I've been reading blogs for a while and decided to finally go for it and start my own! We are in California to accompany the Kamehameha Schools All-Warrior Marching Band, which will be marching in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses parade New Year's Day. There are 288 student performers and another 200+ accompanying travelers, so we are a huge group! My husband and I arrived yesterday to the Knott's Berry Farm Hotel, where the group is staying for the duration of the trip; my son and the rest of the band arrived this morning, after traveling all night from Hawaii. We used frequent flyer miles and got to fly first class on Aloha Airlines to Santa Ana...sweet! Very comfortable, great service, terrific food, arrived ahead of schedule...the only negative was the 1 1/2 hour wait for the luggage at John Wayne. At least we weren't delayed 3 hours like one of the flights the kids were on from HNL. Instead of leaving at 11:45 p.m., their flight was pushed back to 2:30 a.m.
The Knott's Berry Farm Hotel is ok...I guess we're spoiled since we've always worked for upscale hotels...this smoking room is awful! So stinky...we used half a bottle of Febreeze on everything, but still smoky. Even the towels in the bathroom were smoky, but we don't smoke; it just gets absorbed from the stinky air in here! There's even a door at the beginning of the corridor warning people that it's a smoking area so beware if you have allergies. We tried to move rooms, but we're blocked in with the group. No amenities - only two tiny little soaps, no soap dish in the shower, bathroom door doesn't close unless you maneuver and push it really hard, bathroom sink faucet leaks unless you push it down at a weird angle. A little bit ghetto but oh well...On the plus side, the room is a fairly good size, not cramped and the lobby is nice.
It's going to be cold...high 61 degrees, low 36 degrees...not like Hawaii!
Today's schedule includes an all-group meeting when the kids and accompanying travelers arrive around noon (they were going to South Coast Plaza after leaving LAX to have breakfast and shop a little), lunch, practice for the entire band for the first time (Kapalama, Keeau and Maui campus students), unpacking, and resting before going to see "Wicked" at Pantages tonight. We are meeting up with our son and the other 11 boys (4 sophomores and 7 freshmen) that we are chaperoning, making sure they know all the rules and regulations.
Last night after we arrived at the hotel, we got to see my best friend K, her husband N and son n (that's how they sign their names KNn, so cute!). Went to eat at Denny's nearby at 11 p.m. Looking forward to spending more time with them on this trip. It's amazing that we only see them once or twice a year, but when we get together it seems like we just saw them last week! I guess that's how it is with good friends!
Better start getting ready for the day...it's going to be busy really soon when the group arrives!
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