You’d think with this trip being so short I wouldn’t have bullshit happening to me, but listen, bullshit was aplenty.
I finally went to Dallas, Texas to see my favourite football team on the planet play at home. My beloved, expensive and disappointing Dallas Cowboys.
There is no budget breakdown for this trip because my flights were free with some credits and Aeroplan points, the ticket for the Cowboys game was paid for my mom as an early bday gift and the AirBnB, okay, I’ll mention how much that cost.
Saturday, September 14th
I loved that my flight wasn’t until 130pm today. Those are the best departures to the USA! I flew to Dallas with American Airlines and everything went as it was supposed to. Timely. Comfortable.
When I got to Dallas, I immediately took an Uber over to Krab Kingz Dallas. Prior to this trip I had literally planned ALL of my stops/Uber trip because the city doesn’t have the best transit and I can’t walk around in 39-degree-celsius heat. No.
At Krab Kingz I had this delicious platter that consisted of shrimp, potato, and corn. I am a simple girl. But it was yummmmmy. I liked the seasoning. Also, why does Snapple taste so much better in the United States? Sugar. Must be sugar. I liked it.
From Krab Kingz I took an Uber to my next planned food stop – Cookie Society, Addison. Now listen, I’d fly back again just to go get cookies here again. My chosen flavours were: cinnamon roll cookie, cannoli cookie, banana pudding cookie and snickerdoodle. I literally chose here because I am obsessed with anything banana pudding, HOWEVER, BY FAR, the best cookie was the cinnamon roll cookie. I wish I had gotten 19 of those. You have to come by here and try these things if you have a sweet tooth like I do.
After filling myself with seafood and cookies, it was time to take my Uber over to the AirBnB.
My Uber driver told me where I was staying was ‘the hood’, but I don’t know what people want me to do with information when they say that. Okay? I liked the house I was staying in. This lovely couple from Spain were my hosts and I had a private room and bathroom in their home. Very cozy, simple and clean. Oh, and the air conditioning was COLD and the price was RIGHT.
For three nights I paid $138.31 CAD. Not bad at all. Not sure I’d stay here again, because I’d like to see more of downtown Dallas next time. But it was a stay that had everything I needed for my first trip. If you’re interested in it – click here.
After taking a shower (because it was HOT AS FUCK OUTSIDE), I hung out a bit in the air conditioning and then head out to eat again. I know, big belly girl. Eating again.
I took a pretty quick Uber over to Taqueria El Si Hay. Funny thing about this is that before the trip I had already planned on going to get food at this spot, but my Uber driver from the airport ended up recommending it as well. It was a sign.
The lineup is long for the tacos, so when you arrive go to the side to get an esquite first. What is an esquite? It is corny deliciousness made in front of you with like cheese, sour cream, butter and then hot sauce on top. I think I am forgetting some other ingredient, but whatever, it was so good. This may not be for you lactose intolerant people, just in case.
After eating that I got in the line for the tacos. I opted for the chicken taco and beef tongue, with a Mexican Coca-Cola to wash it all down. The chicken taco was okay, but the beef tongue? OH YES. This is the star, you must get this. I sat down on the side of the parking lot and ate everything as hoards of Ford F-150 trucks blaring Spanish music hung out while their orders were prepared. My kind of scene. Also, not only was the food very good, for the esquite, two tacos and drink it was only $14.00 USD. I think that’s a pretty dandy deal.
I went back to my AirBnB, showered again (still hot outside) and went to sleep. Big day ahead of me.
Sunday, September 15th
Woke up at 8am today to prepare myself for the day I had been waiting 30 years for. I was heading to see my Dallas Cowboys play at home.
Since there is no transit to Arlington, Texas and no shuttles – I had to plan out my Uber timing well. I don’t drive and yeah, that’s the only option. As a Toronto person, having a sporting place this far is insane without ways to get there that don’t involve just a car. I want to see the Raptors? I walk downtown. I want to see the Blue Jays? I walk downtown. I want to see Toronto FC? I can take the TTC, walk or take the GO.
I’m very much a pro-walking city person, this is not one of those places. Luckily all my flights were free, because I would end up spending all my money on Ubers in Dallas. From Dallas to Arlington at 8am = $26.00 USD one-way.
Before the trip I did my research on where to eat near AT&T stadium prior to the game and I settled on The Biscuit Bar for breakfast.
This place is VERY busy, so grab your order and go sit down immediately. It was packed with so many Cowboys fans as well as Saints fans. Apparently their Google works the same way mine did.
I got this french toast biscuit, some seasoned tater tots and a banana pudding. I liked this banana pudding and the other items were good. Nice to put in tummy before the game. It was also super fun listening to the visitors from Louisiana complain they couldn’t order liquor (it was 9am) – and I found out it was because on Sundays in Texas you can’t serve liquor until 10am. Church and whatnot. Having visited New Orleans last year, I understood. Those people party 24/7. Love them and their accents.
After eating I wanted to head to AT&T stadium to see what the pre-game situation was like. I read that they open the gates at 10am and that people are tailgating even way before that.
I truly had planned to walk from this breakfast place to the stadium, but that heat?? Oh no. It wasn’t happening. As I was about to order my Uber, a group of people in a party bus playing music pulled up and asked if I was going to the game. I said yep, and suddenly, I was also in this party bus. No Uber needed. Love that for me, great way to arrive to the stadium.
When we got through the crazy traffic and pulled up to the stadium I thanked the group and went on my merry way to enter Jerry World.
What a sight. Top 3 best moments of my life. Bucket list things.
You can tell money and thought was put into the game day experience here. I know Texas is a football state, but wowzers. Between the Saints tailgaters and Cowboys tailgaters, costumes, music, food……just wow. I was so happy I arrived early to take this all in.
Eventually I went inside AT&T Stadium and the first thing I got myself was a Cowboyrita. I heard about these strong margaritas, had to get one. Yes, it is strong. It is like $20.00 USD, but I doooo not care. I will be purchasing it next time I go as well.
I walked around for a bit to see all the cool things going on inside and then went to my seat. Now, my seat was all the way in the 400-level and it didn’t matter. The view was perfect. I could see everything. I was again impressed by the design of the stadium being able to see things even from the further up seats.
Cowboys lost terribly today. I don’t even want to write all about it because it was REALLY bad. Had to listen to ‘WHO DAT?!’ cheers down the hallways at our own stadium. Brutal.
It was disgustingly hot at this time of day. Shout out to the locals from Texas and the people that came in from Louisiana who can handle this heat. I am not built for this. It was brutal.
The Uber was showing like $114.00 USD to get back to Dallas? Fuck that. I wasn’t paying that.
I hung out in the shade for a bit and then walked over to a Walmart that was nearby. Someone on Twitter had mentioned this Walmart had cheap Cowboys gear to be purchased. I need that. Also, I imagined they’d have air conditioning. Needed that even more.
Got to the Walmart and bought some Cowboys stuff. By the time I did all that the Uber surge pricing went down to $45.00 USD so I took it!
I got back to the AirBnB and was so exhausted I just ordered some wings on UberEats and watched the remaining NFL games. Probably could have gotten up to more shenanigans, but that morning and the heat afterwards got me good.
Monday, September 16th
Woke up today ready to 1) eat some deliciousness and 2) head home.
Well, one out of two happened. Batting 50% here.
I left the AirBnB and made my way over to Terry Blacks BBQ.
Listen. This BBQ and those cookies on the first day are reason enough for me to come back to Dallas. Unlike my Cowboys, these did not disappoint.
I got in line and ordered: cream of corn, coleslaw, mac and cheese, cornbread, banana pudding (duh) and then some brisket as my meat. The lovely lady at the front also suggested I try something called ‘burnt ends’. Holy moly. I would just order these on their own. She gave me a serving of them for free because I mentioned I’m Canadian and flying home. So wonderful.
The meal was insane. I wanted to sleep for six days after having all that food to myself.
Stuffed and happy, I took an Uber over to the airport. This was about 3pm and my flight was at 6pm. I figured I’d just hang out on my laptop and answer emails for a bit and chill.
15 minutes after arriving at Dallas Fort-Worth ……….
‘Mirna, your flight is delayed and is now departing at 19:30. We apologize and are working to get you on your way’.
Okay, so I’m here at 3pm and my flight won’t be leaving until 730pm. Annoying, but whatever.
Then SIX emails followed this delaying and delaying and delaying further all the way to 23:50. Went from leaving Dallas at 6pm to leaving almost at midnight? Oh. And then I got the email that the flight was cancelled all together. Fucking great.
I went to the counter and the Air Canada agents were useless. I had already been at the airport for almost five hours now. Had to call both of my jobs to notify them I couldn’t work the following day. Also, had to find out what the hell was going on for the night – this included a ONE HOUR wait on the Air Canada customer service line.
The agents gave me a voucher for a hotel and put me on a 7am United Airlines flight leaving from Dallas to Chicago to Toronto. I begged them to put me on the 12pm direct flight from Toronto to Dallas but they said they couldn’t. So now I wouldn’t get any sleep and I’d have a connection to get to Toronto. Whatever.
I got to the hotel and the hotel gave me the wrong room – because the room they gave me already had people in it. Just kept getting better.
Eventually I fell asleep and woke up at 4am for my 7am flight – Tuesday, September 17th.
Oh. No. 415am I got another email by Air Canada notifying me that THIS FLIGHT had also been cancelled and now I am on the 12pm flight. Yes. The one I had begged for and now woke up at this early ass time for nothing.
Went to the airport for the noon flight and that all went well.
It has been three weeks and I am still fighting with Air Canada for some compensation but they said both cancellations were out of their hands. I will keep fighting.
Overall, I liked the sports and food portion of my trip.
I could have lived with the Cowboys game not having gone so great, but the Air Canada fiasco really left a bad taste in my mouth.
I’d still go back to Dallas though!!! BBQ and Cookies and Cowboys. Love those three.
- Mirna