Hotels seem to separate themselves from one another with amenities. Not the lower-priced rooms variety of amenity but the spa-stuff-in-the-bathroom variety of amenity. Picture a thin, green, leaf-shaped bar of soap wrapped in plastic. Picture your sleepy self trying to open this soap with fingers that aren't as strong as they used to be. Choices? Pull in every possible direction until either you or the soap wins; use your trusty pocket knife (if you remembered to put it in your checked baggage; otherwise TSA owns yet another one); use your teeth, which isn't a very good option, but works.

Lined up in pairs outside my hotel at 8 this morning were 30 white motorcycles on one side of the street and many large black SUVs on the other side. They did not seem to be waiting for me.

Siri is helping me find the closest Starbucks.