Here we go, down to Miami

 Saturday, November 8, 2025

Maureen is hoping to get on the road by ten, so I leave home by 8:45 in hopes of getting to her house by 9:30.  I talked with Megan the Magnificent yesterday and she was kind enough to offer to do the morning cat meds.  (Turns out I'm ahead of schedule and the cats are grumpy, so I medicate them anyway!) Maureen, Robin, Ma, and I will be in one car and Dean will go down in his truck with Maureen's large suitcase and Ma's walker so we have a bit more room.

Mauraeen's lovely entranceway

We're moving right along.  I stash my car in Maureen and Ma's garage and away we go!!  He pass the Trop and see how much progress they've made and, of course, the Sunshine Skyway is always a treat.  There's a pitstop at McDonald's and the girls get some fries. 

We're driving along, minding our own budiness, when there's a loud POP.  I'm sure it's not us but Maureen can see what happened.  The RV right behind up had a wheel explode!  She could see the smoke and the vehicle weaving back and forth at the driver fought to get it to the side of the road!! We're so lucky he was an excellent driver and didn't swing into us!!

There's a subdivision that's already put up its Christmas wreaths!  And we make a pit stop at Publix where they are all decked out for the holidays.

Glasses for me!

We check into the Hilton Garden Inn around 3:30 and settle into our two rooms, each with two queen-sized beds and scan the QR code for the restaurant.  Maureen has done all the driving and she's not setting foot in her car again until the morning!! Their menu was developed "with world-renowned Executive Chef, Restauranteur, Cookbook Author and Food Network host, Alex Guarnaschelli" so that should be interesting.

Dean calls to check in and comment on how everything is in Spanish.  Maureen tells him the stores have signs that say, "We speak English"!

And all day long I hae been following Ginger's saga.  Currently she is scheduled for surgery tomorrow and there is a chance they might not have to disturb her artificial knee!  That would be such a miracle!  Easier surgery and easier rehab and recovery!! I think I've kept everyone up to date, thanks to Ben and to Ginger who is able to use her computer while her phone is being repaired.  Oh, yes, that's another story for another day!

We head down to dinner a bit before five o'clock to make sure the hotel charges are correct and meet up with Dean.  We get a table for five and discuss the virtues of an $18 hot dog and the possible meaning of a Cacio e Pepe grilled cheese sandwich which includes spaghetti!! I can't image what it is so I have to order it!!  It's really pretty good but too much food so I leave a lot of the bread!  The Apothic red blend is very nice, though! Our waiter is a hootl. He's from Honduras and has been here about thirty years.  He says they have had a lot of cancellations because of the difficulties with the airlines.  We are thinking that some of the people who have booked the excursion we want may not actually make it to the ship. I'm sorry for them;  but it might be to our advantage!

Dean and Mario

While we're in the room everything goes dark for a second!  I think I've been struck blind! But Maureen saw it too.  The next time it happens, we can hear the plane passing.  We're on the fifth floor but the planes are so close to the ground that they block out the sun!!  We're really close to the airport!!

It's really early but Rosa kept me up all night and the drive was long and then there was the wine.  I'm about ready for bed!!  Don't ask the time!

We'll leave around eleven so as to allow lots of time for parking.  Our check-in time is one o'clock.  We'll have to coordinate with Dean about the transfer of luggage. That's tomorrow's problem!