Hypocrisy thy name is Mandragora

[mandragora]

So, a few weeks ago I pitched a hissy fit about the (stupid) new visitor regulations introduced by the US at their airports and grandly announced that I would no longer be visiting the US.

That was before I remembered that I'd promised my mother and sister that I'd help out in taking the nephews to Disneyworld (Auntie M is the only one who not only is willing to go on all the rides but actually enjoys going on them).

And before I received the offer of a free flight to the US, with a choice of Atlanta, Boston, New York or Washington.

The free flight comes courtesy of the Daily Mail. No, of course I don't read the Daily Mail! But my mother (who is in some ways typical of women of her age and class) does. She passed on the voucher to me on the basis that I was the only member of the family likely to use it.

Thus, because I am a hypocrite, and because, hey, free flight! I now have the dilemma of where to go of the four cities on offer and when.

The only city I haven't been to of the four is Atlanta. And it must be said that there are certain attractions there, such as thermidor! and laurakaye! And I did say that I'd like to visit... This is leaving aside that Atlanta has, I gather, a very different 'feel' from other places I've been to in the US, which I'd like to experience.

Then there's Washington. I didn't have enough time to explore last time I was there. I really liked the city, which was a surprise, as I didn't think that I would, and would like to see more. And it also has LJ friends, such as smaragdgrun! and justacat!

Then there's New York. Ah, New York. Love it! I don't think I've met in person any of the LJers on my friendslist, but this would be a great opportunity. Assuming they would want to meet me, of course! It has been a while since I was last there, plus I could do the out of the way places, having seen all the major NYC tourist attractions.

Last, but not least, there's Boston. I didn't manage to see everything I wanted last time I was there, so this would be a good opportunity to see more. I would like to meet a certain curmudgeonly LJer of my online acquaintance, but I know he's shy so no joy there. But it's a lovely city in its own right.

I also have to travel between November 2004 and April 2005, so most places are likely to be a tad on the chilly side when I visit them. But that's okay, I'll just get the thermals out. In addition, because it's a free flight I may not get my choice of either destination or preferred time, so have to be flexible and list 3 choice of dates and all of the destinations in preferred order.

Incidentally, if anyone reading this can be similarly flexible, the offer states that friends can travel at 'preferential rates'. I don't know what they are, but could make enquiries if anyone is interested.

But. What do I do? Which city do I list first? Anyone want to meet up with me if I come visit your city?

Comments

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

NY fans are always ready to meet with fans visiting from other places. *g*

Well, I'm not the offical spokesperson or anything, but *I'd* like to meet you if you visited.

[darthrami.livejournal.com]

Then there's Washington. I didn't have enough time to explore last time I was there. I really liked the city, which was a surprise, as I didn't think that I would, and would like to see more. And it also has LJ friends, such as smaragdgrun! and justacat!

And me! and cmshaw! And a bunch of other people. And we can, er... throw eggs at the white house! Although then you'll probably get to see the inside of a US Prison...

[twistedchick]

I'm also in the DC area and would love to meet.

I haven't been to Atlanta in decades, so my opinion is not useful there. But NYC is fascinating, Boston is interesting (though a bear to get around in at times) and DC has a few good points.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

New York is fab, but it's kind of a waste to use a free flight voucher to go there, because it's one of the cheapest places in the US to fly to - and one of the most expensive places to stay.

If it was me, I would be swithering between Washington and Atlanta, because I've never seen either city. (Boston I've visited twice, and like very much, but again there are cheap flights to Boston... but oh, the bookshops! and the museums! and the maple syrup!)

Um (she says shyly) if I count as a friend, I'd very much like to know what the "preferential rates" are.

[laurakaye.livejournal.com]

Eeeee!!! Eeeee!!! *flails*

Atlanta Atlanta Atlanta!!

We'll be the least freezing cold!

And I have a guest room! You can stay for FREEEEEE! That is your official invitation.

Come see uuuuuuuuusssss.

[moljn.livejournal.com]

You should go to Atlanta because it sounds nice and that's what I would do!

Seriously, laurakaye beat me to it: It'll be warmer. And you haven't been there.

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

Ditto.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not the offical spokesperson or anything

Too late! I've designated you the official spokesperson. *g*

I would very much like to meet you, as well. Not to mention visiting NYC again.

So much so that I think even if I don't take up the free flight I must come and visit soon anyway. Yonmei has a point when she commented below that flights from London to NYC are usually pretty cheap anyway, at least flying from the London end. But I've been thinking for a while about nipping over to NYC for a few days. So, yes, I'm gonna come, free flight or not, at some point soon(ish).

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Oooh yes, would be lovely to see you and cmshaw again.

And, seeing the inside of a US prison could be interesting - I could compare and contrast to UK prisons ;)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Ah ha! Another DCer. Washington is looking more attractive by the minute. Yes, would really like to meet you too if I come to Washington.

And, obviously I don't know DC well, but I really did think that it had a nice feel. Plus, The West Wing. (Yes, I know, it's probably not filmed often in DC).

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

You make very good points about the cost of flights, although IIRC I don't think that flights to Washington were expensive either. I think Atlanta is the most expensive to fly to.

But I'm now thinking that I most likely would pay for a flight to New York, rather than use the voucher (I have a hankering to go back there at some time in the not too distant future). I suspect that the free flight is most likely going to come down to either Washington or Atlanta.

I'll see what I can do as to finding out the rates - I may have to make a booking to find out the cost, which is pretty stupid, but you don't actually have to pay the cost if it's too much, according to the booking form. I do, of course, have to pay airport taxes, but figured that would be the case.

Oh yes, the flights are from either Heathrow or Gatwick, so you'd have to get yourself down to London, although it does say that you can fly from another airport for a supplement. However, as I would be flying from London I don't know if you'd be able to fly from anywhere else.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes, this sounds lovely. Would love to see you again.

Thank you so much for the offer, which is much appreciated. I'm thinking that Atlanta and Washington are firmly shaping up as the preferred choices, although I'm still wavering as to which is first.

Decisions. Decisions. This is so hard.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

You should go to Atlanta because it sounds nice and that's what I would do!

LOL. Very good advice!

And, yes, I haven't been there, so that is a compelling reason. Warmer is also not unwelcome.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

That's great! And I've decided that I am going to come visit in the not too distant future, even if it's not on the free flight. I just want to come to New York again. NYC is one of my favourite cities. Love it!

[akaspeedo.livejournal.com]

Cool :)

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

I can get myself down to London - it adds way too much on to the cost of a flight to add in a supplement from Edinburgh. Let the train take the strain, as they used to say.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Too late! I've designated you the official spokesperson.

Eek!

So, yes, I'm gonna come, free flight or not, at some point soon(ish).

Cool!

[temaris.livejournal.com]

If you pick Atlanta I may well be asking about the friend rates thingy too... after all, both of my previous visits to the US have been in your very good company at some point!

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Ah, you flatterer, you! Also, remembering a sick and miserable Mandragora in Chicago perhaps a tad economical with the truth ;)

It's come down to Atlanta or Washington, so I'll probably be putting them both down. Sure you don't fancy Washington as well (lots of people we know are there)? Just think, seeing an American jail...Mmmm.

[temaris.livejournal.com]

*g*, the convention was much fun. Shall draw a delicate veil over the rest, and think halppily of book buying frenzues at nummy exchange rates.

I stayed in Washington once before, courtesy of derora, and would love to go back, but if it's choices, then I always go with the one i haven't done yet (which includes Boston, but I don't know anyone in Boston. Yet *g*)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Let the train take the strain, as they used to say.

Great. I'll let you know the outcome of 'the enquiries'. I take it that you'd like to go to either Atlanta or Washington?

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that you went to Washington before San Francisco. Or was it afterwards? Whatever.

Thing is, I may only be able to make enquiries as to cost by making a booking (stupid, I know), and looking at the form it appears that the best thing to do is to put down both Atlanta and Washington and give a choice of 3 dates. Then see what the results are. So, if I can't get Atlanta d'you fancy Washington in any event?

And, what dates between November and April 2004 can't you do? Exclude the public holidays, 'cos we can't get flights then under the offer iae.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say, for the purpose of making enquiries I may need to put down 3 alternative dates for travel. So, which dates between November 2005 - end April 2005 can you do? Exclude public holidays because we can't travel then under the offer iae.

[uschickens.livejournal.com]

Ooooh. Atlanta is three and a half hours from Nashville. I can do that. I throw my vote in for Atlanta! (Though Washington *is* oodles of fun.)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Yay! Seeing the Chicken again would be lovely. I'm gonna put both Atlanta and Washington down and see which one I get. I can see I'm going to end up visiting whichever one I don't get this time round at some point soon.

Because if I don't get Atlanta this time I *need* to see the lobster and the chicken and Laurakaye, well at least she's human, right!? *g*

[twistedchick]

Some exteriors are done here, and location shots, but not much more.

There are a lot of fans in the area, probably about 30 or so that I can think of offhand, though I don't see most of them much of the time.

[temaris.livejournal.com]

Not the week of the 12th dec. Not the week of the 10th March. Otherwise whenever :-)

[temaris.livejournal.com]

er, and yes, washington also good :-)

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

Well, any of them. I mean, Atlanta would be top of my list, then Washington, but New York and Boston are both lovely places to go.

It really depends on a number of things - what my income is, and what price the airline tickets are once the discount is applied, and (once the destination is fixed) how much staying there will cost me, but, in principle, this would be great.

[yonmei.livejournal.com]

If we eliminate public holidays, then right now your guess is exactly as good as mine what dates will be good for me to travel. Literally. My job ends end of this month: I've no idea what I'm doing after that. Telling you I want to go on this holiday is a brave banner held up against possible desolation: I am determined to believe that I will be regularly and gainfully employed well before the end of April.

That said, it seems safer to suggest 2005, when I will almost certainly be inside a new holiday allowance, than 2004, on the offchance that my holiday allowance might be too limited to go anywhere.

Also, as a general principle, flying back from the US is better on a Wednesday or a Thursday, giving extra days to recover from jetlag in.

[foolme8.livejournal.com]

me! me! me!

...that was my attempt to express polite interest on the 'come with' preferential thingy. But is there some kind of limit to how many people you can pull through with you? - because if so, I don't mind being left out too. Really.

Really :)

But if limits are not in question, then Washington sounds fantastic. I went as a child and would love to see it as a grown-up wannabe. But Atlanta would be cool too, experience the south.

Off-topic: - I'm just settling down now to watch the tapes you so kindly lent me. Ta! And I have the Battlestar Galactica if you haven't watched it yet.

Have a great weekend ;)

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Your subtle ploy worked and I'll add you to the friendslist. There doesn't appear to be a limit on the number of people but I don't know how cheap the flights will really be.

What dates can or can't you do? It's most likely I'll be looking for a flight in 2005, because I have a 3 months long trial starting in October 2004. Unless the trial date gets put back. Again.

Exclude public holidays (can't fly then under the deal). The time period is 1 November 2004 to 30 April 2005 BTW.

Hope you enjoy the tapes!

[foolme8.livejournal.com]

After my course ends August, I have no plans anywhere with anybody! - so free. I was planning on a SOuth America thing this year but it's looking more unlikely with each passing moment.

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. I've been meaning to go to South America for years but haven't made it. However I'm firmly of the view that I need a holiday fairly soon. I just have to decide where to go, which is a really difficult decision. I probably won't be able to take off more than a week due to work commitments, so it can't be long haul.

Oh, on Saturday do you want me to bring you some more OaT tapes? That's assuming you've managed to watch the first batch by now, of course.

[foolme8.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started on south america! *g* I have all the travel books and all the injections and still, I'm here. Should consider myself lucky I hadn't gone so far as to get tickets. 3 months for it would be ok, a year better, and 3 weeks minimum if pushed :)

And I was looking at James Villas website recently - cuz I like torturing myself - and they have pretty good lastminute offers, if you're looking for a suggestion for your week. I'll hate you, but who cares... I was so tempted, but then I got railroaded to go back to IOM and dreams of vanishing to a deserted mediterranean island ended.

And yes please! - to the OAT. I'm working my way through them, and since I have these unexpected free days, I'll definitely have seen these by saturday. So, shall I bring them and do a mutual handover? Do you want the BG tape too?

[mandragora1.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the James Villas tip. I'll check it out nearer the time. At present I'm in the midst of attempting to agree a revised court timetable with The Other Side, so I don't know when I'll be able to take a break.

Shall bring OaT tapes with me, and yes please on the BG (although I don't know when I'll get round to actually watching it. Sigh).