ADVENTURING TO AVENTURA MALL

Saturday, January 27, 2024
Sky Princess
Stateroom S222/17
Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Sun, 80F

 

Double Rainbow, over the 

Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas

From our balcony

A double rainbow greeted us this morning in Port Everglades! We are sailing on the Sky for one more week, so we are “Guests in Transit.”  We had to get off the ship and go through U.S. customs.  This process is so easy now—one’s photo is taken, matched with records, and within 10 seconds one is free to pass through. Technology!

 

TK surprised me by calling an Uber to take us to the Aventura Mall we heard about a week ago, the 5^th largest mall in the country. 

 

By 10 a.m., we were walking around this beautiful upscale mall. Are you saying to yourself, “What the heck, a mall?”  I can’t help it, I like to walk around malls, and TK doesn’t mind, it is a good workout! I love window shopping, checking out fashions, looking for something different.  I always think I will spring for a Hermes scarf, a Gucci bag, or something like that, but in the end, I don’t do that. 

 

I didn't know that Porsche was into watches 

and fashion too

Penney's!

NOrdstrom

Louis Vuitton

Quite a display for two purses

There's a camo outfit!

Jimmy Choo

If they only had a green and blue scarf!

Tiffany and BMW, sign me up!

This is a $200,000 BMW

About noon, TK called me to meet him near a Macy’s entrance. He did not realize there were two Macy’s in this mall and the one he was at had 4 inside entrances. Believe me, finding him added a lot of steps to my Fitbit!  When I found him, he was excited to show me he had found sfogliatella! My favorite Italian pastry which I wrote about over and over when we were in the Mediterranean. He was very pleased with himself, and he should have been! After eating two (better step up the walking!), we decided to say goodbye to Aventura Mall and return to the ship.

 

Sfogliatella--very much like those we ate in Europe 

(by the dozens)

Nice fresh sandwiches

Mozzarella and Tomato sure look good!

Sfogliatella on the right

Rosetta Italian Bakery!

It was there just for us!

TK called up Uber and away we went.  Sky Princess was waiting for us, and we breezed aboard, ready to sail away again.  We could tell this week the passengers are a livelier crowd. Probably attributed to the “Concerts at Sea, 50s and 60s Themed Oldies Cruise.”  When guests book the cruise, they may also book the concerts. The concerts were full when we booked, but we will experience them vicariously through friends, Jeff P and Doris, who are on this cruise. 

  

Elmer welcomed us back to our table #84 in Soleil Dining Room. He had a little more time tonight to talk to us-last cruise he had 2 large tables with 18 people, plus us so he was very busy. He told us about his father in law’s farm back in the Philippines where they grow coffee plants, papaya, avocados, bananas, and more. Elmer has been working for Princess for 25 years and has a wife back home.  The contracts are nine months long with three months off.

Sugar Free "Lemon Pie"

Watching our calories haha!

After dinner tonight I decided to try the hair salon while TK rested—it has been a very long time since I have done that on a cruise ship.  I hope the styling lasts for tomorrow’s beach/picnic day at Princess Cay. That is kind of a joke because it will be hot and humid there!

Onward to sea we go!

Yesterday was a sea day, and there wasn’t much to tell because we basically read and ate and read and ate. We did go to the Veterans Get Together. One of the ladies and her husband were in the Air Force for 20 years each. There was also a World War II veteran, too.  I love seeing the camaraderie amongst veterans.

 TK’s Takes: He couldn’t believe the Millcreek Mall is the 13^th largest mall in the U.S.

For those who are intensely interested, here is the rundown of some of malls we have experienced:

• King of Prussia Mall, 3^rd largest in USA, 2,793,200 sq. ft., built 1963, 450 stores.
• Aventura Mall, 5^th largest in the USA, 2,700,000 sq. ft., built 1963, 300 stores.
• Sawgrass Mills Mall, 11^th largest in the USA, 2,260,610 sq. ft., built 1990, 350 stores. 
• Millcreek Mall, 13^th largest in the USA, 2,200,000 sq. ft., built 1975, 175 stores.