My idea of a vacation
See that photo above? That is my idea of a vacation. You go someplace a little bit off the beaten track (that is not my usual couch), you spend some time admiring the view, then you go back to the way things were before. It helps you appreciate what you have while giving you the tiniest glimpse into the scary world of the way other capybaras live. I have no desire to emulate Melly and Coral by flying off to some remote corner of the globe to see capybaras I do not even know. (In case you weren’t aware, they are going to Brazil’s Pantanal in August). That is just crazy. But Melly–and even my dear Rick–thought I should do more than just change couches. You’ll never believe the horrors I went through!
It started with a car ride
I have been getting better about riding in the car. I don’t even sweat or shake anymore, unless it is a long ride and I start to suspect that we are going to the vet. This ride wasn’t so long so I wasn’t very nervous. I even had my Rick with me, which is good–except that my Rick always goes to the vet with me too.
Where are we?
What the heck? What are we doing here?
Well, it is a Studio 6 Motel in north Austin. Melly said I have to learn to spend the night in a motel if I am going to be a true Capybara Ambassador. She wants me to go up to Dallas/Ft. Worth in September to do the Texas Rustlers’ Guinea Pig Hoedown. That would mean I would have to spend the night in a motel. In case you didn’t know, a motel is NOTHING like my safe, quiet home with all of my stuff and my co-pets and almost nothing scary around. Most motels don’t even allow pets! Why would any human stay in a place with no animals? But Studio 6 does allow pets of all kinds and that’s why Melly chose one of those for us to go to.
Climbing the stairs
Our room wasn’t even on the first floor! I had to climb and climb and climb all the way to the 2nd floor! That is cruel and inhumane.
Almost there!
Finally I made it to the top! Whew! Why do humans stack things like this? I mean I guess it makes sense to stack some things, but houses? How does that make sense?
What is this for?
What is this little table for? It is just getting in my way! I wanted to get on the couch but this thing is totally blocking it.
Checking out the bed.
This bed is not that large either. I don’t think my Rick, Melly and I can all fit on it. Melly will just have to sleep on the couch.
This is not my beautiful kitchen!
Those are my food bowl and that looks like my food, but this is not my kitchen. I cannot eat here! I reject your attempt to fool me with this bizarre mix of the normal and the strange.
I reject your food!
See that? I knocked the food over. I spilled the water. I refused to eat the corn. And then it was time to mark the whole place with my scent, just in case another capybara broke in during the night.
Protect me!
After everything was all marked, I went to my Rick and stayed as close to him as I could. I like to think that my Rick wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me (unlike Melly, who totally would!), but this motel experience was pretty scary.
Me and Rick sitting on the bed
Peeking out from behind a shoulder
The closer I am to my Rick, the safer I am.
Rise and shine!
Finally it was morning. I don’t think I slept at all. Well, maybe just a little. I skipped my whole dinner but I did eat some lettuce in the morning.
I did not sleep in my little bed
Melly actually brought a lot of my stuff. As you can see, she brought one of my beds. And she had all of my food bowls and food there. In the bathroom she had my poop bowl, which I was very good about using. She also brought three of my little rugs. All of that helped because it was stuff that smelled like home and like me. She put it around the hotel room. I was still really nervous but I think it would have been worse if without those things.
Please! Let's go home!
Finally it was time to go home. Of course Melly had to make a dozen trips to the car while I waited in the hotel room with my Rick.
Down the stairs!
I walked nicely down those stupid stairs. They are easier going down than up, but not a lot.
Going to the car!
The ordeal is almost over! Here I am walking to the car.
Finally on our way home
Take me home, city road,
to the place I belong
Buda, Texas,
You’re my home town,
Take me home, city road!
Am I crazy, or does his coat look lighter in color here?
Gari, I think this is one of your best blogs ever, and I’m proud of you for doing as well as you did in the face of such an ordeal.
I think my favorite thing might be the look on Your Rick’s face in the motel room — it’s like he’s thinking, “Geez, what a drama queen.”
Fantastic blog, I just love it!!
Gari looks humungous in that Hotel!
Hotel, Hotel, Hotel!
According to the pictures provided, you did not chew the hotel furniture…..(but we all doubt that)
Obviously you all have a great time, the torturer and the be-tortured.
My wonderful Gari, how I sympathize with your situation. I have 2 Boston Terriers (Harry & Tiger) & their co-pets are twin kitties (Andy & Aggy). The boys hate being separated from their kitties, hate hate HATE going to the vet, and the car ride ALWAYS makes them very nervous & sweat (their first thought is “Oh, oh…we’re going to the vet”, even if its a FUN car ride to go buy a toy! I think they & the kitties would have a very hard time in a hotel! Please don’t be so hard on Melly. She loves you & would do ANYTHING to protect you! Each time will get easier & easier for you. I’m glad you’re back home with ALL your comforts!!
Garibara! You get braver by the day! What an amazing adventure!
You look SO cute on the “vacation” couch!! Even cuter than usual!
Your Rick does a GOOD job of protecting you! And you never can tell when another Capy might break into your hotel room (BUT the odds of that are probably HUGE!!!!)
Thanks for the vacation blog — very interesting! I DO hope you can go to the Guinea Pig Hoedown. I would like to hear your version of the story — PLUS who else is going to tell me about a Guinea Pig Hoedown?! I have never heard of this…. I think this would be part of a Capy Ambassador’s duties is to inform the rest of us about Rodent Culture. The NJ Guinea Pigs will be fascinated by this…..
I love this blog post! Way to go, Gari! I also second you making it to the Guinea Pig Hoedown. 🙂
One day the Studio 6 Motel in Austin will be included into the world-famous Garibaldi Rous trail. If I ever go to Austin, I will stay in that hotel, too.
I don’t see any pictures of your swimming pool! Didn’t she bring it? Didn’t the motel have a pool? WHERE DID YOU SWIM?
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loved reading the saga LOL always look fwd. to your stories
Ur so brave Gari! We would howl and shiver the whole time! Thank goodness we only have to make one trip per year (to the vet, urgh!).
I just love the photos! They capture so much! Thank you!
I’m impressed by your valiant attempt to try something different Gari!
[…] See that photo above? That is my idea of a vacation. You go someplace a little bit off the beaten track (that is not my usual couch), you spend some time admiring the view, then you go back to the way things were before. It helps you appreciate what you have while giving you the tiniest glimpse into the scary world of the way other capybaras live. I have no desire to emulate Melly and Coral by flying off to some remote corner of the globe to see capybaras I do not even know. (In case you weren’t aware, they are going to Brazil’s Pantanal in August). That is just crazy. But Melly–and even my dear Rick–thought I should do more than just change couches. You’ll never believe the horrors I went through! Read more… […]
Oh Gari — thank goodness we finally got the right link–it was worth the wait! Wonderful photos of you on your first hotel stay. Wonderful that Melanie brought all of your things along to make you feel at home — She even brought your Rick!
I loved all of the photos. This is definitely one of my very favorites of your blogs.
Hey Gari,
I hope you get to go to the Guinea Pig Hoedown. Then you can tell us what that is!
Nancy
I am so glad you survived. Your Rick took great care of you, and I’m sure Melly mean the best. You are a brave bara, a very brave bara, and a great capybassador )
THANKS for the story, GLAD YOU are back in YOUR HOME now,if YOU didden’t enjoy hollyday.HOME ARE BEST,agree