At last, cruise-aid for Indiana J.
Narrow boat escape for action hero and partner
LONDON, England -- Hollywood adventure hero Harrison Ford and actress girlfriend Calista Flockhart took refuge in a hotel -- because they could not sleep on a hired canal boat, it has been revealed.
White water rafting through the jungle this wasn't -- this was a cruise down the tranquil Llangollen canal on the English-Welsh borders where the couple were taking a get-away-from-it-all holiday with their children.
The Indiana Jones actor, 62, one of the world's highest paid stars, checked into the three-star Bryn Howel Hotel in Llangollen, Wales with his family on Monday following an uncomfortable night on the canal narrow boat in Shropshire.
The family were reportedly enjoying a down-to-earth holiday in England and Wales, even stocking up on essentials at a Co-op supermarket after flying in by private jet.
But the couple, described as "gentle" and "normal" by hotel staff, did manage to continue their Hollywood regime in some respects -- when Ally McBeal star Flockhart, 39, practiced yoga in the garden during an early morning exercise session.
The hotel's general manager, Ashraf Elsergany, told the UK Press Association they strolled in after mooring their boat in the hotel's marina on Monday evening: "They just came in because it was not comfortable in the boat.
"To be honest when he came in I thought I was just dreaming or something.
"They said: 'Do you have any available rooms?' I said: 'Fine, no problem.'"
The couple, their son and daughter booked into the master suite, walking upstairs with a few things in a small plastic bag.
Elsergany told the Daily Mail newspaper the couple said they were meant to sleep on the boat but had found it too "cramped and cold."
The couple went to the bar where they shared a bottle of red wine before a family dinner of steak for him and Dover sole for her, pasta and barbecue chicken for their children -- his 13-year-old daughter Georgia and Flockhart's adopted son Liam, 3.
They were treated to a chocolate birthday cake, presented in a hollowed out pineapple, as Mr. Elsergany realized after an Internet check that the Indiana Jones star was due to celebrate his birthday next week.
"Two members of staff said happy birthday. He couldn't believe it, he said: 'How did you know it is my birthday?.'
"To be honest they were just absolutely normal. He just started to play with his son in the middle of the restaurant on the carpet.
"We had a few visitors and that was absolutely brilliant -- everyone was enjoying it, couldn't believe they were sitting in the same restaurant."
