KingCorto
Really Experienced
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2021
- Posts
- 185
It was just about a year into their marriage, and it was also the first time since the honeymoon that Helen and Corto Cohen had taken a proper holiday. They had been preparing well, using the spring to plan both lazy days around the small town on the southern Italian coast, as well as excursions. There was one planned already the morning after arrival, a round trip to the gastronomic regions inland. They were looking forward to it, both the first trip, the views, sensations, and tastes they would be experiencing, and of course the hotel itself, which was a very nice one right on the beach.
They were just arriving and were greeted at the front desk. Corto started to give his name to the receptionist, “Corto C…” he trailed, Helen grabbing his attention, excitedly pointing out the huge pool area that opened from the grand hall towards the beach and sealine. Corto nodded enthusiastically and blew her a kiss. Then he focused back on the receptionist and shaped his lips to complete his name, but before he could speak, the receptionist started, “Mr. and Mrs Corto, C.” he smiled broadly at Corto, and handed him an envelope, on it was written ‘C. Corto - 2PAX - 7AM- Bus from Garden’.
“That’s the voucher for your trip tomorrow, you will enjoy it immensely! I have never done it myself, but of course, I have handled many a client who has taken the opportunity, and I hear nothing but good things when they return…” The receptionist could have talked forever about the exquisiteness of the excursion of course, but now Corto held up a hand to pause him.
“Hold on,” said Corto, “This reads 7AM, I thought it was at 9?”.
The receptionist looked at the envelope with a solemn expression, then he punched something on his computer, angled his head to see the screen that sat low on his desk.
“No sir, it says 7AM here, I do hope there’s no misunderstandings, I don’t think it’s possible to cancel any longer, the size of the vehicle is determined by the registrations, and it has already been reserved, I’m sorry sir, if there is anything I can do, please let me know, we want all our guests to feel well tended for, our guests are important to us, …” Again, Corto raised his hand to pause him.
“No, it’s okay. It’s only a bit of an earlier morning, we will manage.”
And with that, after a lengthy explanation about everything from breakfast servings, the Wi-Fi, and offers and activities, Helen and Corto were free to go, headed for the room. On the way up, Corto did wonder why his first name was on the envelope, and his last name initialized, but oh, well, it was unmistakeable, and they did have the ticket.
Up in the room, which was a wonderful deluxe one with an ocean view, he opened it. It contained a voucher. It was very lavish. He showed it to Helen, “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s made of gold, or something, and engraved, I wonder how they make these things.” It was in a shiny golden colour, bendable, but somewhat hard still. He turned it around in his hand. It only read ‘GOLD 1’, no other texts or labels.
“What a strange way to form a voucher for a gastronomic round trip” Corto said, before putting it away in the envelope. Nothing more to ponder about, they would be in the Garden for the bus at 7.
And so they were, 5 minutes before, fresh and rested from an incredibly good night sleep after a couple of glasses of wine and a romantic first evening together. The bus wasn’t there yet, but a few fellow passengers were. Corto looked around, then whispered to Helen,
“Doesn’t this seem like odd attires for a day of culinary experience?”
There was a girl with a ridiculously short dress, and if she was wearing underwear, the string must have had to be so thin, it really shouldn’t count. And a bare-chested guy in jeans, nothing more. There were other curious outfits too, but before they could talk any more about it, the small bus rolled in, and a lady opened the door.
Corto’s jaw dropped, “Is that our guide?!”
The lady spoke, “Passengers for GOLD 1, please, enter through the back!”, and the passengers started streaming in.
Corto looked at Helen. “What kind of gastronomy trip is this?”
They were just arriving and were greeted at the front desk. Corto started to give his name to the receptionist, “Corto C…” he trailed, Helen grabbing his attention, excitedly pointing out the huge pool area that opened from the grand hall towards the beach and sealine. Corto nodded enthusiastically and blew her a kiss. Then he focused back on the receptionist and shaped his lips to complete his name, but before he could speak, the receptionist started, “Mr. and Mrs Corto, C.” he smiled broadly at Corto, and handed him an envelope, on it was written ‘C. Corto - 2PAX - 7AM- Bus from Garden’.
“That’s the voucher for your trip tomorrow, you will enjoy it immensely! I have never done it myself, but of course, I have handled many a client who has taken the opportunity, and I hear nothing but good things when they return…” The receptionist could have talked forever about the exquisiteness of the excursion of course, but now Corto held up a hand to pause him.
“Hold on,” said Corto, “This reads 7AM, I thought it was at 9?”.
The receptionist looked at the envelope with a solemn expression, then he punched something on his computer, angled his head to see the screen that sat low on his desk.
“No sir, it says 7AM here, I do hope there’s no misunderstandings, I don’t think it’s possible to cancel any longer, the size of the vehicle is determined by the registrations, and it has already been reserved, I’m sorry sir, if there is anything I can do, please let me know, we want all our guests to feel well tended for, our guests are important to us, …” Again, Corto raised his hand to pause him.
“No, it’s okay. It’s only a bit of an earlier morning, we will manage.”
And with that, after a lengthy explanation about everything from breakfast servings, the Wi-Fi, and offers and activities, Helen and Corto were free to go, headed for the room. On the way up, Corto did wonder why his first name was on the envelope, and his last name initialized, but oh, well, it was unmistakeable, and they did have the ticket.
Up in the room, which was a wonderful deluxe one with an ocean view, he opened it. It contained a voucher. It was very lavish. He showed it to Helen, “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s made of gold, or something, and engraved, I wonder how they make these things.” It was in a shiny golden colour, bendable, but somewhat hard still. He turned it around in his hand. It only read ‘GOLD 1’, no other texts or labels.
“What a strange way to form a voucher for a gastronomic round trip” Corto said, before putting it away in the envelope. Nothing more to ponder about, they would be in the Garden for the bus at 7.
And so they were, 5 minutes before, fresh and rested from an incredibly good night sleep after a couple of glasses of wine and a romantic first evening together. The bus wasn’t there yet, but a few fellow passengers were. Corto looked around, then whispered to Helen,
“Doesn’t this seem like odd attires for a day of culinary experience?”
There was a girl with a ridiculously short dress, and if she was wearing underwear, the string must have had to be so thin, it really shouldn’t count. And a bare-chested guy in jeans, nothing more. There were other curious outfits too, but before they could talk any more about it, the small bus rolled in, and a lady opened the door.
Corto’s jaw dropped, “Is that our guide?!”
The lady spoke, “Passengers for GOLD 1, please, enter through the back!”, and the passengers started streaming in.
Corto looked at Helen. “What kind of gastronomy trip is this?”