1 May 2024
Dream
I was traveling with a friend on a road trip with multiple stupid. We showed up to our Paris-based Airbnb. The room we were staying in was bright and airy looking, but it smelled heavily of paint. The walls had the wet sheen of fresh white paint. There was also plastic sheeting on the floor, around the perimeter of the wall's edge. As I walked around the room, I accidentally shuffled the plastic sheeting such that it was flipping itself upside down, and white paint that was on the sheeting was now getting on the carpet. I realized I had messed up by not being more careful about where I was walking. I was annoyed with myself for not being careful. I was also annoyed with the owner for painting this room right before our arrival.
I go to complain about the paint to the owner. I also pin the paint on the floor as having been there before I walk in the room. My tone is demanding - I question why they wouldn't do something as simple as tape the plastic sheeting to the floor, so it's more secure to walk on. The owner doesn't appreciate my attitude and questions what she can even do about it. I don't know, but I'm annoyed enough that I threaten to leave and get my money back.
She laughs at me - where will my friend and I even stay? I whip back that we are in Paris - there's plenty of other options. In my mind's eye, I see a map that has 12 other spots to consider. She laughs heartily. "Yeah? In Paris, Indiana??"
My heart sinks - she's right. The map in my mind's eye becomes clearer - we are in the middle of nowhere.
My friend and I do end up leaving. When we try to find somewhere else to stay, it ends up falling through. One town is burdened by the case of a missing Asian immigrant woman who is feared dead - as women, my friend and I are troubled by the case and don't feel safe there.
Another place ends up being a mansion that belongs to a mutual friend's family member. The owners of this mansion are rude to us, and make snide remarks about our desire to stay there.
I consider just driving us overnight to get to where we need to go, so we don't have to make any stops for lodging.
