Split decision
Last weekend we took a bus trip to Baltimore to see the two Yankee games. It was great! Except that Mariano blew the save on the second game. We had been thinking about driving to Baltimore last spring, but I couldn't decide which hotel we should get, and Michael said to wait, because we could buy the tickets any time. 3 days later the brochure came from Newington Parks and Rec, and we sent our check in the next day, because I was afraid the bus would sell out. The trip included the bus, one nights lodging, and tickets to both games, so all we had to do was wait and hope for good weather.
Saturday dawned with gorgeous weather predicted for the whole weekend! We caught the bus at 8 AM. There were 5 empty seats, so it didn't sell out, but it was close. We didn't know anyone else on the bus, but there was a group of men travelling together, and they all sat in the back of the bus and drank beer. They were obviously enjoying themselves, but did not get too rowdy. The weather was actually cloudy when we started out, and Michael kept saying if it rained it would be my fault, but it cleared up nicely by the time we got there. We stopped for 30 minutes for lunch on the NJ Turnpike and made it to Baltimore by 1:30. The tour guide handed out the hotel keys. Our luggage was the first off the bus, so we grabbed it and hurried up to room 514 in the Hilton. Unfortunately, the key would not open the door! After several trials, the hotel maid walked over to help us, and pointed out that the key said "Marriott"! No wonder! So we walked across the street to the Marriott, and sure enough the key worked. We left our suitcase and walked half a mile to Baltimore harbor to do a little sightseeing. The place was mobbed with Yankee fans! We took a few pictures and started thinking about where to eat dinner. We went to one place around 4:30 and the wait was already 90 minutes! So we walked a little further away from the stadium and found Mo's Seafood Restaurant. They had fabulous crab cakes! They were huge -- we should have shared an entree.
Unfortunately the service was a little slow and we had to rush to get back to the stadium before the first pitch. There was a long line just to get into the stadium, and then we had to follow a slow moving line of people to get over to the 3rd base side. However, we made it for the National Anthem. Our seats were pretty close to the field, but way up the 3rd base line, so the players were a little bit far away, and it was a little hard to see home plate. The game was sold out, and there were probably 3 times as many Yankee fans as Baltimore fans, so there was a whole lot of cheering going on. The Yankees scored in almost every inning, and won convincingly. CC got his 20th win, yay! The game was over around 10:30, and it was a pleasant stroll back to the hotel.
The next morning we slept in until 8 AM and then went downstairs to the breakfast buffet, which was included. Great buffet! Afterwards we walked over to Babe Ruth's birthplace, then went and waited for the gates to open. There were crowds of Yankee fans waiting with us. When we got through the gates we walked down Eutah street and looked for the home run plaques. Then we got Boog's Barbecue. By this time Eutah Street was mobbed, and we had trouble finding a place to put it down to eat it. We finally ended up sharing a table with a couple from New Jersey. Then we checked out the area over the scoreboard and went to our seats. We were in the same area, 2 rows further back. The game time temperature was 80, but in the sun it was really hot. About 3 PM the sun went behind the stadium and then we were really comfortable. The game started out with the Yankees scoring in the first, but then not so much, and they kept leaving me on base. By the bottom of the 9th they were only one run ahead, so Mariano came in and gave up a home run. They lost it in extra innings.
Not only did they lose, but the game took an hour longer than it should have. The bus was supposed to leave 30 minutes after the game was over, and everyone was prompt, so we did! However, there were a lot of traffic jams on the way back, because of all those hordes of Yankee fans trying to get back to the city. We finally made it back home about 1 AM. Luckily, I managed to get a fair amount of sleep on the bus, so I wasn't too tired today.
Even though they lost one game, we still had a really good time, and I feel like I had a week's vacation. The tour guide has already reserved the hotel rooms and tickets for next year -- when can I sign up?
Saturday dawned with gorgeous weather predicted for the whole weekend! We caught the bus at 8 AM. There were 5 empty seats, so it didn't sell out, but it was close. We didn't know anyone else on the bus, but there was a group of men travelling together, and they all sat in the back of the bus and drank beer. They were obviously enjoying themselves, but did not get too rowdy. The weather was actually cloudy when we started out, and Michael kept saying if it rained it would be my fault, but it cleared up nicely by the time we got there. We stopped for 30 minutes for lunch on the NJ Turnpike and made it to Baltimore by 1:30. The tour guide handed out the hotel keys. Our luggage was the first off the bus, so we grabbed it and hurried up to room 514 in the Hilton. Unfortunately, the key would not open the door! After several trials, the hotel maid walked over to help us, and pointed out that the key said "Marriott"! No wonder! So we walked across the street to the Marriott, and sure enough the key worked. We left our suitcase and walked half a mile to Baltimore harbor to do a little sightseeing. The place was mobbed with Yankee fans! We took a few pictures and started thinking about where to eat dinner. We went to one place around 4:30 and the wait was already 90 minutes! So we walked a little further away from the stadium and found Mo's Seafood Restaurant. They had fabulous crab cakes! They were huge -- we should have shared an entree.
Unfortunately the service was a little slow and we had to rush to get back to the stadium before the first pitch. There was a long line just to get into the stadium, and then we had to follow a slow moving line of people to get over to the 3rd base side. However, we made it for the National Anthem. Our seats were pretty close to the field, but way up the 3rd base line, so the players were a little bit far away, and it was a little hard to see home plate. The game was sold out, and there were probably 3 times as many Yankee fans as Baltimore fans, so there was a whole lot of cheering going on. The Yankees scored in almost every inning, and won convincingly. CC got his 20th win, yay! The game was over around 10:30, and it was a pleasant stroll back to the hotel.
The next morning we slept in until 8 AM and then went downstairs to the breakfast buffet, which was included. Great buffet! Afterwards we walked over to Babe Ruth's birthplace, then went and waited for the gates to open. There were crowds of Yankee fans waiting with us. When we got through the gates we walked down Eutah street and looked for the home run plaques. Then we got Boog's Barbecue. By this time Eutah Street was mobbed, and we had trouble finding a place to put it down to eat it. We finally ended up sharing a table with a couple from New Jersey. Then we checked out the area over the scoreboard and went to our seats. We were in the same area, 2 rows further back. The game time temperature was 80, but in the sun it was really hot. About 3 PM the sun went behind the stadium and then we were really comfortable. The game started out with the Yankees scoring in the first, but then not so much, and they kept leaving me on base. By the bottom of the 9th they were only one run ahead, so Mariano came in and gave up a home run. They lost it in extra innings.
Not only did they lose, but the game took an hour longer than it should have. The bus was supposed to leave 30 minutes after the game was over, and everyone was prompt, so we did! However, there were a lot of traffic jams on the way back, because of all those hordes of Yankee fans trying to get back to the city. We finally made it back home about 1 AM. Luckily, I managed to get a fair amount of sleep on the bus, so I wasn't too tired today.
Even though they lost one game, we still had a really good time, and I feel like I had a week's vacation. The tour guide has already reserved the hotel rooms and tickets for next year -- when can I sign up?