HAPPY BIRTHDAY FROM FORT LAUDERDALE! ORANGE BOWL TONIGHT

December 30, 2019, A Special Day!!!!

Wyndham Garden

Sun, some rain

80F

Sun and a few sprinkles followed us to Sawgrass Mills Mall, about 2 ½ hours from Cocoa Beach.  Travelers rocked the roads yet again, maybe speedily driving to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and environs for the Orange Bowl tonight at 8 p.m., Florida Gators vs. Virginia Cavaliers.  They sure were in a hurry.

TK’s GMC Sierra is a good match for traffic and since he drove a firetruck for a living, he can handle just about anything. His one wish is for a siren and an air horn though.

Sawgrass Mills Mall was more crowded than ever. We negotiated the crowds and made a few quick purchases. It is a huge mall that we both enjoy. I noticed lots of glittery gowns on sale, especially for New Year’s Eve!

From their website: “Sawgrass Mills, the largest outlet and value retail shopping destination in the United States.  There are more than 350 stores, including outlet locations from Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren and Gap, plus Burberry, Diane von Furstenberg, GUCCI, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo Company Store, Tory Burch and Versace.  There is something for everyone in this enclosed, air conditioned and climate-controlled mall located just 30 minutes from Miami International Airport and 15 minutes from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.”   https://www.simon.com/mall/sawgrass-mills/about 

Oasis Court, outside Sawgrass Mills Mall

After lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, we headed to our hotel in Fort Lauderdale. By the way, all of our hotels so far have been paid for with points, no charge.

We unloaded our luggage into our room to prepare for tomorrow’s flight to Los Angeles, sorting out what to take and what to leave for the next cruise and the trip home. We did fairly well this year compared to our 2010 Panama Canal cruise, with only three large suitcases between us and we each have a carry-on bag.  My carry on will have my DSLR camera, lenses, binoculars, my laptop (14 inch), and my iPad. Those are items I never leave to chance in checked luggage.  

We called Son R to wish him a happy birthday—I am sorry to miss his big birthday this year. 

TK’s Takes: As he was returning to the hotel room from the lobby, a man on the elevator asked TK if he was going to tailgate at tonight’s Orange Bowl. Not so much.