COZUMEL AND COSTA MAYA: BEACH DAYS

COZUMEL AND COSTA MAYA:  BEACH DAYS

Back Aboard Carnival Dream

Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Tuesday—Cozumel---82 F, sunny:  The ship was ready to disembark passengers by 10 a.m. so we met our friends and hailed a van for Palancar Beach. We found out that because of the wind popular Palancar would not be good today so we went to Cozumel Caribe Beach instead. Our driver stayed at the beach, so we could tell him when we were ready to leave.  The cost was $20/per person which included the taxi and the entry onto the beach.

We spent four hours on the white sandy beach. Everyone but me swam in the beautiful blue Caribbean. TK and I like a little more space, but we were comfortable under a nice palm tree. The restaurant by this beach was spacious and clean, reminiscent of a Spanish villa overlooking the sea---tiled floors, Mayan art, bright colors.

TK and Janie in Cozumel at Cozumel Caribe Beach

Back in Cozumel we had appetizers (nachos, cheese quesadillas) at Pancho’s Villa, one of our favorite stops. I bought pure vanilla for everyone back home at Los Cincos Soles, another spot we always visit in Cozumel.

We met Brian and Nancy for dinner at the Crimson, but the menu was not appealing so we headed for the buffet on the 10^th deck. Actually the buffet had about the same menu.  After dinner, TK returned to the room with his cold (the 2^nd one this trip) and I took my book and settled in by a duo singing popular music in the Atrium. So far we have not seen one show on this cruise!

TK’s Takes: Six cruise ships were docked in Cozumel, the most he’s seen in one port in a long time. That’s a lot of crowds, averaging about 15,000 to 18,000 tourists in port!

Wednesday----82 F and sunny with a cloud burst---Costa Maya, Mexico: At 9 a.m. we met our friends to disembark. TK and I had never been to Costa Maya—an area on the coast of Mexico, Mayan.

We walked through the newly developed shopping area for tourists to hail a van outside the gates. Our driver took us a short way (about 3 miles) through the town to the Tropicante and the Mahahua beach area where our friend Colin (thank you!!) had reserved lounge chairs for us. It was quite crowded but the waiters found lounge chairs for us (3 in the shade of a palm tree for TK, Lawrence, and I and 3 in the full sun right on the beach for Nancy, Brian, and Donna).  It was a pretty beach with white sand, but again, TK and I like more space. We are so spoiled by the peninsula, Presque Isle, and our seven miles of beach in Erie (but no white sand, never really warm, and definitely no palm trees). Again, everyone but me went in the water and reported it was quite warm. Nancy and Donna actually put their lounge chairs in the water!

Carnival Dream at Costa Maya

We drank Coca Cola Light (I like Coca Light and Coke Zero very much if I can’t have Diet Pepsi) with ice—the American owner of the Tropicante area said he buys only purified ice and water. We had nachos and cheese for a snack, very very tasty! Donna had a good looking burger.

The rest rooms/changing areas were very clean, although one must not put toilet paper in the toilets so the signs say.

When we saw rain clouds, TK and I returned to the port area. Just as we got into the taxi there was a cloud burst. It dissipated by the time we were in the newer shopping area. TK returned to the ship and I walked around, admiring the opal, turquoise, and lapis jewelry, as well as the Diamonds International store, but I took more time looking at the Mayan inspired art and souvenirs.

Costa Maya port area

Dinner tonight at 6:15.

TK's Take: He has experienced better Internet in small Mexican towns than we have in Erie. 

TRANSITIONING FROM SHORE TO SEA ABOARD THE CARNIVAL DREAM/SEATTLE???

At Sea, Aboard Carnival Dream/Mississippi River to Gulf of Mexico

Sunday, February 1, 2015 to Monday, February 02, 2015

72 F, Cloudy

Excitement Alert: I plan on reporting the day, but it may not sound too exciting--I do this blog to make sure I remember as much as possible...

Sunday: First, one more thing about the Hyatt Regency—we were on the 18^th floor, with many floors above. Even though it is a beautiful upscale hotel overlooking the Superdome (which TK got a deal on), it is disappointing to discover that one has to pay $15 for one day of Internet. Parking was $27/per day (every hotel in New Orleans charges for parking). I went to the lounge to post the blog last night—free Wi-Fi.

This morning was warmer when we drove the truck to the parking garage where we are leaving the truck for two weeks. Their service provided a shuttle to the ship. At least four more Mardi Gras parades were taking place this day but by 11:30 a.m. we were in our stateroom #10261 aboard the Carnival Dream.

I did have one negative encounter at the pre-boarding screening. I took my two laptops out for examination just as the disgruntled man behind me complained to the screener that he had waited in lines “all day” (it was 11 a.m.) and did not want to wait anymore. For us, there had been no wait. He was not directing this rant at me, but the screener. Anyway, my laptops and purse went easily through the machine and before I had time to take my items off the conveyer, he grabbed his items and both my laptops crashed to the floor. He did not apologize, but his wife or mother did.  I was not happy. I think there was something wrong with him though, like an illness or something.  Thank goodness both laptops seem to be OK. Why did I take two laptops? I like my 15 inch Windows 7 laptop very much. My 10 inch Windows 8 laptop, not so much. However, if I have to carry a laptop around onshore, it is lighter! I just told TK that maybe I will take a lesson on Windows 8. He told me Windows 10 is coming out-----oh dear.

One more thing about email addresses. I cannot log into my gmail account because for whatever reason, my yahoo account must be the primary account. I do not want to try to solve this issue when paying $.49/minute. Please bear with me!

Our balcony stateroom is lovely, our cabin steward very accommodating.  We have a king-size bed, a couch, a 6 ½ foot counter with mirror and desk. Good lighting. Ample closets, albeit directly across from the bathroom so only one door at a time can be opened—not a big deal. Flat screen TV. Plenty of room!  We have a great location, just a few steps to the elevators, and a few more steps to the pool.

After the safety drill we watched New Orleans and Louisiana go by as we sailed down the Mississippi River. Believe it not, it takes a cruise ship about seven hours to make its way from New Orleans to the Gulf!

We hooked up with Brian, Nancy, Donna, and Lawrence for dinner in the Crimson dining room. For some reason we laugh more than we ever do at home when we are with these friends. Pure silliness.

We only watched the last four minutes of Super Bowl LXI, but those four minutes were quite dramatic. We played a football pool, but came up short there. TK was very disappointed in the Seahawks, his favorite team for the 30 years we have been married.  Final Score:  New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24. At least one son favored the Patriots. We sure wondered what was on the menu and how excited anyone was on 27^th Street in Erie!

Monday: Groundhog Day. I doubt it matters who saw what shadow. From what we hear there is a fearsome storm along the Great Lakes.

Since it was raining we explored the ship indoors some more, then met up with Brian and Nancy for brunch in the Scarlet dining room—brunch in the dining room is a new concept. The ham and cheese omelet was super.

Tonight was Elegant Night and we all met for dinner---turned out to be an hour wait for a table. This is an unusual circumstance.  The dinner menu included lobster tail and large tiger shrimp and prime rib.  We ended up waiting almost an hour between each course (appetizer/soup--salad/entrée/dessert). That is really unacceptable –we arrived for dinner at 6:30 and did not finish until after 10 p.m. TK did enjoy the prime rib while I had the lobster and shrimp. It is a very good thing we enjoy being with our friends! 

TK’s Take:  “When I woke up this morning I thought it was a continuation of the last cruise we were on, rainy! But, the rain stopped and it is warmer with calm seas.”

NEW ORLEANS---THE BIG EASY NEVER STOPS!

Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, Louisiana

Saturday, January 31, 2015

65 F, Sunny

We drove early morning to our hotel on Loyala Street. The weather was cool, but quite tolerable. Basically we parked the truck at our hotel and walked to the National World War II Museum about nine long blocks away. This museum is worth the visit—we viewed Beyond All Boundaries, “an award winning 4D cinematic experience narrated by Tom Hanks.” Flashing lights, vibrations like moving tanks, fog, snow, mist, enhanced the experience. It reminded me somewhat of the new Battle of Gettysburg panorama scene which puts the viewer right in the middle of the action. The final scene of the rescue of so many people from a major concentration camp was especially moving.

From this theater we went to another pavilion to see airplanes and military vehicles—the Sherman tank and a Willys Overland Jeep made in Toledo, Ohio.  I need to check with my brother, but I believe my father worked at Willys Jeep in Toledo during the war. He was also in the Civil Air Patrol.  My mother was a 1^st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps during WW II.  At this pavilion we viewed Final Mission: The USS Tang Experience. This interactive encounter recreates the last war patrol of America’s most decorated submarine in World War II. Each person was assigned a duty as a crew member while we watched the submarine torpedo a convoy of Japanese supply ships. Only nine crew members survived the conflict, the only submarine crew members to ever survive sinking.

Willys Overland Jeep, National World War II Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana

After lunch in a WW II diner, we took a cab to the Café du Monde and walked through the French market. I bought two beautiful blue and green masks with peacock feathers. When we decided to have some coffee and beignets at Café du Monde, TK saw Lawrence and Donna. What a reunion! It was wonderful to see them again and our conversation began right where we left off two years ago! We finished coffee with a walk down busy Bourbon Street and even in daylight we saw some x-rated sights. 

Back at the hotel briefly we got a call from Brian and Nancy that they had arrived—they came to our room, and again so great to see such good friends. After a quick streetcar ride, we walked toward the French Quarter. Since both TK and Brian are retired professional firefighters, they easily spotted a firehouse. The NOLA firefighters just happened to have NOLA FF t-shirts for sale so we all bought one---Nancy’s and mine say, “Kicking Ash for a Cure.”  I love how all firefighters across the country support the fight against breast cancer.   

We finally arrived for our reservations at Oceana Grill (where Donna and Lawrence joined us) and the bread pudding did not disappoint! Our server Errol was great!!!  We even saw part of the first parade for Mardi Gras 2015. Back on Bourbon Street at night, the crowd was even bigger and as active, but nothing x-rated this time. We all got beads thrown at us from balconies---great fun, thanks to daring Donna!

TK’s Takes: Janie would not share her bread pudding, so others had to order their own. Donna’s crème brulee was the largest serving he ever saw. Pralines are too sweet. Looking forward to two weeks of relaxation!!!

SWEET HOME ALABAMA TO SLIDELL, LOUISIANA!

Hampton Inn, Slidell, Louisiana

Friday, January 30, 2015

57 F, Sunny

We left Travelers Rest Resort this morning at 8 a.m. for the long ride to Louisiana. The roads were clear and the weather sunny.  As TK drove, I watched the southern countryside slide by. Usually I read because we have been the routes so many times, but this time I only did five USA Today crosswords and spent most of the time on watch!

From left to right: TK's Avalanche, the cabana, and Mary Lou and Scorchy's 37 ft. RV

Travelers Rest Resort, Dade City, Florida

While still in Florida’s panhandle, we got the bright idea of leaving I-10 and taking “the back roads are better” Scorchy’s advice. We drove along the gulf for the next many miles until at least an hour later we got the bright idea of using Trip Advisor to find the #1 restaurant in Fort Walton Beach, Florida:  Stewby’s Seafood Shanty.  Then, the heavy traffic appeared.  Finally, another hour later, we came upon Stewby’s, which turned out to be the size of a small McDonald’s with a drive through. Really?  We drove right on by, turned around, and rejoined the heavy traffic. Still on the gulf we entered Alabama where we saw glistening white sand and rich red soil. The white sand looked like snow! We finally found a route back to I-10 as fast as we could.

Entering Alabama!

Beautiful white sand near the Gulf of Mexico

We stopped in Mobile for dinner at Cracker Barrel and proceeded through Mississippi in the dark. What would have been a 10 hour drive (with dinner) turned into a 12 hour drive (with dinner). Lesson learned.

Things we saw along the way: the USS Alabama, a U.S. Navy Destroyer docked in Mobile Bay, sun dogs [(scientific name parhelia) are an atmospheric phenomenon that consists of a pair of bright spots on either side on the Sun, often co-occurring with a luminous ring known as a halo according to Wikipedia], a tunnel under Mobile Bay, lots of roadwork, bayous, only a few palm trees, lots of casinos in Mississippi, at least 4 major outlet malls, gas for $1.75/gallon, and sun!

TK’s Takes: In Florida near the state line we stopped at a Busy Bee. He really liked this gas station with a Dunkin Donuts, Burger King, the largest bathroom stalls we have ever seen (and clean), and grocery store. After that we saw that Tom Thumb gas stations were much more prevalent and very small.

JK’s Take: We were sad to learn that our friends from England will not be joining us on the cruise due to an unexpected medical situation.  Our Wisconsin friend Donna sent us an emailed photo of her husband Lawrence relaxing before the cruise. They are flying out of Chicago tomorrow. We are anxious to see them and our California friends Brian and Nancy who sent us a note that they are flying out of Los Angeles tomorrow morning. We have reservations together at Oceana tomorrow at 7 p.m.!!!!!

CIRCUS MUSEUM AND SINKHOLES AND OWLS AND SUCH!

Travelers Rest Resort / Dade City, Florida

Thursday, January 29, 2015 (and a report about Tuesday [27th] and Wednesday [28th])

47—70 F, Sunny

Tuesday’s ride back to Dade City from Estero included a stop at Sarasota’s The Ringling.  One of my dear Toledo cousins told me awhile back that this museum was worth a visit. She was right!  www.ringling.com

A mural in the Tibbals building

In 1926 circus king John and his wife Mabel Ringling built their ornate Venetian inspired 36,000 square foot estate, Ca’d’Zan (House of John), on the waterfront overlooking Sarasota Bay for $1 ½ million. The couple had been traveling throughout Europe acquiring circus acts and art and decided to build a home in Sarasota in the architectural style of Venice’s Ducal Palace.

Rear view of Ca'd'Zan from Promenade

The elaborate ballroom sized terrace promenade in the back of the mansion has steps leading right into the water---their 135 foot yacht was always docked there.

Promenade on Sarasota Bay, Ca'D'Zan

I loved the dining room and kitchen, with displays of their china, at least 6 different patterns, e.g. Lenox designed by Tiffany, Wedgwood, Portmeirion, and more. The dining table was set for 22 people and was decorated by the Sarasota Garden Club.

From the mansion we walked by Mabel Ringling’s prized rose garden which was in full bloom on our visit. Our final stop was the Howard Bros. Circus Model that Howard Tibbals started making as a teenager. The miniature circus is ¾ inch scale to the foot and includes 42,143 items, not including small pieces such as thousands of railroad stakes: 152 circus wagons, 55 rail cars, eight tents, over 500 hand carved animals, 7,000 folding chairs,  1500 workers and circus performers, all telling the story of the circus from rolling by train into town to packing it all up again all in one day--- cook tent--- dining tent---draft horses—laundry area—the big top---the three rings---the midway freak show (step right up and see the strong man)---the aerialists—the clowns, and so much more.  It was wonderful to imagine a 1930s circus with so much going on. The sight of such intricate work was glorious. Howard Tibbals was a stickler for detail.

I remember my Erie East HS students talking about the circus when it came into Erie on the rail on the east side—the elephants walking up to the civic center on 9^th and French Streets in the 1980s. One dear, creative student “ran away” with the circus one year—I didn’t see him till years later and he truly enjoyed his experience.

The rest of the drive to TRR was uneventful and everyone was tired.

Wednesday morning we picked up friends Ron and Ginny and brought them to TRR (easier than giving them directions) after a great breakfast at Black Eyed Pea. We took a walk around the gardens and Lake Margaret and then stopped at Busch Hall for the auditions.  Every year TRR hosts auditions so that the board can determine what performers they will hire for their Sunday night entertainment in Busch Hall, now selecting for 2017. Each performer has 15 minute to showcase his/her act. We watched a magician, a singer, and a classic guitarist who played flamenco type music.

Wednesday evening we watched the Nova program on PBS, Sinkholes: Buried Alive that focused a lot on Pasco County, Florida (where we are). Plant City and Tampa are each 37 miles away from TRR.   Sinkholes are a geological hazard found all over the world that swallow highways, buildings, horses, cars, and more!  The episode also noted sinkholes in Louisiana (where we are headed), Spain, and Siberia. I would prefer not to encounter a sinkhole.

Today, Thursday, we went to the Kumquat Growers open house with the TRR Garden Club. Dade City is known as the Kumquat Capital of the World and will celebrate with a huge Kumquat Festival on Saturday.  www.KumquatFestival.org

We learned about the two varieties grown in Florida, Nagami (oval) which is tart and mostly used for cooking. The Meiwa (round) is less tart.  I tasted quite a few and I do like the Meiwa better, but TK said the Nagami had more of a taste. TK bought jam, jelly, and marmalade.  I bought kumquat hand cream that smelled so good!!

Janie and a kumquat tree, Dade City, Florida

Mary Lou bought a kumquat pie! The pie resembles key lime but with a sort of tart kumquat taste! Delicious! The open house featured a tour of the washing and packing facility, samples of jellies and jams, salsa, salad dressings, exhibits by the Florida Agriculture Extension Office with Master Gardeners, and others.

One exhibit had a beautiful tethered Eurasian eagle owl—it is the largest owl in the world. We don’t know why this one is captive in Florida (native to Europe and Asia), but I know B2 would have liked to see him. These owls resemble the Great Horned Owl, but their wingspan can be up to 74 inches and they can weigh almost 8 pounds.  It usually feeds on small mammals, such as mice and rabbits, but can also kill and eat fully-grown foxes and even young deer. Imagine that!  These people also had a 12 foot long albino Burmese Python. Apparently during a recent hurricane some short of reptile zoo was destroyed and the snakes all disappeared. Just this morning on the local news the growing python population in the Florida swamps was mentioned. The hurricane escape is one reason why.  Just think of all the things we learn when we travel!!

Eurasian eagle-owl at Kumquat Open House, Dade City, Florida

This evening we went to a “Cabana Get Together.” Everyone contributed a soup ingredient and the end result was a super tasting soup with all the fixings-bread, crackers, desserts. There were about 50 people there, those who have RVs and cabanas at TRR. We got to meet Jim, the Nail Eater, also a retired Chicago firefighter, and got the rest of the story from January 21, 22. He was actually putting up paneling and the nail he swallowed was a one inch finishing nail. Thank goodness everything turned out OK after 3 days in the hospital!

What fun we have had during our time at TRR. Mary Lou and Scorchy are sure fun to be with (married 60+ years) and they are so busy that we could hardly keep up with them. The perfect hosts!  It was nice visiting our friends, Ron and Ginny, too. They know why I am looking forward to the bread pudding at the Oceana restaurant in New Orleans—a few years ago they cruised with us on our Halloween cruise out of NOLA! They remember! 

Tomorrow we will leave early for New Orleans but we will be  thinking of our great time with family and friends here!

TK’s Takes: TK is happy—he booked another cruise for January 2016. He also said that he heard the man with the Burmese Python say that pythons don’t survive north of Orlando because of the weather.  Hmmm.

UNEXPECTED SNAKE SKINS AND TRIVIAL PURSUIT

Hampton Inn, Fort Myers-Colonial,  Fort Myers, Florida

Monday, January 26, 2015

60 F, Sunny

Last night before we were going to bed TK seemed to be fooling around behind the desk. He said, “This isn’t good,” as he pulled out a five foot snake skin.  I asked him to go to his sister’s immediately and tell them. It was horrible to think such a big snake was in the cabana.  As it turned out, Scorchy had found a corn snake’s shedded skin awhile back and was saving it. Are you kidding me???? TK said Scorchy was a grownup B2 (our granddaughter who loves to collect live insects –think tomato hornworm--and frogs and crayfish and other creatures)

This morning we all jumped into the Avalanche and TK drove about 3 hours to his brother Tom’s in Estero. We played an 8 hour game of the 80s Trivial Pursuit with pizza and Carol’s wonderful homemade rhubarb and strawberry pie. Playing Trivial Pursuit is a family tradition and we don’t all get together often anymore, so this was a special treat.  The 80s version is quite a challenge though. With categories like music, headlines, TV, movies, sports and leisure, and wild card. Reagan, Bush, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, The Highwaymen, Anne Frank, AIDS, Band-Aid concert, and a few more were answers we knew.  We all have our specialties—TK: music; Mary Lou: Yankees; Tom: sports and politics; Scorchy: sports; Carol: movies and television; and me:  literature ha ha—note that wasn't a category.  This game took a long time.

I really miss B1 and B2.

ANOTHER FLEA MARKET AND RED SHOULDERED HAWKS!

TRR--Scorchy's HotSpot quickly! / Dade City, Florida

Sunday, January 25, 2015

55 F, Sunny

Bright and early we all went to a small flea market by a private airport.  I did see military items and nice produce, but nothing we were looking for.  This market had more antiques than new items. I reflected that there are no nice large flea markets with good parking in the Erie area.

Another thing I thought of was the difference between an American market, a European market, and those in the Caribbean. American vendors let buyers ask questions and react only if the buyer is interested. Vendors are very aggressive in the Caribbean. At my favorite markets in Aix en Provence, Florence, Nice, and Barcelona the vendors are somewhat in between—not too aggressive, but they encourage sales!

We had a great lunch at Florida Cracker Kitchen—TK had a Spanish Chorizo (omelette) and I had a very good burger.

Back at TRR we spotted a red shouldered hawk (buteo lineatus) on a nearby telephone pole.  I thought I got some good photos! She was beautiful. We deduced that this is the one we saw a few days ago and now we know the species for certain. She’s probably watching for squirrels.

Tomorrow we (TK, me, ML, and S) are driving to Ft. Myers to visit TK’s brother. I hope it is a little warmer there! However, there is no snow in sight!!!!!

TK’S TAKES: “Too cold for me.”

FLORIDA PIONEERS AND HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES!

Panera Bread / Dade City, Florida

Saturday, January 24, 2015

55 F, Rain—then sunny

It rained all night and we thought it was a tropical storm based on the noise on our metal roof. It

Turned out to be just an all night and morning rain----no floods!  We got up early to go to the

TRR volunteer firefighters’ Pancake Breakfast.

We headed to Blue Jay Park on the other side of Dade City after breakfast to visit my friends from high school, Ron and Ginny W. (they are TK’s friends too), who are staying in Florida for three months. 

We decided to go to the Zephyrhills Depot Museum where we learned that Zephyrhills was originally Abbott, Florida.  The area was known for its pure water and Zephyrhills water was bottled and has been on the market since the early 60s!

Ron, Ginny, and Janie at the Depot Museum

After lunch at Sunrise, we drove to Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City. We enjoyed learning some Florida history through an 1860s homestead, farm machinery, a citrus packing plant, a United Methodist Church (1800s), a one room school house (mid 19^th century),  the cane sugar syrup/molasses making process, a train depot with a telegraph room, and a barn full of phaetons, surreys, and other carriages.  My favorite parts were the kitchen separate from the homestead, the citrus industry timeline, and learning that after the cane sugar sap is gathered from the cane the syrup is made in the same way as maple syrup!! Ron was very knowledgeable about the old farm equipment so we learned a lot!

TK and Janie at Florida Pioneer Village

Kitchen at a mid 19th century homestead at the Pioneer Village

We took Ron and Ginny back to Blue Jay. We really enjoyed their company. TK and I stopped at Panera to upload part of the blog.  Back at TRR, we discovered that Mary Lou had made tasty red velvet cupcakes, a nice snack!

TK’S TAKES:  It was nice to see our friends. 

THE LULL OF RAIN ON A METAL ROOF!

THE LULL OF RAIN ON A METAL ROOF!

Travelers Rest Resort / Dade City, Florida

Friday, January 23, 2015

80 F, Sunny—then steady rain starting about 6:30 p.m.

I was really excited when a cruise friend (dear Wisconsin, how I thought she was probably heartbroken about the Packers, but then I remembered she probably liked the Bears) said she went through blog withdrawal when I did not post on Wednesday. Then another cruise friend (across the pond!) chimed in and asked how to access my blog!  Readers! Just what a writer loves!

Genealogy Lesson of the Day: This morning I went to a Genealogy Group meeting and met at least 20 people dedicated to family research. I even found kin! New cousin Pat is also researching the Skiff family from New England! There was a presentation about DNA research and organizing one’s work. I even was asked to speak about how I use Facebook for my genealogy research. Two sites I love are The Organized Genealogist and Technology for Genealogy. I have learned many techniques and learned from both! I also have asked to join “closed” genealogy Facebook pages for the counties or areas where my ancestors lived, e.g. Lucas County, Ohio History and Genealogy, Erie Society for Genealogical Research, and Ripley County, Indiana Genealogy. 

After the meeting I learned about how TK and I use data. Back at the cabana TK informed me that Scorchy and Mary Lou just got a call from Verizon that their data usage had increased past their limit (they have one of those really cute “hot spots.”  Hmmm.  That means that I can’t play Words with Friends anymore with Friend H and DDIL Denise. And, I will upload my blog from Panera or McDonalds or someplace like that. We were just having too much fun.  We both feel bad, but we will make it up to them. We are data hogs.

The next situation today was “lingerie gate.” We don’t have Dillard’s in Erie, so on Saturday’s shopping trip, I took the opportunity to order a major lingerie garment necessity (they did not have my size in the store) for delivery at TRR/Dade City, Florida.  As it turned out the package was mysteriously delivered in TK’s name to our Erie address. Son Brian in Erie confirmed this. Now doesn’t that just beat all?  I will leave this topic before it gets too dicey, but it was sort of funny.

Today we just stayed in the park to enjoy the sunny, warm day in contrast to a 23 F day in Erie. We saw the anhinga down by the lake spreading its wings to dry. A hawk swooped by our cabana after a little animal a few hours ago. About 6:30 it started raining and the tempo does seem to be increasing. We don’t have to shovel rain!! It was a quiet day.

Since we are data hogs my blog will have to wait till I have WiFi access. I don't think I can do it from my phone.

CHEFS DI NAPOLI AND FRESH STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE

Travelers Rest Resort / Dade City, Florida

Wednesday/Thursday, January 21, 22, 2015

77 F, Sunny

OK, so our days are not “living on the edge” exciting! This morning we went to a lecture at the main building about shoulder pain mostly for the free coffee and muffins.  Christopher E. Baker, M.D., a board certified orthopedic surgeon at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, visited TRR to speak about shoulder “malfunctions.” I was very impressed by his detailed PowerPoint presentation. Dr. Baker has worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, the Pittsburgh Panthers, and the Colorado Rockies as the orthopedic and sports medicine physician. He patiently answered everyone’s questions.  He stayed after the lecture and I decided to ask him about heavy purses. He said that is really not a shoulder problem, more a neck problem, and as long as I switch sides and put the purse cross body when walking around antique shows for hours I will be fine!

Mary Lou worked in the garden today and Scorchy golfed while Tim and I read. I thought I would post a few photos of the cabana we are staying in. As you can see we are every comfortable. The cabana is larger than a balcony stateroom on a cruise.

The full bath is on my right as I take the photo. 

The mirrored door on the left is to the closet.

Looking the other direction--the bath door is on the left 

just past the chest with my suitcase.

The dinette overlooks the street that passes by the cabana. 

One can see where some neighbors live across the street.

The TRR park news flash is that a neighbor was putting up dry wall while keeping the nails in his mouth yesterday. He sneezed or coughed or just breathed and ended up swallowing one nail. Now he is in the local hospital waiting hopefully for the nail to pass. Apparently x-rays are taken every so often.

This afternoon we drove to Brooksville for dinner at Chefs di Napoli (14277 Powell Rd, Brooksville, FL 3460), a great Italian restaurant. White tablecloths, freshly baked bread, a delicate marinara sauce, baked cheese ravioli, and tortellini (TK).

Tonight I prepared 2 pints of fresh local strawberries while Mary Lou baked biscuits for wonderful strawberry shortcake we enjoyed on the patio outdoors!!!

Yesterday TK and I went to the Wiregrass Mall in nearby Zephyrhills. This is a nice mall with Macy’s, Dillard’s, Penney’s, Chicos, Pandora, Barnes and Noble, and so on. He got gas at Sam’s Club for $1.83/gallon.

TK’s Takes: It was a relaxing, mild day. The orthopedic doctor answered a lot of questions at the morning lecture. There is a different lecture every Tuesday and Thursday. The tortellini was very good at Chef di Napoli and the bread was the best he ever had in an Italian restaurant. 

FLEA MARKETS AND MORE

Travelers Rest Resort / Dade City, Florida

Monday/Tuesday, January 21, 20, 2015

72 F, Sunny

On sunny Monday we went to the huge Flea Market in Webster, Florida—with high quality antiques, collectibles, new items and old. We heard that today the market had the most vendors ever.  There were thirty five acres of fresh produce, seafood, jewelry, boutique items, furniture, electronics, hardware/tools, crafts, clothing, with great deals.  Our travel space is limited, so we didn't buy too much! I especially liked the old clocks, buttons, and vintage quilts.

Webster Flea Market, Webster, Florida

On sunny Tuesday we decided to take a break. TK got his truck washed—it had never been so dirty and I read. Scorchy golfed and Mary Lou gardened with her garden club. In the afternoon we strolled through the lovely gardens. It is January, really! Begonias, spiderwort (Tradescantia pallida ), snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata), honeysuckle, staghorn ferns, leather ferns, elephant ears (Alocasia), bromeliads, blooming yellow and white angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia), azaleas (full bloom), and so many more lined the pathways. A mango tree is growing near the mulch pile. There are two small lakes beyond the tranquil garden. Mary Lou’s garden club faithfully tends the garden.

Nothing like the shade of Elephant ears! Gardens at Lake Margaret, Travelers Rest Resort

As if the garden wasn't enough, we saw six anhinga (a cormorant-like water bird that produces no oil,  it excels in diving but often has to spread its wings to dry them off), two short tailed hawks, and squirrels.

Today was Geri’s birthday, Scorchy and Mary Lou’s friend and neighbor, so we went to Gene and Geri’s house for snacks and cake.  There was much banter and now they all rely on our smart phones to verify what they are saying, whether about sports or music or history.

Son Randy called and took us back to reality—he is going ice fishing in Presque Isle Bay, Lake Erie this weekend. Randy, Coleen, and B2 went to Chapman’s Dam Winter Festival last weekend and he sent video of them sledding and ice skating. None of that is happening here!! Even though it is cool at night, TK is wearing shorts during the day! 

TK’s Takes:  He said there were more people at Webster than at Renninger’s.  He said he was in kettle corn heaven—he never saw so many booths selling kettle corn!!

ANTIQUES GALORE! SEAHAWKS WIN!

Travelers Rest Resort / Dade City, Florida

Sunday, January 18, 2015

65 F, Sunny

According to the website, Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza is “located on 117 acres of scenic, rolling land in beautiful Lake County, the heart of Central Florida; amid spreading oaks, garlands of Spanish moss waving gently from their branches in Mt. Dora. Two large buildings and a number of open air shopping areas house a wide variety of dealers from produce stands, clothing shops, and oddity vendors, to high quality antiques and collectibles.”

The drive to Mt. Dora is only an hour and a half, but we were up early to get an early start. By 9:30 a.m. the parking lots were already full of bargain hunters looking for that special treasure to add to their collection. Each of us went our separate ways.

This is only a small section--you can see the vendors through the tree line.

Seventeen acres is a lot to cover but this time I wanted to go more slowly than usual. I loved seeing the vintage buttons, quilts, tablecloths, vintage Woolrich coats in abundance, garden wrought iron, fine china, cranberry pickle jars, Fiesta in every color, Star Wars toys, a Franciscan platter $100 more than I paid for the same one last year, Bakelite jewelry, curly maple furniture, World War I memorabilia, and so much more. So what did I buy? Fiesta, of course….

Scorchy was very interested in the old record players and phonograph records.

One of my favorite foods is available at the show, Gran Arepa. It is a delicious Venezuelan/Colombian treat—a grilled cornmeal flat cake like stuffed with mozzarella cheese. That was my only slow down.

By 2:30 p.m. we were ready to go—I did not get all the way through, but I enjoyed every minute seeing all the vendors, dealers, buyers, dogs, and of course the antiques!

On the way home we decided to find a restaurant—everyone was tired. It turns out that most restaurants in Dade City are closed on Sunday, so we headed to Pancho Villa in San Antonio.  There are so many good restaurants in Florida!

Did you know that Dade City is the kumquat capital of the world? Every January tens of thousands of people visit Dade City to enjoy the “down home old Florida experience. We saw a delightful Kumquat orchard near TRR.

Look closer to see the little orange gems---kumquats!

Back at TRR, TK was totally involved in the  NFC football game today---

Finally, yesterday we went to a mall and another shopping area in Lakeland, Florida--dinner at Fish City Grill--shrimp again!

TK’s Take: He didn't think the antique show was as busy as in past years. (MJK: we never went on a Sunday).  He is very excited that Seattle won in a come from behind game against the Green Bay Packers. The Seahawks are very tough to defeat at home. Super Bowl, here we come!