Why I Love Traveling

Brazen Hussy and I went to go see her family last weekend in Baltimore. The city is lovely. It's got a lot of that old East coast city charm like Boston and Philadelphia, but it's also a pretty manageable size and has retained some of its working class flavor. I liked it a lot.

I came down with a sinus infection during the trip, so I spent most of it wallowing in agony, holding my head in my hands and trying not to cry. This activity was not the most enjoyable part, oh no. That's reserved to our "Duck Tour." Apparently many cities have these sorts of things. It's a retrofitted WWII amphibious craft that takes people around the city, showing them the sights while playing VERY LOUD music and - wait for it- everyone is given little whistles that are supposed to honk like a duck. I'll set aside the inherent absurdity of the activity. It is what it is. It would be pointless (although fun) to point out that the Duck Tour can't be claimed to be one of those silly things people do for their kids, since almost everyone on the bus was an adult. No, what made me miserable was the very loud noises involved, which dovetailed beautifully with my already excruciatingly painful headache.

To cap matters off, I had to listen to my two nephews blow on the damned things the rest of the day. Yippee.