I rise at 6:30 AM. Which is loads of fun. It takes a while longer for Andrew to rouse himself.
We're outside a little before 8 and order an Uber. Which is where the fun starts. Andrew moves the pickup point a little, which makes the pickup point look like it's on Druid Street. Where they can't stop. We see one Uber just sail past and cancel.
Moving the point further up York Street doesn't help. And the Uber seems to stop somewhere else entirely.
We move to another, quieter street, cancel the first car and order a new one. It's getting on for 8:30 AM when we finally get aboard.
Checking in isn't much of a problem. Nor is security. There are signs saying liquids are allowed on domestic flights.
“They must have the new X-ray machines here, Andrew.”
“And not have the stupid EU rules.”
“Exactly.”
“Why the fuck did the EU forbid liquids in hand baggage?”
“No fucking idea.”
We head to the massive lounge. No booze available until noon, sadly. I content myself with some breakfast. Starting with fruit. Followed up with an eggy thing, cheese and tomato. Coffee and orange juice, too.
We time getting to the gate perfectly. Our group is boarding and we walk right onto the plane.
It's a very full flight. Totally full, I think. But it isn't a very long flight. Not much over an hour.
Andrew's bag pops out pretty quickly but mine takes a while. We go for the Uber option. A couple seemingly cancel. Maybe we aren't going far enough for them.
When we arrive at our accommodation, we realise that it isn't a normal hotel. There's no reception. I look through my emails for the confirmation. And, sure enough, there are some special instructions. I should have received an email 48 hours before arrival. With a link to a website to perform a virtual check in.
Fuck.
Andrew finds the company's website which has a phone number and an email address. I email them and wait. And wait.
With time ticking by, I wonder if I'm going to get a response. I start looking for nearby hotels.
"Do you want to wait here longer or should we just get a hotel now?"
"Let's get a hotel now, Dad."
There's one a couple of hundred metres away. We walk there.
"Do you have any availability for today?"
"Yes."
That's a relief. I was a bit worried there for a minute. It’s quite a way to any other hotels. Not walking distance.
Up in our room, I see that there is a reply to my email. Though they haven't sent a link to the check in portal. I ask them to send me it. While we're waiting, we go to the BWS for supplies of booze.
There's a sign on the door saying "Back in 10 minutes."
"Let's have a drink over the road while we wait." Andrew suggests.
"OK."
The Empire is a typical, if rather large, balconied corner hotel. Valley Hops Hazy IPA for me, Pilsner for Andrew.
About as soon as we sit down, we notice that the BWS is open. We'll just be having the one, then.
Bourbon and beer bought in the BWS. We go back to the hotel. And find that I have an email with the necessary link. The online check in process goes fairly smoothly. Luckily. I have a photo of my passport and of myself saved on my laptop.
Armed with the passcode, we head to our accommodation. And can get in! Hurray! We return to the Empire to celebrate. Where it's happy hour. I get a Valley Hops Hazy IPA again. Andrew is still on Lager.
"Do you fancy a curry?"
"I'm not really hungry, but you can have one."
What a shocker: Andrew isn’t hungry. Again.
Curry it is, then. For me. Watching me eat a curry for Andrew. We walk up the road to Bangalore Days. I order a goat curry with parathas. And a whisky. Andrew gets . . . a beer. There’s a shocker.
The curry is good, but very heavy on the ground coriander. Could have been a bit spicier, too.
On the way back to our hotel, we drop by Bonnie Doone, a craft beer bar. Where I have some hazy thing. Again. Don’t blame me. That’s often the only type of IPA available.
We only have a couple, then head back to our hotel. Where it's sandwiches, bourbon and YouTube.
Empire Hotel
339 Brunswick St,
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.
https://www.empirehotel.com.au/
Bangalore Days
421 Brunswick St,
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.
Bonnie Doon Public House
454 Brunswick St,
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006.
https://www.bonniedoonpublichouse.com.au/
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