Back to Ohio

We spent two days getting home.  After our wind-whipped adventure in the bi-plane we lrft the next day and drove as far as Lexington, KY. Not any escapes or adventures to repot.  This morning we gradually watched the thermometer on the car dash go lower and lower and spied a   bit of snow arounf Mansfiled and by the time we hit Lodi all the lawns were still covered as well as OUR driveway!

This is what awaited us back home!

Kitchen & Dining

Just some travel tips gleaned from this trip:  Go Hilton!

Most of our hotels outside of Disney World were either Hampton Inns, Hilton Gardon Inns or Homewood Suites and they were all fabulously nice and reasonably priced. Our best room was actually our least expensive.  I have included pictures of our suite and the lobby.  They provided a great frr breakfast.  The price was probably due to the location - Kennesaw, Georgia.  Our worst hotel and most expensive (other than Disney which was a package & I haven't divined the hotel part) was a La Quinta at Cocoa Beach.  I guess it was LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION as they say in real esatate.  I've signed up for the Hilton Honors program so I hope I accumulate enough points to get a free night now and then.



Lobby at Homewood Suites in Kennesaw



Up, Up & Away

 Yesterday was just driving and it was intense driving when we had to go through Atlanta to get to our stop in Kennesaw, Georgia.

We rested up at a great Homewood Suites for the big day of flying in a 1940 Waco open cockpit bi-plane.

It was a great day for flying with blue skies and mountain scenery.

Antiques to Space Launch

Old Car show in Mt. Dora

 Mount Dora yesterday...old cars, calm lake, strolls through antque shops.

TODAY started out with an easy one hour drive to Cocoa Beach for a day of sun, surf and space shuttle launch. (no good pics of launch) but it ended with a 4 1/2 hour drive back!! Too tired and damp to even get dinner. We popped popcorn and called it a day. 

Lake Dora

Crazy Dan



Celebration



View of "downtown" Celebration



Kids frolic in an ever-changing fountain

 We spent all day at the almost surreal but utterly relaxing town created by Disney. 

Walked all over and then sat down in rockers by the lake and struck up a great conversation with 86 year old Harry.  Great guy with lots of stories and we felt almost like we truly live here.

This fountain was fun and WAIT till I get home and can show you the video of Dan in the middle of it.

Had a delicious lunch at Columbia, a cuban restaurant where we supposed to meet friends.  But they didn't make it and we are really happy we went anyway.


Guess how close I was to this ferocious gator



Two Days of Art

After all the days of high energy and dizzying activity we spent yesterday and today in the more sedate world of art museums.  We visited the very popular newly reopened Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. We had a long wait to get in but still had time to view a huge number of works by Dali which were all collected by Mr. & Mrs. Morris of Beechwood, OH.  No phototography allowed inside so I have a picture of the cool exterior.

Today we slept late but since it is a five minute drive to the Ringling Museum we had time to spare and plenty of room.  This place is huge and not nearly as crowded as the Dali.  John & Mabel Ringling had a winter home in Sarasota and it is now surrounded by a Circus museum, a complete miniture circus completed by one man and a fabulous collection of priceless art. We ran out of time to visit the Classic Car Museum across the road.  We will try to go tomorrow morning.

Cheryl relaxes on the back porch of Ca d' Zan
John & Mabel's place ( or palace!)



Full size copy of Michaelangelo's David (with palms)




Medici Lady





This is just a small portion of the complete miniature circus. 
Each figure is about the length of your finger.











Sturgeons in Space

Thursday was our last day at Disney World and we spent it in TOMORROWLAND. The picture is where we entered and due to the intense action! It started pretty tame with a ride in a big geodesic ball called spaceship earth with the typical Disney animotronic figures portraying historical

eras.  Next was a cool "test drive"on the GM test track but it proved sedate after our next adventure MISSION SPACE.  Two versions were offered, mild or intense.  We did the mild first and it was soooo easy we immediately hopped in line for the other ORANGE ticket. We truly felt like we went into orbit and beyond! We were both definitely woozie for at least 30 minutes after we were back to Earth! Today (Friday) was spent appropriately enough at Kennedy Space Center where we joined up with the real astonauts.  They have a simulator experience  here that we were leery of, but it turned out to be a drive in a Model T in comparison to Disney version.

Hollywood Disney Style

This is the view back from the boat as we headed back to our hotel after 6 hours of great attractions.  Most were shows about stunt driving, stunt men, special effects and 3-D.

But the best was last when Dan agreed to ride the Rock'n'Roller Coaster!

It was hair-raising with sharp turns, drops and
LOOPS! When we got to the end we were asked if we wanted to ride again to which Dan quickly replied "NO".

Don't have many pictures today as everything was either in the dark or high action and I took a lot of video.  Tomorrow is our last day at Disney and we will head to the Atlantic & Cocoa Beach.

Disney Days

We arrived at the Disney Boardwalk on Monday afternoon to find that we had been upgraded to the villas and here is ours. We have two floors and a balcony and the pool is right outside.  It is a short walk to Epcot and the World Showcase where we spent all of yesterday including dinner at Chefs de France.

 Tuesday was all animal.  The kimodo dragon posed for a picture.  A dirty lens messed up all the best pictures of Dan or me. Too bad. But actually this guy is better looking.

THEN Dan agreed to some high stakes adventure and went on the Everest Expedition with me.  It is a high speed train which is basically a  crazy roller coaster that climbs this mountain and then hurls you backwards in the dark! Oh yes, and you encounter the legendary YETI.

Day 2 to sunshine

The sun has been shining and the temperature rising since we crossed the Ohio River. Last night we stayed in Charlotte, N.C. Nothing to report except the hotel was nice & comfy.

Today we arrived in Savannah, GA. The picture shows the typical Spanish moss that we see all over the historic district.  We spent the afternoon wandering around looking in antique shops. 

We ate outdoors!! listening to live music at this cafe where Dan met up with Marilyn.