We arrived at the Gaylord Opryland Resort Hotel about 4 pm 30th September 2015. All the suitcases were unloaded from the coach and mine was among them. I waited in the designated room but only one of our two suitcases appeared. The Hotel btw is absolutely magnificent but I could not relax and enjoy the experience because I was worried about my passport, iPad and camera chargers and 8 new outfits; which included 3 pairs of shoes I had never worn. All these said items were languishing in my missing case. On my frantic search I passed members of the group enjoying themselves, sailing on the boat (Las Vegas style) or sitting in the pubs enjoying a drink and live music or looking at menus ready to eat or leisurely looking round the shopping complex, did I say it is a magnificent place? Whilst I tried to remain calm explaining to Lobby staff (because it is not their fault and no good comes of screaming at them like a banshee) my metorphoric duck legs were paddling furiously below the surface. How was I going to get out of this country? What was I going to sleep in? The shoes I have been wearing pinch now, I need one of the others for tomorrow's excursion round Nashville.
The GAylord Opreyland Resort is a 35 minute bus ride from Nashville. If you expect it to be in the heart of the vibrant music scene of Nashville you are doomed to disappointment, as some of our group travellers are. Anyway, having involved our Tour Director (yes, I have given him a promotion from Manager, because he was brilliant) I left it in his hands while we searched out some food. Ken did not disappoint! He found us in the Irish Bar and reassured me that my suitcase was now safely in my room. After quite a lot of retracing of the Bell Boy's steps the case was found in the room next door to mine. That is an hour of Ken's life he won't get back. Thank you Ken you were a trooper.
This is the fifth time a suitcase of mine has gone missing. And no, you do not get used to it! It is not so bad if it goes missing on the airflight home. I was dreaming of my insurance claim and my new clothes when at 3am a Glaswegian taxi driver knocked on my door to return a case from the airport it had gone to instead of Heathrow. He had to drive back to Glasgow. In Turkey my case was taken off the coach and left opposite a Hotel drop off and not found for the first 3 days of the holiday. At least it didn't take so long to find this time. And yeah, Ken arranged for our meals to be Comp't (free) for the two days of our stay. Result! Compensation, that's never happened before, so thank you Ken big time.
It is time to say goodbye to the Gaylord and it's free wifi, did I say it is a magnificent Hotel. We like free wifi. We have to go on the tour coach for a long drive to Memphis today. See you there!
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