Saturday 4 February 2012

Rob's Tom Cruise Moment!

This glorious view was taken from the viewing platform at the Hyatt Hotel in Fort Lauderdale where we spent one night before beginning our Caribbean cruise to four islands and the Panama Canal.

I'd stayed at this hotel years ago with my father, sister, lovely grandmother and uncle (now both dead) and brother. We'd gone to the revolving restaurant for lunch and then stepping into the lift when we went to leave, my father was horrified to discover (too late) that it was an outside, fully glass lift (including the floor).

When I realized this was where we were staying I told Rob about the restaurant at the top of the hotel and the lift and said I'd like to go up there again and take pictures for my dad. However, there was a large sign saying that the restaurant was closed for a private function and that it was closed.

Well, when I decide I want to do something very little puts me off and a simple 'No' doesn't seem to register that often (a useful personality trait to possess when you have a passion to be published, I suppose). So, we went up to the restaurant and asked the two security guards if we could possibly have a quick look round. By this time we'd been joined by another english couple. The guards soon gave in and Rob left his hand luggage in the restaurant and the four of us raced outside and spent about ten minutes, 'oohing' and 'ahhing', and I felt very nostalgic and delighted with the pictures I'd be able to take home to my dad.

"Right, I suppose we'd better go back in now," said Rob, "We've got to board the ship soon."

It was then that we discovered there wasn't any door handle on the outside of the door to get back in. We all hurried to the window to wave at the guards, who'd both disappeared.

"Phone someone," I suggested.

"No reception," said Rob, gazing across at the Queen Victoria longingly. "We've got to find a way down."

It was then that I noticed an emergency stairway going into the floor. Rob went down and shouted that the door was locked on the following level.

"Don't come down and let that door lock behind me," he shouted. "Wait to see if I can find a door further down that I can use. We don't want to get stuck in this stairwell."

I have to admit that laughing probably wasn't very helpful, but I couldn't help myself. Thankfully he eventually found a landing where the door was unlocked and we were able to get down.

A week later on the cruise, we met another couple and the man embarrassingly admitted that he'd stupidly gone up to the revolving restaurant, gone outside on the viewing deck and... We did tell him that we'd done the same thing. He was english too...

More about the cruise soon.

29 comments:

Teresa Ashby said...

Fantastic pictures! Thank goodness you didn't miss your boat!

B.E. Sanderson said...

And now you have an awesome story to tell. I love moments like that (in retrospect only not while it's happening.) Thanks for sharing it. =o)

D.J. Kirkby said...

OMG what a story! Lovely photos too Debs. And now you're home in time for the snow.

Fee said...

Lovely pics. Thankfully it was dry for your lock out!

Liane Spicer said...

LOL! Now that's what I call an adventure!

Karen Jones Gowen said...

funny story! and that photo gave me vertigo, yikes!

Sue Guiney said...

What a riot. have fun and...dare I say...be careful.

Jane Lovering said...

Wonderful material for a short story there! And such lovely pictures to remember it all by - hope you're having a fabulous trip.

Faye said...

Welcome to the U.S., Debs--if only for a shot time. The things we do to honor a memory! Glad you're married to a "can do" sort of guy. :-)

Look forward to more vacation stories and photos.

Kaye Manro said...

Lovely photos -- what an exciting adventure!

Diane Fordham said...

Wow! I enjoyed that, thanks. Nice pics too. Love the way you laughed in time of trouble :-)

Troy said...

In situations like that, the time to worry is when you find a skeleton in the stairwell.

Anna Scott Graham said...

Can't wait to hear more about your holiday! Might this incident end up in a novel one day? :)))

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

It was funny at the time and I didnt even worry about ,y usual fear if heights. I think I was so thrilled to be able to go there and take pics for dad.

Will no doubt make it into a book at some point!

Chris Stovell said...

*Shaking head* Glad you escaped! Good to see you back, Debs. I wondered what you were up to, but somehow that didn't occur to me!!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Loved your story, Debs! We've been to that hotel a few times before cruising but didn't go outside on the top. Hope you enjoyed the cruise - we loved going through the Panama Canal (husband is in travel so we've cruised a lot!)

Unknown said...

Fantastic pictures and a wonderful story. Well, wonderful after the event. And good for you for being stubborn. :)

Flowerpot said...

Yes I wondered where you'd gone Debs - glad you emerged safely!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Thank you, ladies.

Rosemary, I'm envious of all your travelling, I'd love to do more.

Melissa Amateis said...

LOL. I love those funny moments (well, later, when they're funny...they're usually not funny when they happen!).

Chris said...

Wow Debs! Amazing story - and how brave - I would have been petrified by all of it! The height would have finished me for starters - I get vertigo at Gros Nez! And of course, a very useful piece of research... so glad you had such a wonderful time and are back safely. Cxxx

Carol said...

Hehehe, can't wait for the next installment :-)

C x

Phillipa said...

Wow - what a view. You are very daring to have gone on the viewing platform...

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

When I look at these pictures now it occurs to me that we were quite high up! I must have been fairly oblivious at the time and blame it on the excitement of going on holiday.

Talli Roland said...

Haha! That has to go into a novel sometime. Love the photos!

Anonymous said...

That's so funny! But what a wonderful view and an incredible building.

CJ x

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Talli - I'm sure it will do sometime!

CJ - It was a wonderful view, even though we were up there longer than expected. Lol.

Jean Bull said...

I was right there with you, wondering if I was going to get back to the ship, or be left up the tower until the private party arrived!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Jean - at least it was warm up there, so it could have been much worse, lol.