Last Monday, weather forecasters were already warning the Daytona Beach area of the looming nightmare of Tropical Storm Fay. Our biggest concern, from the sixth floor of the American Beach Resort, was really about our rental car. I can only imagine that a wrecked rental car will not improve the fortunes of a tropical storm-wrecked vacation and with the parents a few short miles away, using their garage seems like the better part of valor.
Well, we took a chance that Monday would be our best beach day and enjoyed walking the shore and checking in on some of our favorite haunts. Monday night, it was cloudy, but really not that ominous.
We awoke Tuesday to some wind and fine rain. We hit A1A to check out the sights and drove down to the Main Street Pier to learn it was pretty much all shut down (we did find a package store open to mail back some souvenirs). But bar after bar and restaurant after restaurant was closed. Soggy but sober, we got back to the Americano and I filmed the now-classic pool deck rant.
However, I was not going to let the closing of the hotel bar go without comment. Hence, the Great Tropical Storm Fay Bar Rebellion. I informed the front desk that my airline could not fly me out (and we were not going to spend an extended time in the airport waiting on standby). Other restaurants and vacation spots in the area were closed due to hysterical forecasts (that really never developed to any real degree where we were). We were a captive audience.
Therefore, we had no choice but to continue our vacationing ways.
We wanted the bar opened.
My rant was met with pretty much blank stares.
Undeterred, Mary and I mixed up our own drinks in our room and brought them down to sit at the bar to watch the unceasing Fay coverage on TV. Soon, other guests congregated to discuss why the bar was not open and to mock the "Bar closed due to bad weather" sign. Others, too, went to the front desk. In a short time, management heard our plea and realized our logic. And they responded in great fashion.
Harriet from housekeeping was sent to open the bar.
Harriet had previous experience and a great sense of humor (not to mention adventure). And she soon embodied the great tradition of customer service that makes us want to go back to the Americano year after year as she had the bar open in time for the 2-for-1 "Happy Hour." Quite a crowd of Fay-weary travelers gathered and a good time was had by all.
HARRIET
Now, another employee who always seemed to spend his time putting customers first was Timothy, who we first met at the bar when he was filling in for a missed shift. Over the course of the next several days, he was taking care of business at the bar or where ever else he was needed.
TIMOTHY
They both worked to keep the customers happy during an odd week. We look forward to seeing them again ... under better circumstances.
We were greeted with sunny skies, finally, when we flew out of Orlando Sunday and, again, when we hit Ohio this afternoon. Highly ironic.
And, the Americano is gifting the family with another week's stay, to make up for the the past miserable one.
Right now, however, we need a break from Florida. We're truly happy to be home.
More later,
Mark
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