Our Excellent Trip to Asheville

My wife (pics on another website) and I, with one of my wife's friends (same), just returned from five days in Asheville visiting my daughter and SIL, who recently returned home from two years in Ecuador. A few random observations:

Asheville airport is a big Charley Foxtrot right now. They are essentially constructing a new terminal within the existing one. No jetways - had to disembark and later board over a ramp. My wife is somewhat disabled so it was a real hassle.

Signs of the hurricane's devastation are evident, most notably at Biltmore Village and the River Arts District, but downtown is mostly back in business - most shops, restaurants and brewpubs were opened.

We stayed at a BnB on the South Slope, near downtown. The rates were very reasonable.

We experienced unexpected delays in getting Uber rides. On previous trips, you could usually get an Uber in five to ten minutes; on this trip, the wait was usually fifteen to thirty minutes.

We visited the Grove Park Inn for drinks and to sit by the blazing fireplace. The drinks were good but expensive, and we were disappointed that only one fireplace was going. Instead of the large logs they usually burn, they had gas logs.

My wife's favorite Asheville restaurant is Chestnut - it was fantastic as usual.

The Biltmore House was decked out in all its Christmas glory. We spent a few hours there before enjoying dinner at the Stable Restaurant.

Several times, the Uber driver and the wait staff at the pubs and restaurants expressed appreciation for our visiting the city as it works through recovery.