We have known Dylan and Ben for a long long time. We travelled to Peru a few years back with them and have seen them numerous times. We consider them family.
When we broached the subject of wanting to be a part of their day, they said absolutely.
We both knew it was important to be there and we commented that there was a reason we were not away this January and February like we have been for the past 2 decades. We were meant to attend the ceremony.
Flights were booked out of Halifax to Phoenix and the flight was manageable, but after a four hour drive to Halifax, flight to Newark, three hour layover, 3 hour time change, five hour flight to Phoenix we were bagged and my back was killing me.
As we waited for our bags in Phoenix I went on line and booked a hotel for the night. We did not book anything prior as we did have some underlying concerns about maybe not making it into Phoenix. It takes just one delay and the dominoes drop. But we made it, and even early.
We picked up our rental car and crashed at a hotel a few kilometers from the airport.
The next day was fun as we hit the outlet stores. Where we currently live there are not a lot of options for shopping and not a lot of big brand names. We both needed new hiking shoes, Bernie needed golf shoes, and I picked up a light windbreaker. Of course we managed to purchase a few more things before the end of the trip. Luckily we had packed only one bag and it was way underweight (even coming home).
The ceremony was to take place in Green Valley Arizona (about a half hour south of Tucson). Dylan and Ben had reserved a huge Airbnb that could accommodate all 8 of us. The place was huge! We each had our own room with private bath too. It was the perfect location for us as we had meals together, the ceremony meal was there and the views were stunning.
Neither of us had ever been to Arizona. Right off the bat I noticed how dry it was there. My sinuses were affected for at least the first five days. Saline sprays and gels helped. Our lips also really were affected with the dryness.
Although the scenery initially looks so stunning I personally found it a little brown/tan and missed the beautiful colors of foliage we find elsewhere.
I absolutely loved the variety of cactus and especially the ones that were flowering.
A few days after the ceremony we travelled back up to Phoenix to enjoy the city for a few days. We reserved a cute one bedroom on Airbnb. Remember if you have not signed up with Airbnb you really should. Here is a link to register and you will save money when you make your first booking.
Our flight home was a little interesting due to a storm hitting the East Coast of the US and Canada. Our red eye from Phoenix to Newark was fine, but we knew when we arrived in Newark and waited for our connection to Halifax we might encounter a problem.
Since we still had to drive from Halifax to home (four hours) and hearing reports of freezing rain and to stay off the roads, there was a good chance that even if we made it to Halifax we would probable have to get a hotel and crash for the day/night until the weather cleared.
When the gate attendant asked for 3 volunteers to give up their seats for $1,500 US each and a night's accommodations and meal vouchers we jumped at the chance.
But as he was processing the move over offer, they announced the flight was cancelled due to freezing rain and the airport closing the runways. And there went our great move over offer too.
As we quickly made it to the long queue to talk to customer service (and I checked United's App to change our flight) the original gate attendant paged us.
What a great guy! He said since we volunteered to give up our seats and he wanted to ensure we got on the flight the next day, cause chances are we would not have gotten on Saturday's flight if we waited in line. He rebooked our flight for the next morning (24 hours later) and he even gave us food vouchers to be used at the airport. Note it was $30 each, which seems like a lot, unless you are eating at the airport. It ended up covering our breakfast the next morning and 2 bottles of water, juice and a coffee.
We claimed our bags and I booked an airport hotel for the night. Now remember that it is around 10 am now. Check in usually is not until 3 pm. We booked the Springhill Suites by Marriott. The shuttle delivered to the lobby and we nicely asked if it was possible to get a room soon. He told us to wait in the breakfast lounge and he would see what he could do. An hour later (11 am) we had a room.
As we crawled into the room we quickly settled into bed and crashed for four hours. That is what staying awake all night will do to you.
We ordered food from Uber Eats (as there was nothing around the airport).
In the morning we got the shuttle back to the airport and boarded our flight home.
When we touched down in Halifax and picked up our car we were surprised that there was not that much snow there. But the banks on the side of the road were glistening with a thick layer of ice from the freezing rain.
Back home and glad.
I processed the travel insurance claim - which will cover the hotel for the night and food expenses. Always get insurance! We have an annual plan on our credit card.
I am so glad we went. So glad we got to see Arizona. Extra happy we saw some of our dear friends come together as a couple formally.
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