

Needless to say, I did not go to the fitness room after that, but I am now legit in the parking garage. Let the vacation begin!