My trip to Burlington, VT this past week, for work, threw me off completely. I’m not a good traveler anymore, and the driving, new setting, the strange reality of meeting in person the folks that I’d only met virtually theretofore (via WebEx), the noisy hotel, adjustment to new eating and drinking patterns, lack of exercise, all sent me for a loop.
I stayed at the DoubleTree Hilton. It was big, impersonal, expensive, and I had noisy neighbors both nights (they quieted down without protest, however, when I pounded on their door, both nights). The free breakfast was some small compensation for these annoyances.
The first night, on my own, needing to get away from the hotel, I went off in search of some VT microbrews, and found an impressive beer store, Beverage Warehouse, up the road in Winooski. I consulted with a clerk and another customer, and bought a half dozen IPAs (they sell singles, happily), including a couple of the storied Heady Topper.
Then, taking a tip from a different clerk, I went for Thai food at Tiny Thai. I got red curry to go, and enjoyed it mightily, accompanied by a Hazy Camper, one of the purchased IPAs.
On the second evening, following a day of meetings, Rick took us out to the Great Northern, a restaurant near downtown. Food was excellent … dirty fries that we all shared, and cod with steamers and octopus. I had a couple of the local brews … I had a Bing Bing from Zero Gravity (which is right next door to Great Northern), and then the Hill Farmstead Edward. Neither blew me away. Very fun time.
Day three I felt tired, fat, and ready to go home. I was liberated by 4:30, and made it back to Dover by 8.