Oldies On Tour

Up early, had a swim, used up all the food in fridge, the boys had scramble eggs and fries, we took the healthy option of fruit, cereals and yogurts. We striped the beds, cleaned everywhere, and we’re on the road by 10.30am, team work.

We headed for Naples, Tin City, and stopped and had a coffee there, what a place, it was on the waterside, with lots of tiny shops, we found a coffee shop, that sold fantastic cakes, made with cinnamon, they were very moorish

Geoff had an apple one, which was equally as tasty.

, the shop sold homemade fudge, in all flavours.
We then decided to go on a boat ride, which left in a few minutes, so we quickly paid, and boarded, front row seats up the top, very good. We cast off and meandered down the key, there were some fabulous properties on the waterfront

we meandered through the keys, some were natural and some man made, and came out at the Bay of Naples (Gulf of Mexico) one guy owned two huge houses for him and his wife, and his 93 children, grandchildren and great grand children, he paid 650,000$ in taxes a year.

amazing place, lovely to see how the other half lives. Apparently Tom Selleck was going to buy a house there but changed his mind when it wasn’t gated! Oh dear!

After leaving the boat we walked downtown Naples, it just oozed money, it was lovely.

We walked all around, then decided we had to make our way to The Everglades, we drove for two hours, and eventually arrived at Florida City, and checked into the Hotel, and quickly went for dinner at Denny’s, and very nice it was.

Today we have to return one of the cars, I needed to get my nails redone, and we all had to have our hair cuts, except Mike, and he had to buy a new shaver so off we went.

The nail bar and the hairdressers were inside Wallmark, and the system was as you arrived at hairdressers, you put your name down, and they called you when ready, it was very efficient, in fact I didn’t get my name down in the hairdressers. They have three staff all cutting away, it was very friendly and busy. The nail bar was a tiny place, run by Chinese, I think they had seven staff, they had three massage chairs, with people having pedicures, three having manicures, and people waiting. It was such a friendly place, I really enjoyed it.

We left the Mall, and came back home, where we did nothing, it has been a really lovely restful day. Geoff, Jan and Mike popped out to go to Dunkin Donuts, as Jan had never been there, they returned with 12 donuts, of various varieties. We will never lose weight.
We swam in the pool, ate our donuts, and then played our normal sequence.

We did our exercises before breakfast, then headed out for a drive.

We went towards St. Petersburg, then headed onto the keys, there was a road we found, that had water both sides, with the vast bridge called Sunshine Skyway Bridge, <'br />
we had to pay a toll to go across, but it was worth it, we then followed this road to Tierre Verde, which was basically a reservation area, where you could enjoy the beaches, and also launch your boat, really liked this area, when they wanted to charge us 5$ to go in the park, we told the guy we were lost, and he kindly showed us where we were, so he let us turn around and didn’t charge us, we had seen everything anyway.
We headed for a place called Treasure Island, we could have paid for parking but decided we only wanted to look, not stay, so Geoff parked, whilst I went for a walk on the beach. The sand is lovely and soft and white, and because the beaches are so vast, not overcrowded, unlike Spain!

. The birds were not worried that I was there, they just carried on, further down the beach a guy was fishing, and this heron had befriended him

We worked our way along to the top of the key, most of the places looked the same, we tried parking in one spot, and a guy with a tow truck was just about to tow a car away, cos it’s owner was not in the shop they were supposed to be in, not sure how they knew, but we didn’t want to risk it.
The inland sea is very pretty area too

, I think if I lived here, it would have to be a house with a boat at the bottom of garden, they really looked very picturesque.
To get off the Key we had to go across a small bridge, and guess what we had to wait for the boats to go by

, they have a lot of these lifting bridges, we then had to go back over the big one again

.
Mike cooked dinner, and we then played crib and sequence, I won at crib, but Jan and I lost badly in the sequence, which isn’t bad considering we have beaten them at everything so far this holiday. Well done boys, so glad you are improving at last.

We caught up with the washing and ironing, after taking a dip in the pool, the heater is now working, and it was very good, we did our exercises, had breakfast, then left about 11am.

Another challenge to keep off the motorway again, we had a slow drive down, I was determined to find the beach, we were in and out of some estates, I then put Tom tom on, and she took us to Beach Road. By this time we were getting hungry, we

found the beach, and paddled, it was quite chilly, but a lovely sandy beach.
We were still hungry so decided to go for lunch, we found this French place called Croissant & Co, was even run by a French family, it was lovely. I had a quiche Lorraine, and Geoff had a baguette, with a pot of English tea, with a China cup, the service and food was great.

would recommend anyone to go there.

We walked around the quaint village, with tiny shops, then travelled onto Siesta Key, we found a parking place, and walked on the beach, this one was packed, as the sand was so soft, apparently the best beach around here.

. As it is Thanksgiving week end, everyone was on holiday, think they have all come to the beach.

Lovely day, and then headed for home, went for another swim in the pool, and later Geoff cooked dinner, and we relaxed for the rest of the day.

We checked out of the Hotel after breakfast, and headed south to Gaterland.

We arrived about 10.30am in time to see the first show, which was called “close encounters” the guys who were doing it, we’re very funny, he picked some boxes out and left them in the audience, after a few initial facts, they came into the audience to get people to participate. One of the ladies went down, and had to keep her hands open and eyes shut, and he was about to put a tarantula in her hand when she screamed, and ran away, I don’t blame her. These two tarantula’s were quite big, not something I want to hold.
After several holding experiences, like cuddling a Boa restrictor, and a couple of smaller snakes, we moved on to wait for the wrestling with the alligators.

all the guys who compare the individual shows were full of wise cracks.
We meandered around the park looking at all the animals and birds

There were white alligators, which were very rare

, they also had one call Chester, apparently he would eat the local dogs, so they rescued him, but he didn’t mix with the other alligators, so Chester has his own pad.

the next show was feeding time, where they played games jumping up for their food etc.,

We went on the train around the park, and then decided to leave and head for home. We were trying to get back to the house without using the motorway, which was fine, but the road signs are a bit confusing at times.
We stopped at Wendy’s for lunch 3pm, I was starving, I asked for a hot tea, but they said they didn’t have any, so we declined the meal, and went onto Lakeland, where we found a lovely restaurant called ‘Harry’s’ , it was happy hour so I had two glasses of wine, I was very pleased we could not get tea at Wendy’s the food was lovely.
Eventually we arrived back at house, I was shattered, so after a catchup with Mike and Jan, I had an early night, I was asleep within seconds.

Up quite early, a quick breakfast, then on the road to Epcot, only a few miles, and we arrived before 9.30am, very easy to park, in the huge car parks. We caught the train to the main entrance, and quickly gained access to the park. we then queued and went into the spaceship earth, where we explored the history of communications, from Stone Age to computer age. we were asked questions, and this picture shows where we end up.
We then moved onto the next ride, which was mission space, the wait went from 40 minutes to 80 minutes, so we decided to skip this one, we went and had a cup of coffee, updated our cards to get priority on three rides, and went onto the Circle of Life, which was on conservation, based on Lion King, it was very good. We moved on to the Living with the Land, we managed to get priority on this one, so no queuing, I found this very interesting as it was on plants etc., we went to various other rides, which were good fun.
We moved onto the World traveler section, and took a pint in the Rose and Crown, Marian used to work here, so we wanted to see it.

apparently it hasn’t changed a bit!
We moved on and went into a few more rides, then went to Italy, and Venice for a late lunch, which was very good, washed down with a bottle of Chianti.
We meandered through many other countries, we went on a water ride in Mexico, took a boat trip across the lake, and went back to the Missions Space where you experience NASA style training with a simulated space launch, it was very good, scary in places, but glad we went on it, probably best ride of the day.
Time is moving on now, we decided to have a coffee, and wait for the fireworks, which were amazing, well worth the wait.
Fantastic day, well worth the money, we made our way home absolutely shattered, but glad we came.