I buy cheap plane tickets. I don't buy them often, but when I do I see it as a personal challenge to get the lowest price possible. With my face lit-up by the bright glow of my computer screen, I scroll through discount flight websites, heart racing as I chase the best deal. A 16 hour layover for $100 off always seems like it's worth it.
Until I begin the journey. Then as I miss connection after connection due to a weather issue for my first departure, I curse whatever demon drives my bargain flight hunting. I had an epiphany this month though. While marathoning Law and Order: SVU on Netflix in the Seattle airport for 7 hours, I realized I could use the money I saved on cheap flights for overpriced airport beverages.
So I did.
Until I begin the journey. Then as I miss connection after connection due to a weather issue for my first departure, I curse whatever demon drives my bargain flight hunting. I had an epiphany this month though. While marathoning Law and Order: SVU on Netflix in the Seattle airport for 7 hours, I realized I could use the money I saved on cheap flights for overpriced airport beverages.
So I did.
The first self-medicating Caesar was pre-epiphany in October at YVR, where I had missed a flight from Vancouver to Palm Springs (weather related) and was waiting for a flight to LAX instead. I stopped in the airport's Canucks Bar & Grill and ordered a Caesar. Maybe it's because I was coming down from the adrenaline high of barely containing my stress levels or having to run through security and onto the tarmac to miss a previously cancelled flight, but it really hit the spot. It was a flavourful, well-balanced, and most importantly: a mood-enhancing cocktail.
On one of my recent layovers in Seattle, I sampled Bloody Marys in two of the airport's establishments. The first, at Dungeness Bay Seafood House. It came in a short glass, and looked pretty unassuming, but was very flavourful. The seasoning was spicy and there was a healthy dose of horseradish. The playlist in the establishment included a lot of James Brown and classic rock, which helped lull me into docile acceptance of my next connection through Atlanta.
Because I spent so much time at Seatac Airport, I had time for several beverage breaks. The other Bloody Mary I tasted was at Casa del Agave. It came in a larger glass, with a more elaborate garnish, and had more booze but the seasoning didn’t live up to expectations. I think the culprit was too much celery salt in the drink itself, making it too bitter. I have a working theory that too much celery salt will ruin the flavour of a Caesar or Bloody Mary. The rim salt was also just salt, which was way to intense for the drink - and I love salt.
Next up on my multi-airport tour of the United States was Salt Lake City. I arrived in the mid-afternoon with an amazingly beautiful descent into the airport. We soared over the mountains and above the lake itself, which reflected the low sun in a stunning display. With a few hours to kill, I found Squatters Pub and ordered a drink. It was a tasty Bloody Mary with a house mix and shots of 3 different vodkas … including Dill Pickle vodka! (Which I’ve been looking for in Victoria. If you know where I can find some, let me know.) And from my perch in the bar window, I watched a plane roll in from the runway. Then I listened to podcasts over loud automated airport messages. (Victorians: the voice reading the messages over the loudspeakers was the same one BC Transit uses on its buses here. Which was hilarious to me. Maybe it was the lack of sleep.)
And to wrap up my airport reviews … All the above drinks were affordable at prices that compared to what you might pay outside an airport. The price of the glass of wine I ordered in the Palm Springs airport almost gave me a heart attack though… Did I mention I’m cheap?
On one of my recent layovers in Seattle, I sampled Bloody Marys in two of the airport's establishments. The first, at Dungeness Bay Seafood House. It came in a short glass, and looked pretty unassuming, but was very flavourful. The seasoning was spicy and there was a healthy dose of horseradish. The playlist in the establishment included a lot of James Brown and classic rock, which helped lull me into docile acceptance of my next connection through Atlanta.
Because I spent so much time at Seatac Airport, I had time for several beverage breaks. The other Bloody Mary I tasted was at Casa del Agave. It came in a larger glass, with a more elaborate garnish, and had more booze but the seasoning didn’t live up to expectations. I think the culprit was too much celery salt in the drink itself, making it too bitter. I have a working theory that too much celery salt will ruin the flavour of a Caesar or Bloody Mary. The rim salt was also just salt, which was way to intense for the drink - and I love salt.
Next up on my multi-airport tour of the United States was Salt Lake City. I arrived in the mid-afternoon with an amazingly beautiful descent into the airport. We soared over the mountains and above the lake itself, which reflected the low sun in a stunning display. With a few hours to kill, I found Squatters Pub and ordered a drink. It was a tasty Bloody Mary with a house mix and shots of 3 different vodkas … including Dill Pickle vodka! (Which I’ve been looking for in Victoria. If you know where I can find some, let me know.) And from my perch in the bar window, I watched a plane roll in from the runway. Then I listened to podcasts over loud automated airport messages. (Victorians: the voice reading the messages over the loudspeakers was the same one BC Transit uses on its buses here. Which was hilarious to me. Maybe it was the lack of sleep.)
And to wrap up my airport reviews … All the above drinks were affordable at prices that compared to what you might pay outside an airport. The price of the glass of wine I ordered in the Palm Springs airport almost gave me a heart attack though… Did I mention I’m cheap?