tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64543844821603461202024-03-21T02:47:22.784-04:00The World of DeejAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comBlogger506125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-37624377359177371302017-12-07T20:06:00.002-05:002018-12-24T17:09:23.109-05:00The Andersons of St Andrews<span style="font-size: large;">On a cool, misty, and properly Scottish afternoon in The Home of Golf, we passed through the ancient gates of the St. Andrews cemetery. There are few places in the world where the word 'ancient' almost seems inadequate, but this is surely one of them.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj696FYnYtPj9kA6h9EaxrytM_kFgmWjvHSr1prSar-VGNWcg-xOtg4xctE_1CHkFTWbFO_LnKVh20UldFdEeE4TKl78bireyGAoSwwEfUhAkS6TZYDwmF3YQvB027T3OsyhUYS4kHB11I0/s1600/IMG_4793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1341" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj696FYnYtPj9kA6h9EaxrytM_kFgmWjvHSr1prSar-VGNWcg-xOtg4xctE_1CHkFTWbFO_LnKVh20UldFdEeE4TKl78bireyGAoSwwEfUhAkS6TZYDwmF3YQvB027T3OsyhUYS4kHB11I0/s400/IMG_4793.JPG" width="335" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The St Andrews cathedral was built on these grounds in 1158 and was once one of the largest churches in the known world. The cathedral fell into ruin during the Scottish Reformation of the 16th century, but portions of the once magnificent structure still stand. The ground where the cathedral once stood is now the town's cemetery, and as one might expect in St. Andrews there's a wealth of golf royalty laid to rest within these walls.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And while I had waited a short lifetime to leave a golf ball at the grave of Old Tom Morris, there was one stone in particular that I needed to find. A stone that the overwhelming majority of visitors would pass without second thought, yet one with a unique, if somewhat tragic, story to tell.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_MZAJSm1xRT872U4ADgzgQgawtN7C8WuMc89xcUb_GMcOOIHBFunOwAfKtXAzezT2LPpFyTpBbwLtCIyVzpE7XpJLoVVskWhUcYKWqKqmMNLheiROUlMgsEWdELGvQfB0hojjNFQ1fJz/s1600/IMG_4785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb_MZAJSm1xRT872U4ADgzgQgawtN7C8WuMc89xcUb_GMcOOIHBFunOwAfKtXAzezT2LPpFyTpBbwLtCIyVzpE7XpJLoVVskWhUcYKWqKqmMNLheiROUlMgsEWdELGvQfB0hojjNFQ1fJz/s400/IMG_4785.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a chip shot from the monument to Allan Robertson - the patriarch of golf in Scotland - there is a small, somewhat faded gravestone for an infant child named David Anderson. The child's father was Jamie Anderson, a winner of three consecutive Claret Jugs in the 1870's. The child's grandfather was also David Anderson - better known as "Auld Da" - who spent a brief time as Keeper of the Green at The Old Course, but is best known for operating golf's first Halfway House. From his cart on the 4th hole, Auld Da served Ginger Beer - or perhaps something stronger - and snacks to golfer's in the midst of their round. He became such a fixture of the St. Andrews links, the 4th hole of the Old Course is named Ginger Beer in his honor.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDg8GL0CX8dl3ce_Ot0ea-lsdqsN8KQt67CBfPtFphE6rd0Sc_xkEQMSukevaPJxLUOAKbQkokIMXtKl5J2oGbK88ihg_hqepD63t6ABt9UF63aFYAwNZHtXiW1yzo8r9qOiA4d1mvCHq/s1600/ginger-beer-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="321" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDg8GL0CX8dl3ce_Ot0ea-lsdqsN8KQt67CBfPtFphE6rd0Sc_xkEQMSukevaPJxLUOAKbQkokIMXtKl5J2oGbK88ihg_hqepD63t6ABt9UF63aFYAwNZHtXiW1yzo8r9qOiA4d1mvCHq/s320/ginger-beer-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auld Da and Old Tom enjoy a Ginger Beer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Upon their own deaths, both men were laid to rest in the same plot as little David, without any kind of marker. Which raises an inescapable question...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">How was it that arguably the finest golfer of his time and his legendary father came to be buried in what amounts to an unmarked grave?</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHXYEdoDB2zvsMutWleruLuBGAfhs_Y2lAnj3MxG4tTZ2PO5kr8RU4MBt-9LuxeteJtXPsbAFcfjzRAw93hBkoPX33SMGtVnTSGwz1QZwGGrM0CA6CZcd10JmgHX5_XSmZIJVxEjtcvtG/s1600/02JamieAndersonMay1867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHXYEdoDB2zvsMutWleruLuBGAfhs_Y2lAnj3MxG4tTZ2PO5kr8RU4MBt-9LuxeteJtXPsbAFcfjzRAw93hBkoPX33SMGtVnTSGwz1QZwGGrM0CA6CZcd10JmgHX5_XSmZIJVxEjtcvtG/s320/02JamieAndersonMay1867.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Anderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Later in life, Jamie fell on hard times and soon found himself living in the local poorhouse, his Open Championship glory an all but forgotten piece of history. When Auld Da passed away, Jamie had his father buried alongside little David in the family plot, but likely could not afford to place a marker for Auld Da. When Jamie himself passed away a few years later, he was also laid to rest in the plot without a gravestone.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Both men deserve better.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After years of working through approvals from the town of St. Andrews as well as the Anderson family, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to honor Jamie and Auld Da with a stone of their own in the cemetery. Noted St. Andrews historian and author, Roger McStravick, is leading the campaign which can be found at the banner below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jamieanderson" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="1597" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQsiqEkI2sVdkk7M7TZm4uTtKnWCVUR2HeQiX5nS0IzaruhY9M3sArKyo5mcTtOtReBH3YYxxn9wpYsyQLzGDQkcOu-MRS25XrZIKDxdObNMPztVyTGyOm10_ZF2hQ32pZiT_HlySE45S/s400/just-giving.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For reasons that I can't quite pin down, the story of Jamie Anderson has struck a chord with me. There's just something about a three-time Open Champion resting in an unmarked grave that seems... wrong. History, it seems, is awfully cruel and forgetful at times, with the difference between eternal glory and relative anonymity being exceptionally small.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Jamie and Auld Da Anderson were far more than footnotes in the history of golf, and it is my deepest hope that visitors to The Home of Golf will soon come to learn this.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-53562403800785492522017-11-20T19:40:00.001-05:002018-12-27T18:59:35.631-05:00A Day in the Life in Liverpool<span style="font-size: large;">Growing up, I really wasn't much of a reader. The irony of which is not lost on me, given the amount of hours I've poured into this website where reading is, you know, a fairly integral part. Oh sure, I read the required summer books for school - most of them, anyway - and The Great Gatsby remains my favorite work of fiction by authors not named Rowling or Brown.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So how it was that the 17 year old me came away with a 500 page book on The Beatles from the city's public library is a bit of a mystery. Maybe I was trying to impress a girl. It's definitely the kind of strategy that would have made sense to the two-time geography-bee-winning captain of the golf team. But alas, exactly how I came to temporarily possess - and finish - the book </span><i><span style="font-size: large;">A Day in the Life</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> has been lost in the cobwebs of my brain. What hasn't been lost, however, is the treasure trove of useless information I learned about The Beatles, which I like to whip out at parties from time to time. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example...</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">The song <i>A Day in the Life</i> itself was banned in Britain because of the line "I'd love to turn you on." It also illustrates the juxtaposition between Lennon and McCartney better than any other song in their collaboration. There's John's melodramatic, somewhat trippy, rendering of stories he literally pulled from the local newspaper versus Paul's happy-go-lucky account of a poor chap who's just struggling to get to work on time. And then there's the instrumental, which somehow manages to sound like everything and nothing at the same time. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCgFNG-cifM7FcwJMg24Yj2_SWR3OcfjwPdWMR-oQ40nYcKiCtVhDllOjkTLPV5on1Su-vu7DfDgNv5DtH70MeUbrblUKE5FtXUbV73Lh319-p8MkDXawk4GV_vAMTMbmNcHEOpgeZl-j/s1600/IMG_7382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCgFNG-cifM7FcwJMg24Yj2_SWR3OcfjwPdWMR-oQ40nYcKiCtVhDllOjkTLPV5on1Su-vu7DfDgNv5DtH70MeUbrblUKE5FtXUbV73Lh319-p8MkDXawk4GV_vAMTMbmNcHEOpgeZl-j/s640/IMG_7382.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Beyond the abundance of cocktail party factoids, the love for The Beatles which sprang from the pages of <i>A Day in the Life</i> has taken me to some great places. From Paul McCartney in the pouring rain at Atlanta's Piedmont Park, to traipsing across Central Park after a blizzard to visit Strawberry Fields, to the masterwork of Cirque du Soleil and Sir George Martin - the band's longtime producer - in Las Vegas, The Beatles have figured prominently in some of my fondest travel memories.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After my week-long introduction to Cambridge, our original plan was to head north to Scotland for a visit to Edinburgh and St. Andrews. But almost from the start, something didn't feel quite right. Recalling the geography from my read-maps-for-fun days, I knew that the band's hometown of Liverpool was only a slight detour off the path north. The solution to this dilemma was pretty clear: we shaved a night off both Edinburgh and St. Andrews and added Liverpool to the mix.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">All I really knew about Liverpool to that point - other than its location on a map - was that it was home to both the world's greatest band and the world's lousiest football team. My fellow golfers may question the rationale of dropping a night in St. Andrews, but for yours truly, this was an absolute no-brainer. The Home of Golf and The Home of The Beatles in the same trip? Sign me up for that..Every. Single. Time.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOnJXpEXhPrBMChyphenhyphen_7sk1Aj_I05D7uSX9a90um0RIEOYsCCciA4bKVcgIbODKrmqXuk1G46K_luAnq_yw0xuk_lqmXHJkI8_Xb1YqIReMwPUnk4jiD8YyNbu9wBNPLlWK7LKXsBY1Fq-e/s1600/IMG_4278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOnJXpEXhPrBMChyphenhyphen_7sk1Aj_I05D7uSX9a90um0RIEOYsCCciA4bKVcgIbODKrmqXuk1G46K_luAnq_yw0xuk_lqmXHJkI8_Xb1YqIReMwPUnk4jiD8YyNbu9wBNPLlWK7LKXsBY1Fq-e/s400/IMG_4278.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The clubhouse at Hoylake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another advantage of heading to Liverpool was it gave me a good excuse to pop out to Hoylake and the Royal Liverpool Golf Club. It was here that Bobby Jones took home the Claret Jug in his Grand Slam year, and fans of Tiger Woods will remember Hoylake as the course where the Big Cat won The Open playing with only his 2-iron. OK, a slight exaggeration, but only slight. That 2-iron is proudly displayed inside the Royal Liverpool clubhouse, as well as enough golf memorabilia to fill a museum. If you're a golfer and find yourself in Liverpool - even if traveling without clubs, like yours truly - take the 20 minute train ride to Hoylake... You'll be glad you did.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXk21KKDNJR3AEx1ImUIOVzpeU2bWtDLvfLDfzw9VMDFLUtzmPYsFyqYu2WE7nqog5MU8UFzuYparoGhbP8MYlEnAGoeYDrmFnv7gtDp-mzC0k3WSF8BZRcmumBQ9hqmyggHGG0Xc3B61/s1600/IMG_5550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXk21KKDNJR3AEx1ImUIOVzpeU2bWtDLvfLDfzw9VMDFLUtzmPYsFyqYu2WE7nqog5MU8UFzuYparoGhbP8MYlEnAGoeYDrmFnv7gtDp-mzC0k3WSF8BZRcmumBQ9hqmyggHGG0Xc3B61/s400/IMG_5550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While I was marveling at Walter Hagen's mashie niblick, MJ was back in Liverpool touring the city aboard its hop-on hop-off bus. I've always held a certain level of disdain for these rolling tourist delivery systems, but I once shared a similar view of roasted brussel sprouts. Now I devour those by the bowlful. So I kept the eyerolls to a minimum and soon realized there was an unexpected advantage of her journey on the Big Red Machine... She received a general overview of the city, and now knew exactly what we should see that afternoon.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRV8vWbFH3I9RvJjyg_2g8azzfk5XEZbt7VsYIKmPH5CmlCRtD0tzhuPCe1K0pdxxxWfCVj7fhcUgm0jf8a4tXx8odwHSH5DB8AbHE854DOUxgDpU3A9G4jruVQbg1BpU3I6rQWIC3_BV/s1600/IMG_4172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRV8vWbFH3I9RvJjyg_2g8azzfk5XEZbt7VsYIKmPH5CmlCRtD0tzhuPCe1K0pdxxxWfCVj7fhcUgm0jf8a4tXx8odwHSH5DB8AbHE854DOUxgDpU3A9G4jruVQbg1BpU3I6rQWIC3_BV/s400/IMG_4172.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Rocks Beach at Hoylake looking to Wales</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We started by trekking to the Church of St. Luke, also known as the "Bombed Out Church." Built in the early 1800's, the church was burned during the Liverpool Blitz in 1941, leaving only the exterior shell behind. It stands as a unique, if spooky, memorial to those lost during the war.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb-1KsYhZ3HipOvNA-XbIVN3GBtNs9xRMfaRwNHjrvlqd0g-Ykfn-rrqkwzh9tP5JyxQQ9JN1S7_k8dk_NlgtQN5j7LkOxYN_3SFqcZb3uNRWVFuEngsbanYC5na_MqldMVispZ658U5r/s1600/IMG_4300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb-1KsYhZ3HipOvNA-XbIVN3GBtNs9xRMfaRwNHjrvlqd0g-Ykfn-rrqkwzh9tP5JyxQQ9JN1S7_k8dk_NlgtQN5j7LkOxYN_3SFqcZb3uNRWVFuEngsbanYC5na_MqldMVispZ658U5r/s400/IMG_4300.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next it was on to Liverpool's Chinatown...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Iwy7o_liTkn7k8GI_mSzQ5xNVLtKbBfil2oGOMI0OxgwRPDL6IAMKBKnHUn5GMXL6OAMu0xRBifvOUr_tedAgA48veIFQ48t6zUxifMY6OE9-OkkAsACezYCEfq5yeRbBjo-U5bKRqw/s1600/IMG_7448.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="750" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Iwy7o_liTkn7k8GI_mSzQ5xNVLtKbBfil2oGOMI0OxgwRPDL6IAMKBKnHUn5GMXL6OAMu0xRBifvOUr_tedAgA48veIFQ48t6zUxifMY6OE9-OkkAsACezYCEfq5yeRbBjo-U5bKRqw/s400/IMG_7448.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Followed by a flying visit to the city's whopper of a cathedral, which naturally was closed for a private ceremony.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO8u2tAOhyphenhyphenXt_lC63tiwINCY-w7z3WRWQNKZrkewrMPoykm5dHehii_1ampPpxffC9aZ-PSYUaYPtr7ggFoJZ_EeXAYqYaDxmIcCeUPnLUzzBUoaQTGe6YMJo7g49MZFiUnxTZiRV9WD5/s1600/IMG_7447.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="750" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlO8u2tAOhyphenhyphenXt_lC63tiwINCY-w7z3WRWQNKZrkewrMPoykm5dHehii_1ampPpxffC9aZ-PSYUaYPtr7ggFoJZ_EeXAYqYaDxmIcCeUPnLUzzBUoaQTGe6YMJo7g49MZFiUnxTZiRV9WD5/s400/IMG_7447.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next it was on to the shores of the River Mersey and Liverpool's bustling waterfront. There we stopped in for a drink at the former headquarters of White Star Line, the operator of the ship where Jack & Rose fell tragically in love. The old world charm of the building, paired with the view from the aptly named rooftop bar - Carpathia - made for an hour or so well spent.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrRTHidFvLYwuRXgSKk1_ifyRfVvFNyPtiiFc75YtBuwZhwupBJU6MDdhaNJhcG-8uMBp38AlUmLe9X5o1JpHHA2e3JW-SgF1A9Pw9fplX1FOLrLOWH61lvMLOzGK7vi0eQ3uoftUu9aZ/s1600/IMG_4309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrRTHidFvLYwuRXgSKk1_ifyRfVvFNyPtiiFc75YtBuwZhwupBJU6MDdhaNJhcG-8uMBp38AlUmLe9X5o1JpHHA2e3JW-SgF1A9Pw9fplX1FOLrLOWH61lvMLOzGK7vi0eQ3uoftUu9aZ/s640/IMG_4309.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At last, it was time to begin the Magical Mystery Tour of sorts which brought us to Liverpool in the first place. First stop was just a short stroll away on the Albert Docks: The Beatles Story. Whether you're an uber-fan chocked full of useless factoids, or just someone that thinks <i>Love Me Do</i> is a catchy tune, this interactive museum is worth every penny.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I say 'interactive' because every entry comes with an audio guide, which provided a ton of great info on each exhibit without the annoying side-effect of having to read.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8FabFEQjDrrdV6NIbbucOpxkJFEWWKHYJ3KecQV_T61xSWNqvS8ErL_LVD0jo5r9Otk_5gBauiYEKZZpKwiSv4_I9AMzgbFPXyWjJPMGPW3E3_g-XzCNHk-qasomZgBm3qF46Bgkukf/s1600/IMG_4060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8FabFEQjDrrdV6NIbbucOpxkJFEWWKHYJ3KecQV_T61xSWNqvS8ErL_LVD0jo5r9Otk_5gBauiYEKZZpKwiSv4_I9AMzgbFPXyWjJPMGPW3E3_g-XzCNHk-qasomZgBm3qF46Bgkukf/s400/IMG_4060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By now it was time for something sweet and the afternoon Costa. That just doesn't roll off the tongue as well as "afternoon Starbucks," but nevertheless... For the sweet portion, we happened across a market near The Beatles Story, where I encountered a double chocolate brownie that would have given Market Cake a run for its money.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9sJvfI6KcI55Figp8XA-pImaNcvcE06vbUdIQYxdFKHdgOcpjUtCAG_hJADQJUJjkTY2yxNdyqjkSGFcFgK1mX7lKSjcbyjHgraxwROtR71JYMHrHf4SEfHdvoamHANANsUk0H3vlrmQ/s1600/IMG_4063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO9sJvfI6KcI55Figp8XA-pImaNcvcE06vbUdIQYxdFKHdgOcpjUtCAG_hJADQJUJjkTY2yxNdyqjkSGFcFgK1mX7lKSjcbyjHgraxwROtR71JYMHrHf4SEfHdvoamHANANsUk0H3vlrmQ/s400/IMG_4063.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Although there are loads of Beatles related sites to see in Liverpool, one of the most popular also happens to be the newest. In 2015, the city debuted a statue of the four lads strolling thru their hometown, and the spot has quickly become selfie central. It's reminiscent of a famous photo of the group walking down the street, though I suppose with these guys one has to be more specific than that.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXgMNndNH6CVuPpCNUticN1eFTCEQwcpRJy_ArHxNh_-9f9l0xj7G-J4dY06NSvl49fRLW8K_fMzdxgB2Q2SwUUVxg2ihQyDbJk7vwb7WK1OYjdGc9UuKZlAxaWyN1uKTPiO_gXlQEZIK/s1600/IMG_7376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1588" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXgMNndNH6CVuPpCNUticN1eFTCEQwcpRJy_ArHxNh_-9f9l0xj7G-J4dY06NSvl49fRLW8K_fMzdxgB2Q2SwUUVxg2ihQyDbJk7vwb7WK1OYjdGc9UuKZlAxaWyN1uKTPiO_gXlQEZIK/s400/IMG_7376.JPG" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If Liverpool is considered the St. Andrews of all things Beatles, then the Cavern Club would be the Old Course. Early in their career, The Cavern Club hosted The Beatles onstage nearly 300 times, as well as a number of historically insignificant acts like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Queen, Oasis, and Sir Elton John. It also happened to be the one and only entry on our itinerary in Liverpool. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRflkJT90DL7vDS1yZlbqvh55jOixyZb4Vj4N9nTrr2mbZGrP_0JgNdbQOfV05ggL7wH710mT8X06mrm3c0hKHNjJb_BX9txQ3mZmnHZw7sBS6pDb8CioCELw112qMIpjoz3_8dKznWPeI/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="1600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRflkJT90DL7vDS1yZlbqvh55jOixyZb4Vj4N9nTrr2mbZGrP_0JgNdbQOfV05ggL7wH710mT8X06mrm3c0hKHNjJb_BX9txQ3mZmnHZw7sBS6pDb8CioCELw112qMIpjoz3_8dKznWPeI/s400/Snapseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Even though this isn't <i>technically</i> the original Cavern Club (that one was filled in to build a subway line) the journey underground feels as though you've stepped back into another era. From the sound of <i>Strawberry Fields</i> coming from the stage, to the names of the acts that performed here on the famous wall behind it, the Cavern is a brick and mortar tribute to days gone by. Although that may sound like the Cavern is living on borrowed time, the crowd told a different story...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL9EQjRZLG3WSEZ8mEhXf7v5G8CmRp1qYv3ipdsibHf_Yh-g7cRsrcanImsuAJTD84Iq5FLrVN3i35olcWAZ1WnDpGeXaUdzhP8WyfhJutLEeowA_ub7zKK95PuC25KXYcArdopeEx-o7/s1600/IMG_4120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1600" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiL9EQjRZLG3WSEZ8mEhXf7v5G8CmRp1qYv3ipdsibHf_Yh-g7cRsrcanImsuAJTD84Iq5FLrVN3i35olcWAZ1WnDpGeXaUdzhP8WyfhJutLEeowA_ub7zKK95PuC25KXYcArdopeEx-o7/s400/IMG_4120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While the Ed-Sheeran-hating guy onstage belted out <i>Glass Onion</i>, I took a survey across the club and pegged the average age of our fellow Cavern-goers at roughly 58. Sure there were a few Millenials milling about, but they were far outnumbered by folks who'd been drawing Social Security for a decade or more. Across all generations, the place was packed with people drinking, singing, dancing, and just generally having the night of their life. As it turns out, nostalgia is a pretty good business.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our one night at the Cavern Club turned into two, but there would not be a third as we had a <i>Ticket To Ride</i> the next morning. As we emerged from the beneath the streets of Liverpool one last time, I couldn't help but wonder... How was it that a rock & roll band from Britain, which broke up a decade before I was born, had managed to play a role in so many of my fondest travel memories? Even removed from the numerous pints and excessive electronic noise, I'm still not sure I know the answer. What was clear, however, was that our time in Liverpool had definitely made the grade.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-66939113740805658752017-09-04T15:12:00.000-04:002018-12-24T17:09:43.507-05:00Captivating Cambridge: Scones, Cathedrals, and Punting, Oh My!<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Wear your tennis shoes. It's a 6 mile walk round-trip."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing about this text surprised me. If the <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2017/08/captivating-cambridge-market-cake.html" target="_blank">first 24 hours in Cambridge</a> were any indication, 6 miles of walking was going to be a light day. But in the early morning haze, before my daily coffee walk could offset the lingering effects of Greene King IPA, I was still a little puzzled.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDgutrORBITy3sTnGev6PaOxMN0LAwqrnxPaWqydvG_s5Yhj55_6yp8BaaiCc-MaMoVlp6rPXzhYIvPyJsuenmrKfiu-KX7AiOVTOinGvHuI8qzwJme3R3J0oaaYKhvfg4trlAGSfEu1M/s1600/Snapseed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDgutrORBITy3sTnGev6PaOxMN0LAwqrnxPaWqydvG_s5Yhj55_6yp8BaaiCc-MaMoVlp6rPXzhYIvPyJsuenmrKfiu-KX7AiOVTOinGvHuI8qzwJme3R3J0oaaYKhvfg4trlAGSfEu1M/s640/Snapseed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The night before, MJ told me that we were starting the day with tea and scones at a place called The Orchard. I distinctly remembered her describing what promised to be the finest scones I'd ever tasted. I distinctly remembered her describing the clotted cream and the different varieties of local jams. I distinctly remembered her describing The Orchard itself, and how we'd take our tea among the apple trees. And I distinctly remembered her describing the pub we would hit afterwards for some midday fortification.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I did not remember her describing a 6 mile trek.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we set off through the fens, along the same path I'd partially walked the day before, it all started coming back to me. Somewhere between clotted cream and afternoon pubbing I had managed to tune out the distance involved. Not that it mattered, because even at a distance of 60 miles, it still would have been worth every step.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7yHyfVOd5KVywS_4Wys43bJDRiC0Eh-ky3kcdwO93hzQcHVPU5tff4R7WRgx7L_BRvsJ99d6gE6JhN6EoWmyh_qzCXMaz3o8bQFhSBG-iqXPoJsEVHoYu9kSIPRJNzwoTS02yRlxYTTo/s1600/IMG_6192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7yHyfVOd5KVywS_4Wys43bJDRiC0Eh-ky3kcdwO93hzQcHVPU5tff4R7WRgx7L_BRvsJ99d6gE6JhN6EoWmyh_qzCXMaz3o8bQFhSBG-iqXPoJsEVHoYu9kSIPRJNzwoTS02yRlxYTTo/s400/IMG_6192.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Orchard was exactly as MJ had described it: A charming tea room in the village of Granchester, whose peaceful apple orchard has been a popular destination for locals and Cambridge students since 1897. In that time, The Orchard has been visited by everyone from Stephen Hawking and A.A. Milne, to King George VI and his grandson the Prince of Wales.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQi83LCfxX5R2US79Kj-QOJVXW0rkDyIamltmlhaplYgsdf68-bNDSMvtrEQ34ifEOP433croE94vCKMGoR5yti6Np7IpT10th-_A-Bv5cz33su1ZqgKbccri9xN4qZ0i_jXQwKtrEVly/s1600/IMG_6187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQi83LCfxX5R2US79Kj-QOJVXW0rkDyIamltmlhaplYgsdf68-bNDSMvtrEQ34ifEOP433croE94vCKMGoR5yti6Np7IpT10th-_A-Bv5cz33su1ZqgKbccri9xN4qZ0i_jXQwKtrEVly/s400/IMG_6187.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From my shady lounger beneath an apple tree, time seemed to move a little slower, giving way to a cat nap which rivaled my snooze the day before in the Botanical Garden. On the other hand, my tastebuds were moving at Warp 6 thanks to the deliciousness on my plate that was even better than advertised. Whether you're wearing a Nobel Prize, the Crown Jewels, or a worn out pair of Toms, at The Orchard you come for the atmosphere, but stay for the scones.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-93-2ASB2WGFbzafdO2oBbH6SjFGe7yftBmNGU5P14JjxqAcSuz00h2AAausV4CyLWcqTI76X24plZGcEiFMDGfYIYq54MW4jvwzXHHgCrYHOuhxEDkzA_Nrja2IpcEP8a0_q_VGt2dYv/s1600/IMG_3630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-93-2ASB2WGFbzafdO2oBbH6SjFGe7yftBmNGU5P14JjxqAcSuz00h2AAausV4CyLWcqTI76X24plZGcEiFMDGfYIYq54MW4jvwzXHHgCrYHOuhxEDkzA_Nrja2IpcEP8a0_q_VGt2dYv/s400/IMG_3630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a short stroll to The Green Man - your run of the mill pub that predates the Civil War, found in your run of the mill building that predates the Revolution...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvhUJM2EdtZTF3s2In9TOK1wM0HwT9pFMfx9_XjIZ-ZnLWdLf6oJzdo1rCH9VQiJfNydYFf0nZps4c-HA9tnj04Pg6UPHIJO6BeTQ2H4x23gkaGh_cqI_5hVFBguier3bTdIe1ragC32b/s1600/green-man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="550" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvhUJM2EdtZTF3s2In9TOK1wM0HwT9pFMfx9_XjIZ-ZnLWdLf6oJzdo1rCH9VQiJfNydYFf0nZps4c-HA9tnj04Pg6UPHIJO6BeTQ2H4x23gkaGh_cqI_5hVFBguier3bTdIe1ragC32b/s400/green-man.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We wandered back to town, past your run of the mill game of adult bumper ball soccer...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoE5eCNP8xJWoTlUy0pis3kLL-LhfBarlceeSGbWfs7oTSxnHdwFZ0Hcn7ClAlW2UCxjEmRRSDdItygZIDmICQ-G2_oBhGNLy19BzJVnncr1MSuCSobe-jjfKmxcT-mATRBgr1wpIa7ce/s1600/IMG_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoE5eCNP8xJWoTlUy0pis3kLL-LhfBarlceeSGbWfs7oTSxnHdwFZ0Hcn7ClAlW2UCxjEmRRSDdItygZIDmICQ-G2_oBhGNLy19BzJVnncr1MSuCSobe-jjfKmxcT-mATRBgr1wpIa7ce/s400/IMG_3659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And your run of the mill family of swans...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3f-C4dhPKRWokItYBuSc8e1FR9OS1D4Ny3vh-YkMloRPwPBLuGLFIRaiYuNaQGYlOqZFqxxm5zYZmv0WKrt_yxHOvh0OmlICcTQr-5nd6mmw8AASwA347O4VygsrR-nra-_F0qZTMYly/s1600/IMG_3663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3f-C4dhPKRWokItYBuSc8e1FR9OS1D4Ny3vh-YkMloRPwPBLuGLFIRaiYuNaQGYlOqZFqxxm5zYZmv0WKrt_yxHOvh0OmlICcTQr-5nd6mmw8AASwA347O4VygsrR-nra-_F0qZTMYly/s400/IMG_3663.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Before ending at your run of the mill giant skillet of mashed potatoes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzxp1zrd3QkSFwCVKhGfo8mpFaFCNFmmQU7QXqENRiK9nixFm8DMt6DVEjl2eVpN3G9yxOYArzXqG7EIuRzvXnPzXptZxOYWw3RhawfpTnVbBZNKQE5HtmkLqBUkleog_GBYJfVi3qDiG/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOzxp1zrd3QkSFwCVKhGfo8mpFaFCNFmmQU7QXqENRiK9nixFm8DMt6DVEjl2eVpN3G9yxOYArzXqG7EIuRzvXnPzXptZxOYWw3RhawfpTnVbBZNKQE5HtmkLqBUkleog_GBYJfVi3qDiG/s400/IMG_3667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Call it your run of the mill Cambridge afternoon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning we took a short train ride to Ely, a town whose history reads something like a collection of credit scores. Founded in 673, the village was destroyed by Danish invaders in 870, and then rebuilt by the Bishop of Winchester in 970. All of which makes me wonder how American historians manage to sit through conferences with their U.K. colleagues. It must be such a drag listening to them toss around all of that three-digit-year history so nonchalantly. But I digress...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx9Wz2ZsstfjjvGJDuxboPbAAa3G8yO6paAl0WoCn5aCUSjW1Jwh41ToqgjsBSAlID7DJoaeEFdoWMsz_fU_os9hcQdpOrRBYA3DNzNe-Mpgal_4I8y2tchCJSWb5UI8PGUdqJrpMOpmx/s1600/IMG_6197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFx9Wz2ZsstfjjvGJDuxboPbAAa3G8yO6paAl0WoCn5aCUSjW1Jwh41ToqgjsBSAlID7DJoaeEFdoWMsz_fU_os9hcQdpOrRBYA3DNzNe-Mpgal_4I8y2tchCJSWb5UI8PGUdqJrpMOpmx/s640/IMG_6197.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Ely Cathedral is older than both Notre Dame and Westminster Abbey and is no less majestic than its illustrious counterparts. The history of the Cathedral reads a little like the town itself: Built in 1083, the building suffered a calamity in 1322 when the central tower collapsed into the sanctuary below. The tower was rebuilt in the shape of an octagon, this time using enormous wooden beams. This no doubt gave the Cathedral the distinction of being the first and largest Tinker Toy building on the planet.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TvgDlzww7lJs6gbSondHoEk3USy0QUIUm170Y2lrNYtRwhR6KOKFlBUVoZNlr0ta_JfaK8t3UMH7EXDi-YZA7Ot5TCWyMdHc0D4uU2_WrT5y1xuSal0OET9fftED7wHX2dM-frjcM_Sm/s1600/IMG_6191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TvgDlzww7lJs6gbSondHoEk3USy0QUIUm170Y2lrNYtRwhR6KOKFlBUVoZNlr0ta_JfaK8t3UMH7EXDi-YZA7Ot5TCWyMdHc0D4uU2_WrT5y1xuSal0OET9fftED7wHX2dM-frjcM_Sm/s400/IMG_6191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Climbing to the top of the tower is both terrifying and thrilling. There's a few spiral stone staircases which are barely wider than the average human, doors that would cause my 5 year old nephew to duck, and the general knowledge that the wooden beams suspending you in the air are roughly 800 years old. If you can manage to block all of that out, however, the views from the top one of a kind.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBfz9Xt5wCVrGgQp7aM_eAM9fADeiPgFmRT_D2aJwV-ALCcB4zYw1MI6JbdRoYK5zrwDJVpHffpASMcZ2SriVYooa5fcyeCVS_TM7_5Nxb2fNmUPw17yFpNhw82bwrU4gniUVgZ4JmJH_/s1600/IMG_6186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBfz9Xt5wCVrGgQp7aM_eAM9fADeiPgFmRT_D2aJwV-ALCcB4zYw1MI6JbdRoYK5zrwDJVpHffpASMcZ2SriVYooa5fcyeCVS_TM7_5Nxb2fNmUPw17yFpNhw82bwrU4gniUVgZ4JmJH_/s400/IMG_6186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Safely back on solid ground, the next few days were a collection of little moments which all seemed to fit in the category of quintessential Cambridge. Such as...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The pub that we entered by hopping a wall in a cemetery...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVKkbLrAhyphenhyphenczoC82nve8zkEnzBaiBmOQQjghyphenhyphenJaG5FiiUsAqbXuzox-nn4G74OPqVKgWCnUipIYBtyIlB7VqbZdfS-slPZFNG7rnCCEpeACCgdsrvD1nQtN0zfQwUitEuYjP4DPtPQGRX/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVKkbLrAhyphenhyphenczoC82nve8zkEnzBaiBmOQQjghyphenhyphenJaG5FiiUsAqbXuzox-nn4G74OPqVKgWCnUipIYBtyIlB7VqbZdfS-slPZFNG7rnCCEpeACCgdsrvD1nQtN0zfQwUitEuYjP4DPtPQGRX/s400/IMG_6189.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The mini-donuts and fireworks at "The Big Event"...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssI8z-sblh7YtSj3zJ8ffAqiLYPqU3eNl9WExTBKVsNQxOkd3zkA2hyphenhyphen-DZbUBHEeCRvQqsMXtEaF9vyWLjRs6mE1wz2-Z2TMVUeyMNP6fgPrHC6v81URdtwzUpy01LF0XjkxfbEq7P9zN/s1600/IMG_6190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssI8z-sblh7YtSj3zJ8ffAqiLYPqU3eNl9WExTBKVsNQxOkd3zkA2hyphenhyphen-DZbUBHEeCRvQqsMXtEaF9vyWLjRs6mE1wz2-Z2TMVUeyMNP6fgPrHC6v81URdtwzUpy01LF0XjkxfbEq7P9zN/s400/IMG_6190.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The elusive Hot Numbers Coffee Stout...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dP8kDeFBWX0awamwmAv51Jxi5t5Sf4G79wTRoytBcEHc16S1vKciI5k7woKmQpJfVw_WmUS7bCbh84f5yFWkf3BQ0bcWFe57-Ppoq5f1XBw3o6pe3Mau4An4BsyWg0k1ZBwPTSjPtuZu/s1600/IMG_3792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dP8kDeFBWX0awamwmAv51Jxi5t5Sf4G79wTRoytBcEHc16S1vKciI5k7woKmQpJfVw_WmUS7bCbh84f5yFWkf3BQ0bcWFe57-Ppoq5f1XBw3o6pe3Mau4An4BsyWg0k1ZBwPTSjPtuZu/s320/IMG_3792.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The risotto with a view at Galleria...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKilANPMTfZQbcHJBGw_M0A_-Wn5mT7h0eC2f9himBGE1id2aDx5zX3w2mL8WtcaQ0s1CpCm1BTDTx55BPxjxzuqFdjUqfyNMpOZkEfiU0wAh76XnW4kxkNTRiWzmqA9nJKvAJErY0eUlb/s1600/IMG_6188+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKilANPMTfZQbcHJBGw_M0A_-Wn5mT7h0eC2f9himBGE1id2aDx5zX3w2mL8WtcaQ0s1CpCm1BTDTx55BPxjxzuqFdjUqfyNMpOZkEfiU0wAh76XnW4kxkNTRiWzmqA9nJKvAJErY0eUlb/s400/IMG_6188+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the view from Great St. Mary's Church.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwGhfpHlPEq1mIYJWuhpv-3t6UpDKp3xqKBu1EUohhKLU5S4VXgKpRuamjmtHFEtOLrW_RzvCjrwNaRaDpqPcwNfiUQbAWXlw121aMZ6hsMYHG9aOIT2CakHEFriGt2ApVDYSvwfELnvc/s1600/IMG_4025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwGhfpHlPEq1mIYJWuhpv-3t6UpDKp3xqKBu1EUohhKLU5S4VXgKpRuamjmtHFEtOLrW_RzvCjrwNaRaDpqPcwNfiUQbAWXlw121aMZ6hsMYHG9aOIT2CakHEFriGt2ApVDYSvwfELnvc/s400/IMG_4025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But of all the quintessentially Cambridge activities, there was one written in Sharpie at the top of my to-list: Punting.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gWqoAlV5Qd2B38CkbH4HRgN_fSyxsh5cQmK22iekyyUCiketcCWL6q9qUB0zETmWCmFUiY-xf0g0rf0nFwlp61oCyibh_YB_flWc8QM9WpR6vWqMwc4_kHp7sTvUOSI033DurAM6DXzb/s1600/Snapseed+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gWqoAlV5Qd2B38CkbH4HRgN_fSyxsh5cQmK22iekyyUCiketcCWL6q9qUB0zETmWCmFUiY-xf0g0rf0nFwlp61oCyibh_YB_flWc8QM9WpR6vWqMwc4_kHp7sTvUOSI033DurAM6DXzb/s400/Snapseed+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One part wooden jon boat, another part Venetian gondola, punting along the River Cam has been a tradition in the city for over a hundred years. In a place like Cambridge, that's still a relatively young tradition, but one look at the number of punts gliding down the river and it's clear this is arguably the city's most popular attraction.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OKpBO26XXvHuE-NJWKq65vRXRgjyjxFFxHVyF8bWaq0fhLthF8RpHndQnjFfUAY8QXepNBAmZamfVApZtTKgXAQc4T5w6Qiq41F0hNhqjcu4Z4e5FCaXrSwpiMA__0eU25SliWrGnUj8/s1600/IMG_3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OKpBO26XXvHuE-NJWKq65vRXRgjyjxFFxHVyF8bWaq0fhLthF8RpHndQnjFfUAY8QXepNBAmZamfVApZtTKgXAQc4T5w6Qiq41F0hNhqjcu4Z4e5FCaXrSwpiMA__0eU25SliWrGnUj8/s400/IMG_3702.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It's certainly one of the most entertaining.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Think of it like the Cambridge version of the Living with The Land ride at Epcot. Except instead of the narrator talking about hydroponic gardens, the punt captain is telling a variety of tales about the city and its famous colleges. Deciphering whether those stories are actually true or not is half the fun, and becomes even more entertaining if you've brought the proper provisions. Like, for example, a Chelsea Bun and a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ0kVgPecbKM9-QgZ7Cxdn8oKO_aUS8AzcMlcMN0X44UTyjuNGasSIv_FFYOIqpsw5vyrVRBGwqgwUfNoYi03irxT2tDHa4IGoGerQY1ypqE-YZun61eqlME-2qlk0m1I6lvOucRTbTJa/s1600/IMG_3741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQ0kVgPecbKM9-QgZ7Cxdn8oKO_aUS8AzcMlcMN0X44UTyjuNGasSIv_FFYOIqpsw5vyrVRBGwqgwUfNoYi03irxT2tDHa4IGoGerQY1ypqE-YZun61eqlME-2qlk0m1I6lvOucRTbTJa/s400/IMG_3741.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When MJ asked what I wanted to see when I joined her in Cambridge, my answer was pretty simple: I wanted to see <i>her</i> Cambridge. The city that has become part of her identity, the city that she loves more than any other, and the city that she longs to return to the moment she leaves. From Market Cake and life changing scones to a magical piece of cheese and punting, I came away from Cambridge with a great sample of what makes the city special. And yet, it was still just a sample.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-83429310861391154862017-08-19T08:41:00.001-04:002017-08-19T08:41:45.177-04:00Captivating Cambridge: Market Cake, AirBNB, and a Magical Piece of Cheese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMlySq4fm5JMrRz0q0ZSS3wYPENzfPrjEWr1ntKJtMsLx0UDSY_NTSwgNtGJr8m31WMye819uUvxSJwA0sjnA6daHlHIKveueQXVOwSrP8vfwVmzhmQcUt1vxSNoF54vFXTr51cQPqP96/s1600/IMG_3331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMlySq4fm5JMrRz0q0ZSS3wYPENzfPrjEWr1ntKJtMsLx0UDSY_NTSwgNtGJr8m31WMye819uUvxSJwA0sjnA6daHlHIKveueQXVOwSrP8vfwVmzhmQcUt1vxSNoF54vFXTr51cQPqP96/s400/IMG_3331.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"You had Market Cake without me? That was against the rules!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I knew all of the nicknames. Market Cake. Bicycle Bakery. Lemonade Guy. Falafel Truck. The list of MJ's favorite purveyors of delicious bites in Cambridge was anything but short, yet she had plans to introduce me to them all during my first visit to the city she's called home for 2 of the last 13 months.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After exploring Cambridge both on my own and on foot to the tune of 9 miles, I just happened to find myself in the city's outdoor market with a ravenous appetite. I scarfed down a hearty fried egg sandwich from one of the vendors and then roamed the stalls in search of something sweet. Soon I stumbled onto a booth serving up a variety of cakes and gooey brownies, with the first bite of the latter releasing every ounce of serotonin in my body.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't until much later that I realized my egregious error: This was Market Cake.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6deOcjNJwWOwvraY-m5TXGoktIhJUuk-OxYuLrkWWwXGZNkW0g4LTonFv5alXaR7D6UKXQE6YiyDo4t4iG864r4URbTAdH3v3MQigSD7a1ICMcGuReKYEGgvAs4Ta3dqvK4JI4BOAirZF/s1600/IMG_5876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6deOcjNJwWOwvraY-m5TXGoktIhJUuk-OxYuLrkWWwXGZNkW0g4LTonFv5alXaR7D6UKXQE6YiyDo4t4iG864r4URbTAdH3v3MQigSD7a1ICMcGuReKYEGgvAs4Ta3dqvK4JI4BOAirZF/s400/IMG_5876.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Should I have clued in that a guy selling <i>cake</i> in the <i>market</i> might actually be the dude affectionately known as Market Cake? Absolutely. Was I sorry? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not in the slightest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to this introduction, I realized pretty quickly that Cambridge was my kind of place. Any town where a guy pedals the avenues selling sweets from a table strapped to his bicycle is certainly OK by me. But this was just the beginning of the long list of things that I, too, would come to love about this city.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For starters, Cambridge provided me with the first real excuse to try AirBNB. As a self-proclaimed hotel junkie, AirBNB was never really on my "to do" list. That is until I tried to find a hotel in Cambridge on the same weekend that prospective students flock to town to tour the university.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Enter my gracious host, Rikako, and her flat on Orchard Street.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Any trepidation to the notion of crashing in a stranger's guestroom vanished when I told MJ the address of where I'd be staying. As it turned out, Orchard was among her favorite streets in the city, and it was easy to see why. Orchard, it seemed, was the very definition of charming.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizEMl46HFj0ok5TlPFJ2xtgyvLgHJKiYv99_RiFm0qeEssOgE5qXI14EG02WiPE4E9Vq8A9oDaRb_kgS3Dk7xj9CirCFOZYXN0SgFnHXezkRFMWh5d9f69cBg18yily8dEMbC16p_8F1n/s1600/IMG_5881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizEMl46HFj0ok5TlPFJ2xtgyvLgHJKiYv99_RiFm0qeEssOgE5qXI14EG02WiPE4E9Vq8A9oDaRb_kgS3Dk7xj9CirCFOZYXN0SgFnHXezkRFMWh5d9f69cBg18yily8dEMbC16p_8F1n/s400/IMG_5881.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The same could be said of Rikako and my home for the first three nights in town. Besides the great location, the room and bath were clean and comfortable and I slept like a log each evening. Most importantly, the experience showed me the beauty of AirBNB, and my pocketbook was certainly thankful. If you're traveling solo and need a place in Cambridge, be sure to look up Rikako. Something tells me that she and I will cross paths again in the future.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next day's 5 a.m. sunrise brought with it the beginning of my solo expedition of Cambridge. MJ's advice for the day was pretty simple: Go get lost. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So I did...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As appealing as the idea of wandering the city aimlessly was, there was one place that I knew had to be my first stop. You see, for over a year I'd endured the stories and pictures of the famous Chelsea Buns at Fitzbillies. Given my affection for all things pastry, there was no question what I was having for breakfast. That is until I actually arrived at Fitzbillies and discovered they also served pancakes with Chelsea Bun syrup. Sooo I had both.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeB_xY4qhCkYe9Jkm6YT1t83KRLN7ErGZYbEDvCIQa-jkr_n0W28d2-hTQV652Ni08nQCDV3CO0akkZhSFFQQs6seY_qgAJOkVsvxjp5dYaNP59P7Mpca8704tbWTEWkD09eVbvG2f_sy/s1600/IMG_5875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeB_xY4qhCkYe9Jkm6YT1t83KRLN7ErGZYbEDvCIQa-jkr_n0W28d2-hTQV652Ni08nQCDV3CO0akkZhSFFQQs6seY_qgAJOkVsvxjp5dYaNP59P7Mpca8704tbWTEWkD09eVbvG2f_sy/s400/IMG_5875.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sufficiently fueled by a mixture of sugar and caffeine, I followed a path to the south along the River Cam and soon found myself wandering through a series of fields known as the "fens." Once an expansive marsh, the fens were drained centuries ago to provide more arable farmland for Cambridgeshire and the surrounding counties. Today they make for an interesting green-space in the city, with livestock roaming just as freely as the humans.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraX9E-zzZB6nsKpGXWk3tSKdNtMPhmmk_bn6-wxYFuBnajvG_Y1PP3fQYOYdU4gMDPs5HZNBKBEdDmOZyWxvy7yU8Gn09dGJz6I5thhIwI_ENg1TSKzpQtH48DhK5-CjlO7-Ekd8Cvh33/s1600/IMG_5878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraX9E-zzZB6nsKpGXWk3tSKdNtMPhmmk_bn6-wxYFuBnajvG_Y1PP3fQYOYdU4gMDPs5HZNBKBEdDmOZyWxvy7yU8Gn09dGJz6I5thhIwI_ENg1TSKzpQtH48DhK5-CjlO7-Ekd8Cvh33/s400/IMG_5878.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">After dodging cow patties in the fens, I made my way over to King's Parade where I dodged an even greater abundance of tourists. But enduring the crowds was a small price to pay for the rare opportunity to visit many of the historic colleges that make up Cambridge University. From manuscripts by Sir Issac Newton - and a descendant of his famous apple tree - to the mind-boggling King's Chapel, the colleges are one spectacular sight after another. And yet I came away feeling as if I'd only scratched the surface.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDgTkfhXPLg6xR3B7XGA8AXt_meeI8uAgukgu43U9CtJHhTAyPewQ9BQ28RS0Nbms5BwtJeSDPeopKPbVfnkWsFdTd5i1Rc4oqS4G3mtEx6uEOB3bmk5Q0lfMwoyQ1jdefTh8hMbd7mv7/s1600/IMG_5880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDgTkfhXPLg6xR3B7XGA8AXt_meeI8uAgukgu43U9CtJHhTAyPewQ9BQ28RS0Nbms5BwtJeSDPeopKPbVfnkWsFdTd5i1Rc4oqS4G3mtEx6uEOB3bmk5Q0lfMwoyQ1jdefTh8hMbd7mv7/s400/IMG_5880.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As morning turned to afternoon, the need for both my mid-day iced coffee, and an escape from the busloads of tourists and prospective students, became difficult to ignore. I found both just down the street at Hot Numbers and the Fitzwilliam Museum. The former served a killer cold brew among the best I've ever had, which I later discovered is used for an equally delicious coffee stout. The Fitzwilliam, meanwhile, provided a complimentary and quiet retreat from the crowds with a host of comfy chairs to soak in their Impressionist masterpieces.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvzwE8dcUzHuUcHvjBo6JG85VcFCjoLvk3rAInbld3RP65voBUldYhGaTYmdnzRSY-B5EBRRjgCdO4A2H52iNai5qXlq0-yEJmsGJ-RYJXWQB81aVFeD9-PIpMD4ECq2YJaflsFbdlUey/s1600/IMG_5877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvzwE8dcUzHuUcHvjBo6JG85VcFCjoLvk3rAInbld3RP65voBUldYhGaTYmdnzRSY-B5EBRRjgCdO4A2H52iNai5qXlq0-yEJmsGJ-RYJXWQB81aVFeD9-PIpMD4ECq2YJaflsFbdlUey/s400/IMG_5877.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fully relaxed but once again amped with iced coffee, I set off for the Cambridge Botanical Garden. It was here that I finally embraced MJ's advice and got fully lost on the paths that weave their way through this oasis. It was also here that I decided my legs needed some rest, and a random bench next to a fountain and under a tree seemed like just the place. 45 minutes later, I woke up from one of the most epic naps in history.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3AO2J2I9mCrNAsFLJsJHAIgR7_dXk0qYohBGoHnLG6xyywRu7z9gOq8PydmceXR6sr6etkeuPPzor5YKJWwswlcxVjDWNf8KitFCd-NucTR7xsIaGAQIG0Oilzie7geu-JNlfU0gHedA/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3AO2J2I9mCrNAsFLJsJHAIgR7_dXk0qYohBGoHnLG6xyywRu7z9gOq8PydmceXR6sr6etkeuPPzor5YKJWwswlcxVjDWNf8KitFCd-NucTR7xsIaGAQIG0Oilzie7geu-JNlfU0gHedA/s400/IMG_3515.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Although dinner time was fast approaching, it was about now that I made the ill-fated detour that led to the so-greasy-it-soaks-through-the-bag brownies known as Market Cake. But as amazing as the Market Cake and Chelsea Buns might have been, nothing could have prepared me for the amazing-ness which awaited at The Free Press pub.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But first, a word on the pub itself...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZjto2eTMvS7QNRGga2FSXVO45iD7xkLrSbdhGBRA8ra0YGJlUMam4Wy4KMhfIWyyxUB2wyQio5_cYHtsbk_EhE8zxMYIeXah8sBfcuKt5x_ixKzsQ7bSHvZxducjkwsJtPXocF7bFhFC/s1600/IMG_3240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZjto2eTMvS7QNRGga2FSXVO45iD7xkLrSbdhGBRA8ra0YGJlUMam4Wy4KMhfIWyyxUB2wyQio5_cYHtsbk_EhE8zxMYIeXah8sBfcuKt5x_ixKzsQ7bSHvZxducjkwsJtPXocF7bFhFC/s400/IMG_3240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Free Press has been around for roughly 125 years and gets its name from a short stint as a printing house for a local newspaper. While I'm not much on phrases like 'hidden gem' and 'proper pub,' both would aptly apply here. The Press also happens to be an office of sorts for MJ during her sojourns in Cambridge, and during my initial visit to her home away from home she had me try something which made me question everything I knew to be right in the world.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aRkvNBkAP2NphmLbp7S4UTrny11_rSAjOXTDGRgtraU_1hNA4bme-3VeTEE3G-CXwfgNTltU24BeWzM7G4CElrqlO5AnQWN0GHi_zau-cDVVn4B3Gw_0Grlm2Q1XVbwBRkgxInBfoMM9/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7aRkvNBkAP2NphmLbp7S4UTrny11_rSAjOXTDGRgtraU_1hNA4bme-3VeTEE3G-CXwfgNTltU24BeWzM7G4CElrqlO5AnQWN0GHi_zau-cDVVn4B3Gw_0Grlm2Q1XVbwBRkgxInBfoMM9/s400/Snapseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It looked like chicken, tasted like chicken, and had the texture of chicken. Only it wasn't chicken... It was cheese. I quickly learned that this slice of voodoo magic was called Halloumi, prompting me to place an international call to a specialty grocer back home to see if they carried it. They do, not that this news kept me from consuming my body weight in Halloumi over the next week as if I'd never see it again.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfzGLFcnhCWrMRoId6yncTYUFJEzau12fxE-sP9lCbK5DEfEHCkItnNRL7P6JDGxHczzwC532ESSKCFUo6MMVMIQN4YKT68Iva4y2EXlBwM9HnLfU7-XjGgPv7XYOtwaleRr90G9q9Xce/s1600/IMG_5405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfzGLFcnhCWrMRoId6yncTYUFJEzau12fxE-sP9lCbK5DEfEHCkItnNRL7P6JDGxHczzwC532ESSKCFUo6MMVMIQN4YKT68Iva4y2EXlBwM9HnLfU7-XjGgPv7XYOtwaleRr90G9q9Xce/s400/IMG_5405.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The sun was fading over the chimneys of Orchard Street as this marathon day came to a close. I'd explored and ate my way from one end of Cambridge to the other, getting to know a little of this <span style="text-align: center;">city that is dear to MJ's heart. </span>As I slowly sauntered down the empty street, comfortably stuffed with Halloumi and Greene King IPA, I was pretty sure that I was starting to get it. <span style="text-align: center;">There would be much more to see and eat in the coming days, but it was already plain to see that Cambridge is a truly special place.</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-67237145728267624812016-12-28T13:05:00.000-05:002016-12-28T13:10:07.093-05:00Adventures with Uncle Deej - Bug on the High Seas<span style="font-size: large;">I've said it before and I'll say it again... Becoming an uncle for the first time was one of the most rewarding items on the benefits package included in the contract with my wife. Over the last decade, we've had some great adventures with our niece, from <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2013/10/adventures-with-uncle-deej-birthday-at.html" target="_blank">birthday celebrations at Cirque du Soliel</a> to a somewhat impromptu trip to <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2016/01/adventures-with-uncle-deej-christmas.html" target="_blank">Disney on Christmas Eve</a>. But now that she's a bona-fide teenager, MJ and I are at last able to treat Bug, as she's affectionately known, to some of the more grand adventures that we've often dreamed about.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For three years running, we've set sail aboard the Brilliance of the Seas during the week of Thanksgiving. This cruise has become a new favorite tradition of ours - one which has sadly come to an end due to Royal Caribbean schedule changes, but I digress. Last year, in between the 47 rounds of putt putt while <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2015/12/adventures-with-uncle-deej-old-sports.html" target="_blank">cruising with our nephew, Old Spor</a>t, I slipped into the Next Cruise office and booked another Adventure with Uncle Deej. Only this time, it was Bug's turn.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ530X18hEjq9-6vUBK89-a7BM5Nku_Gg04auLTbGftP1mkgD7RWi63ZdZKwhQow5f4wuhgHn7803ip0fAjIsZdx-ZmZDJ1QCA5QL35CJwbzS4EE7wxovTV8AipkxDz1FvnCNtpduWwLad/s1600/IMG_7743%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ530X18hEjq9-6vUBK89-a7BM5Nku_Gg04auLTbGftP1mkgD7RWi63ZdZKwhQow5f4wuhgHn7803ip0fAjIsZdx-ZmZDJ1QCA5QL35CJwbzS4EE7wxovTV8AipkxDz1FvnCNtpduWwLad/s400/IMG_7743%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We waited until the summer to tell Bug there was a trip forthcoming, knowing that a year's worth of anticipation would border on cruel and unusual punishment. Naturally, being the loving uncle that I am, I decided the best way to share where we were heading was through a rudimentary game of Carmen Sandiego. Soon our text thread was filled with near daily requests for clues, which were duly replied with obscure geographic references as well as one lengthy and riveting discussion on latitude and longitude. Given that Bug is exponentially smarter than me, I'm taking the fact that it took many rounds of clues as proof of the game's success.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In what seemed like both an eternity and the blink of an eye, the weeks and months of excitement eventually gave way to the cheesy welcome aboard photograph.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita6UTdIn7hhP_2lbJaVO1sSrFAzZFpmSib-mPYNmvN7gEW60wfKH5f5u1zM4aAsBQM8FJYZEapwpCDT5sfStGoKgniBXbbu6XLpjU-Wez3MK7oJMCA_-V11fYQXSgvm_9RxKGFg1mVB_G/s1600/IMG_7439%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEita6UTdIn7hhP_2lbJaVO1sSrFAzZFpmSib-mPYNmvN7gEW60wfKH5f5u1zM4aAsBQM8FJYZEapwpCDT5sfStGoKgniBXbbu6XLpjU-Wez3MK7oJMCA_-V11fYQXSgvm_9RxKGFg1mVB_G/s400/IMG_7439%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just as we learned the previous year with Old Sport, cruising with a teenager is a very different world than the one MJ and I are typically accustomed. For starters, I had to lug an entire carry on bag worth of books onto the ship. You see, Bug reads at roughly the pace of a book an hour, so this was just to tide her over during the two sea days. Somewhere among all of those clues, I probably should have told her the ship has a library.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another key difference... When Old Sport wandered into a gift shop, he'd guilt me into buying an inflatable cruise ship or a Royal Caribbean magic marker. Bug's meanderings, on the other hand, had the potential to be far more costly. I learned this lesson not three minutes after stepping onboard the Brilliance, thanks to her visit to the Next Cruise office to pick up brochures for a 28 day trans-pacific cruise to Australia.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickxa0_zGkg26t3ZfC2Tv0AUmw3ApkFi3d-FQC0aL5bfw0kRc0zdkd-uGDMbZ7c7949267fHS-tcA6ww20gWvJ2mNlNzNFmGc1coJALYvEzo-jCHJzQkWJFwqPxZclh93r6OoNegE5_Atw/s1600/Lively+%25281%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickxa0_zGkg26t3ZfC2Tv0AUmw3ApkFi3d-FQC0aL5bfw0kRc0zdkd-uGDMbZ7c7949267fHS-tcA6ww20gWvJ2mNlNzNFmGc1coJALYvEzo-jCHJzQkWJFwqPxZclh93r6OoNegE5_Atw/s320/Lively+%25281%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once I convinced her to put the brochures away, we spent most of the afternoon before cast-off </span><strike style="font-size: x-large;">eating</strike><span style="font-size: large;"> exploring our way around the ship. In the year that had passed between visits, I had forgotten just how much I missed the 3pm visit to Cafe Lattitudes.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoQ1qFSICNB_dCBr_-iJoU-lU9hbV1ZwsI4ztfNO8b-b7P0JbLrDuIk88wQ8oK22X6VnbJsMcCa1zSj-tyH2QWdXkVeId27MytdDFJuGGFTN_x9fqdaEpsp3kotmKJUavvRx5GdQsNtK4/s1600/IMG_7458%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoQ1qFSICNB_dCBr_-iJoU-lU9hbV1ZwsI4ztfNO8b-b7P0JbLrDuIk88wQ8oK22X6VnbJsMcCa1zSj-tyH2QWdXkVeId27MytdDFJuGGFTN_x9fqdaEpsp3kotmKJUavvRx5GdQsNtK4/s400/IMG_7458%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Shortly after sail away, I learned a couple more valuable lessons about traveling with teenagers. The first is that they have both an aversion to the camera and a spidey-sense that alerts them to employ a host of creative face-covering tactics anytime a picture is being taken. Hence why my camera roll is filled with a variety of photos like this...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxPlmR9F63nln04Dppbv5vh4kW5H2XrqJQaEGgWABsuY0kTCLtd-HnKPQs-q5-19PYIYUUCd2kcqBkb2VdoHUuYyeyGnyCAyvvqfTpjBUNv-mvN-4Wn6UgMIGByKnLdLKC8u6OECXjktV/s1600/IMG_7518%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxPlmR9F63nln04Dppbv5vh4kW5H2XrqJQaEGgWABsuY0kTCLtd-HnKPQs-q5-19PYIYUUCd2kcqBkb2VdoHUuYyeyGnyCAyvvqfTpjBUNv-mvN-4Wn6UgMIGByKnLdLKC8u6OECXjktV/s400/IMG_7518%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The second thing I learned about traveling with teenagers is that their outward displays of excitement are.. shall I say, mostly non-existent. For example.. On our way down to Tampa, Bug mentioned that she really hoped we saw dolphins at some point during the cruise. Wouldn't you know that roughly 10 minutes after cast-off, a group of dolphins came jumping right by the ship. The reaction: A slight shrug of the shoulders. Then there was the much anticipated pass under the Skyway Bridge. Same thing. Although, I probably should have expected that one. The anticipation was really all mine and, after all, it's just a bridge.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGDoA-p7zljMzHmiXuWs6afYgcdLjiMvmSap-cpXlH66A5NvQDdR-xs867p15c7gxuCb99Xer9wOWUIZtSJvC8b0PgytRD2yucI_mU7REhjk51R3RU1VXS4KfKAo7YRlOMEvrGT12nrvo/s1600/IMG_7532%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGDoA-p7zljMzHmiXuWs6afYgcdLjiMvmSap-cpXlH66A5NvQDdR-xs867p15c7gxuCb99Xer9wOWUIZtSJvC8b0PgytRD2yucI_mU7REhjk51R3RU1VXS4KfKAo7YRlOMEvrGT12nrvo/s400/IMG_7532%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the next several days, however, I managed to catch a glimpse of countless moments that could have been mistaken for excitement, as well as a number of those elusive hands-free photos. We had one such sighting while waiting on some dock runners in Key West...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVi4fCFo8hI5Phok-CG38upkTvbsa3lqokMKTCcuiKVWUbVgwqY1UXf0L_aBF22sWvZKZ3eTSxHtCajqc_8up-5lev4pzni3p2piIXAh6CQlXqSXhObpwLDp4JIH-VJ6RP6GttlKyAjxQ/s1600/Lively.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHVi4fCFo8hI5Phok-CG38upkTvbsa3lqokMKTCcuiKVWUbVgwqY1UXf0L_aBF22sWvZKZ3eTSxHtCajqc_8up-5lev4pzni3p2piIXAh6CQlXqSXhObpwLDp4JIH-VJ6RP6GttlKyAjxQ/s320/Lively.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then there was this...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqLLtsJl_VJv4ttEC8eJdiID5245pZJfFZOpkfnYUH9gX3cFuagyz0aCQrVDL08ZuM212Efvo4NBKFfWDoFEqo731Q4bUWRpgi8T7jLR3lk2E4hHx0fwuuiFLEUxUYxAEe6p6nS9tmr0T/s400/IMG_7718%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She seemed to take to bartering in Cozumel...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFaaGu9uhsos_fCKFQwp3jzRtregkB8cB1f4jTgFk0VyEk5h7RxL95jgM9BTSY8Zrw4lZO1PVZ1OJrjvewNLKMq01L4EEXp0tQVZTZ72nBikEexBkUp9tcIcrB4ec7jzYANpa_Dq-TtCu/s1600/IMG_7798%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFaaGu9uhsos_fCKFQwp3jzRtregkB8cB1f4jTgFk0VyEk5h7RxL95jgM9BTSY8Zrw4lZO1PVZ1OJrjvewNLKMq01L4EEXp0tQVZTZ72nBikEexBkUp9tcIcrB4ec7jzYANpa_Dq-TtCu/s400/IMG_7798%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As well as some wacky exfoliation...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoacSMyGfD21wPSrfppZOW0BXDEP5Gcy4n31FfmkkR3ybNMIuWJ9DdYx7k_pXOB7ctYa7cUINhBq4iMD9jpYM1kzQWxuj9KzaiuVD-I6zMRCpijQHMrMmYzgasHHqFdxkNOyDh2vba0Ky/s1600/IMG_7789%255B2%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVoacSMyGfD21wPSrfppZOW0BXDEP5Gcy4n31FfmkkR3ybNMIuWJ9DdYx7k_pXOB7ctYa7cUINhBq4iMD9jpYM1kzQWxuj9KzaiuVD-I6zMRCpijQHMrMmYzgasHHqFdxkNOyDh2vba0Ky/s400/IMG_7789%255B2%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And really, who wouldn't smile at this view?..</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2_-0Y6AbR0Fk8f6lpCsrFx7UhKAWOauCvzOFH-6aE8I_I0FW4I_r1BObLsIcQLz8mXY_Lmnp5VdWXGX2fbGweZx_JQQhoU6_bIRxRiRoGxcF5w1UuYcaHFsOJ4S7H5uz5x3wAYQ5J1FC/s1600/IMG_7751%255B2%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK2_-0Y6AbR0Fk8f6lpCsrFx7UhKAWOauCvzOFH-6aE8I_I0FW4I_r1BObLsIcQLz8mXY_Lmnp5VdWXGX2fbGweZx_JQQhoU6_bIRxRiRoGxcF5w1UuYcaHFsOJ4S7H5uz5x3wAYQ5J1FC/s400/IMG_7751%255B2%255D.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But nothing brought out that rare teenager excitement quite like her appearance on the morning show. Which bears some explanation...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Every morning, the cruise and activities directors, Jerome and Flavio, aired their own version of the Today Show discussing all of the fun things scheduled that day. During the show, they read various "shout outs" which guests were invited to leave in a box in the atrium. These are usually birthday wishes, random questions, etc. After day one there were no shout-outs submitted, so Jerome and Flavio encouraged guests to "ask us anything." Bug took this as a challenge and proceeded to deposit half a dozen questions, all of which they read the next morning. The next day we were so busy chowing down in Rita's Cantina, she didn't get her questions submitted before the cut-off time. Of course, neither did anyone else, which prompted this response on the next day's morning show...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkci3LHYMx7aq3525yZkVS307v3hMFYuPYVQmeNcEXtGFjyambYIXuWoQXLFQ_YVYqJHsGm2eiQ6Qb2pr0dogWmwg_rM83H5R3UJx5jE6C1KNCgyvhNTbldv2n3bX5wMllMLbZih5cliC/s1600/IMG_8968%255B1%255D.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGkci3LHYMx7aq3525yZkVS307v3hMFYuPYVQmeNcEXtGFjyambYIXuWoQXLFQ_YVYqJHsGm2eiQ6Qb2pr0dogWmwg_rM83H5R3UJx5jE6C1KNCgyvhNTbldv2n3bX5wMllMLbZih5cliC/s320/IMG_8968%255B1%255D.GIF" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After exploring Cozumel, we spent the afternoon </span><strike style="font-size: x-large;">stalking</strike><span style="font-size: large;"> searching for one of these gents so Bug could make a proper introduction. We eventually found Flavio, who suggested we meet he and Jerome that evening outside of Bug's favorite place...The Next Cruise office. It seemed that this girl, who just a few days before had an aversion to the camera, was now set to make her debut on the small screen.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGbUWhT7xN1947HNyWokp3mEyhU_5FfJuAdGxdsNPAS-l-n0xF9iHKgrN7wn5amBS4xGqleGh2Mg7k9O01WZbYdeWHuiAMafNCNHZfIjPcfKQsFCLQjY8IMl8CSYWUObQnPA59nF5jgRH/s1600/IMG_7815%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGbUWhT7xN1947HNyWokp3mEyhU_5FfJuAdGxdsNPAS-l-n0xF9iHKgrN7wn5amBS4xGqleGh2Mg7k9O01WZbYdeWHuiAMafNCNHZfIjPcfKQsFCLQjY8IMl8CSYWUObQnPA59nF5jgRH/s400/IMG_7815%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her "shout-out" that day?... A request to play Frosty the Snowman on the atrium piano, which Jerome and Flavio were happy to oblige.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqFTBJEJ8a6bWEumi-48YRwoQrHpD2pS2JVMfegRkNzVrd6i3_tTOkptRFWnOvB7ez-MoZgUwIbWQ1fmlHE_shSOLAdN_Jgyh1t8sN-uYM2bKDVJyEg54h_go3FVvzz5HkLrt9zsCRA2L/s1600/Lively+%25282%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqFTBJEJ8a6bWEumi-48YRwoQrHpD2pS2JVMfegRkNzVrd6i3_tTOkptRFWnOvB7ez-MoZgUwIbWQ1fmlHE_shSOLAdN_Jgyh1t8sN-uYM2bKDVJyEg54h_go3FVvzz5HkLrt9zsCRA2L/s320/Lively+%25282%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As is always the case with these adventures with Bug, to say we were sad to see it come to an end would be an understatement. And as the sun slipped over the horizon for the final time aboard the Brilliance, a famous line from Hamilton played on repeat in my mind.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6Q__YMXNBUVCwsAffYtqZ2ciJ3rbDKwQcVJ4jKBxL6dq079aDz0X5mndA1y7AnJoE9Xpcb8WGf61GUfMo1fPvGCVpurs-6pfxE0e3Fojl_2qoHPmQlPj7WB0qqpwTUueeKP6B6YuuyxW/s1600/Snapseed%255B1%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6Q__YMXNBUVCwsAffYtqZ2ciJ3rbDKwQcVJ4jKBxL6dq079aDz0X5mndA1y7AnJoE9Xpcb8WGf61GUfMo1fPvGCVpurs-6pfxE0e3Fojl_2qoHPmQlPj7WB0qqpwTUueeKP6B6YuuyxW/s400/Snapseed%255B1%255D.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then again, any onset of post-trip depression would have to wait for a different day, because another magical adventure was awaiting us back onshore.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-90291592081651343912016-11-29T07:29:00.000-05:002018-12-27T19:00:06.236-05:00Adventures with Uncle Deej - Old Sport Goes to Disney<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last several years, I've learned quite a bit about myself while navigating the uncharted waters of uncle-hood. Perhaps the most glaring piece of wisdom I've obtained is the unsettling realization that I make terrible deals with my niece & nephew. Read: <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2016/01/adventures-with-uncle-deej-christmas.html" target="_blank">Paid $50 to skip a 90-minute line for the Haunted Mansion</a>. Worst of all, I think these two are wise to my awful bartering skills and exploit it anytime they can. But, as the President-Elect will surely attest, there's positive spin to almost every lousy deal. In this case, one of these slippery negotiations with Old Sport led to a weekend at Disney among the best in recent memory.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The scene was a late summer evening in the Magic Kingdom. After a day filled with tiki birds, corny jokes on the Amazon, and a magical magnetized train, it was time for Old Sport and his parents to head for home. Meanwhile, his Aunt MJ and I had a date with the new Abracadabar at The Boardwalk before collapsing in our room at The Dolphin. Naturally, this news brought an unbearable bout of sadness from Old Sport, and one of those infamous negotiations...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXQKtSUCu0iu5EzIGqezPS0JhETWYPUSZpLuE2YDAWpWIWw3GrBlbrqSXSZjLZ6W-EPXK0hlTLpOF9ijht0du6m9ncZfONxvkmQqXk2FWovJKeiSAn_vlS74c_oeAafPye65SwWns39pa/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXQKtSUCu0iu5EzIGqezPS0JhETWYPUSZpLuE2YDAWpWIWw3GrBlbrqSXSZjLZ6W-EPXK0hlTLpOF9ijht0du6m9ncZfONxvkmQqXk2FWovJKeiSAn_vlS74c_oeAafPye65SwWns39pa/s400/IMG_8308.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I want to stay at the Dolphin with you, Uncle Deej." (Mumbled while rubbing eyes for full effect)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Tell you what Old Sport, I'll make a deal with you.. Between now and Christmas, Aunt MJ and I will bring you to Disney, just the two of us, and we'll stay at The Dolphin. Deal?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Deal." (Still mumbled while rubbing eyes for full effect)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Given that this kid has never once forgotten anything, especially the specific terms of any transaction with him, I booked our room the following morning with both great anticipation and a dash of terror.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbQUTOV_OpgpUyiyw86yyMix9jpcf1darWALvKW6B0nGbc7BRBjikJKBdXh1FkU_r6qewoVp26BJpNuZmHqdJa6fy58CxKsqcadG_Nj6pU4Ak25XHUQKovVXlxWZx27s_iOiHFgJFxenc/s1600/BBEEA50A-22FA-4EAF-8FF4-BC9EA440FC2D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbQUTOV_OpgpUyiyw86yyMix9jpcf1darWALvKW6B0nGbc7BRBjikJKBdXh1FkU_r6qewoVp26BJpNuZmHqdJa6fy58CxKsqcadG_Nj6pU4Ak25XHUQKovVXlxWZx27s_iOiHFgJFxenc/s320/BBEEA50A-22FA-4EAF-8FF4-BC9EA440FC2D.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Why the terror? Well, I've said it countless times before... Parents with kids visit a Disney with which I'm completely unfamiliar. And yet, here we were diving headfirst into that alternative universe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the flipside of that coin... Taking Old Sport to Disney and spoiling him rotten is something we've looked forward to since the day he booked a ticket with the stork. Based on the fact that we arrived to find him sitting on his luggage in his driveway, I'd say he shared the sentiment.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vvJdyBC3orarXDZ_QqPhdgrZxcmO_e6WaBqx73m-w06kmhL1lTgF-GhoTVZudt0YXdV_87v3pVSRxvJF8ql55et1LJqeTb8xzqSQZDP9aISQ3i_BPlFze0f7MbbeXKdof8CpiTjLJ-pO/s1600/Lively.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_vvJdyBC3orarXDZ_QqPhdgrZxcmO_e6WaBqx73m-w06kmhL1lTgF-GhoTVZudt0YXdV_87v3pVSRxvJF8ql55et1LJqeTb8xzqSQZDP9aISQ3i_BPlFze0f7MbbeXKdof8CpiTjLJ-pO/s320/Lively.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a journey consisting of 109 questions - 42 "Can we ___'s" and 67 "Are we there yet's" - we arrived at The Dolphin, setting Old Sport's dancing feet into overdrive.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyFUwndik3v9zi7YSdB2ir4V-6neZvIyttAFpeJYARKMmXhH3t_upMjXT20aqIcTTTRmNKxVGOqgRLN6sPpMnuleXi-XLQsFaxvPGwnmHhHLUTy6mt-M_otF05tQqDllb7SlnT8JWVd5C/s1600/Lively+%25287%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyFUwndik3v9zi7YSdB2ir4V-6neZvIyttAFpeJYARKMmXhH3t_upMjXT20aqIcTTTRmNKxVGOqgRLN6sPpMnuleXi-XLQsFaxvPGwnmHhHLUTy6mt-M_otF05tQqDllb7SlnT8JWVd5C/s320/Lively+%25287%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next stop... Epcot, where Rapunzel was waiting at the gate to give him a proper welcome.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7gRJkj3rIdmppIGWlAFsGB8Ga7XAQs6aD0sPV-wcLSBg5dWyAY4YVyxpibU43qqJmc0gJDk78PNrjwJUX9YPgQubj9nZC7Q3TQcjCF6PUKCJQ1pE8YJzZqepPuyFPWsACkZ8mNVm_nJC/s1600/Lively+%25286%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7gRJkj3rIdmppIGWlAFsGB8Ga7XAQs6aD0sPV-wcLSBg5dWyAY4YVyxpibU43qqJmc0gJDk78PNrjwJUX9YPgQubj9nZC7Q3TQcjCF6PUKCJQ1pE8YJzZqepPuyFPWsACkZ8mNVm_nJC/s320/Lively+%25286%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the pearls of wisdom my brother gave me before departing was to establish early on how many gift shops Old Sport would get to visit. The consequence for not doing so would likely be "Uncle Deej, can we go in that store?" followed by disappointment when the idea is shot down. While waiting in line for my afternoon iced coffee, Old Sport found a gaping loophole in the 2 store limit I'd previously imposed. The pin kiosk...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fTc-hm2EchZRTbgNTkEJnxxUvJygzSCrWu-BK4kOrjS6jYHEYEXInP_jhPjv5plvUpfJWYEqSyJDs9MNcEteN9xWhNyljVaMAEcGDn-WTft4IFXywWvI1EUHrn2lFmQgeld3P01zu7Ki/s1600/Lively+%25283%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0fTc-hm2EchZRTbgNTkEJnxxUvJygzSCrWu-BK4kOrjS6jYHEYEXInP_jhPjv5plvUpfJWYEqSyJDs9MNcEteN9xWhNyljVaMAEcGDn-WTft4IFXywWvI1EUHrn2lFmQgeld3P01zu7Ki/s320/Lively+%25283%2529.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next the dancing feet took us to Figment, where Old Sport proceeded to tell me everything that would happen next on the ride. I told you.. The kid doesn't forget anything.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItdkOY8jEvAq3qPya96x_fHY6eLmC_5zWEd4Rr8NOtG4LdWugjxzqIScI7HMb7TCTyqWQa4wc3uZf2T9V6Fbi_X3a4hbZ2bXV7P9l-jNARVx-Xu_4at99NBR48sT7PxtDQuzawo8y9Al7/s1600/Lively+%25282%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItdkOY8jEvAq3qPya96x_fHY6eLmC_5zWEd4Rr8NOtG4LdWugjxzqIScI7HMb7TCTyqWQa4wc3uZf2T9V6Fbi_X3a4hbZ2bXV7P9l-jNARVx-Xu_4at99NBR48sT7PxtDQuzawo8y9Al7/s320/Lively+%25282%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a brief stop at the magical fountain thingy's outside of Figment - Ok, Ok.. Journey Into Imagination - we were off to The Land for dinner at Garden Grill. The next hour or so for Old Sport went something like...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bite of Food</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Talk to Mickey</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bite of Food</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Talk to Pluto... You get the picture.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorv3DOy1MrdowVjToHuHRSzc4qHGg_uS0R2ffR52iVJl9mrGee7RYsbAIGtFc1gFAgY-ywet7hDbGPooLgYqf90s0ZWT7TN3mHHIqQ_Rt6RUBRqrHPrkIKw9H1YiqpgBpI7q3pcXvLY_O/s1600/Lively+%252810%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorv3DOy1MrdowVjToHuHRSzc4qHGg_uS0R2ffR52iVJl9mrGee7RYsbAIGtFc1gFAgY-ywet7hDbGPooLgYqf90s0ZWT7TN3mHHIqQ_Rt6RUBRqrHPrkIKw9H1YiqpgBpI7q3pcXvLY_O/s320/Lively+%252810%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was only my 2nd time at Garden Grill and each was an unexpectedly good experience. I say unexpectedly because this place seems to fly under my radar, and given we had no issue getting a reservation with less than 30 days notice, perhaps I'm not alone. Good food, great characters, and a revolving restaurant which, as Old Sport put it, is also a ride.. A great combination.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, it was time for the main event... Soarin'. As you can see, he was a little excited...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FuObjhx3P7ygtKfPmsnoOuEA_pU9IZjcWYk2RccX6qBUnhlRKBtZ2e-cRJOy79F5XIQYAFAo6E9gKrV5anQkwqstBUjYDpAeZEblWvQLlyekt8u8cvd5ERsqBvOZrFaEFr3PNcT0wpnI/s1600/Lively+%25288%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6FuObjhx3P7ygtKfPmsnoOuEA_pU9IZjcWYk2RccX6qBUnhlRKBtZ2e-cRJOy79F5XIQYAFAo6E9gKrV5anQkwqstBUjYDpAeZEblWvQLlyekt8u8cvd5ERsqBvOZrFaEFr3PNcT0wpnI/s320/Lively+%25288%2529.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This has long been one of my favorite rides at Disney, but this time was different.. Seated in the far right section, with Old Sport to my left clutching my arm for support, I found myself watching his reactions for most of the ride as opposed to the movie. Then I did something I've never done before.. I looked around at all of the other people dangling from this giant Erector set. Wouldn't you know, their reactions were all the same as his. Whether they were young, old, or too-cool-for-school teenagers, their expressions were all the same: Sheer joy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yeah, I cried a bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So earlier when I mentioned that this trip brought a dash of fear, roughly 92.7% of that concern centered around one thing... The stroller. To put it mildly, crowds aren't exactly my thing. Toss in the need to push around a Mini-Cooper through World Showcase during Food & Wine and you've got the Deej-equivalent of a root canal. Thankfully, we all survived and made it to The Boardwalk at a perfect time...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1WNyUtJNxm5Mpqv1yshXiW73f5L5MzqcQAZc_nrBfFTO9YgPUFRdYrfU4HMvXRXu2_z-0ZdFFE4yO0isFWV8YSLUXlP2GT7oSu-g80WfJZwnwCAOXNtaz0344J9pAD8qJb3TUA4oMoDe/s1600/Lively+%25285%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1WNyUtJNxm5Mpqv1yshXiW73f5L5MzqcQAZc_nrBfFTO9YgPUFRdYrfU4HMvXRXu2_z-0ZdFFE4yO0isFWV8YSLUXlP2GT7oSu-g80WfJZwnwCAOXNtaz0344J9pAD8qJb3TUA4oMoDe/s320/Lively+%25285%2529.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, our itinerary consisted of just two events. The first is my own tradition unlike any other... The morning walk for coffee. I didn't think Old Sport would quite appreciate the majesty of these few minutes, but it seems he's got more of his uncle in him than I'd presumed.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1grEIcG351QxWEnn38IbhbXA7GuATo0Lpd5J8ZoOmYWutt9Ri4BNEBqVwO-7pByVEEeOZ4cOkARyHswYAGFAl4JUgjAaZYKN9Ti822ia4t9u41PKhiMcTX7mTYY380hYGGe9Nu9VkDVOd/s1600/Lively+%25284%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1grEIcG351QxWEnn38IbhbXA7GuATo0Lpd5J8ZoOmYWutt9Ri4BNEBqVwO-7pByVEEeOZ4cOkARyHswYAGFAl4JUgjAaZYKN9Ti822ia4t9u41PKhiMcTX7mTYY380hYGGe9Nu9VkDVOd/s320/Lively+%25284%2529.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of the 42 "Can we____" questions we received on the way down, 29 of them were "Can we play putt-putt." I will be the first to admit that my brother and I have brainwashed Old Sport to love a few things that are dear to us. Anything related to the game of golf is, quite naturally, at the top of that list. And so, the final stop of our first solo adventure was the Winter Summerland putt putt...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXocVAkirHbmiyVpK7Mxu6wr8liXhigcHmOdFbMTOnXunUBpXeahXU-6glf9mmGUFnSeqNgOOfOghjsPeMM4QAyULi2JwzChbXMQMtpBLBZS1MjdxMOUw5Jgiiddu1KxzlK0EZ03JQYRqH/s1600/Lively+%25281%2529.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXocVAkirHbmiyVpK7Mxu6wr8liXhigcHmOdFbMTOnXunUBpXeahXU-6glf9mmGUFnSeqNgOOfOghjsPeMM4QAyULi2JwzChbXMQMtpBLBZS1MjdxMOUw5Jgiiddu1KxzlK0EZ03JQYRqH/s320/Lively+%25281%2529.gif" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As we made our way home, with Old Sport soundly asleep in the backseat, I found myself filled with both pride and a sobering realization. Four years have passed since I wrote the first <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2012/09/adventures-with-uncle-deej.html" target="_blank">Adventure with Uncle Deej</a> on the day he was born. Time is absolutely zooming by, and I desperately want it to slow down. And yet, to paraphrase <i>Hamilton</i>, I know the only way to get to the next grand Adventure is for the world to keep on spinning.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another of those terrible deals that I'll just have to accept.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i>
<i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-30222161451236581192016-10-17T09:06:00.000-04:002018-12-27T19:00:26.586-05:00An Introduction to Links Golf at Castle Stuart<span style="font-size: large;">After spending less than 24-hours in Scotland, it was apparent that some things are done a little differently across the pond. They drive on the other side of the road, traffic lights are mostly replaced by roundabouts, and the average American golfer could squeeze in an early morning nine before most coffee shops turn the open sign. As I would quickly learn, those differences also extend to the game of golf, and in more ways than one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Here in the former Colonies, golf has evolved into a giant game of lawn darts. We send the ball sailing through the air and, if we're lucky enough to find the green, we watch as it stops just a couple of feet from where it landed. There is certainly no denying the appeal to this type of golf.. The sight of a perfectly struck shot flying toward the flag against a backdrop of blue sky is never short on inspiration.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Across the Atlantic, that same shot wouldn't stand a chance.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHEpY963wKrcn0tEjOcRTUEx6D1FFTFe4G3Am51CxXnYsKKYWJxNVzi2lmkIPkYnJ0qdFphYAy0ryD8-NcFHhSDiL0MpCsrfKZq53faD4HJZQoptUPJ0m9wGZXMvHaBVvrHxv6x14u_2d/s1600/IMG_1031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHEpY963wKrcn0tEjOcRTUEx6D1FFTFe4G3Am51CxXnYsKKYWJxNVzi2lmkIPkYnJ0qdFphYAy0ryD8-NcFHhSDiL0MpCsrfKZq53faD4HJZQoptUPJ0m9wGZXMvHaBVvrHxv6x14u_2d/s640/IMG_1031.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To put it mildly, the seaside links variety of golf - the kind that we watch each year during The Open Championship - is an entirely different animal. The ground is firm, the turf is short, and the wind ranges anywhere from a mere nuisance to good luck standing up. But it's the degree of unpredictability that is sure to drive the uninitiated golfer bonkers. The wind and concrete-like turf make the lawn darts game impossible, so instead the ball must be flighted low and allowed to run along the ground. There's just one problem.. Most of these courses were built long before the invention of the bulldozer. Meaning the fairways are littered with humps and bumps and knobs that send the ball bouncing every which way. For the golfer accustomed to Shot A producing Outcome B, links golf at first seems a little unfair...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I hate to break it to you, but golf isn't fair.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRJKqXcvmxYCtb422TOzz-opWbLkOVbRxZC10fuj9ztg8QOnBx3N96GpDl9T5iYvCV6pA3KSHutGm_1QGGvWe7OrjVZvIX-j1XgQ914k8Uq4tmrEy2pROkhKRU9owcLG90XWYn3TVjiyi/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRJKqXcvmxYCtb422TOzz-opWbLkOVbRxZC10fuj9ztg8QOnBx3N96GpDl9T5iYvCV6pA3KSHutGm_1QGGvWe7OrjVZvIX-j1XgQ914k8Uq4tmrEy2pROkhKRU9owcLG90XWYn3TVjiyi/s400/Snapseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My links golf education began at Castle Stuart, the host of this year's Scottish Open. In a land where many golf club charters predate the Constitution, Castle Stuart is the new kid on the block. Having opened in 2009, this is what you might call a "modern links;" one that was painstakingly shaped and molded into a course that has quickly landed among the best on the globe.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was the perfect place to start my education.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But first, there was a not-so-small order of business to address... My golf clubs. Since the thought of handing them over to the airlines frightens me more than that giant spider in Harry Potter, I entrusted Luggage Forward - <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2012/08/sports-express-by-luggage-forward.html" target="_blank">as I had once before</a> - to get my only prized possession across the pond. Their service is as seamless as it comes, and while it cost more than what the airline bag fees would have, the convenience and reliability made it money well spent. After a few days of pacing my living room while they were in transit, my good friend Ru Macdonald - <a href="http://scottishgolfpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Scotland's tireless golf travel ambassador</a>, who just happened to be at Castle Stuart - sent a pic of my clubs waiting in their storage room.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In typical Deej fashion, I arrived to Castle Stuart a solid two hours before my 9:30am tee time. I expected to find a busy clubhouse and practice area, bustling with anxious and excited golfers like myself. As it turned out, I was all alone... It seemed that, like the coffee shops, even the golf courses get moving a little later than back home. I was the first name on the tee sheet, at a time when I might have been making the turn at Muni. Not that I minded.. It gave me plenty of time to enjoy the clubhouse view with a sausage and egg roll before teeing it up.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIck2aAtVOzrgZAUjPTQezjbtjL-FuYR_W-rlddGUQDt2DpMz9t6-uNnFUUC8khyphenhyphenrIFFavG2SBEMjTvpPw2u_tEzghBql1m8tSCeT1rV_Dp2MWU8pLt1ZySo0CxH85gnJSSAcXiOoQ4gEh/s1600/IMG_0900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIck2aAtVOzrgZAUjPTQezjbtjL-FuYR_W-rlddGUQDt2DpMz9t6-uNnFUUC8khyphenhyphenrIFFavG2SBEMjTvpPw2u_tEzghBql1m8tSCeT1rV_Dp2MWU8pLt1ZySo0CxH85gnJSSAcXiOoQ4gEh/s400/IMG_0900.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No pic of the sausage roll, but the trademark chili for lunch was awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I was joined in my initiation to the links game by Castle Stuart's Director of Golf, Jeremy Matte. An American transplanted to Scotland, Jeremy spent much of the morning sharing with me the ethos behind all things at Castle Stuart, giving me an even higher appreciation for what they've accomplished here in The Highlands of Scotland. He also waxed the floor with me in our match, taking me down 4&3. More on that later...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Put simply, Castle Stuart doesn't fit the mold of your typical "championship" course. For many, the greatness of a course is proportional to it's degree of difficulty. By this logic, the higher the perceived difficulty, the better the course must be. Yet these are the same courses that usually leave the golfer battered and bruised and questioning why they ever took up the game. The one aspect that's usually overlooked by this flawed line of thinking... Enjoyability.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Not so at Castle Stuart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Playability and recovery are the order of the day here. Wide fairways and enormous greens make for eye-pleasing targets. Where the errant drive or approach typically finds a wide range of punishment on that "championship" course, at Castle Stuart the golfer often finds they still have a shot and a chance for redemption. Granted, the next shot will be much more difficult than if they'd executed the first properly, but the opportunity to salvage something out of nothing sure beats a lost ball.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCTXzLm3SEb6NBvvxChIufjJ7e-kkHsSR_o-gN-_nepOiybSxvyIu8f56Q4YVAAoWnd73u7qO77I-W_6TmrgybyiGuDGmu1p_7QrT9RE8aNf4MSXeL6JsRCIIlQjg-vNnUPgNpastBejd/s1600/IMG_0731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCTXzLm3SEb6NBvvxChIufjJ7e-kkHsSR_o-gN-_nepOiybSxvyIu8f56Q4YVAAoWnd73u7qO77I-W_6TmrgybyiGuDGmu1p_7QrT9RE8aNf4MSXeL6JsRCIIlQjg-vNnUPgNpastBejd/s400/IMG_0731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where not to hit it on #1.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's not to say that Castle Stuart is easy.. Far from it. Just ask the 15 guys who failed to break 80 in the first round of this year's Scottish Open. But imagine the satisfaction when your dreaded slice shows up at the tee, and instead of spending the bulk of your day searching hopelessly in the gorse, every now and then you find the ProV resting comfortably on the fairway. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuwXw5bYOh6CuN8Uz4i08O5eKcH181JBais-lydx_U8o-EAQgMPOJTCBtBTnebgod9r_2CGfYiBAwlID16o_nH45pFEmZ72QRHVyWIfxmfqkavvzvLXFMPiJkfeotrHwLog3gEO4UO2cc/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOuwXw5bYOh6CuN8Uz4i08O5eKcH181JBais-lydx_U8o-EAQgMPOJTCBtBTnebgod9r_2CGfYiBAwlID16o_nH45pFEmZ72QRHVyWIfxmfqkavvzvLXFMPiJkfeotrHwLog3gEO4UO2cc/s400/IMG_0744.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the fairway, but contending with this...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of gorse.. The round at Castle Stuart marked my first meeting with this vile plant. Gorse blooms a vibrant yellow and orange each spring, which was still around when I visited in June. But don't let the pretty colors fool you.. This thorny weed is most definitely what the devil grows in his garden. If your ball finds a gorse plant, don't even bother.. Just drop another and play on. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlWOXAwNjVNPhlxtAHs5EaaJcONKNnrabdNa8mBUl99CkmdVeq9vfdELFAD5SCRMVmJsEyMh1Gi3iuCEEdRf08gjNoTCNaND2TFKdHVc-rBfg83HAXna_yNcjfX5KSENWMYT0SUe_xl2q/s1600/IMG_1032+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlWOXAwNjVNPhlxtAHs5EaaJcONKNnrabdNa8mBUl99CkmdVeq9vfdELFAD5SCRMVmJsEyMh1Gi3iuCEEdRf08gjNoTCNaND2TFKdHVc-rBfg83HAXna_yNcjfX5KSENWMYT0SUe_xl2q/s400/IMG_1032+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vile weed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to its offering of redemption, perhaps the defining characteristic of Castle Stuart is its abundance of spectacular views. The landmarks along the Moray Firth are framed into shots like the work of a talented photographer. For example, the course's namesake stands backdrop behind the 4th hole, while the trademark infinity greens give way to the Kessock Bridge or Chanonry Point Lighthouse. All of this is by design, and all of it serves up vivid memories even on a grey and dreary day. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Oelbli18pSUtVaz4qPpxnw6cFzB5mZKdYJZPuQ0CiKZb3Ow1TXAm2t0IsZIuHko53lFRpEnHfzYuNUYWZr0u09FEDc6SsgRFTligRX7W3sxcqjL0lG5_8RIbQZEEx9vybPSiYVduG3uE/s1600/IMG_0751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Oelbli18pSUtVaz4qPpxnw6cFzB5mZKdYJZPuQ0CiKZb3Ow1TXAm2t0IsZIuHko53lFRpEnHfzYuNUYWZr0u09FEDc6SsgRFTligRX7W3sxcqjL0lG5_8RIbQZEEx9vybPSiYVduG3uE/s400/IMG_0751.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Stuart behind the par-3 4th green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of all the new things I was introduced to as part of my links golf initiation, the aspect I enjoyed the most had to do with my score... Specifically, the lack of one. This was my first real experience with match-play; where each hole is its own match, and the person who wins the most holes is the victor. It really is a shame this style of play is pretty much non-existent on this side of the pond. Instead we add up each gut-wrenching stroke at the end of the day, as a reminder of just how lousy we are at this cursed game. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOB4ZYNIukvLgQMeQMeCDoGp2mtI2e43kaC5Hu0y66XYSwaxyRebaTkvPDYOP60lOWCbv-x93C6fZKe0esegyPdKAdpB2SOR2rShAOednYuDNjrDRCYmFBvBb6GRX9hV9hyEKrLUyliE7A/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOB4ZYNIukvLgQMeQMeCDoGp2mtI2e43kaC5Hu0y66XYSwaxyRebaTkvPDYOP60lOWCbv-x93C6fZKe0esegyPdKAdpB2SOR2rShAOednYuDNjrDRCYmFBvBb6GRX9hV9hyEKrLUyliE7A/s400/IMG_0891.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where not to hit it on #18.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All I know is, Jeremy was 4 holes up on me with only 3 to play.. A rather stout beating, and one that was sealed when his drive on the 10th careened off a rock in the firth and back into the fairway. What may seem like an unlucky break for yours truly, however, was really just the opposite. The sight of that ball being thrown out of the bay is just one of countless images that I hope to carry with me forever. It also sums up my introduction to links golf rather well...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the bounce goes your way, sometimes it doesn't, but at Castle Stuart.. It sure is great to play the game.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay.</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-20211665369367689442016-09-03T17:57:00.002-04:002018-12-27T19:01:33.521-05:00Nessie, Inverness, and the Left Side of the Road<span style="font-size: large;">In most circumstances, saying goodbye to your better half for over a month would be a rather somber occasion. Yet when I ditched MJ at London's Victoria Coach Station, I bolted out of there with more pep in my step than Gene Kelly during a thunderstorm. OK, sure, I was a little sad, but feeling sorry for myself would have to wait for another day. For now, I had a date with The Home of Golf.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGsu1Tl-0I6IFuhH1oJjA3oiSilJiUiBl_tedHhXAetr7TIvAEmzdiVihxw8Yu1QmOp39FiXqccu2LRMEDoHRmu2DJEARDNQHy-5ePUj3ygFAdvMClRVMzG5C0kf2xv7EYWrd5e6T18r7/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGsu1Tl-0I6IFuhH1oJjA3oiSilJiUiBl_tedHhXAetr7TIvAEmzdiVihxw8Yu1QmOp39FiXqccu2LRMEDoHRmu2DJEARDNQHy-5ePUj3ygFAdvMClRVMzG5C0kf2xv7EYWrd5e6T18r7/s640/IMG_0572.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No sign of Nessie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While MJ rode the bus to Cambridge, I caught a different kind of bus - read: easyJet - to the Scottish Highlands and the city of Inverness. Golf was, of course, the main attraction, however my plans for the first day of this adventure didn't involve my clubs. Instead, my goal was to recover from the hectic last few days of travel with a nice leisurely afternoon establishing my bearings and exploring a few of the sights.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITZFBF316qnDEy1avfqGGx9nQjyMWJkrmW-v92RWHDCArKmxYriG3YWwZPVOLwwZUgN0gLAbOf4MHj0dqVREqXEOOMMnBlrbmxlu_cgKTkCz5uJuViBB59MsT4ptoG8JEkINu6BDu1c71/s1600/IMG_0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITZFBF316qnDEy1avfqGGx9nQjyMWJkrmW-v92RWHDCArKmxYriG3YWwZPVOLwwZUgN0gLAbOf4MHj0dqVREqXEOOMMnBlrbmxlu_cgKTkCz5uJuViBB59MsT4ptoG8JEkINu6BDu1c71/s400/IMG_0551.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My chariot to Inverness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In hindsight, "leisurely" may not have been the most appropriate adjective. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">What can only be described as anxious exhilaration hit a fever pitch when my flight buzzed the art deco clubhouse at Castle Stuart Golf Links while on approach to the Inverness airport. That sense of "Holy crap, I'm really here" had officially set in, and in that moment I was both incredibly excited and absolutely terrified. Why was I terrified, you ask? Because I knew a man was holding a sign with my name on it in the terminal, and I'd have to face my biggest fear with this trip straight away...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Driving on the left-side of the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This would be the 2nd time I'd ever driven on the "wrong" side of the road; my only other experience being on the island of St. Thomas where I just followed my dad in a jeep right in front of me. As I checked-in at the car rental office, I tried recalling all of the tips I'd picked up from the 322 blogs I read before the trip. Just then, the agent said something that snapped my out of my nervous trance...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLaIvxgt9tpJjZINCxOPEVqJYQ1BboKt36dde4iq7USgngIxUrqOJastGUkwXq_kSkdWKc5rGTRpEMaa8uMIYyGxa_1P0lTtALuTX5VnkuJX_D4WOlzQcNypNX7oJYRBIRLnXSnMw8gIg/s1600/IMG_0553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLaIvxgt9tpJjZINCxOPEVqJYQ1BboKt36dde4iq7USgngIxUrqOJastGUkwXq_kSkdWKc5rGTRpEMaa8uMIYyGxa_1P0lTtALuTX5VnkuJX_D4WOlzQcNypNX7oJYRBIRLnXSnMw8gIg/s400/IMG_0553.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"We've upgraded you to a nice BMW."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After adding on every possible insurance available, I waited outside and watched as a glistening piece of German machinery was pulled around. I confirmed with the attendant the type of fuel and color coding of the gas pump handles - Black for Diesel, Green for Unleaded... Like the lanes, also the opposite of the U.S. - and just like that, I was off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I quickly discovered that there was just one problem... This car, by U.K. standards, was enormous. Combine that with lanes that felt as narrow as the monorail track at Disney, plus the unnerving sight of cars passing on my right, and I felt like I was 15 with my learner's permit all over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And then came the roundabouts.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QMA7tIGEk8t-NGK3UvBFrmO3wAS-a-nTuxt9jz7qKBRoDkuG_cHdxSQYdGj57JehO410YEUsMOk78dkgsnZsJ2estVF5iTf-UpPuKJANRU-art-BmeuN4O0Y7XpULV5f94HAWVxc12Bs/s1600/inverness-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_QMA7tIGEk8t-NGK3UvBFrmO3wAS-a-nTuxt9jz7qKBRoDkuG_cHdxSQYdGj57JehO410YEUsMOk78dkgsnZsJ2estVF5iTf-UpPuKJANRU-art-BmeuN4O0Y7XpULV5f94HAWVxc12Bs/s400/inverness-sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait... What??<br />
<a href="http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=File:Inverness_car_park_signs_-_Coppermine_-_8526.jpg" target="_blank">Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">About 2 minutes into my leisurely afternoon, I was completely stressed out. As I barreled my way through one roundabout after another, without the slightest clue if I was doing so correctly, one question kept coming to mind: How was I going to handle this for 6 days? It was now that I had a decision to make... I could toss in the towel on driving for the day and head straight to my hotel, or I could suck it up and continue with my plans.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I decided that the best way to overcome this fear was to rip the band-aid right off. At the next roundabout, I veered left and began my quest to find Nessie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'd love to tell you that the driving got easier that afternoon, but it didn't. Despite appearing on the map as a relatively main highway, the route which paralleled Loch Ness was nothing more than your average two-lane country road. I soon discovered that in Scotland there's no such thing as Interstates, and the four-lane divided highway was a luxury I encountered just once during the entire trip. The rest of the time was spent on these narrow, winding, shoulder-less roads.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqoU622JCvKE3oEHeYpMj3uny927FnPVvwPYqHz5zjzPfumZmXCFQISwxD8JUrpnuOka5OK2pve1gt9dBmA_M2O7X-sx1zDx5z3lhlrlnmLGYk6RJfIU75FfRusvFos-QCRm9gkVY9ZK0/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqoU622JCvKE3oEHeYpMj3uny927FnPVvwPYqHz5zjzPfumZmXCFQISwxD8JUrpnuOka5OK2pve1gt9dBmA_M2O7X-sx1zDx5z3lhlrlnmLGYk6RJfIU75FfRusvFos-QCRm9gkVY9ZK0/s400/IMG_1593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I did this... A lot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Along the way, I spotted an odd road-sign with the picture of a camera on it. Just a few yards ahead, there was a rather pretty pull-off area alongside the shore of the lake. Given this road was basically one long picturesque tourist trip, I assumed the sign notified folks like me that a nice photo opportunity was just ahead. I was wrong... Turns out that little camera sign warns of the possible position of speed cameras. I didn't learn this helpful little nugget of info until the very last day of my trip. Thankfully, the car rental agency hasn't forwarded me any speeding tickets... Yet. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N1e3dDldX6gV57nXq5Pb9ifgxsX5CrxmHeJIQyix4JJSrKJvWnRgAUU4Z7lSIUZy3gz37MOCm4BYz0xPrf4rf0XL2ASn4sXvsXwhn64pB3epb_ZbcIBPeevDgicjL4UClDHeHy4LJnrh/s1600/Speed-Camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1N1e3dDldX6gV57nXq5Pb9ifgxsX5CrxmHeJIQyix4JJSrKJvWnRgAUU4Z7lSIUZy3gz37MOCm4BYz0xPrf4rf0XL2ASn4sXvsXwhn64pB3epb_ZbcIBPeevDgicjL4UClDHeHy4LJnrh/s400/Speed-Camera.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not Scotland, but look... A Kodak moment ahead!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After 45-harrowing minutes, I finally arrived to my intended destination... Urquhart Castle. For the most part, Loch Ness is nothing more than a giant lake.. albeit, a rather gorgeous one. But.. toss in the ruins of a 13th century fortress and a little sunshine, and I had something that made the drive entirely worthwhile. Not eager to return to the car anytime soon, I made an iced coffee in the gift shop's coffee bar - they hadn't heard of such a thing - and soaked up what would prove to be the last sunshine I'd see for three days.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvqkWCX813fivYHVdFwcm6CU-4qnMseTD6DUoYjnsvTv9kjTpW0Hbm2AKbRyBUZkvqpaKlfcITyqwMoW5fQ0V2yh0iCWCkxE9lZr3zBnm3MuPb7FPnjH4-iX8aGmX10IU0GzYrn-Oum9D/s1600/Loch-Ness-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgvqkWCX813fivYHVdFwcm6CU-4qnMseTD6DUoYjnsvTv9kjTpW0Hbm2AKbRyBUZkvqpaKlfcITyqwMoW5fQ0V2yh0iCWCkxE9lZr3zBnm3MuPb7FPnjH4-iX8aGmX10IU0GzYrn-Oum9D/s400/Loch-Ness-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt19LSD1sl6jCkzYwhPorkyHV3bZVn0mU5m6g660FZCJLi0hb_tet20LLHmLgzUFlXBgC1uTjpdxho4JKBICxCykYw5fendhLNXBcHcHb2CWf8xQ9Rm4RatF4Axi4eiHXjbMVhWNjZRras/s1600/IMG_0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt19LSD1sl6jCkzYwhPorkyHV3bZVn0mU5m6g660FZCJLi0hb_tet20LLHmLgzUFlXBgC1uTjpdxho4JKBICxCykYw5fendhLNXBcHcHb2CWf8xQ9Rm4RatF4Axi4eiHXjbMVhWNjZRras/s400/IMG_0574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a good decision to soak up the rays while they lasted, because I was just a few miles up the road when it was time to learn how to turn on the Beamers windshield wipers. The rain was nothing serious, but enough to make my next destination a drive-by of sorts. The Culloden Battlefield was the site of the final stand of the Jacobite Rebellion which sought to restore the House of Stuart to the British throne. It also marked the final "pitched battle" - basically, two rows of troops facing each other and firing - on British soil. The rain seemed appropriate, given the lives lost and the 100 years of suppression, known as the Highland Clearances, which followed.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouw3rD7Rqdwvc518Fn17puRR_Cfn9ewCmdfBbHhD6S6lFteER8S_ghk7W70-e08sZlKYXEJPnQI86p-gH2JeiZL2kfKrTG5c_NO8T_cZWfCbpZyPAsKBXTP-yX-zj_yoUgtnBFEAFDOsk/s1600/IMG_1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouw3rD7Rqdwvc518Fn17puRR_Cfn9ewCmdfBbHhD6S6lFteER8S_ghk7W70-e08sZlKYXEJPnQI86p-gH2JeiZL2kfKrTG5c_NO8T_cZWfCbpZyPAsKBXTP-yX-zj_yoUgtnBFEAFDOsk/s400/IMG_1027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvH0jZlTOZ_jGTsM5x9c9hOF1b1pCvXv7SlAqWcUq_RXmv6lQ8JaFmK-d3t2FsGRF0KMCN6rCue0WiJdxXPwwzVxL8tk3HH5ng7JmwCpgpreQG9rAJ2-ye0zXvslfh6HtFN_650vJVPOu/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvH0jZlTOZ_jGTsM5x9c9hOF1b1pCvXv7SlAqWcUq_RXmv6lQ8JaFmK-d3t2FsGRF0KMCN6rCue0WiJdxXPwwzVxL8tk3HH5ng7JmwCpgpreQG9rAJ2-ye0zXvslfh6HtFN_650vJVPOu/s400/IMG_1010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stone honoring the members of one of the clans lost in the fighting.<br />
The red flags mark the line of British troops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">By now it was going on 6pm and the hunger pains were coming on strong. I made my way into the heart of Inverness, pulled into the tiniest hotel parking lot imaginable, and checked-in to my digs for the next two nights: the Best Western Inverness Palace. Don't let the name fool you.. my general thought on the hotel is "Meh." The location is great, but it's clearly well past its prime and is a tour group turn-and-burn operation. That said, I slept like an absolute rock both nights. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRnEaSvpna63FD397Eh6RYReEdR3sS7ASfrKrilYLbXXB5yp96466tVfEKb6NIVXMEoJbl6ARtquSNxF4liT_WlBl2iR_D9bkCPfI_qMtRQylDrb9DsaK6AYKQjKu_HFukKWKaLspCTq3/s1600/IMG_0644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRnEaSvpna63FD397Eh6RYReEdR3sS7ASfrKrilYLbXXB5yp96466tVfEKb6NIVXMEoJbl6ARtquSNxF4liT_WlBl2iR_D9bkCPfI_qMtRQylDrb9DsaK6AYKQjKu_HFukKWKaLspCTq3/s400/IMG_0644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm sure part of that opinion stemmed from an unfair comparison to the Rocpool Reserve, which was my first stop on my tour of the food scene in Inverness. This place oozed class and reinforced what I knew before departing - that this was where I should have stayed - if only I could have stomached the rate. Both the smoked salmon and whisky cocktail I enjoyed here were among the best I've had anywhere. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaugHsKh6Ejvnkcbu5fqPMGaar9FZLK6ZEQSZ5pbcjxzDIYe_UwECItX2EZbTcv6nf7enM0XY8b_M0mKDZRpuzwsuFRAecpxJyzFZvXz6UyJgHDM6s9Sw08Qq0qQsPHXcJYP_1VZR2EPeH/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaugHsKh6Ejvnkcbu5fqPMGaar9FZLK6ZEQSZ5pbcjxzDIYe_UwECItX2EZbTcv6nf7enM0XY8b_M0mKDZRpuzwsuFRAecpxJyzFZvXz6UyJgHDM6s9Sw08Qq0qQsPHXcJYP_1VZR2EPeH/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning, I quickly learned one of Scotland's quirks... Everything opens later than on this side of the pond. Coffee shops were locked up tight until 8 or 9am, many restaurants didn't start serving until 7pm, and even the earliest tee times at the golf courses were often much later than "normal." For an "early to bed, early to rise" type, this took some getting used to, and I'm not sure that I ever did.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWulcuOKQVUcd8nO0Cx1umrVJr5YXrj7dBd2GEl60m7SAtd0xrms8ahB7SSyPQPm_DXYvQ2rHexwVatZn7gd0dLTv4Kl98lx8z_39itlwsFGKD-g9ilV1ZGygIX7KlqE_aN0u3E4GR_M5V/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWulcuOKQVUcd8nO0Cx1umrVJr5YXrj7dBd2GEl60m7SAtd0xrms8ahB7SSyPQPm_DXYvQ2rHexwVatZn7gd0dLTv4Kl98lx8z_39itlwsFGKD-g9ilV1ZGygIX7KlqE_aN0u3E4GR_M5V/s400/Snapseed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't tell the authorities... I imported a bag of Entenmann's. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My time in Inverness was short, but in the end it provided exactly what I needed in advance of the busy week ahead. Here I found a welcome pause in the hectic travel, a few memorable sites, and the opportunity to adjust to things like 18 hours of daylight, wacky coffee shop hours, and the left-side of the road. That last one did get much easier with time, which allowed me to focus on the all-important task ahead...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">7 golf courses... 5 days.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-42747657824351393882016-08-24T09:12:00.002-04:002018-12-27T19:01:13.901-05:00London Calling - 18 Hours with The Queen<span style="font-size: large;">In the 10 years that we've been together, if there's one thing that MJ and I have mastered it's the art of the deal when it comes to traveling without one another. She plans a girls cruise, I go to Streamsong for a weekend of golf. I pay a visit to The King at Bay Hill, she goes to Jekyll Island for a 5k supporting her beloved sea turtles. This yin and yang has served us well, so when she pitched me the idea of going to Cambridge (England, not the wannabe in Massachusetts) for a month, I saw a prime opportunity to cash-in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The terms of this deal were rather simple.. We would travel across the pond together and once there she'd jump on a bus to Cambridge, while I'd catch a flight to The Home of Golf. Everybody wins, with a small bonus tossed in as well: we'd have most of an afternoon to explore London together.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPLwvl7qUq8fL4TRv3OmSXjwR6RoQoS-dYdjNgXa9npSIZwXZw4TvM3dZoc2ujT-znIQMlyMNT3IjSRRdowfzqvhtcZxPM1nBMG9W2zPvCyPeZFqVGguc2P-IQyHEEbNiTJn7qAxCjoAz/s1600/Snapseed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPLwvl7qUq8fL4TRv3OmSXjwR6RoQoS-dYdjNgXa9npSIZwXZw4TvM3dZoc2ujT-znIQMlyMNT3IjSRRdowfzqvhtcZxPM1nBMG9W2zPvCyPeZFqVGguc2P-IQyHEEbNiTJn7qAxCjoAz/s640/Snapseed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The long-awaited journey began in Orlando, where we took the relatively new non-stop to London Gatwick offered by Norwegian Air. Overall, the flight was a mixed bag.. We saved a boatload over the non-stops on Virgin and British Airways, the 787-Dreamliner was outstanding, as was the service throughout. On the other hand, the flight was nearly 3-hours late and MJ's entertainment console didn't work. That said, we'd certainly fly Norwegian again, but anyone considering the flight should bear in mind that an on-time departure is dependent on the same occurring on the inbound from Gatwick.. A long-shot, at best.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After breezing through customs, we hopped on the Gatwick Express train to Victoria station. Since MJ's bus would depart from Victoria the next morning, and I'd need a lift back to Gatwick, this was an uber-convenient way to get to the city. Sure, it's more expensive than the other train options to town, but worth every penny. Just be sure if you've booked a round-trip to not use the return ticket for your inbound leg, otherwise you'll be stuck at the kiosk scanning away like a moron. Not that I would know from experience or anything.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQBlIf634MShp86fuXy1NZL96ZiGGwKIcC9jMM8rZajS9DMMB8rN5XRYwhhJPWquWMCpCwfA9tCc5tklCfpbeO-jBC4iUvUx2cL4T42YbHgLWFi3RFUt5Ar0CCdz9zIrNr1ID87ru64t7/s1600/IMG_4297.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQBlIf634MShp86fuXy1NZL96ZiGGwKIcC9jMM8rZajS9DMMB8rN5XRYwhhJPWquWMCpCwfA9tCc5tklCfpbeO-jBC4iUvUx2cL4T42YbHgLWFi3RFUt5Ar0CCdz9zIrNr1ID87ru64t7/s400/IMG_4297.GIF" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We checked-in to our room at the Z-Hotel, which proved to be the smallest I've ever experienced, even in Europe. Given the short stay, the location was far more important than spacious accommodations, and the Z-Hotel being across the street from Victoria Station delivered in spades. Plus it allowed us to brush up on our hopscotch skills getting from the door to the bed.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmYZq2RolQ-3y1fpoEbNerT3SfNR30UhrEteLY_pRsHhSlZYSnt31tFTgBPFPIuLK5zFavD3z1cAbOcX66cQX2svT010OHu8el_hd0iY6HeA4IFiWYRVJLxEcnpObnce3PZoeY9QCGxHN/s1600/z-hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmYZq2RolQ-3y1fpoEbNerT3SfNR30UhrEteLY_pRsHhSlZYSnt31tFTgBPFPIuLK5zFavD3z1cAbOcX66cQX2svT010OHu8el_hd0iY6HeA4IFiWYRVJLxEcnpObnce3PZoeY9QCGxHN/s400/z-hotel.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since it was going on 3pm, and I was bordering on turning into Joe Pesci from the Snicker's commercial, we set off for our first destination which also held the promise of food. Naturally, a few blocks from the hotel we received the most appropriate welcome to London possible.. A downpour. Thankfully one of those cool black cabs spotted us cowering under an overhang and stopped to give us a lift.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJmfxhKPMarPwaRGLYZR58gdl2OrQ-2tf0TLrwjBzeOpecda6oxGhD1k_DS8Le-xHK0cmS5KML_ylHRmWxGFFFM3sedxRsDD251Ll0cNXv2pbs39fM1dZ4WVBtRDJ-uKVvFv8vBu-U2Ux/s1600/IMG_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJmfxhKPMarPwaRGLYZR58gdl2OrQ-2tf0TLrwjBzeOpecda6oxGhD1k_DS8Le-xHK0cmS5KML_ylHRmWxGFFFM3sedxRsDD251Ll0cNXv2pbs39fM1dZ4WVBtRDJ-uKVvFv8vBu-U2Ux/s400/IMG_0398.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It should come as no surprise to anyone that knows me that our first stop in London was the original Hard Rock Cafe. It was here that it all started in 1971, and I had a feeling that our server - who exceeded the average employee age by a few decades - may have been part of the opening team. But it was her response to my ordering the-entree-formerly-known-as The Pig Sandwich that sealed her place in my heart forever...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Oh I'm so delighted to hear you call it by its proper name."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5wvoG7kjCRuaLRC6gavbiJIvIXz1tjeKi0NVMLcdmxRmmtBeOzgxQRXd41YDpyTdXA7rM_vAQus1s9qepaGEWafN3s1Zk93Swzfk4Qs0urKMvXmSTnfZDzVisy50S38H2-avPptBJumO/s1600/IMG_0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5wvoG7kjCRuaLRC6gavbiJIvIXz1tjeKi0NVMLcdmxRmmtBeOzgxQRXd41YDpyTdXA7rM_vAQus1s9qepaGEWafN3s1Zk93Swzfk4Qs0urKMvXmSTnfZDzVisy50S38H2-avPptBJumO/s400/IMG_0388.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By the time the check came, the rain had stopped and we began our whirlwind tour of the city. Where else would we start but with a visit to Her Majesty?...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj6tFhcU51MbAgZS_qj_hyphenhyphenmpDEwClDiE00VLU3WMAOnGvE2vV5bfWYhUmUnRkcDub6fs14UTq0tnHOVvmKciaX9UBwnP9GkKAI_rXe_5Y8Xmvbqdy_dMqCIPKu2k2QtewcY0O2IrxMHlR/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRj6tFhcU51MbAgZS_qj_hyphenhyphenmpDEwClDiE00VLU3WMAOnGvE2vV5bfWYhUmUnRkcDub6fs14UTq0tnHOVvmKciaX9UBwnP9GkKAI_rXe_5Y8Xmvbqdy_dMqCIPKu2k2QtewcY0O2IrxMHlR/s400/IMG_0420.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it was onward to another landmark which, due to its appearance in Peter Pan, has quickly become a favorite of our nephew, Old Sport. Thanks to my main man Steve Jobs, we were able to blow his mind in real time, even if it did require taking selfie video on a ridiculously crowded street.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvh1YUuWKxOjeMKEX9iJGbrNFhzAN-ldN9IbUFnZwI-sWl36Gyi1NrVcVVv7fufqdDYwUutjhJm-Egx-x_cAFavSeMn_HwGUrbitnI1wlgvkZijKdnywXm7m2aVEzqRqRyZgMoCh109kG/s1600/IMG_0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCvh1YUuWKxOjeMKEX9iJGbrNFhzAN-ldN9IbUFnZwI-sWl36Gyi1NrVcVVv7fufqdDYwUutjhJm-Egx-x_cAFavSeMn_HwGUrbitnI1wlgvkZijKdnywXm7m2aVEzqRqRyZgMoCh109kG/s400/IMG_0517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately we missed getting to pop inside Westminster Abbey by a matter of minutes, but the view outside provided enough inspiration to hold me over for a while.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXTNp1qb583IRuslyD_yn8e6RuaHZOmFphDm7YeBwpojrcfbrEHtIaaUGde6MAbw6vQxZi7e0Wg8Vo7PjH0PhPwzKIBSAu_ByepQ1Jz7SIvyUIFJ_OJM2KS0uLuPBkneyh3aj335n4gnJ/s1600/IMG_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIXTNp1qb583IRuslyD_yn8e6RuaHZOmFphDm7YeBwpojrcfbrEHtIaaUGde6MAbw6vQxZi7e0Wg8Vo7PjH0PhPwzKIBSAu_ByepQ1Jz7SIvyUIFJ_OJM2KS0uLuPBkneyh3aj335n4gnJ/s320/IMG_0457.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As the sun was beginning to fade, along with our energy level from the long day of travel, we made our way back to the hotel via a stroll through St. James Park. This took us by Horse Guards Parade, where beach volleyball was played in the 2012 Olympics, and MJ got her first sighting of some of The Queen's Guard. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOOsnK7abDw6ldJmhEKv-7gsSy1JgKhAWF8OEs3UPm2ek8u5D055Y34tE5ruH9Q_I_kf833DTiNaTFO22kgdHGWQkYKTLwPXeA8jUu5U3oKnGCN2JNwQi7U6eLnJg_o3jWXnyesj9E6Bf/s1600/IMG_0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTOOsnK7abDw6ldJmhEKv-7gsSy1JgKhAWF8OEs3UPm2ek8u5D055Y34tE5ruH9Q_I_kf833DTiNaTFO22kgdHGWQkYKTLwPXeA8jUu5U3oKnGCN2JNwQi7U6eLnJg_o3jWXnyesj9E6Bf/s400/IMG_0507.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">St. James is the very definition of an urban oasis. It was bursting with color and it seemed every bird in the city called the park home. As did some of the largest swans I've ever seen. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEi77qjIYF0T6oF7D_f64FDbnJk3Fhu00cs5U7aaEwGmGU6gBUwUyLbfsF1Fk4uh5uk1p-BGKnmE9gsy5pAktqtcfa2bLKDIe7PQmYzeT42HlnOeOJP6BNlGo1EkCc1UuW4c-RIfAaZat/s1600/IMG_0499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEi77qjIYF0T6oF7D_f64FDbnJk3Fhu00cs5U7aaEwGmGU6gBUwUyLbfsF1Fk4uh5uk1p-BGKnmE9gsy5pAktqtcfa2bLKDIe7PQmYzeT42HlnOeOJP6BNlGo1EkCc1UuW4c-RIfAaZat/s400/IMG_0499.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegA1aivh_mR_GSmpXsA4m0KLXLWyq8V_ubksXxEEnk4axU-LaTnfgEJ5AmPQCo7aXkVbYJz7nu4bbazwKu6zhNIFLAsMPucw_to5azrOnthSEK7cPW_sNGrhShQu-jtykCZMewLtzgEcS/s1600/IMG_0512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiegA1aivh_mR_GSmpXsA4m0KLXLWyq8V_ubksXxEEnk4axU-LaTnfgEJ5AmPQCo7aXkVbYJz7nu4bbazwKu6zhNIFLAsMPucw_to5azrOnthSEK7cPW_sNGrhShQu-jtykCZMewLtzgEcS/s320/IMG_0512.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oBbgJgafVIoyGwb5VucPtT88hPrTpG_VNJn38qKvALPDkQPxr2XIxHVGlm0JEg7XCdGSKhILAFlXG1LImiALZUA5AJGM2k-BVtOOVXcABOHRfk6ZwLojuWUdqqcnxuVAN6HAWsFSh7ei/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oBbgJgafVIoyGwb5VucPtT88hPrTpG_VNJn38qKvALPDkQPxr2XIxHVGlm0JEg7XCdGSKhILAFlXG1LImiALZUA5AJGM2k-BVtOOVXcABOHRfk6ZwLojuWUdqqcnxuVAN6HAWsFSh7ei/s400/IMG_0511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To have been in the UK for about five hours without having fish & chips seemed like a bit of a travesty, so our final stop for the night sought to rectify that. We found it at The Shakespeare, just across from Victoria Station. A tourist spot for sure, but it served its purpose well. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoslz_8zYuo8mwnHORWswhrZEFScrWE-pxbhJyEJ5lPYtIOy1Ls8q5VBLu331HJUfCZaIeZ0aTkZkL3kNNsTJ2Z7syAf829Lzp6KlwPUSsAXSWb5n8Knml9QCczhT9sBxnur-47oXNj1n/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoslz_8zYuo8mwnHORWswhrZEFScrWE-pxbhJyEJ5lPYtIOy1Ls8q5VBLu331HJUfCZaIeZ0aTkZkL3kNNsTJ2Z7syAf829Lzp6KlwPUSsAXSWb5n8Knml9QCczhT9sBxnur-47oXNj1n/s400/IMG_4294.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a restful night at the Z-hotel - which included some quality time at their complimentary wine & cheese reception - I awoke with the same feeling toward London that I carried away from my last overnight visit some 10 years ago. This is one of the world's great cities with history at every turn, however I'm not sure I'd go out of my way for a multi-day trip here. Perhaps if we had time to wander off the beaten path, I'd have come away feeling differently, yet my impression of London is it's a nice place to stop off on your way to somewhere else. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And as it turned out, we both had somewhere else to be...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-90990780381060731112016-08-19T09:28:00.000-04:002018-12-24T17:10:15.113-05:00What I Learned As A First-Time Author<span style="font-size: large;">So you want to write a book, or perhaps you’ve already written what’s destined to be the next great American novel. Either way, right about now the same question is probably bouncing around inside your brain… Now what? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As a first time author, the path that leads from <i>Once upon a time</i> to <i>Amazon.com</i> can be a daunting one. I should know, because I just traveled down it myself. Throughout the entire process - from research and writing to publishing and promotion - there were many sleepless nights and lessons learned. And while I am no J.K. Rowling, what follows are a few tips from those teachable moments that other aspiring authors are sure to encounter along the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Let me tell you what I’d wish I’d known, when I was young and dreamed of glory… ~Hamilton</span></i></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">It’s Probably Gonna Cost You </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sorry to rain on your parade, but the fact is you’re probably more likely to replace Matthew Mcconaughey in the next round of Lincoln commercials than to have your masterpiece picked up by a publisher. This is especially true if you happen to be writing about a niche topic, such as the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Muni-History-Ocala-Golf-Club/dp/1457546566" target="_blank">history of a municipal golf course in a small town in Central Florida</a>. The self-publishing industry makes it possible for anyone to get their story to print, but they don’t do it out of the goodness of their heart. Do some research into the cost of self-publishing early on and decide just how much this dream is worth to you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Barnes & Nope </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We’ve all had that dream.. You know, the one where you walk into the local mega-bookstore and see your name alongside F. Scott Fitzgerald and H.A. Rey. Well, the odds of this one coming true are just as long as getting that publisher to pick up the tab. But that doesn’t mean the dream has to die.. It just means you have to take matters into your own hands. Buy a cup of coffee, and donate a couple copies to the man. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC3pWzWcj0txVo9xNFt2qkA494u7C5UZJrvBIiSwDQW81R_cD734U8FmThHwz3M1aIWX8Bt5HygwBSn6tIadP-osDfoei6vgbyyW7l3hv_9siXOP-VUXi4sD-4KtlgaEX4U4fEJhB1iY2/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC3pWzWcj0txVo9xNFt2qkA494u7C5UZJrvBIiSwDQW81R_cD734U8FmThHwz3M1aIWX8Bt5HygwBSn6tIadP-osDfoei6vgbyyW7l3hv_9siXOP-VUXi4sD-4KtlgaEX4U4fEJhB1iY2/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Keep It To Yourself </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If every guy who said he was going to write a book actually did so, the Earth would be devoid of trees and paper its rarest commodity. Let’s be honest… Telling someone you’re writing a book sounds ridiculous and chances are quite high they won’t believe you. Skepticism that will sting if you’re already well into the writing. On the other hand, if your friends and family are the supportive type, the good-hearted questions of “How’s the book coming?” may add unnecessary pressure beyond what you’re already putting on yourself. Especially if they come during a nasty spell of writer’s block or a much needed break. My advice: keep the project a secret for as long as possible.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Know When To Say The End </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There will likely come a time when your book is basically done, but you just won’t let it go. Rewording a sentence here, moving a paragraph there.. It is so easy to tweak the thing to death. It’s understandable, given the amount of time, blood, sweat, and tears you poured into it. When I reached this phase with my book, I got to a point where I just had to say “Enough.” I set a date when the work would officially end and stuck to it. If I hadn’t, chances are it would still just be a lousy Word document. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/uGtq5KT.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.imgur.com/uGtq5KT.gif" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t Keep It To Yourself </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember what I said about not telling anyone about your book? Well, there’s one big exception… Once the book is complete, have a few of the people closest to you read it a couple of times, especially if they are knowledgeable on the topic at hand. A few sets of fresh eyes will help you spot things - be it typos, inconsistencies, etc. - that you might have otherwise missed. The urge will be to keep it under wraps until the hardcopy is in their hand, but they are sure to be just as honored with the chance to read it first. In the end, the feedback may prove more valuable than the satisfaction of handing them the finished product. </span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Pay For The Proofread </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously…. Few things are more annoying and detrimental to the flow of a book than typos. If you self-publish, don’t go cheap on the proofreading. You worked far too hard to have minor things like misspelled words and grammar put a damper on it. Which leads me to the next tip... </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://66.media.tumblr.com/24ffa2e21ef47e3ee0ea3136b881392a/tumblr_n930r4Ed9n1t3xmw3o1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://66.media.tumblr.com/24ffa2e21ef47e3ee0ea3136b881392a/tumblr_n930r4Ed9n1t3xmw3o1_500.gif" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff </span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So there I was, minding my own business one night, when I saw it... A typo. Instantly, the walls felt like they were caving in around me; my mind raced for hours and there was little sleep to be had. In this case, it wasn’t an improper use of “their” or “there,” but a factual error.. Albeit a minor one that few, if any, readers would ever notice. But I noticed, and I beat myself up over it for days. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite reading it 1217 times, and enlisting friends and a professional proofreader, you can pretty much rest assured that some sort of typo will make its way into your book. Try not to sweat it, because a) It’s not truly the end of the world and b) It’s an easy fix. Not to beat a dead horse, but you put too much personal capital into this book to let something so small detract from your achievement.
</span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Be Loud And Be Proud
</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For many of us, self-promotion is a messy business. And yet, if anyone is going to read your book, that’s exactly what it will take. Sure, it may feel a bit uncomfortable, but let me take this opportunity to remind you…. You wrote a freaking book! Your friends, family, and perhaps even the community will be proud. You should be too. Post about it on social media, write the local newspaper, give copies away if you have to.. Enjoy the glory, because it will be very short lived, but most of all… </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">You earned it. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-54421873779632957602016-03-13T16:39:00.000-04:002018-12-24T17:10:34.479-05:00Arnie & Me<span style="font-size: large;">My brother is a pretty well traveled guy. He's marveled at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, gorged on tapas on Las Ramblas, shucked oysters fresh from Elliott Bay, and drained a birdie putt on #18 at Torrey Pines, among many other adventures. And yet, if you were to ask him his favorite place in the world, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge would be at, or very near, the top of the list.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Why Bay Hill? Simple.... Arnold Palmer.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64MQSfZdUnVIn2Sy8Hd1h-R32OaBhRigWJDmQogO8avb6Fsc9R0AYdCZCZh_mPzGWvyMEnXtc_2k5c3tBnc9jKs4lLsDQggPaWJZWzZQc2eqvwZ7Mw0Ix9wQZI-8gRh_IzB6zp2FMS5qM/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64MQSfZdUnVIn2Sy8Hd1h-R32OaBhRigWJDmQogO8avb6Fsc9R0AYdCZCZh_mPzGWvyMEnXtc_2k5c3tBnc9jKs4lLsDQggPaWJZWzZQc2eqvwZ7Mw0Ix9wQZI-8gRh_IzB6zp2FMS5qM/s400/IMG_1721.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Right smack in the middle of the theme park capital of the world lies The King's winter home for the last four decades, as well as the host of the PGA Tour event that bears his name. There's a distinct 1970's feel to the place from the moment you pass through the front gate. It's charming, unpretentious, and the polar opposite of its counterparts in Miami and Ponte Vedra. While the other members of the Florida Swing have spent millions on flashy new clubhouses and a continuous string of resort renovations, Bay Hill has simply remained what it always has been... A tribute to the man who made it all possible.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last few years, my brother RJ and I have made a weekend at Bay Hill an annual tradition. Both of us would agree, for anyone that is passionate about this great game, The Lodge might possibly be the greatest hotel in the world. It is nothing short of an Arnold Palmer museum, and after several visits we still haven't come close to seeing all of the memorabilia.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuA-hqSth3B83A_VCno3SEdY2Qe6wggTkZvfk1Ew9xSXKT01lLmek5hV_0phid0yY-dAnhSawafgqn39sVF_1DOaKgBjW_FsZE_mZCDf55ptQxdoHTOq4gJlti4NhoVFTyY80LAXPBbf7/s1600/IMG_9341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuA-hqSth3B83A_VCno3SEdY2Qe6wggTkZvfk1Ew9xSXKT01lLmek5hV_0phid0yY-dAnhSawafgqn39sVF_1DOaKgBjW_FsZE_mZCDf55ptQxdoHTOq4gJlti4NhoVFTyY80LAXPBbf7/s400/IMG_9341.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture in The Lodge... Arnie & Ike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But it's not only the history.. There's something about being at Bay Hill that just feels.. comfortable. Almost like returning home. Be it the bleu cheese chips in Bay Window, the French Toast in the dining room, or the nightcap by the firepit outside of the clubhouse. Oh, and did I mention the shampoo? This stuff is so great, RJ gave me a year's supply for Christmas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While my brother and I are unanimous in our approval of The Lodge, the actual golf course is a different story. He loves it. I hate it. Sorry Mr. Palmer, but it's true. No amount of nostalgia and history will change my mind. I could go on and on about how Bay Hill is the poster child for penal golf architecture, however I'll spare you the dissertation. Simply put, the course is just too damn hard.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJGi2sF8nJDOHp_aLSSxymTIFhNFvEIcqfHy-5Z7wU78oyBmeVv476jzzdMDMlVZUtHnkTeCB-o5_ZnZmTwowuN7nytQ02A5RX4ePVSnGUDGfuzzxdFJpN6chjoPjnvpUk8CONfwgjjAr/s1600/IMG_1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJGi2sF8nJDOHp_aLSSxymTIFhNFvEIcqfHy-5Z7wU78oyBmeVv476jzzdMDMlVZUtHnkTeCB-o5_ZnZmTwowuN7nytQ02A5RX4ePVSnGUDGfuzzxdFJpN6chjoPjnvpUk8CONfwgjjAr/s400/IMG_1617.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously.. What is fun about this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The experience at The Lodge offsets most of this pain, but we'd be kidding ourselves if we didn't admit that what has really kept us coming back was the hope of meeting The King. For years all we've heard from staff and fellow guests was that from October thru April, Arnie is <i>always</i> at Bay Hill. After four visits between the two of us without a single sighting of Mr. Palmer, my brother decided to take matters into his own hands.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It started with a letter to Mr. Palmer's office in Latrobe, which somehow succeeded in both reaching his longtime assistant, Doc Griffin, and making it clear to him that we weren't desperate fanboys. The reply that came via email was a polite "We'll see what we can do, but don't get your hopes up." Still, this felt like progress..</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2z8rz-G9-Dl6nKXRvDAbAWNq1l6kZQ9i2zo98SGJJ5SBjXvYJxnJ92Hm32l0Ji0z_CEhHd0bGaW-Hb7WRwqM77qD5ka-QJPG-4yCp1EpRDaxxeive0nqIE9ukNTFSppUuIaybWKaBc97/s1600/IMG_9434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2z8rz-G9-Dl6nKXRvDAbAWNq1l6kZQ9i2zo98SGJJ5SBjXvYJxnJ92Hm32l0Ji0z_CEhHd0bGaW-Hb7WRwqM77qD5ka-QJPG-4yCp1EpRDaxxeive0nqIE9ukNTFSppUuIaybWKaBc97/s400/IMG_9434.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother celebrating victory in The Showdown at Bay Hill II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In addition to sending the letter, RJ suggested that we plan the next Bay Hill outing on a weekday. The common denominator of all of our previous trips was that they were on a weekend. The thought was that perhaps Mr. Palmer made himself scarce over the weekends when the club was busy. The logic seemed sound, at least to this desperate fanboy.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were joined on this trip by our good friend and member of our regular foursome, BV. My brother was stuck in an unfortunately timed meeting, so the plan was for BV and I to head down early for 9-holes and RJ would join us after work. For the first time ever, I arrived to Bay Hill hoping to not see Arnold Palmer... at least not until my brother arrived. If BV and I managed to meet Arnie and my brother didn't.. after all of his planning to make it happen.. I'd never live it down. RJ not being one to hold a grudge would be happy for us, but I'd never forgive myself.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6USOjHaZ-2XA6TOsyEadVSkeGnZxK9oIGIBZYOWvuYlEt0hMof6fn7c_P_hShfD-fs8bbrpRFwtztI1iR832dSxyXrSblw7_VU1HG6T_dasevIfL2KYYqqWCwtQIy1WPif2ummQHCE_2v/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6USOjHaZ-2XA6TOsyEadVSkeGnZxK9oIGIBZYOWvuYlEt0hMof6fn7c_P_hShfD-fs8bbrpRFwtztI1iR832dSxyXrSblw7_VU1HG6T_dasevIfL2KYYqqWCwtQIy1WPif2ummQHCE_2v/s400/IMG_1638.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Showdown at Bay Hill I with our Dad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We stopped by the front desk, headed straight to the dining room for a quick lunch and, of course, in walks The King....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">BV and I sat somewhat paralyzed for the next few minutes as person after person stopped at Arnie's table to say hello. I was reluctant to do the same, not for fear of being rude by interrupting his lunch (which it was), but because I'd be doing so without my brother. Finally, BV made the hard sell...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"This could be your one and only chance. He'll be more pissed if you don't take it than if you do and he misses out."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He had a point... So I hatched a plan to head to the bathroom (my shirt was untucked and I had just eaten a burger, which I highly recommend) and as I returned, if and only if Arnie looked up as I passed would I stop. Again, part of me hoped he wouldn't notice, yet in the fog of the moment I had forgotten everything I'd observed over the last 10 minutes...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">No one goes by Arnold Palmer's table without him noticing. He acknowledged each and every person that came by. From the Bay Hill members for which having lunch near him was just a regular Thursday afternoon, to our fellow starstruck guests asking him to sign their empty iced tea and lemonade bottles. As I rounded the corner toward the restaurant, The King and I locked eyes, and I think I managed to put together a few words about how much we enjoy Bay Hill.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Well, enjoy!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Success... Sort of.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpAwRuQc7UK5T6MjkNoYtaEF4EyT0Oje8qCMN4AjN4RvTRjPzd6Mg4oC4tBCZqbkTi145e0DCiuURQj1FmOrwRcyZ__xlWDm778j-5_1d8ARdsh0_KqZsiep-U4VF9Div5oi9JKiG_BCd/s1600/IMG_8306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpAwRuQc7UK5T6MjkNoYtaEF4EyT0Oje8qCMN4AjN4RvTRjPzd6Mg4oC4tBCZqbkTi145e0DCiuURQj1FmOrwRcyZ__xlWDm778j-5_1d8ARdsh0_KqZsiep-U4VF9Div5oi9JKiG_BCd/s400/IMG_8306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We finished our meal, and The King did the same. A few minutes later, he took hold of the arm of his guest for lunch (Jimmy Roberts of NBC) and made his way, albeit slowly, out of the dining room.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we made our way around Bay Hill's Charger 9, I couldn't help but wonder if BV was right. Would that be our one and only encounter? Surely, I hoped, my brother would get his chance...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After golf, BV and I sat in the Bay Window Lounge and enjoyed a beverage. Our plan was to meet RJ in the Men's Locker Room for a few hands of cards and cocktails before heading to dinner. On a whim, I decided to go survey the scene in the locker room first, thinking we may have been better off just staying where we were. I took one step inside and sure enough, there in the very first seat was Arnold Palmer...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Again, I tried to play it cool by pretending to be looking for someone who apparently wasn't there. I made a bee line back to BV, interrupted his conversation with an aspiring Tour pro, and told him we had to go. Back in the locker room, we set up shop at the table next to Arnie, and watched the door like a hawk, hoping with each time it opened that RJ would come walking through.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Roughly a dozen hands of gin and two cocktails later, still no sign. Arnie's glass was empty, time was running out... So I decided the time had come to let my brother in on the secret...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgWN0-N3COlHLMVWeHOfEUXvp6AhNWlOy0VvNVVALrEEO2VpD-gw5WordnyAHTpFXhitTiDF7C1OhqqwBPldlzPPA2eX4xm4Bb7njuJzecYmUa-pnKSL5FO87glFIQo4cA3VW41qRIL2c/s1600/IMG_7991.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgWN0-N3COlHLMVWeHOfEUXvp6AhNWlOy0VvNVVALrEEO2VpD-gw5WordnyAHTpFXhitTiDF7C1OhqqwBPldlzPPA2eX4xm4Bb7njuJzecYmUa-pnKSL5FO87glFIQo4cA3VW41qRIL2c/s400/IMG_7991.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">He made it... By now, BV and I were just totally accustomed to being in The King's presence, but RJ still had to work through the initial shell-shock that we'd experienced during lunch. Alas, this wasn't meant to be his moment. No more than 5 minutes after RJ arrived, Mr. Palmer shuffled out to his golf cart, and soon the Bay Hill locker room emptied.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My brother seized the moment.. He made friends with the bartender and struck up conversation with the guys who had been at Arnie's table, all of which led to an important question...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"If we're here at the same time tomorrow, what are our odds of shaking his hand and maybe a picture?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"100%"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward to the next afternoon, we returned to the locker room, greeted our new friend behind the bar, and tried to pretend as if we were there for any reason except meeting Arnold Palmer. We stuck out like sore thumbs.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A few minutes later, and right at the appointed time, Arnie walked in and sat down in his usual chair.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"OK gents, we're going to strike while the iron is hot," the bartender said as he delivered our drinks.... "Mr. Palmer, we have some guests here from Ocala that would like to say hello."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXsuIrB9EdJBEH-rm47I6xNwXg6OlM50f-5jChQASL5EMtbnXSC7DNGIC1Icg8qOn4Np1aAA9QwuIm4qcqlezhJDaH0bUURX6NpFrbjYIhEGLGjDdg0CWEKhps_wPikMkfkMkmJc-bZ7T/s1600/IMG_8305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXsuIrB9EdJBEH-rm47I6xNwXg6OlM50f-5jChQASL5EMtbnXSC7DNGIC1Icg8qOn4Np1aAA9QwuIm4qcqlezhJDaH0bUURX6NpFrbjYIhEGLGjDdg0CWEKhps_wPikMkfkMkmJc-bZ7T/s400/IMG_8305.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Perfection.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Let this be a lesson kids... Always get to know the club bartender.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We sat watching the golf on TV for a little while longer, before making our way to the door. Mr. Palmer said goodbye as we passed his table, and it was then that things felt a little heavy. As exciting as the last hour had been, there was a distinct sadness in the air as my brother and I pulled away from Bay Hill. In one unforgettable moment, we had just said hello and possibly goodbye to a man who has done more for us through a lifetime in the game of golf than we could ever imagine. This wasn't about a picture. It was about saying thank you to a beloved member of the family whose time with us is running preciously short.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Long Live The King</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-69772317721574541832016-01-25T17:46:00.000-05:002016-11-28T19:45:27.492-05:00Adventures with Uncle Deej - Christmas with Bug<span style="font-size: large;">The ability to spoil our niece and nephew when the opportunity presents itself is one of the most rewarding things in life for an aunt and uncle whose own children both have four paws. If Old Sport asked to go to the golf course during a freak Florida snowstorm, I'd probably go buy some winter clothes and take him. Likewise, if our niece, Bug, asked to go to Disney over the most mind-bogglingly busy time of year, we'd probably have her flight booked within the hour.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In this case, it was more like 12 minutes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Because really, what self-respecting aunt and uncle is going to have the willpower required to say no to this Christmas list?...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNbxcp0YjbQct577BNa1bFt-Uuionj9kmlYwL5gqs4XzrmjLMOJHh0T55TCT3qr-mOQVdbdaVJiwKRaz1FVe5zplCA7wGRuGsCZyOb5xuM1uBX5Te-DdNr1RoX-ZragSFxss6WWrmpACm/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNbxcp0YjbQct577BNa1bFt-Uuionj9kmlYwL5gqs4XzrmjLMOJHh0T55TCT3qr-mOQVdbdaVJiwKRaz1FVe5zplCA7wGRuGsCZyOb5xuM1uBX5Te-DdNr1RoX-ZragSFxss6WWrmpACm/s400/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The challenge with this particular adventure was one of timing... It all came together with just two weeks notice. That may not seem like much of an issue, but this is Disney... At Christmas... I didn't hold out much hope for a Fast Pass, let alone hotel and restaurant reservations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet, as he always does... The Mickster came through.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I managed to snag what may have been the last remaining room at Saratoga Springs for what I call "Chrstmas-Eve Eve." Not ideal, but who was I to complain.. It was a room, and if nothing else we'd have easy access to Disney Springs if Bug wanted to do some shopping. More on the shopping later...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But since I'd rather stay just about anywhere else than Saratoga, I kept checking.. and checking.. and checking. And then, there it was... Like a golden ticket in the Willy Wonka bar. The day before we were supposed to check-in, availability at Wilderness Lodge. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While many will default and say the Grand Floridian is the most beautiful of the Disney resorts at Christmas time, Wilderness Lodge is, at worst, a very close second. It also made the logistics of the next two days exponentially easier...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-X3lAMw9QyUdE7d7z4vX2TUsAOKWFXVRVIL7x0CD2JK9SglBGPt89HE-Ja0CddBqdY2UOE7XOTvdIf9HirAK4b_10bXydG7PHhhiBH6IW9Yr7E92SFLa8uXPooHFb_MDxydEkPQo-bqt/s1600/IMG_6371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-X3lAMw9QyUdE7d7z4vX2TUsAOKWFXVRVIL7x0CD2JK9SglBGPt89HE-Ja0CddBqdY2UOE7XOTvdIf9HirAK4b_10bXydG7PHhhiBH6IW9Yr7E92SFLa8uXPooHFb_MDxydEkPQo-bqt/s400/IMG_6371.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That's because the mega-resort upgrade was really just score #4 on the string of good luck Mickey tossed our way. The next was a last-minute dinner reservation at Chef Mickey's... And instead of battling the Disney traffic, all we had to do was hop on a boat.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2pmsngo3k8LqmbtjJy4anRmSZUxvd6VtvPckXto_8lc2rRnJYlJkbgwC2s1kN1Xp_XQj78q9hWOQoalTfq0PjXGSpJdlqsx9KB7OS1oMCT_y4EGM07B42FcE3PRoD42T382Zp1S1xS32/s1600/IMG_6332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2pmsngo3k8LqmbtjJy4anRmSZUxvd6VtvPckXto_8lc2rRnJYlJkbgwC2s1kN1Xp_XQj78q9hWOQoalTfq0PjXGSpJdlqsx9KB7OS1oMCT_y4EGM07B42FcE3PRoD42T382Zp1S1xS32/s400/IMG_6332.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After giving our regards to the Chef, we walked over to Bay Lake Tower and paid a visit to the Top of the World Lounge. Yes, Aunt MJ and Uncle Deej needed an adult beverage after all of the Chef Mickey's hysteria, but it was the view of Wishes that we were really after...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wyLifm2rIy1Qag2aZRy4YZ91Zw5eVg0vU7GDhtQVIyqrmEs-5AfNrHy2uOqj-wyyYQ86AsVP-RocvTa_4Jgq-Boma1KEpFI8JaKUQayLzLQTCF_3yoztBIrev4uIKp8VzS4wqJ-UFX6F/s1600/IMG_6349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wyLifm2rIy1Qag2aZRy4YZ91Zw5eVg0vU7GDhtQVIyqrmEs-5AfNrHy2uOqj-wyyYQ86AsVP-RocvTa_4Jgq-Boma1KEpFI8JaKUQayLzLQTCF_3yoztBIrev4uIKp8VzS4wqJ-UFX6F/s400/IMG_6349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The next morning - Christmas Eve - we made an early start of it. Not that we had much choice.. All 3 of us were awake at an ungodly hour recreating the famous "I'm too excited to sleep" commercial. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was my first time visiting the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Eve, and I'll fully admit that I was dreading the anticipated crowds. Being there early, however, gave us roughly an hour with a relatively empty park before the masses descended in full. We used the time to have a rather confusing discussion with Alice and the Mad Hatter. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvFtSZrtos3Ogyr313Q_ulDfPNZXk68-V5Rs1iEXI13mXxkGUCMvXdhG7g5fn0tIP0nvhVV_qBZlFM5I_Za7d4u3tUbAHGfgJ88vyZjDtCNeXATe8Xn_khhaYm37d4KLwmLbw8nN4gbqs/s1600/IMG_6413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsvFtSZrtos3Ogyr313Q_ulDfPNZXk68-V5Rs1iEXI13mXxkGUCMvXdhG7g5fn0tIP0nvhVV_qBZlFM5I_Za7d4u3tUbAHGfgJ88vyZjDtCNeXATe8Xn_khhaYm37d4KLwmLbw8nN4gbqs/s400/IMG_6413.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up... Breakfast with the gang from the Hundred-Acre Wood. Another last-minute score on this 36-hour Disney adventure. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFrkNjjA1eJbz6qm1F6ugwJgMZX6DmFCF6rWvXkWipaQdCPD490Ml0kmYCcQqF-Mc0_lOu0chyphenhyphen5KQ7X81t0Oi8aTLh-sJ8Urz2lDtAoaht0lgwpKVXdPGrTlZy6STH2VctqBtDPL8659c/s1600/IMG_6429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFrkNjjA1eJbz6qm1F6ugwJgMZX6DmFCF6rWvXkWipaQdCPD490Ml0kmYCcQqF-Mc0_lOu0chyphenhyphen5KQ7X81t0Oi8aTLh-sJ8Urz2lDtAoaht0lgwpKVXdPGrTlZy6STH2VctqBtDPL8659c/s400/IMG_6429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On our way to Frontierland, where we got soaked on Splash Mountain, we stopped and said hello to Chip & Dale. Naturally, they were quite enamored with Bug's old-school Polaroid camera, and couldn't resist the opportunity to connect with their inner Andre 3000.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuekF_t-tYEFzBEoVcU51XwOx47vDAUuqZtuowpp0aGboJvzfdGLREzYGoWgdnIctSjaVhW9M4ePYgsxbR_cZenB-vWjg6RJ1wKertTzEuWVOLqYEbITPPhSvpVrImagkshxw9S89VQxC/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuekF_t-tYEFzBEoVcU51XwOx47vDAUuqZtuowpp0aGboJvzfdGLREzYGoWgdnIctSjaVhW9M4ePYgsxbR_cZenB-vWjg6RJ1wKertTzEuWVOLqYEbITPPhSvpVrImagkshxw9S89VQxC/s400/IMG_6459.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Shake it like a Polaroid picture."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As if scoring last-minute reservations at Wilderness Lodge, Chef Mickey's and Crystal Palace wasn't enough, we tossed in one more for good measure... Lunch at Be Our Guest. We all split a Grey Stuff cupcake, and yes, it is delicious..</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfUFGvmJB9lGGg2ThDb1AKI-Sig1BvJABHGiep_co3UHHHmZqjIGM3tpkXWlmW-YHSKdNIyJTTk-kJWLmVaroKIXVBu031VAJY0aYjxctf6IhU3JcY-QQQXgS5oUxXNYSQpDBxC91WZRc/s1600/IMG_6470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfUFGvmJB9lGGg2ThDb1AKI-Sig1BvJABHGiep_co3UHHHmZqjIGM3tpkXWlmW-YHSKdNIyJTTk-kJWLmVaroKIXVBu031VAJY0aYjxctf6IhU3JcY-QQQXgS5oUxXNYSQpDBxC91WZRc/s320/IMG_6470.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After lunch, the crowds had officially reached the you-have-to-be-out-of-your-mind-to-get-in-that-line status. Thankfully, we had one last Fast Pass to burn...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjlT5Km9aXmZ0_J1rFcOlW9O6H5dNxb7KhdIHHcfVNp1jy1EO5F-l3Nnt0Ld0483328pPJE-JH88Ld_yr75yyTgnPF_s95nk2M3dtBBo0EXhn5kl6kWtv7975CjKtbew5Ukk9c78PRTF_/s1600/IMG_6463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGjlT5Km9aXmZ0_J1rFcOlW9O6H5dNxb7KhdIHHcfVNp1jy1EO5F-l3Nnt0Ld0483328pPJE-JH88Ld_yr75yyTgnPF_s95nk2M3dtBBo0EXhn5kl6kWtv7975CjKtbew5Ukk9c78PRTF_/s400/IMG_6463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier in the day, Bug said she wanted to ride Haunted Mansion, so we navigated our way that direction only to discover a 90 minute wait. And yet, she was undeterred. I could feel my soul sinking with every step we took toward the back of the line - which was no where near the 90 minute sign - and decided it was time to make a deal...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Bug, I know you really want to ride Haunted Mansion, but I will add $50 to your souvenir budget to spend on anything you want if you don't make me get in this line."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Worked like a charm. Let's go shopping....</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, the sun was setting on both Disney and this adventure, but there was still one thing I promised Bug we would do...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf2OKUYp45Nu9cqwsE1p5CDx5ct8GKvSevWjbw12qDK0c27axpcRl74jdG6tBgVQ91iPyXvt1I3HHvLZJ5XMLFm-dPp5yzbaDmx2Y5kiN9K5Q36u9OfyIjS2T7SOIQwX9HSeZgU1-nPgL/s1600/IMG_6491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyf2OKUYp45Nu9cqwsE1p5CDx5ct8GKvSevWjbw12qDK0c27axpcRl74jdG6tBgVQ91iPyXvt1I3HHvLZJ5XMLFm-dPp5yzbaDmx2Y5kiN9K5Q36u9OfyIjS2T7SOIQwX9HSeZgU1-nPgL/s400/IMG_6491.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride a boat over a road.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMu7cWELHPpws4E2b_Nj5disfnaUnIVC4SeSOQpBn3XiWmL_6HxQ3VrMHRsP9oLvKbR6JJgs3oG0KV7E5N42yHKlMezJM-5-qg4aHkkmdq3tT3_ZeKFIVLeuJLwyBAxET_jXuy6nyp-Ti/s1600/IMG_6488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMu7cWELHPpws4E2b_Nj5disfnaUnIVC4SeSOQpBn3XiWmL_6HxQ3VrMHRsP9oLvKbR6JJgs3oG0KV7E5N42yHKlMezJM-5-qg4aHkkmdq3tT3_ZeKFIVLeuJLwyBAxET_jXuy6nyp-Ti/s400/IMG_6488.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Back home, as I swiped through the photos from the day, I felt like a 12 year old kid - anxious to plan Bug's next trip so we could do it all over again. And while this adventure may have come to an end, the memories still kept on coming...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruNPyrOOCxJ76uIPg6FEMECdezxYYq1t9kdreeAeC2wqQWVPTA9CQTwZT7cpMdv6Pv2WZZU4f5x3lsQueZ3hlnCs9iDWzzoOtauVBGffCLJadSQTT11Xke8keFEoktuy4P3VyYkiMeHiK/s1600/IMG_6574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruNPyrOOCxJ76uIPg6FEMECdezxYYq1t9kdreeAeC2wqQWVPTA9CQTwZT7cpMdv6Pv2WZZU4f5x3lsQueZ3hlnCs9iDWzzoOtauVBGffCLJadSQTT11Xke8keFEoktuy4P3VyYkiMeHiK/s400/IMG_6574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-45557993254760563192015-12-27T13:58:00.001-05:002016-11-28T19:45:38.485-05:00Adventures with Uncle Deej - Old Sport's First Cruise<span style="font-size: large;">For the better part of a decade, maybe more, my family tossed around the idea of taking a cruise together. Well, by "tossed around" I mean a bon voyage message from my Dad every time MJ and I were due to set sail - you know, the kind that yields a slight twinge of guilt - something along the lines of "One day we're all gonna take one together." For a variety of reasons, not the least of which was our overcrowded cruising calendar, we were just never able to make it happen. That is until one day when my Dad asked about a particular cruise the week of Thanksgiving. Wouldn't you know it, MJ and I were already booked on the exact same itinerary...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNguVY20q5__KKMytaUQ9Jb8Tb4fcy7dq34q8oSh_uyLAYKCXwuDKWltp9C7CWKf2TYyyZyN1VuU-FjbapjWk8599D8xpGOeVRaHb4PjJd2jKUzxCezr_Xgsy4B7WHu4q_-Ubg2NcZLPhi/s1600/Snapseed+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNguVY20q5__KKMytaUQ9Jb8Tb4fcy7dq34q8oSh_uyLAYKCXwuDKWltp9C7CWKf2TYyyZyN1VuU-FjbapjWk8599D8xpGOeVRaHb4PjJd2jKUzxCezr_Xgsy4B7WHu4q_-Ubg2NcZLPhi/s400/Snapseed+%25281%2529.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thumbs up for "The Big Ship"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">After ironing out a few details, it was official: the long awaited family cruise was really happening. And so began the 6 person pre-cruise-text-thread between my Dad, Mom, brother, sister-in-law, MJ and myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On a side note, have you ever been a part of a 6 person, all-family text thread for 7 months? Yeah, I, um, highly recommend it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98wYz3UWo36xfJXT35PdTfCxqKWICSaZjO1yfF_CB7U23bduNne4EM3Ik6HIJxQhy4k50RI6jgAg486xMTVpMGjJD-5Fnzb9FOPyDIa87mpsqg0TqzKIuxEdHpTaOaf79Dm37vlPX8ld1/s1600/IMG_6583.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi98wYz3UWo36xfJXT35PdTfCxqKWICSaZjO1yfF_CB7U23bduNne4EM3Ik6HIJxQhy4k50RI6jgAg486xMTVpMGjJD-5Fnzb9FOPyDIa87mpsqg0TqzKIuxEdHpTaOaf79Dm37vlPX8ld1/s320/IMG_6583.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, aside from all the digital family bonding, the biggest benefit for yours truly in all of this was that I'd get to cruise with my nephew, Old Sport. From the start, this cruise promised to be a memorable one, but it was also guaranteed to be very different than any we'd taken to date.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For example...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The approximate time between parking the car to parking my keester in a comfortable chair onboard is usually about 12 minutes. When you're traveling with 4 other adults, plus a 3 year old with more luggage than the rest of us combined, that time stretches to roughly 48 excruciatingly long minutes.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7akh18P9uJJKS-_6MN-gHrmZzl8X3M45xqfa2Q-PvW1vPr0u91qi8Tbg567cO5Mxnxz-YU8kiT7qkZNvhAHNxlyHgsvYIC9kZ-BVskh4kVzi9FexXmNNcfbfl8zEiXvxUboXYIKer7Y6/s1600/IMG_6584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7akh18P9uJJKS-_6MN-gHrmZzl8X3M45xqfa2Q-PvW1vPr0u91qi8Tbg567cO5Mxnxz-YU8kiT7qkZNvhAHNxlyHgsvYIC9kZ-BVskh4kVzi9FexXmNNcfbfl8zEiXvxUboXYIKer7Y6/s320/IMG_6584.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad had the right idea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">By this time I've also usually identified and made friends with the only bartender on the ship who can make a proper old fashioned. But that task would have to wait, there was putt-putt to be played...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpsnqvMwjez6gGKh6cS7r8SOjte41k8Z1baLswsNdOYU7YDnDseOaZ8X5RN285Dh5bgghOdbohxvaPk2aDxpmOkmDysKvIVr9ThDEz7S8_gOuFhCSkpvbYHTlVZoStP9pYU4WtXlFDmqO/s1600/IMG_5539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpsnqvMwjez6gGKh6cS7r8SOjte41k8Z1baLswsNdOYU7YDnDseOaZ8X5RN285Dh5bgghOdbohxvaPk2aDxpmOkmDysKvIVr9ThDEz7S8_gOuFhCSkpvbYHTlVZoStP9pYU4WtXlFDmqO/s400/IMG_5539.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The best time of any cruise is always the cast-off, and if its available we usually enjoy it from the heli-pad at the very front of the ship. It's usually pretty empty and gives the best vantage point. It also gives a kid plenty of space to run around and burn off the pent up energy from the stupid muster drill.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfchoYuLVX4hyz_ZDYQujzv0BbbCa9TX00_kuaEuSDOBIgomRK8zpFoMCbFKmkPQN2juuNh4Mf6ie3d-IfnRT-U2xl4SbKj0CLXmSTLhuN9vQLBMGfj6NBYSHNwbg3z9XCzvDatofSQak/s1600/IMG_5551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfchoYuLVX4hyz_ZDYQujzv0BbbCa9TX00_kuaEuSDOBIgomRK8zpFoMCbFKmkPQN2juuNh4Mf6ie3d-IfnRT-U2xl4SbKj0CLXmSTLhuN9vQLBMGfj6NBYSHNwbg3z9XCzvDatofSQak/s400/IMG_5551.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another benefit of this spot is it allows you to look up and watch the activity on the bridge. And if you have a cute kid in tow, you may even get the captain to salute you with a short honk of the horn.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyTC1BwSxeU6NM54q0nIKJmIIBTxEVMD1hotZBTaQNjDWjm1pquaN7noNqDeDlv8DfrclIi3ey0Jjw2_ov0eA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And so it continued for the next 5 days. Normal routines were tossed out the window in favor of whatever idea popped into Old Sport's head. </span><span style="font-size: large;">For instance... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of quiet time in the Solarium with a book, I made my first visit to the main pool and dodged waterfalls.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-8PV_aUJRSmbmeIrWpQeQVpi4By6AyXvSHsVBPyii36Vxu51_xO_prffjkNV8NxD6Ri3uavN6JdxatMdG9Ss9kwF6UyhLEWK0Cujc9RX84TT8c6GSC0ShFNon-DcyCY-TUYy3veRUflf/s1600/judd-cruise-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-8PV_aUJRSmbmeIrWpQeQVpi4By6AyXvSHsVBPyii36Vxu51_xO_prffjkNV8NxD6Ri3uavN6JdxatMdG9Ss9kwF6UyhLEWK0Cujc9RX84TT8c6GSC0ShFNon-DcyCY-TUYy3veRUflf/s320/judd-cruise-3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rather than burning $20's at the roulette table, we visited the air hockey table.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YaYhSp-zsACy_m7dJUGEZts1j6hYi1alFbx4F96ekR-gd2yAwH6epJ8McIO1E2FT30Zi_xqwsc7BuE3Hb4fJWSkG7ubinhNeYZI4vDoB6T6gvglnG6GzEEJbZNGQ3_Kl4iOfW8zZ5wDE/s1600/IMG_5629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2YaYhSp-zsACy_m7dJUGEZts1j6hYi1alFbx4F96ekR-gd2yAwH6epJ8McIO1E2FT30Zi_xqwsc7BuE3Hb4fJWSkG7ubinhNeYZI4vDoB6T6gvglnG6GzEEJbZNGQ3_Kl4iOfW8zZ5wDE/s400/IMG_5629.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Did I mention that we played putt-putt?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaB_fls1sydibUtxtJAFHcBGRwEbCcVGE4oBzw3SA5dyADIaO20IffM8U7M2v1a_y0awvvIAEMZKmilHnLaBLzpEpdsnGKQLVWc8tU34iw5d4qXKIMR4iMuqRs0YeFzRAfb1nN5yvLAke/s1600/judd-cruise-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaB_fls1sydibUtxtJAFHcBGRwEbCcVGE4oBzw3SA5dyADIaO20IffM8U7M2v1a_y0awvvIAEMZKmilHnLaBLzpEpdsnGKQLVWc8tU34iw5d4qXKIMR4iMuqRs0YeFzRAfb1nN5yvLAke/s400/judd-cruise-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While I play the role of the jaded cruiser quite well, this cruise managed to teach me plenty of new things. Such as...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There's no rule against having escargots for dessert.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ml-GXUPnJDOOcZUXh0iKXa8DFZptiafdgPSbMWCxBR2QklsE2CgKGFSfzcicvFUVff0Q15JaHEe-9ZUv5amPp-NsLe96riLa-Mb26WLU2K54klmwS2spWVMngzTXmQs_-HBfpLuEMAMx/s1600/escargots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ml-GXUPnJDOOcZUXh0iKXa8DFZptiafdgPSbMWCxBR2QklsE2CgKGFSfzcicvFUVff0Q15JaHEe-9ZUv5amPp-NsLe96riLa-Mb26WLU2K54klmwS2spWVMngzTXmQs_-HBfpLuEMAMx/s400/escargots.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">On sea days, the winds are perfect for flying.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiady5udVB66df1luK8uKakDmy2jGVcuM3QRDoaIrHfDzUDvmScQxG8jTlo8YvopYW6PuVU1Jm75EpbBZMiqU4z2pGhbgIN8W3G8pz7t6w52nEgVP3tlod4YeYgQt53AcbjIi4B1aiALW0V/s1600/IMG_5813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiady5udVB66df1luK8uKakDmy2jGVcuM3QRDoaIrHfDzUDvmScQxG8jTlo8YvopYW6PuVU1Jm75EpbBZMiqU4z2pGhbgIN8W3G8pz7t6w52nEgVP3tlod4YeYgQt53AcbjIi4B1aiALW0V/s400/IMG_5813.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Bingo is a lot harder than I remembered it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZRaOOhxkKyZB-p-cx2E2z3hwj1ISz72Izo88ny_Np6g6TTAWhY7PKxFVXmVgkAI90rHP5nNtgdL3fV5qYVcygG8yOpPat9Tuut0NUtWvxHIozJhaDYlsz7fEJHRzVyI0Gz7vh5RlR1oN/s1600/IMG_5812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZRaOOhxkKyZB-p-cx2E2z3hwj1ISz72Izo88ny_Np6g6TTAWhY7PKxFVXmVgkAI90rHP5nNtgdL3fV5qYVcygG8yOpPat9Tuut0NUtWvxHIozJhaDYlsz7fEJHRzVyI0Gz7vh5RlR1oN/s400/IMG_5812.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The duty free liquor shop is also known as the "Chip Store."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGmRRONFCNpCfcwMScVF7yedDXwOnUldV99oMrPGogvZCckSgyecPxeXPmXj8t3QRmCMyCvXtH-cqKAOYyfbwbWYq1coY3XBRUsywlP7i4aB6j6s-RvGPrTeu6nCzbs_F1_CMn63IGHJy/s1600/IMG_5607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGmRRONFCNpCfcwMScVF7yedDXwOnUldV99oMrPGogvZCckSgyecPxeXPmXj8t3QRmCMyCvXtH-cqKAOYyfbwbWYq1coY3XBRUsywlP7i4aB6j6s-RvGPrTeu6nCzbs_F1_CMn63IGHJy/s320/IMG_5607.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ice cream cones are not for sharing.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ikQWdvnD6KUe_WkFSn1L1v3kzePt1vYWg5sq8FHDcOyyPbtscTTyOIbNHR38Y-5qghZmy8zEJThFb92SsgAZh_LfiUrO4nT8JZNT2tzibSBjtvb1QcTR30q6l4_zdHgmI4sBji7ZWZ-W/s1600/IMG_5520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ikQWdvnD6KUe_WkFSn1L1v3kzePt1vYWg5sq8FHDcOyyPbtscTTyOIbNHR38Y-5qghZmy8zEJThFb92SsgAZh_LfiUrO4nT8JZNT2tzibSBjtvb1QcTR30q6l4_zdHgmI4sBji7ZWZ-W/s400/IMG_5520.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Balancing a spoon on your nose is perfectly acceptable in the main dining room.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvSaBJYjHW0sMlR0K08p3qprqwUHQ4j6AlT2m61vgQTVcDIDdpIOOz7Zdo6MJvzuIXJmj4yzgmiB1BF5vJBGkjRD1eT0PwX9Pd9Oo1s0LFufbMH0AbwN2ktsF1_2YRimnJhyphenhyphents2BVJYGJ/s1600/IMG_5715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvSaBJYjHW0sMlR0K08p3qprqwUHQ4j6AlT2m61vgQTVcDIDdpIOOz7Zdo6MJvzuIXJmj4yzgmiB1BF5vJBGkjRD1eT0PwX9Pd9Oo1s0LFufbMH0AbwN2ktsF1_2YRimnJhyphenhyphents2BVJYGJ/s400/IMG_5715.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Above all else, I learned that family cruises are chocked full of memories.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmUbeNQLHSXzYSX_tF54PgxuaeHCBPo5OcxtrzLAShgBLpCh3dcE9puskiwhwZUs9jeMp-w9TIU96Xn4bePUknG54tKgwmVxLP3GCYDAQQi-4XPVOsFpBHLaDvlMST4AB4PFFXcXymLAn/s1600/IMG_6582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmUbeNQLHSXzYSX_tF54PgxuaeHCBPo5OcxtrzLAShgBLpCh3dcE9puskiwhwZUs9jeMp-w9TIU96Xn4bePUknG54tKgwmVxLP3GCYDAQQi-4XPVOsFpBHLaDvlMST4AB4PFFXcXymLAn/s400/IMG_6582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hopefully the first of many.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">OK, sappy moment over. Never stop for the welcome aboard photo...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-65107995050739569652015-09-15T01:00:00.000-04:002016-11-28T19:45:48.703-05:00Adventures with Uncle Deej - Old Sport Turns Three<span style="font-size: large;">"The most wholesome 'guys weekend' in the history of the world."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">For most, the phrase "guys weekend" conjures images of a trashed hotel suite in Las Vegas or a naked Ken Jeong wielding a tire iron. On the opposite end of the spectrum... One and 3/4 adults taking a 3 year old to Disney World. It's safe to say the days of my brother and I climbing to the top of Caesar's Palace with a bottle of Jaegermeister are long gone, not to mention that nobody is going to mistake either of us for Brad Cooper. And yet this recent trip to the Happiest Place on Earth turned out to be the most fun, eye-opening, and memorable "guys weekend" that I've ever experienced.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-tbUQHeEQEiba3I0OB3KcWIfOBIEGcJjX6yyU2AfvfW-gdsCmXujC9f6SfSwTD0uzdOQH0_r1i3p3kgmVCzHQNno0pWVmIcufPIL4tSY_qz-0WcBcEhretyR6HP4wRnPxmmEYOFBkLB-/s1600/IMG_3235+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-tbUQHeEQEiba3I0OB3KcWIfOBIEGcJjX6yyU2AfvfW-gdsCmXujC9f6SfSwTD0uzdOQH0_r1i3p3kgmVCzHQNno0pWVmIcufPIL4tSY_qz-0WcBcEhretyR6HP4wRnPxmmEYOFBkLB-/s400/IMG_3235+%25281%2529.JPG" width="368" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We made an early start of it and arrived at "The Big Hotel - also known as the Walt Disney World Dolphin - before McDonald's had stopped serving breakfast. It didn't take long for me to realize this would be very different than my usual - read: childless - trips to Disney.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0zjabue2M_ZaCLdUH99BJMt9E8v-PIqkavwajpo0w1N_K_EybRsLp0p9dcXggkx1UmE3iHkj63LLH86JMKuYMv9dSfz6R6GWPCFO_86WqBtMKN_H-rFPSv6w08D524woS0aMhWxCoTu-/s1600/IMG_3461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0zjabue2M_ZaCLdUH99BJMt9E8v-PIqkavwajpo0w1N_K_EybRsLp0p9dcXggkx1UmE3iHkj63LLH86JMKuYMv9dSfz6R6GWPCFO_86WqBtMKN_H-rFPSv6w08D524woS0aMhWxCoTu-/s400/IMG_3461.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It was right about now that I questioned my ability to adapt to these unfamiliar circumstances. The words "Uncle Deej, I have to potty" are enough to send me into a mild panic. Pushing a stroller through the Magic Kingdom was simply inconceivable. But addressing that fear would have to wait... The Dolphin's pool was first on our itinerary.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5_ZcUOLIDtFP_bD25YD-j741uCE8cHmUMR4LJrOPvJMRs0jNGzd46l6Cn8Uav6VkSC8en9DwO0A_cwmVO9uBpjFuYisRR3WypF238oMWTW346FHxVUAXhBgE-BZKnpI5I740kBzAIdU2/s1600/IMG_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5_ZcUOLIDtFP_bD25YD-j741uCE8cHmUMR4LJrOPvJMRs0jNGzd46l6Cn8Uav6VkSC8en9DwO0A_cwmVO9uBpjFuYisRR3WypF238oMWTW346FHxVUAXhBgE-BZKnpI5I740kBzAIdU2/s400/IMG_3747.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a hearty lunch of french fries, mac & cheese, and a chocolate chip cookie, we piled back into the car for a trip to my favorite hotel in the world... "The Temporary." Our plan was to rent two of the water sprite boats for a ride on Seven Seas Lagoon, but after Old Sport laid eyes on the monorail we had to call an audible. A short ride aboard Monorail Red later, we arrived at the Grand Floridian and headed for their marina.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9DaUeGgimxZ8Sfvhng4ROxRI_6HUqLSeEgFqtpfqgWlKGpIkQDbxiL1liSACPVZb0kkNpcPQk-cNGzMdRVfvksXeiAhAJrmogUjjYcjc4fLrQf6b66YZBE8BIedcPizFJUORlrqpiEyG/s1600/IMG_3464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia9DaUeGgimxZ8Sfvhng4ROxRI_6HUqLSeEgFqtpfqgWlKGpIkQDbxiL1liSACPVZb0kkNpcPQk-cNGzMdRVfvksXeiAhAJrmogUjjYcjc4fLrQf6b66YZBE8BIedcPizFJUORlrqpiEyG/s400/IMG_3464.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Admittedly, I didn't fully think through the water sprite idea. In my excitement to introduce Old Sport to one of my favorite activities at Disney, I failed to take into account one crucial detail... It was 112 degrees outside. He was about as excited to be on that boat as sitting for a formal family portrait, so we cut the ride a little short and decided to enjoy another one of my beloved past times....</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtV39mbOifcVpIONhHQRgnTcPcG8atfz1PH6AniK1RmBCRXy6RzCno25N9mMS7eB0ZNtjiWCAPGs8PUim02GKrsWlcYgur1bg9HmgSofX7pRdSvAsr3MQkcqTOrGucRNpy6GVMlAUQ3AR/s1600/IMG_3748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtV39mbOifcVpIONhHQRgnTcPcG8atfz1PH6AniK1RmBCRXy6RzCno25N9mMS7eB0ZNtjiWCAPGs8PUim02GKrsWlcYgur1bg9HmgSofX7pRdSvAsr3MQkcqTOrGucRNpy6GVMlAUQ3AR/s400/IMG_3748.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The hotel lobby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried to convince him that sitting in a comfy chair in a hotel lobby was a blast, but he wasn't buying it.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoKeS5Biujl3rlZD3Slvsj12TUe_fBW1Py52feCGCpFJMfmohdCuFeY6KqEaeM0h_Jo0oadtnog_5BgiwYUQ-Zuw2GQUX08RBtyZ7gOigW06vwiVxbAULC-GN9WH2uaEB5ljXBvUj151o/s1600/Judd-GF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoKeS5Biujl3rlZD3Slvsj12TUe_fBW1Py52feCGCpFJMfmohdCuFeY6KqEaeM0h_Jo0oadtnog_5BgiwYUQ-Zuw2GQUX08RBtyZ7gOigW06vwiVxbAULC-GN9WH2uaEB5ljXBvUj151o/s400/Judd-GF.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Fully recovered from our water sprite misadventure, we climbed back aboard Monorail Red for the short trip to the Magic Kingdom. As luck would have it, we walked through the turnstiles and onto Main Street USA just in time for the 3:00 parade. Old Sport was beside himself with excitement to see his favorite characters up close...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73vT2cpexmBzDB25eu1w4JS1A0movFkYqbpcJIEEU3FzyHNVeK198AwCJw_kGNREFTvajDpXyYaB1PJuHy1HvluV3kR_Qg-oCdVpmFNTHKPJOlVsDvZfuDz66OCdOZqaoApZlaF9sg82a/s1600/IMG_3581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73vT2cpexmBzDB25eu1w4JS1A0movFkYqbpcJIEEU3FzyHNVeK198AwCJw_kGNREFTvajDpXyYaB1PJuHy1HvluV3kR_Qg-oCdVpmFNTHKPJOlVsDvZfuDz66OCdOZqaoApZlaF9sg82a/s400/IMG_3581.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Little did he know that we'd be visiting the man himself just a few minutes later. That is, after his dad and I found a little liquid courage at Starbucks.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Mickster said he was glad to see him - I still find the talking Mickey to be a little freaky - and he was nice enough to give Old Sport his first Disney character autograph. And with that, regardless of what else happened on this day, our trip was officially a success.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUHhQCNRvDZKo7IjsCPKmAL0ijau0e7VQ7LMr2AhR9YANCXDuy4o9McKn6OLIknVZjL_2Lo4ble_qe7dJo_8UXF5dJPVpmEvIRmpo_Wil6YnXXpB17qdzqWpxCifaVd-bDkrH6mYW7aXc/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUHhQCNRvDZKo7IjsCPKmAL0ijau0e7VQ7LMr2AhR9YANCXDuy4o9McKn6OLIknVZjL_2Lo4ble_qe7dJo_8UXF5dJPVpmEvIRmpo_Wil6YnXXpB17qdzqWpxCifaVd-bDkrH6mYW7aXc/s400/IMG_3311.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet it was far from over...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We hung out with Pooh and Tigger in the Hundred Acre Wood...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyve-6MIra1v0w7jjTNWwRjSwfzbuJmTfRngzhCAB1T36TI-OB0tBDbwVRGg0mjQU9TDRVk3tD6HJHAQDRNIU85MK0JQ8wWVE7rnbSagTC-vnhEOHr8kzvPSPcSwso6qHcJVl4YNM_Uaxc/s1600/Old-Sport-Pooh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyve-6MIra1v0w7jjTNWwRjSwfzbuJmTfRngzhCAB1T36TI-OB0tBDbwVRGg0mjQU9TDRVk3tD6HJHAQDRNIU85MK0JQ8wWVE7rnbSagTC-vnhEOHr8kzvPSPcSwso6qHcJVl4YNM_Uaxc/s400/Old-Sport-Pooh.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And took a ride on my personal favorite, the PeopleMover.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK9tcIVulmvSxJ9zDWrb2onwgTbracSxMMH5KQG0T4ScXgwu8AiKKsjNR-lc6qCGWUlKDjduloHQF6vC79ED6q9e3LMLzJ9aG-8LIt5jrzbWWMqAj-8HpbcgTRu2ExGu1GBy3-Y6rb0EC/s1600/Old-Sport-PeopleMover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuK9tcIVulmvSxJ9zDWrb2onwgTbracSxMMH5KQG0T4ScXgwu8AiKKsjNR-lc6qCGWUlKDjduloHQF6vC79ED6q9e3LMLzJ9aG-8LIt5jrzbWWMqAj-8HpbcgTRu2ExGu1GBy3-Y6rb0EC/s400/Old-Sport-PeopleMover.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">He drove his first car at the Tomorrowland Speedway...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUxnOi8KYwtEDtIizzfzJvgn71tcJZQAGiRbWzXjniiAhEJc5WKVs7eYLUlp1nphMe_O3W-SWpnCWpWAwKpIJHTCXn0GJYp-oX3_SkiCiVSlP5BSqf_nctw8lFWThybcorRAbBk-PQ92q/s1600/IMG_3374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUxnOi8KYwtEDtIizzfzJvgn71tcJZQAGiRbWzXjniiAhEJc5WKVs7eYLUlp1nphMe_O3W-SWpnCWpWAwKpIJHTCXn0GJYp-oX3_SkiCiVSlP5BSqf_nctw8lFWThybcorRAbBk-PQ92q/s400/IMG_3374.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Practiced his handstand in Fantasyland...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAYKArALBxpPYOh_0c-nlzJIygnYjRBA_pct1WHt9vOsT4FeELOn6OuKHDreu230fOOJBpBpt7Vzx1pvXSiwTEMhd-8v8tyMxL7Kit84vwoshyGwSmDMeRTcnTQ2dnBuOaMwiw7jCp0K0/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAYKArALBxpPYOh_0c-nlzJIygnYjRBA_pct1WHt9vOsT4FeELOn6OuKHDreu230fOOJBpBpt7Vzx1pvXSiwTEMhd-8v8tyMxL7Kit84vwoshyGwSmDMeRTcnTQ2dnBuOaMwiw7jCp0K0/s400/IMG_3367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And searched, unsuccessfully, for Chip & Dale in Liberty Square.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwI1lCzRZp-6RESqdbXVhCCsZNoao3ji37nxwYQDWLMkuk2GFK9N0UazhyphenhyphenZan7EX_XpwdIQbLZW6ZhZgDtX9zVxHVXidURSO2HkxuehBc5Z7tSUn16RKZ3Z3RhFbZIdnVYw3OX_ejHihf/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggwI1lCzRZp-6RESqdbXVhCCsZNoao3ji37nxwYQDWLMkuk2GFK9N0UazhyphenhyphenZan7EX_XpwdIQbLZW6ZhZgDtX9zVxHVXidURSO2HkxuehBc5Z7tSUn16RKZ3Z3RhFbZIdnVYw3OX_ejHihf/s400/IMG_3344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This trip to the Magic Kingdom taught me a very important lesson when it comes to travel with little kids.... You just never know when the best memories are going to be made. For example...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We booked Mickey's Philharmagic as a filler attraction between seeing the Mickster and the race cars. It turned out to be the highlight of my weekend. From Old Sport yelling "HEY!" at the top of his lungs when Simba came on the screen, to his proclamation at the end of "Uncle Deej...I saw Aladdin" in a tone which really said "Trust me dude, this is a big deal." I'm not sure if future visits to Philharmagic will ever be as great, but I do know I'll drag him to it until he's 37 in hopes of repeating this special time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVdKZ5sr-utRjukQ70-TPJaJw2bGofNP7nbjyIj7rNSalBpiiIyAc1gvo8ipMBAkkw1i9gtg1JUuqrBTlVJTUmL9Gfoa1jGA3tNMlQtVBW3vz0Bv84OJKBRvVJ-MMJpxLP_iJRmvDXXSe/s1600/IMG_3584+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVdKZ5sr-utRjukQ70-TPJaJw2bGofNP7nbjyIj7rNSalBpiiIyAc1gvo8ipMBAkkw1i9gtg1JUuqrBTlVJTUmL9Gfoa1jGA3tNMlQtVBW3vz0Bv84OJKBRvVJ-MMJpxLP_iJRmvDXXSe/s400/IMG_3584+%25281%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After a whirlwind 12-hour, no-nap day, we made our way back to the car. Or at least we tried to... Old Sport wasn't too keen on the idea of leaving.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHVXxtX_lwF2niUTHIKIxK45CMD0KhixcDOUks8LNlgnr-XSPFLLs2psSB3jqGSjY2gsOR4YcIdxsoMEkt8cM5QvuHUxU9lxF17eFvPW5lHJu42auERLeLRK6lXm67DU3mYeoB5xyiZ6z/s1600/IMG_3425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHVXxtX_lwF2niUTHIKIxK45CMD0KhixcDOUks8LNlgnr-XSPFLLs2psSB3jqGSjY2gsOR4YcIdxsoMEkt8cM5QvuHUxU9lxF17eFvPW5lHJu42auERLeLRK6lXm67DU3mYeoB5xyiZ6z/s400/IMG_3425.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So I did what any self-respecting uncle would do... I bribed him with french fries.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA2pvCF_XC0OkZ2IZzuC8QKepAAa8POKUKkBusm0ayE6bYt_i8pZ7Wj4TggUhtZ8mqH89tTy9yTeAxPKY-bKPA8XGWLpEtF6JPD-z3iN4zAvM9DTrSjXYHMOXmPFfF1Y_4Nb6TehP-f0R/s1600/IMG_3478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyA2pvCF_XC0OkZ2IZzuC8QKepAAa8POKUKkBusm0ayE6bYt_i8pZ7Wj4TggUhtZ8mqH89tTy9yTeAxPKY-bKPA8XGWLpEtF6JPD-z3iN4zAvM9DTrSjXYHMOXmPFfF1Y_4Nb6TehP-f0R/s400/IMG_3478.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And then the next morning we were back at it once again, beginning with my most sacred of morning routines at Disney... The stroll over to the Swan for coffee. Note: They have the best cold brew iced coffee this side of the Mason Dixon.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfkuDLLXz1mZ9fTVivxn1HJWcIyHEcn_ST4yPjIFzX1QLpiq5cQUu-F-dh1-lQ0xxMlRMPad5l7BmpqVj1QWfotMP4_757rziRDRoCb9dZlsSmL5EFshqTMM0OC9zLD8aJA8Nw7AYfvpz/s1600/IMG_3731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHfkuDLLXz1mZ9fTVivxn1HJWcIyHEcn_ST4yPjIFzX1QLpiq5cQUu-F-dh1-lQ0xxMlRMPad5l7BmpqVj1QWfotMP4_757rziRDRoCb9dZlsSmL5EFshqTMM0OC9zLD8aJA8Nw7AYfvpz/s400/IMG_3731.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Inside the Swan, we surprised Old Sport with the two words every kid loves to hear, whether 3 or 34.... Character Breakfast.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While I detest the phrase "hidden gem" the Garden Grove at the Swan is the very definition of one. Not only do they have great characters - Chip & Dale, Pluto, and Goofy - but they are first come first serve only. We walked up at 8:45am and were taken straight to a table. Try doing that at Chef Mickey's. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf9QKEgKTgOqqxg6qCiDxhku1AfBcIqE35NMAuSWp79SXPUNZHz7yY4JtT3igSChfG1chFmCkDG2wYoyFtLuElGBCxsEY_R4vFRIeFpmHw6kYayvEEUzQ3ItIt1dtryD82ZxJu4HtDHYG/s1600/IMG_3506+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf9QKEgKTgOqqxg6qCiDxhku1AfBcIqE35NMAuSWp79SXPUNZHz7yY4JtT3igSChfG1chFmCkDG2wYoyFtLuElGBCxsEY_R4vFRIeFpmHw6kYayvEEUzQ3ItIt1dtryD82ZxJu4HtDHYG/s400/IMG_3506+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, Old Sport's meal was free because, and I quote... "I don't want to eat. I just want to see my friends."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsit4Owsxatqn-XbnigVibdDqNyOAPZ-fKulcu1o7Xy-6b4-iUDljc_i8grWmsCNLo0VG8MJ-Lq6vrVqhbcPISEr1o63S9uljQR5EBgGEcbnX4YNmT_OzHx7IJ_kZCI6AkAPXGruCUJM8/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsit4Owsxatqn-XbnigVibdDqNyOAPZ-fKulcu1o7Xy-6b4-iUDljc_i8grWmsCNLo0VG8MJ-Lq6vrVqhbcPISEr1o63S9uljQR5EBgGEcbnX4YNmT_OzHx7IJ_kZCI6AkAPXGruCUJM8/s400/IMG_3579.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't really blame him. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had finally reached the dreaded part of the trip when that awful reality sets in... It was time to go home. The greatness of this "guys weekend" had been exceeded only by the number of memories my brother and I would take from it. Neither of us wanted to break the sad news to Old Sport, so we squeezed in one more stop before heading home...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOBD7mBD0KFUa8uN8CuYYyICWoof91E8jnoYC7mbQeS9xYSpOQO8tWSHA8UewdLCN04d0sIs66zMFRQsBx_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The best playground ever." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Old Sport's third birthday brings with it a looming milestone for any family as obsessed with Disney as we are... With the turn of the calendar, his days of visiting Mickey's kingdom for "free" are officially over. But as for his adventures with Uncle Deej and Mickey... Well, we're only just getting started.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Old Sport</span></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-69797785487616776812015-08-10T09:13:00.000-04:002015-08-10T09:13:42.034-04:00Exploring Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery<span style="font-size: large;">Call me weird, but I love a good cemetery. Some might say it's a rather morbid thing to enjoy - an opinion I find difficult to refute - yet there's something peaceful about strolling through the outdoors, admiring the headstones, and imagining the story behind each one. Or maybe I just find an unusual satisfaction in being reminded that I'm still on the right side of this deal known as life.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWOKgnO8qa9ECBBK2L4gnfy8MgS0ufTQ2NB1p1rizc9KdTwkE1uQd6q4BLbaLb45PL8VAw3EkEHUs8WUEQSk7DuplpJi4-BIAXELXBD2sLbU2yM5d4X8Y2P5rXCWhtFuyctXx31SjltOF/s1600/IMG_1986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWOKgnO8qa9ECBBK2L4gnfy8MgS0ufTQ2NB1p1rizc9KdTwkE1uQd6q4BLbaLb45PL8VAw3EkEHUs8WUEQSk7DuplpJi4-BIAXELXBD2sLbU2yM5d4X8Y2P5rXCWhtFuyctXx31SjltOF/s400/IMG_1986.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the years, MJ and I have paid a visit to numerous cemeteries during our travels, and each has proven to be one of the lasting memories of the trip and unique in their own way. Arlington is solemn, Bonaventure in Savannah is spooky and Pere Lachaise in Paris is grand. Then there's Key West, where personal ties give a different feeling altogether, thanks to the 7 generations of my family stacked in gleaming white boxes.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After years of making an annual trip to Atlanta, we finally put historic Oakland Cemetery on our itinerary. The main objective was to pay tribute to the great Bobby Jones, but what we found at Oakland was far more than a shrine for lovers of the Royal & Ancient game.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have a standing rule on our trips to Atlanta: Once the car is parked at the hotel, it doesn't move until it's time to go home. We rely on MARTA for getting around the city because, quite frankly, the last thing Atlanta needs is another tourist on its congested roads. For those that share my disdain of Atlanta traffic, the entrance to Oakland Cemetery is located about a 5-10 minute walk from the King Memorial MARTA station. Is it a safe walk? Sure...but as one should always do when walking a metropolitan area, be aware and walk with a purpose.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe6L76cC_2eNecguNRRHK7IXup8aCOdu4SIjhPwk24ZZ4ZeXOieNWVYnkR6L8XVoKGS82Pp9cSCcNIhKH8uNckFbRQ3NNNP-C8wkNp5sM91febDUrNexh1836C3jUL2YEfrkH6vZJR97x/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAe6L76cC_2eNecguNRRHK7IXup8aCOdu4SIjhPwk24ZZ4ZeXOieNWVYnkR6L8XVoKGS82Pp9cSCcNIhKH8uNckFbRQ3NNNP-C8wkNp5sM91febDUrNexh1836C3jUL2YEfrkH6vZJR97x/s400/IMG_1988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A soft rain greeted us at the gates to Oakland Cemetery, which seemed like appropriate conditions for exploring a historic burial ground. I had read somewhere that anyone who was anyone in Atlanta is buried in Oakland Cemetery, and the panorama of beautiful memorials that greeted us made that abundantly clear. In total, 27 former mayors of the city, 6 former governors of Georgia, countless other political and civic luminaries, and one champion golfer are laid to rest in Oakland.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7CmsIXRVV-M-TucgCCJA9SHQ9RQKrAb3nqkZOBhz5v961ApkzqaJd5cqifJjUPfyiHOn_5AfDBW5QcqrsEdmQ944gzOUeJ5F2nPAVIlMk-qkn20FsFY5JRQUta_CetDokCiAcRhYd9yq/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7CmsIXRVV-M-TucgCCJA9SHQ9RQKrAb3nqkZOBhz5v961ApkzqaJd5cqifJjUPfyiHOn_5AfDBW5QcqrsEdmQ944gzOUeJ5F2nPAVIlMk-qkn20FsFY5JRQUta_CetDokCiAcRhYd9yq/s400/IMG_2589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was easy to see why so many chose Oakland Cemetery, which was established in 1850, as their final resting place. The cemetery largely occupies high ground that overlooks Atlanta's downtown area, although I'm sure the view was slightly different 165 years ago.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOu9R0aE8E3erfhe5BHv-EiWTlrL7I_BXzorb2j0Mrgg2XUc2_RxRgQGazSpjpKsH19lDMK0vvXNw8R47KzkjBZD0BKd6qQIkuBj92yr5SWDu9epiH6oG09n4-DetQl-xL5_d8cbxLhYHw/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOu9R0aE8E3erfhe5BHv-EiWTlrL7I_BXzorb2j0Mrgg2XUc2_RxRgQGazSpjpKsH19lDMK0vvXNw8R47KzkjBZD0BKd6qQIkuBj92yr5SWDu9epiH6oG09n4-DetQl-xL5_d8cbxLhYHw/s400/IMG_2588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As we strolled down hill and toward the east, the ornate family plots soon gave way to simple white stones arranged in straight lines. It's the type of stone you might see at Arlington or on the shores of Normandy, except these markers weren't engraved with their branch of service and conflict served, but instead with the simple designation "C.S.A."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v0n5oABXcpeSAonYyJjuBSmYwhkrEjKw2b_PlKymrLDsWxfvwbESaqBw_Sbh1aLOn8kKWfIKjLk1o3dnlaun0nmJuKpk_o3gmz5s4ijHwicRLpjlX9B-kdwTZ1XFxbXMxfEF4Uu_mFB7/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v0n5oABXcpeSAonYyJjuBSmYwhkrEjKw2b_PlKymrLDsWxfvwbESaqBw_Sbh1aLOn8kKWfIKjLk1o3dnlaun0nmJuKpk_o3gmz5s4ijHwicRLpjlX9B-kdwTZ1XFxbXMxfEF4Uu_mFB7/s400/IMG_1989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Although I've lived my entire life in the South and it comprises a great deal of my family heritage - specifically the Atlanta area - the only part of me that identifies as a Southerner is my stomach. The men who served the Confederacy and where they were laid to rest is one notion that, quite frankly, I had never once considered. And yet, standing face to face with thousands of headstones, with still 3000 more beneath an Unknown Soldier memorial, I was faced with a conflicting and uneasy reality...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The chances were quite high that some of my ancestors were amongst these stones, having perished not in the pursuit or protection of Liberty, but in defense of the indefensible.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgciRYWYM_7QJkf5EEklH3XuSHe-XxkFsq2kGvNyNA1vdAJOdX6hawQCbehiHAbZCGVNVGsAzXCzKN83ZzmBMpKuyPjRjQUZLOlRGf14aaS2okUH5q3QGv4Kh3w8Y-I7D2A7g1zvJZUtxl/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgciRYWYM_7QJkf5EEklH3XuSHe-XxkFsq2kGvNyNA1vdAJOdX6hawQCbehiHAbZCGVNVGsAzXCzKN83ZzmBMpKuyPjRjQUZLOlRGf14aaS2okUH5q3QGv4Kh3w8Y-I7D2A7g1zvJZUtxl/s400/IMG_2587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reconciling those feelings would have to wait for another day. As the rain continued to fall, we turned back up the hill in search of the one headstone that had brought us to Oakland in the first place. Walking parallel to Memorial Drive, a small sign that simply said "Bobby Jones" pointed us toward the brick wall that forms the cemetery's southern boundary. There were still countless stones in that general direction, but finding this one was no trouble at all...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqxGG3KTDfp0ZD9zPunGP34gl3va8TTEGyRvzXxf1ltLZyYIfD1QEH7k4_6tcLPrmXHo-0DRJm8FPtxbb826xpRe8qR2uqW7ppIR9iRg5y34oE1KtBYbYJbc4pV1xDuKJomEvFI4pyF7W/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqxGG3KTDfp0ZD9zPunGP34gl3va8TTEGyRvzXxf1ltLZyYIfD1QEH7k4_6tcLPrmXHo-0DRJm8FPtxbb826xpRe8qR2uqW7ppIR9iRg5y34oE1KtBYbYJbc4pV1xDuKJomEvFI4pyF7W/s400/IMG_1999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I also brought a brand new Titleist ProV1, in hopes that the offering would bring me some future positive intervention from the Golf Gods on the course. It was surprising that in a cemetery filled with so many grand memorials, the man who gave us Augusta National was found beneath such an unassuming marker. Then again, Mr. Jones would likely have found anything more to be ostentatious and ungentlemanly.<br /><br />After a quick word of thanks to Mr. Jones, we made our way to the exit and the next stop on our itinerary...lunch. On Memorial Drive, a 3/4 sand wedge from the grave of Bobby Jones one will find the appropriately named Six Feet Under. It's likely you'll work up quite an appetite walking the cemetery, and this is just the place to satisfy it. Fried green tomatoes, collard greens, hush puppies, and an array of seafood that made ordering nearly impossible. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz8THQqgnMS4VT-gfzr_Y0KU6tyNklQKGSPJ21W4aWHq0PaoRjPhRzWKGoQaWa0S6lOCasoNWGKfpy9O9YAITmt3Mvzg9l95XGResomwWFXHia-5DpIRkqSxjEb7mzRzNUJ9XcEo1CBZt/s1600/IMG_2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifz8THQqgnMS4VT-gfzr_Y0KU6tyNklQKGSPJ21W4aWHq0PaoRjPhRzWKGoQaWa0S6lOCasoNWGKfpy9O9YAITmt3Mvzg9l95XGResomwWFXHia-5DpIRkqSxjEb7mzRzNUJ9XcEo1CBZt/s400/IMG_2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you happen to find yourself in Atlanta and share my strange enjoyment of walking cemeteries, then a visit to Oakland is well worth the trip. It pairs nicely with the Martin Luther King Memorial, and makes for an enjoyable afternoon in the outdoors...something that's in short supply in Atlanta's concrete jungle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-41198826674698944212015-07-19T16:13:00.000-04:002018-12-24T17:11:08.346-05:00Trader Sam's at Disney's Polynesian Resort<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last two years, Disney's Polynesian Village has undergone an extensive renovation which basically stripped away most of the unique theming that made the resort great. In the early days, when you walked into the Polynesian resort, it didn't just look, smell, and sound like a lush tropical resort...it felt that way too. Sadly, this key component to theming, and that which has always set Disney apart, seems to have been forgotten by the folks in Imagineering and the Polynesian is their latest victim. Yet in total contrast to this dumbing down of the Polynesian's design is <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/polynesian-resort/trader-sams-grog-grotto/" target="_blank">Trader Sam's</a> - the most brilliantly themed space to open at Walt Disney World in at least two decades.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6x-IFUw7VUtitSD4xRymWYvjAj4qCXiah1nxcqIi8RATweBGZ9aOdNtsIuiWaFJhCQSG86BbUDN6kBDG3nUp8gQF6RCfQjOgGusHqqWB4X7Dq32UDLj-zg4wAVX4yX6yXwFHs1FUbNFB/s1600/IMG_1794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS6x-IFUw7VUtitSD4xRymWYvjAj4qCXiah1nxcqIi8RATweBGZ9aOdNtsIuiWaFJhCQSG86BbUDN6kBDG3nUp8gQF6RCfQjOgGusHqqWB4X7Dq32UDLj-zg4wAVX4yX6yXwFHs1FUbNFB/s400/IMG_1794.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Arriving to Trader Sam's, it's pretty hard to escape the feeling that this is no ordinary watering hole. The nondescript front door was so much so that we literally walked by it twice not realizing it was the main entrance. I mean, sure there's a little sign that says Trader Sam's, but it looks more like a side exit or something. Once the door was open, however, the chorus of Alohas made it clear we were in the right place...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We had heard about horrendous, multi-hour wait times to get in when Trader Sam's opened - the venue is quite small and only holds about 50 people - so we made sure to get there early. Checking-in with the host, we were told it would be about a 30 minute wait. A true testament to the popularity of Trader Sam's, given it was 5pm on a Thursday.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0PWB__GqH2_fw6gjc3zRbLcaHRe_j638goE1hlxuAQgZ9ujdwwjaokbl48W5wzyMfNdD4cXLrnZixqGcrd25nSDrZtK7pnG5AJm3hFDEULWZmceW4hnJ3fK35dZ5YDlmomCwe4ecsREp/s1600/IMG_1825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0PWB__GqH2_fw6gjc3zRbLcaHRe_j638goE1hlxuAQgZ9ujdwwjaokbl48W5wzyMfNdD4cXLrnZixqGcrd25nSDrZtK7pnG5AJm3hFDEULWZmceW4hnJ3fK35dZ5YDlmomCwe4ecsREp/s400/IMG_1825.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After stalking the front door as folks were leaving, our buzzer signaled it was time for our adventure to begin...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's important to know going in to Trader Sam's that it's different... very different. For starters, your buzzer going off doesn't mean there's a table or assigned chairs waiting for you. You may walk in to find an open table or two seats together at the bar... Or you may come in and find the only two open chairs are at a four-top table, where another couple is already sitting. Just go with the flow and ask to join them...chances are they had to do the same earlier.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89Fe8E83qG4poPoDEivd7ut5mXCD1JW-M8YDJuDQLcvK7QbNTmYGKAf5Qg5PlH1WfCZJBXk94WNBnDSbXbQCAA6T3HLWWpuqf043bNIUOUg2paF8fzAD2RjOvrDVqh8nzCBgRUmoLYw45/s1600/IMG_1817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89Fe8E83qG4poPoDEivd7ut5mXCD1JW-M8YDJuDQLcvK7QbNTmYGKAf5Qg5PlH1WfCZJBXk94WNBnDSbXbQCAA6T3HLWWpuqf043bNIUOUg2paF8fzAD2RjOvrDVqh8nzCBgRUmoLYw45/s400/IMG_1817.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once settled, get prepared to be slapped in the face by your surroundings. The mish-mash of kitcsh on the walls might first seem like Ruby Tuesday's gone terribly wrong, but that's when it's important to know the story of Trader Sam himself...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS0nkS0cbqcGNf6kBoLfz8S68TcsvLbj7ksAoWX6JuSPkqBHaj_IN-OaYyi13xHtrfZ9ah6XvPzRftJusp8FjbLjnBF_zbgJTlb_Qwtl0c1HNzpMDOwOPf3bK_I3wiHhbGPxNGuXvwvbv/s1600/IMG_2248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLS0nkS0cbqcGNf6kBoLfz8S68TcsvLbj7ksAoWX6JuSPkqBHaj_IN-OaYyi13xHtrfZ9ah6XvPzRftJusp8FjbLjnBF_zbgJTlb_Qwtl0c1HNzpMDOwOPf3bK_I3wiHhbGPxNGuXvwvbv/s400/IMG_2248.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In a nutshell, Trader Sam from the Jungle Cruise opened a bar...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout his travels in search of the finest, most exotic ingredients for his beverages, he collected a few trinkets along the way, which ties together the seemingly random decor.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFE_c0OW4_iixul1D70Bpnq7ZAiuQdwQ7APDxTWd9eKXWm3GD7G6JBKIsqc6b4has9aer4rz5S_JeE58RkidzEC3ynrBt9g2hGLtmNPypgiJ8-aKLZ_xg_TAeiDRKtJUxQYPfoc1QUrfO/s1600/IMG_1806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJFE_c0OW4_iixul1D70Bpnq7ZAiuQdwQ7APDxTWd9eKXWm3GD7G6JBKIsqc6b4has9aer4rz5S_JeE58RkidzEC3ynrBt9g2hGLtmNPypgiJ8-aKLZ_xg_TAeiDRKtJUxQYPfoc1QUrfO/s400/IMG_1806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After soaking in the surroundings for a few minutes, we ordered an "Uh-Oh-Ah" and a round of the Chicken & Pork Sliders. When the Uh-Oh-Ah arrived, the lights in Trader Sam's dimmed and then turned a frightening shade of blue. The Tiki God on the ceiling was angry, and shot her piercing stare our direction. Thankfully, no one crossed paths with her paralyzing gaze. We chanted "Uh-Oh-Ah..Uh-Oh-Ah" and tossed our tributes into our flaming drink, which seemed to ease her fury...for now.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0On5Eyb6VjJ2BrSlcMXUAqT3J4lwrO0pbc5QGYs2FQID98G6wMW9enLrBUZzxd9PZ0lYT1k9v4KaowNTGN7GKYospyQ4RbAR9QyTgaGPkmEvfZPuJzaI-yqbkLnioVlaiEhiYXjDAXR_/s1600/IMG_1816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0On5Eyb6VjJ2BrSlcMXUAqT3J4lwrO0pbc5QGYs2FQID98G6wMW9enLrBUZzxd9PZ0lYT1k9v4KaowNTGN7GKYospyQ4RbAR9QyTgaGPkmEvfZPuJzaI-yqbkLnioVlaiEhiYXjDAXR_/s400/IMG_1816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Uh-Oh-Ah.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtrduFjwt5mbOPaM4i6AKT6mbTOJigX-apR9hkNyZDSq5W3mpo9N7ToKT9Ylm2-fk4wFA-D1ZfwktBo2kCDeHqWi_WXsvyxmd_MWYYr0PdX67XI9Hqhkm203SST9agb7ydERH5ykLznuh/s1600/trader-sams-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOtrduFjwt5mbOPaM4i6AKT6mbTOJigX-apR9hkNyZDSq5W3mpo9N7ToKT9Ylm2-fk4wFA-D1ZfwktBo2kCDeHqWi_WXsvyxmd_MWYYr0PdX67XI9Hqhkm203SST9agb7ydERH5ykLznuh/s400/trader-sams-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MJ was eventually caught in her gaze.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few more drinks came out for other tables... The "Volcano" brought an eruption from not just one, but two flaming peaks on each side of Trader Sam's, prompting the cast to ask a very good question... "Who builds a bar between two volcanoes?"</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRTqAU4DwCTYBUkfyZB31ZG92fof9MeG8MXQCltUb5MzrceMhH7Nph7358sNqTtnKLfJwyG6hUTSu-4CPqtVZiaMrn1Mg9j6LDzKw76xBDDq6E6W8xFd1YZEPAhtXx9TnOg4TuOIHmogn/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRTqAU4DwCTYBUkfyZB31ZG92fof9MeG8MXQCltUb5MzrceMhH7Nph7358sNqTtnKLfJwyG6hUTSu-4CPqtVZiaMrn1Mg9j6LDzKw76xBDDq6E6W8xFd1YZEPAhtXx9TnOg4TuOIHmogn/s400/IMG_1833.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The erupting volcano outside our "window."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, there was a volcano bubbling over in my mouth. The sliders were quite tasty, but one in the middle had a tiny little red pepper that I didn't see when I chomped into it. I spent the next 15 minutes in agony...This was the single hottest thing I had ever eaten, and I thought passing out was a real possibility. Think I'm exaggerating? I probably am...but try it and see for yourself...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/trader-sams-tiki-terrace-roasted-chicken-and-pork-pate-banh-mi-sliders-1-600x498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/trader-sams-tiki-terrace-roasted-chicken-and-pork-pate-banh-mi-sliders-1-600x498.jpg" height="331" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friends at the <a href="http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/trader-sams-tiki-terrace-roasted-chicken-and-pork-pate-banh-mi-sliders-1-600x498.jpg" target="_blank">Disney Food Blog</a> capture the little red devil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But like any great theme, the feeling that one gets while visiting Trader Sam's comes first and foremost from the cast members. They buy in 100% to their "show" and it sets Trader Sam's apart from every other bar at Disney. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuIUEcloVbypNZPztQWM2mM7VDKdw5Wb8IIEDxWvkTNk-JVIF3U50_RGpwQzBC09EZnj6ErwqzK2v5d-rNZSApcFVjfWlLACYNIEn8IoO8jvikjP7I-H7umUxmtNk03_0OmTCXbzizlBf/s1600/IMG_2249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuIUEcloVbypNZPztQWM2mM7VDKdw5Wb8IIEDxWvkTNk-JVIF3U50_RGpwQzBC09EZnj6ErwqzK2v5d-rNZSApcFVjfWlLACYNIEn8IoO8jvikjP7I-H7umUxmtNk03_0OmTCXbzizlBf/s400/IMG_2249.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The East Coast Branch of the Family Tree. <br />
The West Coast branch resides at the Disneyland Hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Then again, to call it a bar isn't really a fair description... A visit to Trader Sam's really is an adventure. It's a journey to tropical paradise, built by a man of some questionable sanity, where they serve anything but your run of the mill pina colada. Most importantly, however...Trader Sam's embodies something that used to be Disney's trademark, yet today is a rare commodity...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Theming at its finest.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-54780173335535909412015-07-07T09:47:00.000-04:002015-07-07T09:47:18.030-04:00Hike to Mount Liamuiga - No Ordinary Shore Excursion<i><span style="font-size: large;">"An incredibly grueling hike up Mount Liamuiga - an ancient volcano formerly known as Mount Misery - that will at times make you question both your sanity and ability to survive, while rewarding those who muster the will to continue on with an unmatched sense of satisfaction. $99."</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That's what the description for our shore excursion on St. Kitts should have read. Instead, the relatively tame synopsis on Royal Caribbean's website sold a day filled with picturesque views and lush tropical surroundings. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0f9rp2F3_zjQ8wOk_cS14EQp2RqV82n-QfUyOeozr5Ned7iNbFCXEDsf3mho3QTxDf2Mn-IleapPwbkKddZSx_PecgmhfNJ7HEKg-Jm3m2RrvtlkBuLpK8ozZ4oHMFwG8T5-aI1sdTHp/s1600/IMG_1500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mount Liamuiga Hike" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0f9rp2F3_zjQ8wOk_cS14EQp2RqV82n-QfUyOeozr5Ned7iNbFCXEDsf3mho3QTxDf2Mn-IleapPwbkKddZSx_PecgmhfNJ7HEKg-Jm3m2RrvtlkBuLpK8ozZ4oHMFwG8T5-aI1sdTHp/s400/IMG_1500.JPG" title="Mount Liamuiga Hike" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looks rather kind from afar...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Well, I suppose that was technically true...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, we did a bit of outside research before booking <a href="http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=KT63&DestinationCode=" target="_blank">the Mount Liamuiga shore excursion</a>, rather than attempting to read between the lines of Royal Caribbean's selling points. It was clear this wasn't your run of the mill "beach break" or "best of" tours that are rampant throughout the Caribbean, and that I avoid like Justin Beiber on Pandora. But even with our research, MJ and I couldn't have imagined just what we were getting into.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The adventure started with what Royal Caribbean described as a ride in "off road vehicles to the base of the volcano." Or put another way... a 30 minute drag race in what can only be described as a "tin can of death" to the other side of the island. We hurtled through the narrow, winding streets of St. Kitts at speeds of 40-50 mph, with our driver dodging cars, pedestrians, and the occasional livestock, while the rest of us held on for dear life. I was convinced at multiple times throughout the journey that my time on this planet was going to come to an end on St. Kitts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was far from the last time that thought would cross my mind.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONuM20TRoQwMyFCSyM_PXE71hYXpzQmKo_45igt8HKxifIhZ0NtDD_vOzbL4-z6z1qfTOvkri1TjcnL54j3GZNuW7Dkb5h5bILWSoV3g8WtJgrhIIknzX1i2-PI5-LNizKqrwtAPz38Ug/s1600/truck-taxi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONuM20TRoQwMyFCSyM_PXE71hYXpzQmKo_45igt8HKxifIhZ0NtDD_vOzbL4-z6z1qfTOvkri1TjcnL54j3GZNuW7Dkb5h5bILWSoV3g8WtJgrhIIknzX1i2-PI5-LNizKqrwtAPz38Ug/s400/truck-taxi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paint this brown and you get the idea...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The insanely reckless driving ended on a dirt road that offered the first of those "inspiring panoramas" we were promised in the excursion info. The view of tiny Sint Eustatius in the distance as we tumbled through farmland and brush taller than the vehicle was certainly a calming sight after our harrowing adventure across the island. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb6nctYpfO6HGl3Ex9BA_EuaOei2r9shW2cBe67I9dO0mCE_ardN0gSWDS-JtHM1K9vr71G9UOO5Mqve7D4DjpXoEUqfVnqamXBTvSnsOAwT4FVDE7p0UVtDRkAWHpu7pySo6hE3OgCbM/s1600/IMG_1440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mount Liamuiga Hike" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheb6nctYpfO6HGl3Ex9BA_EuaOei2r9shW2cBe67I9dO0mCE_ardN0gSWDS-JtHM1K9vr71G9UOO5Mqve7D4DjpXoEUqfVnqamXBTvSnsOAwT4FVDE7p0UVtDRkAWHpu7pySo6hE3OgCbM/s400/IMG_1440.JPG" title="Mount Liamuiga Hike" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smile masks the terror within.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At last, we'd arrived at the equivalent of base camp for Mount Liamuiga. There we were given a bottle of water, a walking stick, and a safety briefing that basically amounted to "don't get hurt, mahn."</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tf8b9UG4J5g8YGGeMntsbPvuqPn3JlTTX6GEGIhS1xzsEKCzzQGwuxwwrDBXECsPR-qjHDaT8Bep35Gw0n8kulI1dWEwneyh_Cf5hoAEK07C8pOQ6tm0q6nJlTAHrtYbmwvKjd2wp3iB/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tf8b9UG4J5g8YGGeMntsbPvuqPn3JlTTX6GEGIhS1xzsEKCzzQGwuxwwrDBXECsPR-qjHDaT8Bep35Gw0n8kulI1dWEwneyh_Cf5hoAEK07C8pOQ6tm0q6nJlTAHrtYbmwvKjd2wp3iB/s400/IMG_1442.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view out the back of the tin can of death.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We set off into the forest at a brisk pace, over terrain that was a little milder than I had read on previous reviews. I started to relax a little as the fears which those reviews had stirred were dismissed as over-exaggerations. Surely we'd be just fine if it continued like this...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The guides pressed further and further up the trail, describing the trek as "a walk in the park," while those of us behind grew desperate for a break with each passing minute. Finally, we reached the first of our six promised stopping points and caught our collective breath. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMZjluAkWeVXymefOb205L9xkusGycjQ_9Go844_9QgAk1fLaoM-kTtKCmmdTMEgfnDNBwB5gMilESKQMWMA8ZiUxOc47-tO73q1YavnGEe4VMI5RgIaX-yeMAnvah90Nr7U9peMkI26G/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMZjluAkWeVXymefOb205L9xkusGycjQ_9Go844_9QgAk1fLaoM-kTtKCmmdTMEgfnDNBwB5gMilESKQMWMA8ZiUxOc47-tO73q1YavnGEe4VMI5RgIaX-yeMAnvah90Nr7U9peMkI26G/s400/IMG_1451.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large mango tree. I was tempted to pull the vines and eat whatever fell.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Looking around at our group, there wasn't a single one of the 25 hikers that wasn't already gassed. A few used the opportunity to turn back. I attempted to boost everyone's spirits by pointing out that we were now 1/3 of the way up...just 2/3 left to go. Only my attempt at positive reinforcement completely backfired...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"No mahn, it's 6 stops heading up and no stops coming back down. Not 3 and 3."</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI_4AQyW_H4w5P8GH33_DzlJpkYheOgBp53BXD6YxyA4xdaSQlQw8b9h7JeHBZIC1_gGVt4nnLhNkUfJDqv6kwZ-hhLlJj5EY-YFxGrYNnY5N7z-1UqCJfqV6-P87LvDRBedtvgqUORma/s1600/IMG_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMI_4AQyW_H4w5P8GH33_DzlJpkYheOgBp53BXD6YxyA4xdaSQlQw8b9h7JeHBZIC1_gGVt4nnLhNkUfJDqv6kwZ-hhLlJj5EY-YFxGrYNnY5N7z-1UqCJfqV6-P87LvDRBedtvgqUORma/s400/IMG_1450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide going on about the monkey population of the rainforest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My heart sank and I held back a full blown panic. If I was already this exhausted, how on earth was I supposed to get through five more segments? I could wrap my head around two, but five more just to reach the top and then having to come back down - with no breaks - was more than both my mind and body could process. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet, we pressed on...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">From this point forward, the terrain grew more treacherous. I began to understand why our guide referred to the opening as "a walk in the park" - by comparison to this, it really was...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgzfjxSP_3JyRRzeQTiR_3JxpjGdBYzT896CWrejDnmlcXujc1tgau1TVW-ma0s6EV-bG17eDnESjXdaT4bnQ6LELyCNAgvjtXK_UC5jKOum9ihsxc-j4JURsI5wuJ3wu-Mo38jeXs6PM/s1600/IMG_1454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mount Liamuiga Hike" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgzfjxSP_3JyRRzeQTiR_3JxpjGdBYzT896CWrejDnmlcXujc1tgau1TVW-ma0s6EV-bG17eDnESjXdaT4bnQ6LELyCNAgvjtXK_UC5jKOum9ihsxc-j4JURsI5wuJ3wu-Mo38jeXs6PM/s400/IMG_1454.JPG" title="Mount Liamuiga Hike" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The climb was so steep in places, I was presented with another problem. Our tickets for the excursion instructed us to wear long pants. The only ones I had packed for the cruise was a pair of jeans. Attempting to step up 3 and 4 feet at a time is no easy task in denim, which lead me to strongly consider asking for the guide's pocketknife so I could cut them into shorts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">By the time our 5th stop arrived, I had crossed over into a state of delirium. While I did my best to stay hydrated, my body desperately craved some sort of nourishment. When our guides pulled out a jug of fresh fruit juice, I made my way to the front of the line like Costanza in a fire at a child's birthday party. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At long last, we reached the top and soaked in the view of the ancient volcano. The peak was much smaller than I'd imagined - roughly 3x3 square - which meant our group had to take turns enjoying the view. Still, the panorama was worth every bit of the effort to get there, though that feeling of satisfaction was short lived. After just 5 minutes at the top and roughly 90 seconds eying the view, it was time to begin the trek back down.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKp72Q_9XFICaleUBuwVxJLTSOr1agO0VmOD1Lz9yZKGc9_IJh2zdjLMpghfIjDND61IDyEKXuHYQfBi8JgoMbQ9cDYC7WGHfuPqxIcuOOPAtl7ItwOaHbXgYRQ86zQhqTqvYJVODqzoP/s1600/IMG_1467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKp72Q_9XFICaleUBuwVxJLTSOr1agO0VmOD1Lz9yZKGc9_IJh2zdjLMpghfIjDND61IDyEKXuHYQfBi8JgoMbQ9cDYC7WGHfuPqxIcuOOPAtl7ItwOaHbXgYRQ86zQhqTqvYJVODqzoP/s400/IMG_1467.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just then, the rainforest lived up to its name...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">At some point along the way up, I commented to MJ that surely there must be another trail that would lead us back down the mountain. There was simply no way that a path this formidable could be safely traveled going down, especially now that it was raining.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">To my disbelief, we started right back down the same way we came. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAtCfOAUAwr0PSxC66M_6xlKagkmVAqgjSll-sZLIQ0biUHqzWFz9i6K1hcLPeMUfzTet1ocL6FFSMpDepSu01232XEH3BTMuuEpohlFA8wefucAjQDePiPKvH0SCwQdfhyxB6mO8b1nO/s1600/IMG_1495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAtCfOAUAwr0PSxC66M_6xlKagkmVAqgjSll-sZLIQ0biUHqzWFz9i6K1hcLPeMUfzTet1ocL6FFSMpDepSu01232XEH3BTMuuEpohlFA8wefucAjQDePiPKvH0SCwQdfhyxB6mO8b1nO/s400/IMG_1495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All of those steep steps up and uneasy climbs over roots and boulders were now appearing in reverse, and so too were the muscles being used in the process. My legs turned to rubber, and I was soon transformed into a walking zombie. At more than one point, I wanted to cry. A few in our group just let those tears flow..</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The hike down was supposed to take half as long and be half as difficult. Great in theory, not so much in reality. The fact is the hike down is every bit as hard, if not harder, as the hike up. And while it may have taken a little less in the time department, by the time the final 1/3 of the hike rolls around the minutes start to feel like hours. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, the "base camp" came into view and just a few short steps separated us from what felt like the promised land. A tomato and lettuce sandwich never tasted so good...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qV0Hdl_XT6RChhbceEwEA9Yqqxf9W32HNCdxn04KXxWYjTrQagcfjzZGfcI_ebFzfyUXebHseFIrxq4t0n4oBub3WHiRwyjgFzaURPCizWZWX43y8VuUKVDGP0F2TjOYBgei2XGgP7bh/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qV0Hdl_XT6RChhbceEwEA9Yqqxf9W32HNCdxn04KXxWYjTrQagcfjzZGfcI_ebFzfyUXebHseFIrxq4t0n4oBub3WHiRwyjgFzaURPCizWZWX43y8VuUKVDGP0F2TjOYBgei2XGgP7bh/s400/IMG_1508.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peace Out, Mount Liamuiga. See you... Never.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was without a doubt the most physically demanding thing I've ever done, and may ever do again. The urge to throw in the towel during the hike was overwhelming, but the sense of satisfaction that set in once it was over more than offset the pain. Well, at least the mental pain...I'm still not sure I've recovered from the physical kind. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you choose to take on the Mount Liamuiga hike, heed these warnings...</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Take a small pack with water, juice/gatorade, Snickers or other high protein snacks. Aside from the one tiny cup of juice and a piece of fruit bread, there is nothing provided until the hike is over. We took 4 bottles of water, and it wasn't enough. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Know your limits and remember that ever step in is a step you'll have to take back out.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Wear lightweight pants. These come in handy on the hike down, where you're all but guaranteed to suffer some sort of scrape, etc. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Take a walking stick. A few in our group didn't take the guide's advice in this department and regretted it. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Block the thought of "what happens if I get hurt" out of your mind. The hike is hard enough without the paralyzing element of fear. Save this for when it's all over, when the question will likely turn to "What on earth was I thinking?"</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-26712266869619147632015-06-17T17:04:00.003-04:002015-06-17T17:04:30.486-04:00A Pre-Cruise Stay at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66<span style="font-size: large;">Great value, close proximity to the port, and a vibe that says "I'm on vacation." These are the prerequisites for my ideal pre-cruise hotel. Fort Lauderdale presents no shortage of options that meet this criteria, which usually poses a considerable challenge to my indecisive nature. That is unless you're the closest hotel to Port Everglades offering a rate considerably less than competition, just as we found at the <a href="http://pier66.hyatt.com/" target="_blank">Hyatt Regency Pier 66</a>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW0KaBFjoo2FLuOWqbqo_RdENUSaPv6oXyA-YkfPdATsQvR3PEYQtNafQ10orvNaU4Egw4mdEGo1ObdTu7aZF9dedscbKb-KLDjLphBlq5m1XmxV5Numxr_Jr_uls5QwjxIdGodH6E-oS/s1600/IMG_1257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBW0KaBFjoo2FLuOWqbqo_RdENUSaPv6oXyA-YkfPdATsQvR3PEYQtNafQ10orvNaU4Egw4mdEGo1ObdTu7aZF9dedscbKb-KLDjLphBlq5m1XmxV5Numxr_Jr_uls5QwjxIdGodH6E-oS/s400/IMG_1257.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My first impression of the Hyatt Pier 66 was that it's an older resort held together by the hotel equivalent of cosmetic surgery. While the guys from "Botched" couldn't help this hotel's exterior, which sticks out like a sore thumb against the backdrop of Fort Lauderdale beach, the sleek furnishings and pulsating music in the lobby did their best to give a facelift to this socialite just a few years past her prime. Besides the superficial challenges in appearance, the rickety elevator rides were also constant reminder that this gal has some serious osteoporosis.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQUs7BundmZnpm_aH5-jqfL3o9FD-fuoFJUna8XdkNODS4cUJaHeY4MBtI2KAZSx-aL0c24U52VtLZt-Ps82C-YbQrIgUnn_4MP_TvuOHc_N4bkWEo6b2TZGk0u3zE2427HuKgmMTjRmU/s1600/IMG_1169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQUs7BundmZnpm_aH5-jqfL3o9FD-fuoFJUna8XdkNODS4cUJaHeY4MBtI2KAZSx-aL0c24U52VtLZt-Ps82C-YbQrIgUnn_4MP_TvuOHc_N4bkWEo6b2TZGk0u3zE2427HuKgmMTjRmU/s400/IMG_1169.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby Bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In complete contrast to the Hyatt's somewhat dated feel, the hotel is literally surrounded by some of the most incredible yachts I've ever seen. For anyone that enjoys being by the water and watching the coming and going of boats (which I do), a tower room with a balcony overlooking the pier is about as good as it gets. Thankfully, that's exactly what we landed.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDd0KcRXsDZV4xJznVEMQEgEAjOsT5F92WgGvqBWbVrzBaukDLsec5fLb_1mf5azE4YI7eFhVMKG-5m3lrsMUxWrjmGy6steAaJLcmkoiYaOrxPhuGqYlMP_vr7x-vdaFpeoWH_JTW6A6/s1600/IMG_1109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDd0KcRXsDZV4xJznVEMQEgEAjOsT5F92WgGvqBWbVrzBaukDLsec5fLb_1mf5azE4YI7eFhVMKG-5m3lrsMUxWrjmGy6steAaJLcmkoiYaOrxPhuGqYlMP_vr7x-vdaFpeoWH_JTW6A6/s400/IMG_1109.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks can be deceiving.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Like the rest of the hotel, the room was a mix of 1974 and 2015. The bed would easily rank in the top-5 worst I've experienced in a hotel, and the lounge chair was best designed for almost anything but sitting. But the view? Well that managed to overcompensate for every other shortcoming this hotel could toss my way. From Port Everglades on the left, to the ocean on the right, with the pier and downtown Fort Lauderdale in-between, the Hyatt could have charged a $25 resort fee simply for the view and I wouldn't have cared. Well, I detest resort fees so that's not entirely true, but you get the drift.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxcNOFAKu12g_sWh5PSkX8_dZNRY2o8wsSFIhG7ObkktlgKgCRmEMcKWRGOnWKtbHyDn-H_K53Sfy0KpWGhzVCtVM6-Kd9YXhchJosp4mpaq8oIBXpiiAFinmCFB1Fsbw5ZxmciimRex6/s1600/IMG_1116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxcNOFAKu12g_sWh5PSkX8_dZNRY2o8wsSFIhG7ObkktlgKgCRmEMcKWRGOnWKtbHyDn-H_K53Sfy0KpWGhzVCtVM6-Kd9YXhchJosp4mpaq8oIBXpiiAFinmCFB1Fsbw5ZxmciimRex6/s640/IMG_1116.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The awesome balcony. Fair warning: Keep your curtains shut. That fence is all that separates the two rooms. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After watching American Pharoah win the Triple Crown - from our room, because no one seemed to care in the bar - we strolled out to the end of the pier for dinner and cocktails at Pelican Landing. This is the more casual of the two dining options at the Hyatt, with Grille 66 being the hotel's upscale, yet seemingly less popular, eatery. The outside deck at Pelican's offered a sublime view of the sunset, that was nearly equaled in greatness by their conch fritters and fish tacos.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVmJm9eB5oKUWI4Bzg1NzLQz5ts7DGIt0YCnOzU4ufg1a-223TowpoaYT3KygrWX1mXdwAYGypiTUX7m4gdo_aAaFuDhRqsc4mA6i1h6NZW147hshq1WeS5rOT9PuXD1NDaoREzvWSidy/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVmJm9eB5oKUWI4Bzg1NzLQz5ts7DGIt0YCnOzU4ufg1a-223TowpoaYT3KygrWX1mXdwAYGypiTUX7m4gdo_aAaFuDhRqsc4mA6i1h6NZW147hshq1WeS5rOT9PuXD1NDaoREzvWSidy/s400/IMG_1227.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magnificent sunset from Pelican Landing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While the Hyatt is in a no-mans-land of sorts between the beach and Intercoastal Waterway, everything about the hotel's pool says "South Florida paradise." Their crisp blue waters were also surrounded by various activities like corn hole, lawn chess, and a few hammocks for a solid poolside nap.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm38ROQ1bOb4dQY1XKs6gXINX7XiijPeBDFilPphyag73muqp8iIBG6kARWMcv1jExzbNfSjUcdfhecNkCXYJIBkKVaJ5iRiHLDYV2Hr20gUOrkOwdVfbcUdRWb2iw37SebR_gDwoeMcVM/s1600/IMG_1212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm38ROQ1bOb4dQY1XKs6gXINX7XiijPeBDFilPphyag73muqp8iIBG6kARWMcv1jExzbNfSjUcdfhecNkCXYJIBkKVaJ5iRiHLDYV2Hr20gUOrkOwdVfbcUdRWb2iw37SebR_gDwoeMcVM/s400/IMG_1212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From a service standpoint, our experience at the Hyatt Pier 66 was hit and miss. The servers at Pelican Landing and poolside were both excellent, but the bartender and bellman I encountered had the personality of a lead brick. I sympathized with our front desk agent as well, who was bombarded with not 1, not 2, but 8 phone calls within the first minute of her beginning our check-in. Clearly the Hyatt has not heard of a centralized guest services department away from the front desk, or those folks decided it was a good time to kick back for break.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozw5BPuEqjoMGrgpcBL85nWLKFpuRvFZB25PRescM9MLR4n3_hb8BipfEWPsU-fiqD85T777vOcEmUTsbOP5lSa5_WnqiBR084t3Ws_somltBfIwuyiUubVnCidQ0swvmXe4uhhHpT9Ju/s1600/IMG_1216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozw5BPuEqjoMGrgpcBL85nWLKFpuRvFZB25PRescM9MLR4n3_hb8BipfEWPsU-fiqD85T777vOcEmUTsbOP5lSa5_WnqiBR084t3Ws_somltBfIwuyiUubVnCidQ0swvmXe4uhhHpT9Ju/s400/IMG_1216.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oasis of the Seas heading out to sea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Despite its numerous flaws, the Hyatt Pier 66 delivered on its role as pre-cruise hotel in spades. I could hit Port Everglades with about a 7-iron from our balcony, and it was pretty great waking up the morning of the cruise to see our ship waiting for us. Combine the location with a rate that was roughly 40% less than our usual Fort Lauderdale pre-cruise hotel - <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2013/06/westin-beach-resort-fort-lauderdale.html" target="_blank">Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach</a> - and suddenly all of those shortcomings didn't seem so bad.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgj2JYUCw1-Y0eywwfxu83qEu6iC1rPtw1OM26nnB_6GwO_xFM1av2DiymYUC0B_YLrL3shJ3d19Hd1KL3qqMq8xjlvnI9RUYFD4CWpUUIv3QlFvrh02nvhcyE8WMWaRR9PSau3zR9zSJ/s1600/IMG_1285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgj2JYUCw1-Y0eywwfxu83qEu6iC1rPtw1OM26nnB_6GwO_xFM1av2DiymYUC0B_YLrL3shJ3d19Hd1KL3qqMq8xjlvnI9RUYFD4CWpUUIv3QlFvrh02nvhcyE8WMWaRR9PSau3zR9zSJ/s400/IMG_1285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard to miss the Hyatt as you sail away...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Hyatt Pier 66 would not come close to my first choice for those vacationing in Fort Lauderdale. However, for someone seeking a mid-tier hotel, close to the port, with a South Florida vibe to get into what I call "cruise mode," the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 will certainly do the trick.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-31520301871024165422015-03-30T08:50:00.000-04:002015-03-30T08:50:35.481-04:00A Round at TopGolf Tampa<span style="font-size: large;">Over the last year or so, no company has moved the needle in the game of golf more than TopGolf, and it's easy to see why... The ultimate playground for golf junkies - think Dave & Busters and Splittsville but replace the arcade or bowling alley with an interactive driving range - TopGolf locations have been sprouting up across the country at an alarming rate, with an ever increasing popularity to match. A new <a href="http://topgolf.com/us/tampa/" target="_blank">TopGolf location recently opened in the Tampa area</a>, which finally gave this golf junkie an excuse to see what all of the fuss was about.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9Pqwrr7uDi3LbxLCef-D6TKVCkI99uCAe77VjgzXsUyz4jAnEul-Byusru0z4cDGmd6C2lXLU3LdVvRGOOnOyF-KUxMQtYaYXR6MhAXEjFxTiHXwlOBIBNMSc63_3s8tazMyjXR87ysY/s1600/Top-Golf1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE9Pqwrr7uDi3LbxLCef-D6TKVCkI99uCAe77VjgzXsUyz4jAnEul-Byusru0z4cDGmd6C2lXLU3LdVvRGOOnOyF-KUxMQtYaYXR6MhAXEjFxTiHXwlOBIBNMSc63_3s8tazMyjXR87ysY/s1600/Top-Golf1.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warning: It will not look like this when you arrive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That "fuss" has been almost relentless since I first learned of TopGolf some time ago. From constant praise on Twitter, to features on the Golf Channel and every golf publication on the planet, it seems many believe TopGolf is the greatest thing to happen to our Royal & Ancient game since that phenom from California said "Hello World." One article even went so far as to proclaim that TopGolf could save the game from the downward spiral in participation, brought on by economic challenges and an aging Tiger Woods.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">While seemingly everyone has pontificated on everything that TopGolf is, I'll start by saying what it isn't...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">TopGolf is not golf.</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">A visit to TopGolf is no closer to the real thing than a round of putt-putt at Pirates Cove.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And yet I loved every minute of it.</b></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3T6KrvAsdFpoAniLGznxsn1I4y8_kittQuOCtDW0VFHPiPViHRZKcfpUMGvkKjKbAYDn5lwsLW2Mi10cPbkEhfNnnVA7VQI8KXDrGfeXDRJsmStUMc2Ofh6iH4ZPgl8uNOAUSee9gYF5/s1600/top-golf-rooftop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3T6KrvAsdFpoAniLGznxsn1I4y8_kittQuOCtDW0VFHPiPViHRZKcfpUMGvkKjKbAYDn5lwsLW2Mi10cPbkEhfNnnVA7VQI8KXDrGfeXDRJsmStUMc2Ofh6iH4ZPgl8uNOAUSee9gYF5/s1600/top-golf-rooftop.jpg" height="306" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rooftop bar at a driving range? Yes, please.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My friends and I arrived to TopGolf Tampa at 8:30pm last Saturday night. The chaos of the parking lot, where cars were parked literally everywhere but on top of one another, sent an immediate sense of dread through the four of us. But it was the greeting from the valet that nearly caused an outright panic...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">"Welcome to TopGolf. It's a 5 hour wait for golf, but there's no line for the bar."</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This outing had been on the books for 6 weeks, and included a 100+ mile drive for 3/4 of our foursome. Now we may not even get to play? This seemed rather preposterous. That is, until we went inside...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After signing up for our "membership" and checking-in with the concierge, I asked if there was any approximate idea on the wait time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"Right now, I can't guarantee you'll get to play. It's telling me the wait is 7 and a half hours."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I kept waiting for the "Bazinga!" but sadly it never came. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After a few moments of dumbfounded silence, my brother finally broke the ice...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>"I wonder what the wait is at the Atlanta location. It might save us some time if we left now."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We elbowed our way through the uber-crowded bar, and managed to snag a table to watch the Kentucky basketball game on one of the 1,362 TVs on hand. The irony of a bunch of Gators watching Kentucky basketball at a place with "golf" in its name was certainly a little rich.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5a3ck1gDYPa8P0HdT5IMK-xUc6dDTfPKS7VHG_j90E7ifCV-GJs6umKV-DrT2rSQM8p5rm1JVn7qPmZyCWctlgu001Yh6D3CcoGrPoJDFtEAfqlTtojLOJ_P9AahYYpVNrcHvwLMyLJp/s1600/IMG_9824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5a3ck1gDYPa8P0HdT5IMK-xUc6dDTfPKS7VHG_j90E7ifCV-GJs6umKV-DrT2rSQM8p5rm1JVn7qPmZyCWctlgu001Yh6D3CcoGrPoJDFtEAfqlTtojLOJ_P9AahYYpVNrcHvwLMyLJp/s1600/IMG_9824.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this was after it had died down a little..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two hours later, at the exact moment Notre Dame was attempting a last second shot to advance to the Final Four, my cell phone buzzed. It was a text from TopGolf... Our bay was ready.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending two hours locked in intense battle, and dodging the occasional physics-defying shank, a night that started out looking like an epic fail came to a successful end at 1am. But not before coming away with a few tips, observations, and general ramblings on our experience at TopGolf.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XnY28NmGndjdHgL_y4Q5gUBmb0w3t6LVGCNzAFEZty-ssMfAh8ewmzaEETYdMqWN7C0i_Va5wq5z7w1BZ6fyhZ4HfEzURwBLKOsJPJx8i_UINexXwZU2LRAw7rg-KmZ6SCiJR5nLPDN1/s1600/IMG_9854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XnY28NmGndjdHgL_y4Q5gUBmb0w3t6LVGCNzAFEZty-ssMfAh8ewmzaEETYdMqWN7C0i_Va5wq5z7w1BZ6fyhZ4HfEzURwBLKOsJPJx8i_UINexXwZU2LRAw7rg-KmZ6SCiJR5nLPDN1/s1600/IMG_9854.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 stories of awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Go Early...Go Hungry</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, our group was insanely naive to show up at 8:30 on a Saturday night during March Madness. My guess is if we had arrived at say, 5pm, we would have been quoted something a little shorter than a 7 hour wait. The fact is, TopGolf's queue set-up leaves a lot to be desired. The feeling among our group was that quoting 7 hours was merely their way of nicely saying "Go Away." But given that the actual wait only ended up being 2 hours, there were clearly a huge number of people that had signed up to play with either no intention of actually doing so, or they just gave up waiting.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps requiring a deposit equal to 1-hour of play ($40) would solve this problem and cut down on how many new customers TopGolf discourages right off the tee.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The one saving grace to our wait was the food, which was far better than any of us expected. I mean, sure I've had better chicken & waffles, but never when sitting next to a driving range.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPwwPT0DtP6ojWWBpnFnrS0i2_Rk7oW0EcSFn76pvVPl_NL60V8kw4RX-ly6dPu8MalTM3F5ki_pbzFECF3ZJdRj6PsC8P3bttW47QDFqaPaJCv8IKvEvTomXJIrhAPR21zckvsrWaBvG/s1600/IMG_9837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPwwPT0DtP6ojWWBpnFnrS0i2_Rk7oW0EcSFn76pvVPl_NL60V8kw4RX-ly6dPu8MalTM3F5ki_pbzFECF3ZJdRj6PsC8P3bttW47QDFqaPaJCv8IKvEvTomXJIrhAPR21zckvsrWaBvG/s1600/IMG_9837.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Leave the Clubs at Home</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Seriously, don't take your clubs. Especially if you have an unhealthy attachment to them like yours truly. The Callaway rentals at each bay will certainly get the job done, even though they'll probably give your opponent an oft repeated excuse for his or her loss.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Remember...It's Not Golf</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The games at TopGolf all pretty much center around hitting shots to various targets on the range. There are 6 different targets and each of those is divided into quadrants for scoring. Getting it as close to center as possible is typically the game, but requires a much different approach than real golf, along with a good deal of luck.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgeBH2YqyOBc5zSUBH-appmRYIBBOh2bmmFw8RyyXzpYIuRQJidiymiSr88gLWh12maVtqM36KixS8mHhORXUz0w1EKa1FJiEA0THOBttP3UoDBEtnNeBmBMGHNEf10cgsT-6tK0Z-2S0/s1600/IMG_9828.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJgeBH2YqyOBc5zSUBH-appmRYIBBOh2bmmFw8RyyXzpYIuRQJidiymiSr88gLWh12maVtqM36KixS8mHhORXUz0w1EKa1FJiEA0THOBttP3UoDBEtnNeBmBMGHNEf10cgsT-6tK0Z-2S0/s1600/IMG_9828.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since the bottom of each target is a net, the ball doesn't bounce once in the target area. So if you're going to get it close, the trick is to either one hop it from short, or fly it all the way to the center.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It also seemed the combination of "house ball" clubs and the fancy microchip embedded Callaway balls resulted in shots flying about 80% as far as normal. Either that, or I've been severely under-clubbing for roughly my entire life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh and to paraphrase the current Nike ad, if you play golf to get better at golf, then TopGolf has nothing for you. Trust me, adjusting to the equipment is guaranteed to have your swing wrecked by the end of the night. If you're looking to practice, go to a real golf course.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoupNLKs_DKohKg_Hvb8-VEF1AQfBHdmkDchaxVc4CyaWxv8Fr9YKLBhuon3pnKh0LB2UG4U9KNfVVo3k5Vcg9VWaRiQ_8EfL1K0s2FxjMT1CpqQgAgQzipvZMAjJ6hD7kFZa7G7JTLzLV/s1600/IMG_9852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoupNLKs_DKohKg_Hvb8-VEF1AQfBHdmkDchaxVc4CyaWxv8Fr9YKLBhuon3pnKh0LB2UG4U9KNfVVo3k5Vcg9VWaRiQ_8EfL1K0s2FxjMT1CpqQgAgQzipvZMAjJ6hD7kFZa7G7JTLzLV/s1600/IMG_9852.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My brother hitting what I'd guess was his first shot ever struck past midnight.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Better Than Green Fees</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">After spending the same amount of time as a typical round of golf, the four of us left feeling as though TopGolf was surprisingly cheap entertainment. We spent 2 hours in the bar and 2 hours on the range, and each walked out spending $60-$80, including food, beverages and our golf. Compare that to green fees at a golf course, or even dinner and a movie, and TopGolf begins to look like a steal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Mainstream Golf</span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was clear pretty early on that I'd been looking at TopGolf all wrong...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">TopGolf is not a golf facility with an entertainment component. It's an entertainment facility with a golf component. For every one person that was there hoping to hit golf balls, there were 5 more that had no intention of picking up a club. In fact, I'd peg the percentage that had <i>ever</i> picked up a club at even lower than that.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbhct7AfdclcPbBzP-tDvMULafigd64DquC_SiriJwFrMw_lhGfIq7PsmqwSNvt7-NsAXkKoVkZSh_1kFVsom6C0ihhKBFZN9PoUh551zRCRzkqpWQTTdU_lls4sNVsus0gxCo0P-d1oS/s1600/IMG_9881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbhct7AfdclcPbBzP-tDvMULafigd64DquC_SiriJwFrMw_lhGfIq7PsmqwSNvt7-NsAXkKoVkZSh_1kFVsom6C0ihhKBFZN9PoUh551zRCRzkqpWQTTdU_lls4sNVsus0gxCo0P-d1oS/s1600/IMG_9881.JPG" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm confident the Old Tom Morris shirt shaved those hours off the wait.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Still, it's impossible to deny that each and every night, hundreds, maybe thousands, of people are introduced to golf for the very first time at TopGolf facilities across the country. Do any of them then decide to buy a set of clubs and give it a go at their local muni... Possibly, but I'm willing to bet that number is infinitesimally small compared to the number that will only "play golf" on an occasional outing to TopGolf.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">So with that in mind, can TopGolf really "save" the game of golf?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Absolutely not... But it can only help.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-43800431543491448992015-02-16T07:59:00.000-05:002015-02-16T07:59:13.828-05:00The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort<span style="font-size: large;">Tell me if you've heard this one before... A new Disney Vacation Club wing has recently opened at one of the deluxe hotels at Walt Disney World. Sound familiar?</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">It should. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the Contemporary to Beach Club, Wilderness Lodge to Animal Kingdom, Disney has slowly but surely brought DVC to each of its upper-tier hotels. The most recent byproduct of this DVC-ification... The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk52TlIi6WzhgmmryTRWviiv6LEUh1gXCLn1EtN16qKVwjpgl4RGAL0V0BOl2jS4F497wh4y5Ss9UGHeJziL2Xd_TrR_yQ0WPBYTwc6uQcPjxs2ofKiwZeDneNyRSmW-pKz8AOmBlcEnSV/s1600/IMG_7611+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk52TlIi6WzhgmmryTRWviiv6LEUh1gXCLn1EtN16qKVwjpgl4RGAL0V0BOl2jS4F497wh4y5Ss9UGHeJziL2Xd_TrR_yQ0WPBYTwc6uQcPjxs2ofKiwZeDneNyRSmW-pKz8AOmBlcEnSV/s1600/IMG_7611+(1).JPG" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">When the addition to Grand Floridian was announced, I was a bit skeptical. Call me weird, but I'm very, shall I say, protective of my favorite hotels. My fear was that this addition would turn out like the Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge... A cheap, tacky knock-off of the original. Those fears eased a bit as I observed the construction for months from the passing monorail. As soon as I stepped inside the new lobby, they vanished entirely.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although not nearly as grand as the original - pun intended - the lobby for the Villas certainly makes a nice impression. Where the original is more of the "grand dame" flavor, the polished marble and understated furnishings bring a more up to date feel to the neighborhood. Check-in is a seated affair, something I've never been a fan of, but after a quick programming of our MagicBands we were off to the room.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmQ_6WpQokknZSqU2EHGad9O39EJMj27JQmumPbthXMR3PZ4jtnzbgHpVFPBONMr51PvYbeCHCO9cnpPE6vkgHxXb7giqW7jaQwuiPem349u57Wcp7pZBe1QGP61rSviv4Yd0Q9du_YYv/s1600/IMG_7574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrmQ_6WpQokknZSqU2EHGad9O39EJMj27JQmumPbthXMR3PZ4jtnzbgHpVFPBONMr51PvYbeCHCO9cnpPE6vkgHxXb7giqW7jaQwuiPem349u57Wcp7pZBe1QGP61rSviv4Yd0Q9du_YYv/s1600/IMG_7574.JPG" height="222" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">MJ and I always book a studio room when staying with our DVC points, which offers the two of us plenty of space, though usually not much more than a glorified hotel room. Not so at the Grand Floridian...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqMRzDIYtIStV8ktG-ntncn9kGLLYzfXCuw0AMqau4sKcOjCu-j_QefNElAz-bW9x5vgZM4uDBxCCAQF5k0FlFfSXJaDZAFDjz7j2ZagRyPC4FRrcg79EwhsOb_i7e8NWqPVdI8076DSC/s1600/IMG_7559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqMRzDIYtIStV8ktG-ntncn9kGLLYzfXCuw0AMqau4sKcOjCu-j_QefNElAz-bW9x5vgZM4uDBxCCAQF5k0FlFfSXJaDZAFDjz7j2ZagRyPC4FRrcg79EwhsOb_i7e8NWqPVdI8076DSC/s1600/IMG_7559.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From a rainmaker shower and TV in the bathroom mirror, to the expansive balcony overlooking the monorail, I was absolutely astonished at the quality of this room. In fact, I'd go so far as to say they are the best on Disney property.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZkzu2IxD7yy2OPTsoiJC5-zQxjBa7nTZpPVVj3tIRzl2xK0ugDUl_cq9iJXX_NGg-BedFuIcw9tIqo-9oMvRscj1oHf-hW_qWp2s-AZeBHu-_1J1lvByP1v9Os8LqZvvTlRTTCxlYb35/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZkzu2IxD7yy2OPTsoiJC5-zQxjBa7nTZpPVVj3tIRzl2xK0ugDUl_cq9iJXX_NGg-BedFuIcw9tIqo-9oMvRscj1oHf-hW_qWp2s-AZeBHu-_1J1lvByP1v9Os8LqZvvTlRTTCxlYb35/s1600/IMG_7567.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But all gushing aside, easily the coolest thing about our studio was the trundle bed built into the armoire. While I wouldn't dream of sleeping on it myself, I'm pretty sure my nephew, Old Sport, would be a fan.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_k7znX-BVcdK6P7UZGGPG4W0YEz8QqDJgVz6yI59FNotyhy0UiJ2DYW0Xk2B-Ss2qSG0hVbq_CPWT0_eD93t6j_Ca2lNMGAtGLuPypKwODb-DcYsi8L8nnUmXRhXUyexoFDuyMfReCi3/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_k7znX-BVcdK6P7UZGGPG4W0YEz8QqDJgVz6yI59FNotyhy0UiJ2DYW0Xk2B-Ss2qSG0hVbq_CPWT0_eD93t6j_Ca2lNMGAtGLuPypKwODb-DcYsi8L8nnUmXRhXUyexoFDuyMfReCi3/s1600/IMG_7568.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So how does Grand Floridian stack up against the other DVC resorts? In terms of the quality of room and easy access to great restaurants at all of the monorail resorts, it is head and shoulders above the rest. However, my ranking of Grand Floridian comes down to that old rule of real estate...</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Location, Location, Location.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We crashed at the Grand Floridian Villas the night of our recent anniversary dinner at Victoria & Albert's. Obviously, the location couldn't be beat in this case, however my one fault with the resort is the same as Bay Lake Tower... You're reliant on the monorail to get to Epcot, and only one park can be accessed easily. Because of this, and the fact we spend most of our time at Epcot and Hollywood Studios, I still give an edge to Boardwalk or Beach Club, but certainly not by much.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLN5ZKwXWhBr2K0ZUJFZmU7o_4FK1oMAZTMaKHMdyrKopweqIY08DN0sSC8v7WskASMEr6-XV53JSHLooQhw6oq5toxFGf2jlaF5x7I6jipYyTqT8Ovp6Fn8dbuMSmUxo6Xm8WOUBZigR/s1600/IMG_7594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLN5ZKwXWhBr2K0ZUJFZmU7o_4FK1oMAZTMaKHMdyrKopweqIY08DN0sSC8v7WskASMEr6-XV53JSHLooQhw6oq5toxFGf2jlaF5x7I6jipYyTqT8Ovp6Fn8dbuMSmUxo6Xm8WOUBZigR/s1600/IMG_7594.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#HappyDeej</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In the end, it's clear those old fears of Disney doing the Villas at Grand Floridian on the cheap were totally unfounded. They spared no expense in getting this one right, which isn't something that can be said very often these days. Although the Grand Floridian may not be our first pick simply because of location, it's a great choice for anyone whose primary park will be the Magic Kingdom. And if nothing else, it also gave me a good reason to be excited for the final chapter in the DVC-ification of Disney's deluxe resorts... The soon to open Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-66819997927341166602014-12-29T01:00:00.000-05:002014-12-30T10:05:56.651-05:00Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian - Revisted<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Good evening Mr. & Mrs. Jones, welcome back and happy 6th anniversary.</i></span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah yes, that moment every other year that reminds me of why Victoria & Albert's at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort is such a remarkably special place. Israel's warm welcome, remembering us on sight some two years between visits, is always both wildly impressive and entirely genuine. And yet this time around, there was an added twist that I would never have expected...</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Mr. Jones, I read your blog just the other day...we are all so very appreciative for your kind words.</i></span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wait a minute, you're telling me the Maitre d' at the only Five Diamond restaurant in Orlando....<i>reads my blog</i>?</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFptctbM0yqFVZISBcQyj0QsOy-9S4f5902zjmtjfu8YxIA6DxG4QgrcQzeeHgfNWQYpz_HL_PJZ7Nw1kSefwGrWFLttcHFEINfzegrDUQi9SeU1GaKXQPgIK8ohtfsBB5M8N_YQ9Ajo7X/s1600/VA2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFptctbM0yqFVZISBcQyj0QsOy-9S4f5902zjmtjfu8YxIA6DxG4QgrcQzeeHgfNWQYpz_HL_PJZ7Nw1kSefwGrWFLttcHFEINfzegrDUQi9SeU1GaKXQPgIK8ohtfsBB5M8N_YQ9Ajo7X/s1600/VA2.JPG"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">As Israel led us to a primo table in the center of the dining room, I scrolled those old blog posts in my head attempting to remember exactly what I had written. Feeling both astonished and slightly embarrassed, I soon realized that this really should have been no surprise at all. Attention to detail in service is what Victoria & Albert's does best, and I suppose one could argue that also includes reading obscure blog posts from past guests.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Still, it's nice to know someone out there is reading besides mom and dad.</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuuz3BqYSNXlBvQnHn3Ew8SgPp7WiCphmw8C-S2R5Zl2mWIbwwRGe7jr17S1yHGH1NierPhHC5gmH89S7UrETMtYVLWpMWILzUrq2IXeEJg7mI_l6Zca9CPDIQmlUG-KaDA40NnHrWhRK/s1600/IMG_7662+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuuz3BqYSNXlBvQnHn3Ew8SgPp7WiCphmw8C-S2R5Zl2mWIbwwRGe7jr17S1yHGH1NierPhHC5gmH89S7UrETMtYVLWpMWILzUrq2IXeEJg7mI_l6Zca9CPDIQmlUG-KaDA40NnHrWhRK/s1600/IMG_7662+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our relationship with Victoria & Albert's began 6 years ago, when MJ and I dined here for the first time the day after our wedding. That night, we established the first tradition of our new marriage: a pact to return to V&A's every other year on our anniversary. After enjoying the intimate 10-course experience in <a href="http://www.theworldofdeej.com/2013/01/disney-victoria-and-alberts.html" target="_blank">the Queen Victoria Room</a> two years ago, which by all accounts is nothing short of spectacular, we decided that for future visits the 7-course offering in the main dining room was just the right amount of overindulgence.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As the champagne was popped and the harpist broke into the theme song from Game of Thrones, our server, Mike, who was with us back on that very first visit, kicked off the festivities...</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxHVLbiqNrqq0ValmZvvRRX4f4wfyJDzU2KekBmHbTquAgMFm4TtGM_mL4f5NBgKvkjgvSg8O9eAFj4tlP-RVh2tWPHlm5k1-RPvx_foUDAslAG3thm2Ee_pTdsgkyWZ63Eiax_-DqOeB/s1600/IMG_7663+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxHVLbiqNrqq0ValmZvvRRX4f4wfyJDzU2KekBmHbTquAgMFm4TtGM_mL4f5NBgKvkjgvSg8O9eAFj4tlP-RVh2tWPHlm5k1-RPvx_foUDAslAG3thm2Ee_pTdsgkyWZ63Eiax_-DqOeB/s1600/IMG_7663+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">There's a couple of reasons I always get excited when a meal begins with an amuse bouche. First I just like saying amuse bouche. And second, this plate designed to get the tastebuds ready for the meal ahead is usually quite sinful, with things like smoked salmon and caviar, or in this case...both.</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiQoVwb1OcI6rHsHZ6tGJGtkmt9BJlf9Pv4ehdtsJN9kVKpG1F0SJHZ4eVUgQmGui2PwjZ6KNYGzcAxfHqviP2qPStduM-ypZD7PZyjQ8vRrD0Bi4OxRYcy__jE1uhEsWLAyZyIO70DSM/s1600/IMG_7919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiQoVwb1OcI6rHsHZ6tGJGtkmt9BJlf9Pv4ehdtsJN9kVKpG1F0SJHZ4eVUgQmGui2PwjZ6KNYGzcAxfHqviP2qPStduM-ypZD7PZyjQ8vRrD0Bi4OxRYcy__jE1uhEsWLAyZyIO70DSM/s1600/IMG_7919.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">With my palate and tastebuds properly primed, next out was a sumac crusted tuna alongside a black radish slaw. While the tuna was exquisite, the real highlight here was the wine pairing - a Sauvignon Blanc from Jules Taylor whose floral aroma was a party for my outsized nose. Turns out I'm not the only one that loved it...the vintage earned a top 100 ranking from Wine Enthusiast.</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpLegYpqgplSZEr31WwKQJiaTQ03-wGbcmCpDaFl08cgREoOx3Yf7Y3kTf-ai9uy5h0elxeRqf-7CjcEiUm7giAB1Uk-2fBVFCxn_-Wz_JEZiLXDv9BFBzSMxNvRogq6tY1ZqRVHDWpLr/s1600/IMG_7922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDpLegYpqgplSZEr31WwKQJiaTQ03-wGbcmCpDaFl08cgREoOx3Yf7Y3kTf-ai9uy5h0elxeRqf-7CjcEiUm7giAB1Uk-2fBVFCxn_-Wz_JEZiLXDv9BFBzSMxNvRogq6tY1ZqRVHDWpLr/s1600/IMG_7922.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next out for yours truly was an Alaskan king salmon, while MJ went with the masago crusted Maine scallop. The salmon was exceptional, but as I gazed across the table it was clear that MJ had won this round...</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHOA17yYNOyf4DlIQOi72oWDPuxGbws9hEJAUEDF-M3dhh2eEdgO8ympP5Df0T0mnUlzk1wXUNsmSJg71IFKZSR8OMy9wLu3C4nZrMxcfja_dliGUT036b6qlSaaHLgpMe8bYf6vO6zY0/s1600/IMG_7921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHOA17yYNOyf4DlIQOi72oWDPuxGbws9hEJAUEDF-M3dhh2eEdgO8ympP5Df0T0mnUlzk1wXUNsmSJg71IFKZSR8OMy9wLu3C4nZrMxcfja_dliGUT036b6qlSaaHLgpMe8bYf6vO6zY0/s1600/IMG_7921.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">As Mike returned to the table in preparation for our next course, the same wine being poured for us both should have been a sign that something was amiss. Sure enough, a surprise course of Wild Turbot arrived for each of us, and a welcome one at that given that I had nearly ordered it to start. The turbot is line caught off the coast of Portugal, where very tight catch limits are imposed on the fish, making its appearance on the menu all the more rare. The dish was easily the highlight of my evening and really should have been my main course...somehow I had to find room for two more plus dessert.</span><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqHtLCHMMML0nKRf3oaLqVIISo-4N9rwjSfDM7Djaok7PiikJljvvIVLODMjJc6FMH7b085h7-_ST-FUPXHDqe_5h8Ae2K8G77VIgs5MJeiyhosgQdxbjKscn88MdEfFF1mX3TGrEjocc/s1600/IMG_7660+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqHtLCHMMML0nKRf3oaLqVIISo-4N9rwjSfDM7Djaok7PiikJljvvIVLODMjJc6FMH7b085h7-_ST-FUPXHDqe_5h8Ae2K8G77VIgs5MJeiyhosgQdxbjKscn88MdEfFF1mX3TGrEjocc/s1600/IMG_7660+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously...if this is on the menu...order it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">I was up for the challenge.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The next course is one that always leaves me with a little bit of "entree envy" every time we visit Victoria & Albert's. I went with the Palmetto Farms Quail, which offered a nice break from all of the seafood, but MJ's gnocchi along with black trumpet mushrooms and truffles always steals the show. Every visit I say I'm going to order this on our next one, and every year I manage to forget... Perhaps I should ask Israel to put a note in his file to remind me next time. Or...maybe I just did?</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6H7os4-dRxXSSwW1vLyeY4LKIoaC1Pe7LyK9yRWrOVzkxJpUkGAsOQBigYzdMBfEUal7ecyq7ROOGAT1f0oEruG3-PLVyJHyAuscvFuI2jhZOBfa4bdgd31WvbZLv66IasH5cvfNWD7A/s1600/IMG_7920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6H7os4-dRxXSSwW1vLyeY4LKIoaC1Pe7LyK9yRWrOVzkxJpUkGAsOQBigYzdMBfEUal7ecyq7ROOGAT1f0oEruG3-PLVyJHyAuscvFuI2jhZOBfa4bdgd31WvbZLv66IasH5cvfNWD7A/s1600/IMG_7920.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">After a few minutes spent mesmerized by the sounds of the harp, the main courses arrived with a bit of flair. It's amazing how something so simple as lifting two domed dish covers at the same time can build so much excitement. But then again, the Australian Kobe had already done plenty of that just on its own.</span><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_fhhKnCsS3madhyZ_41Y_Tn0R_J4otUYxbM2MqJCwliIcd4kCcJ0ZllIv1l44kW7NPdtpKshJOMzk8blQmTEEj-Ojpdb_t7buetOVZTGPfc2Y8QNsbePWc8sxgQKb5lgFtk31OKTEQbQ/s1600/IMG_7918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_fhhKnCsS3madhyZ_41Y_Tn0R_J4otUYxbM2MqJCwliIcd4kCcJ0ZllIv1l44kW7NPdtpKshJOMzk8blQmTEEj-Ojpdb_t7buetOVZTGPfc2Y8QNsbePWc8sxgQKb5lgFtk31OKTEQbQ/s1600/IMG_7918.JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></div>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, following a brief intermezzo of gelato and cheese, it was time for the good stuff. By good stuff, I of course mean the Tanzanian Chocolate Timbale, and coffee courtesy of the coolest brewer you'll ever see. I know its just simple chemistry...or maybe its physics...either way, I'm always delightfully entertained by this thing.</span><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGExc_QT4hArN5m17Y455lvmfF2Qlaszpapl8BHJjTrywxSPqC2x5twtL7sD6_CA-WC6X4z9W-7pmwf_8U8vioJjIKolemW274QQrk9rU3eVFUdNg8_ow8HfSTeHv4laxTduuAkL0IZej/s1600/VA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEGExc_QT4hArN5m17Y455lvmfF2Qlaszpapl8BHJjTrywxSPqC2x5twtL7sD6_CA-WC6X4z9W-7pmwf_8U8vioJjIKolemW274QQrk9rU3eVFUdNg8_ow8HfSTeHv4laxTduuAkL0IZej/s1600/VA1.jpg" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, so they're both pretty entertaining.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">Each of our visits to Victoria & Albert's has been memorable in its own way, and this time around was no different. Specifically, this was our first time doing late seating (8:30-8:45) which had us at the restaurant until just after midnight. Not that we had anywhere else to be, but anyone like yours truly that's of the "early to bed, early to rise" mentality would probably best be served by the early seating. Of course, the one benefit of being the last ones in the dining room was it gave us the opportunity to snap a few pictures. </span><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxvomgBl0ElAxywjNLhXM6Rsjed3cREbe40xqo4nwWoP-dywG5tYY2uxdMI88zki6DmSoZ7tXMaYTv00XWyz9BbTOsI0aq-0RgeoO7ZMeKO5_COHaZVsBfQb1WDJv5BPDJ7bVEU72WtU7/s1600/IMG_7654+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxvomgBl0ElAxywjNLhXM6Rsjed3cREbe40xqo4nwWoP-dywG5tYY2uxdMI88zki6DmSoZ7tXMaYTv00XWyz9BbTOsI0aq-0RgeoO7ZMeKO5_COHaZVsBfQb1WDJv5BPDJ7bVEU72WtU7/s1600/IMG_7654+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photobomed by our server, Beth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we said our goodbyes and made our way to the frosted glass door, that familiar sense of anticipation returned once more. Only this time, that feeling won't be quenched in a matter of minutes, or days, or even months. However, in two short years we will be back, yes for the incredible food offered by Chef Scott, but more for the warmth of home provided by Israel, Mike, Sharon, and everyone at Victoria & Albert's that night in and night out manage to make so many feel a little like royalty.</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-63862876634582826432014-12-15T01:00:00.000-05:002018-12-24T17:10:52.675-05:00Golf Shots - The Best of 2014<span style="font-size: large;">At risk of sounding like a braggart, 2014 was one heck of a great year for me and the game of golf. The previous 3 years have taken me to many major championship and bucket list courses, and while I didn't come away from 2014 with bag tags from Pinehurst or Pebble Beach, I close out the year with an abundance of something far more valuable... Great memories of great golf with great friends and family.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The year began at TPC Sawgrass, home of the Tour's self proclaimed "5th Major," where I joined seven other golf geeks for a weekend at one of the great venues of the game. The round was filled with several bright spots - birdies at holes 7, 8 & 11 - before the Stadium course eventually took its due. A pair of ProV1s found the water on the iconic 17th hole leading to a quintuple-bogey 8. The card was wrecked, so too were my dreams of a career round at a world-ranked course, but the rest of the festivities soon washed away the pain I encountered at the island green.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: Dinner and ping pong in the Champion's Locker Room.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQubGo_NDAF3Gw6c4c2Yb-TuRFW_WGkCuSNofexppOkGZs5QT1_M_L1lLpaNEYanB-U_xAlT5ohbYNO9hV18BY08w5C1YTXvfNN1voqkZdfdiulHMgd6TAjIKWQrqxdV7HPMt-rtFW42J/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQubGo_NDAF3Gw6c4c2Yb-TuRFW_WGkCuSNofexppOkGZs5QT1_M_L1lLpaNEYanB-U_xAlT5ohbYNO9hV18BY08w5C1YTXvfNN1voqkZdfdiulHMgd6TAjIKWQrqxdV7HPMt-rtFW42J/s1600/IMG_1540.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiQmFmuhdPi4ndK7VbI0yFnyhm1vObiLXtTCyc4lTxa4AS538rI573WP5HN6RsFmMUW3zslac_KnjphkysdFJRIp1Xfr5mVYjQgfSGVPpNuKSG4XZ3YMncFodGlC6H-vZk0KVluhtrz7c/s1600/Sawgrass-Tag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiQmFmuhdPi4ndK7VbI0yFnyhm1vObiLXtTCyc4lTxa4AS538rI573WP5HN6RsFmMUW3zslac_KnjphkysdFJRIp1Xfr5mVYjQgfSGVPpNuKSG4XZ3YMncFodGlC6H-vZk0KVluhtrz7c/s1600/Sawgrass-Tag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93TySYl8epzbO0AM__gV0nvShCUHUWsbl84XsuyZBrXTDEFCkFKy4AFevVJ4tKYe73N_KtFYIjSWzxDE__G90cAK5q-YUnsk5-vfCWk1QcL0Ws3RqpkaZ13U8HQO1Es9LnT9gCBQaDLsx/s1600/players-collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93TySYl8epzbO0AM__gV0nvShCUHUWsbl84XsuyZBrXTDEFCkFKy4AFevVJ4tKYe73N_KtFYIjSWzxDE__G90cAK5q-YUnsk5-vfCWk1QcL0Ws3RqpkaZ13U8HQO1Es9LnT9gCBQaDLsx/s1600/players-collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>A Weekend with The King</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">From the home of the PGA Tour to that of The King, the next stop in 2014 was a father-sons outing at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. We teed it up at Arnie's place just a few weeks before the Tour came to town, and the course could not have been in any better condition. Of course, that also means it was playing exponentially harder, and my scorecard reflected it. In the end, I was soundly defeated by my brother, RJ, however given the glorious day that we had, it was hard to be too upset over the loss.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: RJ clanging his tee shot off a grandstand on #17 and bouncing nearly onto the green.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq1l4GSVuYeAB81Xp9Iu5uNNyzNUsjujU_xHHzKcWfOnqHts16sYrBCdyAUA5n_OweC3H3eSmemI7qb4OOOmId5iD60UxUgoZEdSWaxvQR2FmIESenzVrtYZHwgbS5Fn6bZT8aHEU-Doa/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq1l4GSVuYeAB81Xp9Iu5uNNyzNUsjujU_xHHzKcWfOnqHts16sYrBCdyAUA5n_OweC3H3eSmemI7qb4OOOmId5iD60UxUgoZEdSWaxvQR2FmIESenzVrtYZHwgbS5Fn6bZT8aHEU-Doa/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAHj191jKdpMWLniD3s9x_l4icP5N0KdmJdkS6bcP7k3tW83InZHDGQXULWyireRMQZNx1-WXo2G8tN7tiT161XIovANI3ryn1SN_Ap-3f1OZbl2lvlkbvQUXXJSoPiJd6dT4M0UEknpe/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAHj191jKdpMWLniD3s9x_l4icP5N0KdmJdkS6bcP7k3tW83InZHDGQXULWyireRMQZNx1-WXo2G8tN7tiT161XIovANI3ryn1SN_Ap-3f1OZbl2lvlkbvQUXXJSoPiJd6dT4M0UEknpe/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU8LhdfgNLVgB8RoTMJnDdjmuC9AJzHQ6_q5-zutFJsRUcme2FatYwavA-ZczUMvIJIvygZPvXcNa2t2RzQkifu4BNdHDc7XzLnhzgXxDD4ErDOb33UUhKoO9ZalPyDtQMCsOiLUP6kuQ/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghU8LhdfgNLVgB8RoTMJnDdjmuC9AJzHQ6_q5-zutFJsRUcme2FatYwavA-ZczUMvIJIvygZPvXcNa2t2RzQkifu4BNdHDc7XzLnhzgXxDD4ErDOb33UUhKoO9ZalPyDtQMCsOiLUP6kuQ/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5Ax6xc5UUmPjIfs5_PmDEXB9RpOA_tkGKh0yIgp0QvKxI7fPlD_x-ZbBej-fjMjbfyuxThbHjZ0_Jg2_oPJjWTL9HIUHZ8v_lZEB92R4rcRo1teROzxmLxN-ZlsqCErJNN5horQXGGDV/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq5Ax6xc5UUmPjIfs5_PmDEXB9RpOA_tkGKh0yIgp0QvKxI7fPlD_x-ZbBej-fjMjbfyuxThbHjZ0_Jg2_oPJjWTL9HIUHZ8v_lZEB92R4rcRo1teROzxmLxN-ZlsqCErJNN5horQXGGDV/s1600/IMG_1723.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Black Diamond Ranch</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Next up was the Quarry Course at Black Diamond Ranch. A mainstay on my list, but an invite I had never been able to score, Black Diamond's Stay & Play package made this infamous Tom Fazio design available to me for the first time. My regular foursome made the trip to tiny Lecanto, Florida and spent the better part of an afternoon with our jaws wide open. The quarry holes at Black Diamond are unlike anything else in the state of Florida, and made for easily the most memorable round of golf we had experienced together. Naturally, I lost to RJ again, but at least I didn't get the label of "thumbs up guy."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: A 6-iron to 6 feet on the 13th (See: thumbs up pic).</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tQYY-5rYUpUVVCC6_Lcrz3mZMUh4a7bbqXhpDH0RAErOJHu_3kE2jwvPwtEmLQOaVPYuyN38l0_ZYYIfQtolNC6l6Gl9HkKgE7eOqRJAGrUdS5XOxCvIg1nEm9hHQuzqofteFAb7jXFe/s1600/Black-Diamond1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tQYY-5rYUpUVVCC6_Lcrz3mZMUh4a7bbqXhpDH0RAErOJHu_3kE2jwvPwtEmLQOaVPYuyN38l0_ZYYIfQtolNC6l6Gl9HkKgE7eOqRJAGrUdS5XOxCvIg1nEm9hHQuzqofteFAb7jXFe/s1600/Black-Diamond1.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqRXoTM53mxFsKZf1hambdC-DcN_8OdAysj9rEKvQCxRJSjbCkD0K4L4u4U1Ijk8v3oGKySDVBTwkn0W22YNZ-oxOL_B3rSb-n22Pv4hq6ouCs7cWUSEND-sR8RT8ruKRGDZOcGgpouE_/s1600/Black-Diamond3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqRXoTM53mxFsKZf1hambdC-DcN_8OdAysj9rEKvQCxRJSjbCkD0K4L4u4U1Ijk8v3oGKySDVBTwkn0W22YNZ-oxOL_B3rSb-n22Pv4hq6ouCs7cWUSEND-sR8RT8ruKRGDZOcGgpouE_/s1600/Black-Diamond3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAslTwCg045o9vOQHROLShy4YIC94eGf6J8uZB7HC1uJ-h6yjgVit7SI2-YIYBbS3uT15oVYY-KPJDoiPQ-n-BAAO1-PbzLD4B2ODlFtBGnza8bLBLlpBTA6CwbhVDnKj4wW_7QRLvr6_d/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAslTwCg045o9vOQHROLShy4YIC94eGf6J8uZB7HC1uJ-h6yjgVit7SI2-YIYBbS3uT15oVYY-KPJDoiPQ-n-BAAO1-PbzLD4B2ODlFtBGnza8bLBLlpBTA6CwbhVDnKj4wW_7QRLvr6_d/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Sawgrass Re-Dux</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">In April it was back to Sawgrass, where RJ and I hoped to settle a score that was nearly a decade in the making. We split our two previous matches here with one win apiece, and 9 long years had passed since the two of us had teed it Sawgrass together. I came into the round confident, assuming my two rounds on the Stadium within the last year would give me a decided advantage. The match came down to the final putt on the final hole, but one of the best birdies of my life could only earn me a tie.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: French toast and Starbucks on the clubhouse terrace, and the birdie on 18th.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS9leGpe6PgaKB0vsxV2teEj3KEonz_xaPfQDo108uCFsGNjz7Gnh2nBeyeMJldu8_gO8gF08fYpMIrX0XGV7NGtD4cQBy36-VnhZJZwtKZg1XFrU66VuAeMHJCySDSLkL3naTLewIudp/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRS9leGpe6PgaKB0vsxV2teEj3KEonz_xaPfQDo108uCFsGNjz7Gnh2nBeyeMJldu8_gO8gF08fYpMIrX0XGV7NGtD4cQBy36-VnhZJZwtKZg1XFrU66VuAeMHJCySDSLkL3naTLewIudp/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWe58aDvRptZvbAUjM2brDhR_hHvyPs93fmsZ_CFG_E3lUrr_7VxFAzAY66UV4vst4yr6-q_6vcStBPOI4Dm3go2P79ThqvQcoChcdAJPZ_LN76l26U9mZzpNzSNjM9rpVsPu1OOSk6fq/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTWe58aDvRptZvbAUjM2brDhR_hHvyPs93fmsZ_CFG_E3lUrr_7VxFAzAY66UV4vst4yr6-q_6vcStBPOI4Dm3go2P79ThqvQcoChcdAJPZ_LN76l26U9mZzpNzSNjM9rpVsPu1OOSk6fq/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_m0NXqqqmGig_VIm3kcINriqqn3hSji1b0aSeMH3CPtzYczmGi3NRYcbzlE8049IoItHRw4fIgWm8guHIt34bsah_0osTVia-4rgkCzzK0ybwmOdeCB7mlbm_ClTfhjHtj-sFB2zeEoU/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_m0NXqqqmGig_VIm3kcINriqqn3hSji1b0aSeMH3CPtzYczmGi3NRYcbzlE8049IoItHRw4fIgWm8guHIt34bsah_0osTVia-4rgkCzzK0ybwmOdeCB7mlbm_ClTfhjHtj-sFB2zeEoU/s1600/IMG_4905.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>A Trip to Sam's Farm</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Back in the mid-1980's, carpet baron Bob Shaw purchased a dramatic piece of property in the hills of north Georgia so that his Golden Retriever, Sam, would have a place to get some exercise. The property was called <i>Sam's Farm</i>, and after the faithful retriever retired to that dog park in the sky, Shaw decided the property - now called The Farm - would make a perfect location for a golf club. He was right...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After hearing story after story about The Farm from my dad following his regular trips to the area, it was finally my turn to tag along and experience the club first hand. At first, it seemed the trip would be a bust thanks to roughly 12 hours of solid rain. But the Golf Gods tossed me a bone and cleared the skies just minutes before our tee time. To say Tom Fazio's course is spectacular is a definite understatement, but it's the property itself which will prove most memorable.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: A post-round chat with Bob Shaw after watching the last flecks of daylight over the 18th green.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMmNdG1KAZZ10UrzQ2ZJMhqpqhrxd81t10cqG35zCNiw2GDuh6Pp2qTW-bYzWG9Mz-0IIsrtXoXfVWQV7UFCBbzJ2omES2jhAqSvRTRTMm_JVPoYHYzTDM7IPN1hfvC5bU33gziG4nKNi/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMmNdG1KAZZ10UrzQ2ZJMhqpqhrxd81t10cqG35zCNiw2GDuh6Pp2qTW-bYzWG9Mz-0IIsrtXoXfVWQV7UFCBbzJ2omES2jhAqSvRTRTMm_JVPoYHYzTDM7IPN1hfvC5bU33gziG4nKNi/s1600/IMG_6189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fAWOm0jGCBZGR8proIwFYEszZR4hz8EbzVObSIgBd36hF6U5KE_otl5CZ-kkB0tWLGE-_Kt23WtH39Z49IfFEa7Xg0eqk5NMnX1W4qiGJHHG5o7X79kBx6S847XYNINw8BtwXHiThVqI/s1600/IMG_6270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fAWOm0jGCBZGR8proIwFYEszZR4hz8EbzVObSIgBd36hF6U5KE_otl5CZ-kkB0tWLGE-_Kt23WtH39Z49IfFEa7Xg0eqk5NMnX1W4qiGJHHG5o7X79kBx6S847XYNINw8BtwXHiThVqI/s1600/IMG_6270.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTU0W5OfYn9Ri4tOteqGGJxDGvcXF4n2Iw5mHWYz_eKdMK3ylgBCr9unzDwn5yGm5OMlUi-3JTeYb3SGYO9Pe3M4yCxiIw8837u5mx_ms0ZN_v7Mba0eBYa0LADmNtVDPO3UPFu0-35J/s1600/IMG_6250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRTU0W5OfYn9Ri4tOteqGGJxDGvcXF4n2Iw5mHWYz_eKdMK3ylgBCr9unzDwn5yGm5OMlUi-3JTeYb3SGYO9Pe3M4yCxiIw8837u5mx_ms0ZN_v7Mba0eBYa0LADmNtVDPO3UPFu0-35J/s1600/IMG_6250.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVANxPS9mHtMxDy2ZmWIE4ZXpe9PKu_U08T8PCgwWbmK2tEsP91V4cn3YprF2k-CGL_yDe6NzdkvA5BujXRZk28awILmwOD092t0sjyHOfkLNYLz2x0Z5Nik4-nf1Gnr5s81VZJbzeTcE/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVANxPS9mHtMxDy2ZmWIE4ZXpe9PKu_U08T8PCgwWbmK2tEsP91V4cn3YprF2k-CGL_yDe6NzdkvA5BujXRZk28awILmwOD092t0sjyHOfkLNYLz2x0Z5Nik4-nf1Gnr5s81VZJbzeTcE/s1600/IMG_6272.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>At long last...Streamsong.</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can remember as if it was yesterday the press release announcing the Streamsong Resort arriving to my inbox. A luxury golf retreat in Florida featuring courses by Coore & Crenshaw and Tom Doak built on an abandoned phosphate mine sounded like my particular brand of vodka. When I pulled up the location on Goggle Maps, however, my opinion quickly changed. Frankly, I thought they were nuts...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A golf resort 40 miles from the nearest thing resembling civilization sounded like a bad idea. But the developers charged ahead, and with every unbelievable update on the construction my fascination with the resort grew more and more. At long last, some 4 years after reading that first press release, I was finally able to experience Streamsong first hand. Let's just say, it didn't disappoint.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: All of it...literally.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQrKkdjDvmul_qTmQy81PlMyQP6pAyrnGGHdDy6p3nxZ09VcKPjUQA7DU-moHBgmuhPb3vfldMwbUf6hL4B1xrBSdnJYLLIFbfHapUFZIeLEIn9A28ElMzAHJ4Nd5H3W3gQZMBmcuPGQy/s1600/IMG_6479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQrKkdjDvmul_qTmQy81PlMyQP6pAyrnGGHdDy6p3nxZ09VcKPjUQA7DU-moHBgmuhPb3vfldMwbUf6hL4B1xrBSdnJYLLIFbfHapUFZIeLEIn9A28ElMzAHJ4Nd5H3W3gQZMBmcuPGQy/s1600/IMG_6479.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2e2fUV8yaHQmpZ28jlEQz7K-OQXozHUGYC3kPBk6IPlcgemrogm2R_64PNcz6lqE1miXzCFiatBZXknAuhbmHtG5GucC5MH346uw-_2jGCSpeHVpsKHCs9sFlnG-qQ8uLK9GEHBvKQc68/s1600/IMG_6492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2e2fUV8yaHQmpZ28jlEQz7K-OQXozHUGYC3kPBk6IPlcgemrogm2R_64PNcz6lqE1miXzCFiatBZXknAuhbmHtG5GucC5MH346uw-_2jGCSpeHVpsKHCs9sFlnG-qQ8uLK9GEHBvKQc68/s1600/IMG_6492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbEwg9SgkeXlYJ4U2tCvW3FXQDA85gDTziMeTHX2HDf_Cw5sa7MRMNKj1mAU7qanoonEvcDstzBPxBv1nFD_Wc_8RSV0SW39P848Nh3SsF9e3pcqtyd98eYb24ItWqrnVS-STrchOQUDE/s1600/IMG_6688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZbEwg9SgkeXlYJ4U2tCvW3FXQDA85gDTziMeTHX2HDf_Cw5sa7MRMNKj1mAU7qanoonEvcDstzBPxBv1nFD_Wc_8RSV0SW39P848Nh3SsF9e3pcqtyd98eYb24ItWqrnVS-STrchOQUDE/s1600/IMG_6688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy2cPdwJpfacKOapfr9Mw8L2AJiHA61B7z7Iw4ZX7rZjzeKHiVdW0AFEfxK3RSEGAwV9_E0kngoC-ORiWYWA8ur-8GEHvpPao3KnCWLq_URcdQ726mltVRvzZsCfExMoT_RbJvyPPO4-T/s1600/IMG_6692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUy2cPdwJpfacKOapfr9Mw8L2AJiHA61B7z7Iw4ZX7rZjzeKHiVdW0AFEfxK3RSEGAwV9_E0kngoC-ORiWYWA8ur-8GEHvpPao3KnCWLq_URcdQ726mltVRvzZsCfExMoT_RbJvyPPO4-T/s1600/IMG_6692.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>The Snake Pit</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The finale of sorts for the year took my foursome of golf buddies to the Innisbrook Resort, home to the Tour's Valspar Championship. We were there to celebrate RJ's 30th birthday, and I planned to give him his first loss of the year as a gift. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After a tune-up round on the surprisingly awesome Island course, the next morning's bleary eyed trek for iced coffee was met with a gorgeous sunrise and high hopes for that long awaited victory. Let's just say I'm still waiting. Not only did I lose yet again to RJ, he managed to beat me with an <i>eleven</i> on his scorecard. In the end, I finished the year 0-3-1 in our golf travels together. On the bright side, that's probably good enough to earn a Captain's Pick at the next Ryder Cup.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Highlight: Gathered around the resort's firepit with glasses in hand and exaggerated stories at the ready.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV1cK1CkCKbFAbBWOKM1M8gZPKXi4JTL8cvg80iURLoNjBKys1xtPccNw3vg2o7o6c-HOV9LtqB-OsYNaGzyPGQnOdcDtGLff7fzYSYe8eoaa-TO7uNq-W-oNWhAsOjnY8miF5e49jXTu/s1600/Innisbrook1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxV1cK1CkCKbFAbBWOKM1M8gZPKXi4JTL8cvg80iURLoNjBKys1xtPccNw3vg2o7o6c-HOV9LtqB-OsYNaGzyPGQnOdcDtGLff7fzYSYe8eoaa-TO7uNq-W-oNWhAsOjnY8miF5e49jXTu/s1600/Innisbrook1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKgU-MEwhrzZK5xYV07bj8L9xNNRlOsus-nBgXfUYSlW0pcTf8opxe1osFnJ1Pc5VzJ7mIb21HP29z5YKEpG0rEXO6xKtxCsbApS7Rv9I1PLqR6lmGQ5fjV9AGEHITaq7rhqGMG8mxjo2/s1600/IMG_7107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKgU-MEwhrzZK5xYV07bj8L9xNNRlOsus-nBgXfUYSlW0pcTf8opxe1osFnJ1Pc5VzJ7mIb21HP29z5YKEpG0rEXO6xKtxCsbApS7Rv9I1PLqR6lmGQ5fjV9AGEHITaq7rhqGMG8mxjo2/s1600/IMG_7107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWsu4Uh3NdzpPGIesfzzPmfz6zBBWogw_ftUOjp6eqQrwtAaTfPL5A02T4804__nqIDf95LQUQah8DrvOXUgz8jzEhXjq6CYuaiDlvQsotuK7IKFkcZUV6aOxgSJ3jkxcmj0ey90GXUmN/s1600/IMG_7139+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWsu4Uh3NdzpPGIesfzzPmfz6zBBWogw_ftUOjp6eqQrwtAaTfPL5A02T4804__nqIDf95LQUQah8DrvOXUgz8jzEhXjq6CYuaiDlvQsotuK7IKFkcZUV6aOxgSJ3jkxcmj0ey90GXUmN/s1600/IMG_7139+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtucVMbRX5Mwa4OxbMoNXtQC-we97Qdal609Dh_8D87EjjAl-0y780v-MzO3xoxgRA2di5S731FfhS5LsEVyZLCtdzQ68G5j6-1rXG9JG3KQeEQG5OGKL-N1LGaNyAlEf1vzBd5Oqw-_YF/s1600/IMG_7501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtucVMbRX5Mwa4OxbMoNXtQC-we97Qdal609Dh_8D87EjjAl-0y780v-MzO3xoxgRA2di5S731FfhS5LsEVyZLCtdzQ68G5j6-1rXG9JG3KQeEQG5OGKL-N1LGaNyAlEf1vzBd5Oqw-_YF/s1600/IMG_7501.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, no telling of my year in golf travel would be complete without a mention of those memories made close to home. First, I started walking my home course more as opposed to taking a cart, many times with just 5 or 6 clubs. It's amazing how many new things you see on a course you've played your entire life when you're on foot as opposed to driving by it all. In addition, by leaving half the bag in the car it forces me to be more imaginative in what shot I hit, instead of the same old boring shots round after round. Whether either of these will help improve my record against RJ in 2015 remains to be seen.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VDJVNpEZwC0XW7zbSTnvxRNdkMMKn0q_1DIT_zoehmxle2gKRaXByaFL9j7OFJHj_mUxjbEnma0zvD-9AMGrK72APVC_HDB1GcTbwCpL0MspJiFQ4w8ERO21v-KKhJE3tnK4mMMfSp70/s1600/Judd-golf4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4VDJVNpEZwC0XW7zbSTnvxRNdkMMKn0q_1DIT_zoehmxle2gKRaXByaFL9j7OFJHj_mUxjbEnma0zvD-9AMGrK72APVC_HDB1GcTbwCpL0MspJiFQ4w8ERO21v-KKhJE3tnK4mMMfSp70/s1600/Judd-golf4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As much as I enjoyed seeing my home course in a new light, it was even more fulfilling watching my nephew, Old Sport, see it for the first time. He tagged along for many late evening matches between his dad and I, and I'm pretty sure his indoctrination into the game is going just as planned. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwzLQnrSo_3KAFhsJZaOibajRDigIaSIdmJmAS2NuVDilt-RxcZFYLUj2q_OhDAsafvDToUgjkt3o-fSoZtMxjmgR7xTZTB6VW212JQ7iKJ990qhIP7ZnXFB9gLxkHwaG9fA8hHTLYYv3/s1600/judd-golf5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwzLQnrSo_3KAFhsJZaOibajRDigIaSIdmJmAS2NuVDilt-RxcZFYLUj2q_OhDAsafvDToUgjkt3o-fSoZtMxjmgR7xTZTB6VW212JQ7iKJ990qhIP7ZnXFB9gLxkHwaG9fA8hHTLYYv3/s1600/judd-golf5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Although I didn't come away from 2014 with bag tags from a host of major championship venues, this year in golf felt every bit as fulfilling. As I look back on the year and what made it memorable, a pair of common themes seemed to be at work. The first is my brother's "lucky shirt"... Make no mistake, that faded sage green polo he's wearing in most of these photos strikes subconscious fear in my golf game every time I see it. The "lucky shirt" only makes an appearance when we play at renowned courses, and my strategy is to get it so much use that it eventually falls to shreds. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The real common theme to the year, however, is really quite simple... People. Aside from Streamsong, all of these experiences involved family and friends, both old and new. As memorable as my visits to places like Pinehurst, Kiawah, and Pebble Beach might have been, they were all done alone. Golf at its core is a social sport, and this year I learned that few things that can top a great course paired with some of the people that mean the most to you.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxmTFarykejC7BUvbbLyv8AwidABgLFqqx9f9JWYu2wx68vNLSekk9Xcm6LopGTaC5YbRTLdeq0oj9tNnUbeP44wPbJPyuy6pXuvcoBMriG8gjnAkF5z9LRjJ5rjWOVudoTnL7NCacnM1/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxmTFarykejC7BUvbbLyv8AwidABgLFqqx9f9JWYu2wx68vNLSekk9Xcm6LopGTaC5YbRTLdeq0oj9tNnUbeP44wPbJPyuy6pXuvcoBMriG8gjnAkF5z9LRjJ5rjWOVudoTnL7NCacnM1/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Cheers to you, and here's hoping your 2015 is filled with plenty of fairways & greens.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enjoy Your Stay</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-80552903142259883962014-12-01T01:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T01:00:12.293-05:00Key West - A Walking Tour of Family History<span style="font-size: large;">Key West... For some, it's that place where they bought the Mile Marker 0 magnet for their car, or where the last halfway decent season of <i>The Real World</i> was staged. For others, it's where Hemingway wasted away at the local bar, long before Jimmy Buffet arrived and created a cult following out of lousy music. But for yours truly, Key West is an odd mixture of both a place that's completely foreign and, strangely enough, sort of like home.</span><br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKapc5yglCJ47o1vpenNXDGH_udRHz-uinBrQGscN4dJSs75oGC1VYySQJmku3UNullX5Z3NswH9VuKowITgCwoYG1nVCudmQxRmzTFRJowW7Es0J1GXSahp4cbd2DR4RPcaaAioU9PFP/s1600/IMG_7252+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKapc5yglCJ47o1vpenNXDGH_udRHz-uinBrQGscN4dJSs75oGC1VYySQJmku3UNullX5Z3NswH9VuKowITgCwoYG1nVCudmQxRmzTFRJowW7Es0J1GXSahp4cbd2DR4RPcaaAioU9PFP/s1600/IMG_7252+(1).JPG" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">That foreign feeling was evident the minute we stepped off the Brilliance of the Seas and into the sweltering subtropical November heat. At first glance, Key West feels like every other cheesy port found on a Caribbean cruise, with a number of tour operators and shops selling useless trinkets, along with the occasional dude literally walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tr5Pol6KcDlUWTJbXfK0lHHa-kMlFXl1WDsiVB_KXES9qOBNYL8r6T2rwCDSd7Us4gfXQeKi4uKj8CLIsQ6xw_bTgFhUbUmI2LxYN3znVhmv0Fn9xptgsVIQ-lIdM3KfBtJH7NGFJkpa/s1600/KW1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Tr5Pol6KcDlUWTJbXfK0lHHa-kMlFXl1WDsiVB_KXES9qOBNYL8r6T2rwCDSd7Us4gfXQeKi4uKj8CLIsQ6xw_bTgFhUbUmI2LxYN3znVhmv0Fn9xptgsVIQ-lIdM3KfBtJH7NGFJkpa/s1600/KW1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never have understood the attraction here..</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Some would argue that Key West actually is a foreign port of call, having (sort of) seceded from the Union to form the Conch Republic back in the early 1980s. It doesn't take long, however, for that Twilight Zone feeling to pass and for the Key West that I love to emerge in its place. The one that's filled with an endless supply of rich history... specifically, my own. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT1ngxjoaNb0tC1_pvhjXLJPCoFnpnhmhJ2isOrSSmExzUhJLtflUNY2wPTBbQMmWixSsE2UzvDCQpz_4V73YzKkml_UW0DMRphJTNcS3r4-fCu-VyzpyOd-5CecCMzXIkG-EMWifvbRK/s1600/IMG_7267+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCT1ngxjoaNb0tC1_pvhjXLJPCoFnpnhmhJ2isOrSSmExzUhJLtflUNY2wPTBbQMmWixSsE2UzvDCQpz_4V73YzKkml_UW0DMRphJTNcS3r4-fCu-VyzpyOd-5CecCMzXIkG-EMWifvbRK/s1600/IMG_7267+(1).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wonder how many of those 0s have been stolen over the years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although I can barely relate to Key West's margarita drinking, flip flop wearing, independence seeking ways, 1/4 of the blood in my veins is native "Conch." Long before Florida really seceded from the Union, my ancestors made their way to Key West for a variety of reasons. The cigar trade brought some to the island, while others were shipwrecked by pirates - yes, pirates - en route to Tampa and apparently just decided that Key West was close enough. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOns-8eBCNdoMtTyR8mcnflOPnNkSx9B9dlH7xcPUxUC5KttYRaOVvbHX9u0piVbjU7x4_qAr1Sda0O17mJ1jirU5FggGwnHTvl7i3DNPGnvgmHCvqREwX_mcvyQAXMspgV8xAQOzdaRi6/s1600/IMG_7398+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOns-8eBCNdoMtTyR8mcnflOPnNkSx9B9dlH7xcPUxUC5KttYRaOVvbHX9u0piVbjU7x4_qAr1Sda0O17mJ1jirU5FggGwnHTvl7i3DNPGnvgmHCvqREwX_mcvyQAXMspgV8xAQOzdaRi6/s1600/IMG_7398+(1).JPG" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd have stayed too...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward a couple of centuries, MJ and I found ourselves face to face with the matriarch of that Conch heritage while roaming Mallory Square. There we found a bronze bust of Elizabetha Knight - my great-great-great-great grandmother. I'm not entirely certain, but there may actually be one more "great" in there. What we do know, however, is that she didn't have the best of luck in the husband department. </span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELuElNBrxSmh650bg3brsqXhD-W3M_z8JGWInU0vPUnlLLDKSnHbisYJ9D3CItFDJfEbPIZ4Ssy82KQ46pYrgyB9wTyd3kRD8IEyaHd0CvtrM-GAw-kzPHniox1yH19HwWBhpPnCyFcu/s1600/IMG_7313+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELuElNBrxSmh650bg3brsqXhD-W3M_z8JGWInU0vPUnlLLDKSnHbisYJ9D3CItFDJfEbPIZ4Ssy82KQ46pYrgyB9wTyd3kRD8IEyaHd0CvtrM-GAw-kzPHniox1yH19HwWBhpPnCyFcu/s1600/IMG_7313+(1).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From Mallory Square we set off down Whitehead Street, which runs parallel to notorious Duval, and soon came across another famous piece of family history. The Banyan House is impossible to miss and a regular highlight for anyone that explores the city via the uber-tacky Conch Train. It also happens to be the birthplace and childhood home of my grandfather, as well as an enormous opportunity missed. You see, most visitors just gaze at the towering banyan tree and historic B&B and move on, but I linger a little longer, pondering what might have been an early retirement for everyone in my family.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_x_JwtQLWLu8sGGDnTYwpesHQuKI58npsGBeg0OgCHvGQ2qBtKbLJ4qj1ZEFnKfJTUmgr6F83fbK16UmXk_wP06_EOtpepH3mKKtXv79hgeimwKLAhuyoMehgM7eLEYNCzqqvyMZQiOA/s1600/IMG_7255+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_x_JwtQLWLu8sGGDnTYwpesHQuKI58npsGBeg0OgCHvGQ2qBtKbLJ4qj1ZEFnKfJTUmgr6F83fbK16UmXk_wP06_EOtpepH3mKKtXv79hgeimwKLAhuyoMehgM7eLEYNCzqqvyMZQiOA/s1600/IMG_7255+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why oh why didn't we keep this?!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A little further down Whitehead one will find the Hemingway House and a few of his famous cats, but our next stop is actually found directly across the street. The Key West Lighthouse was decommissioned by the Navy nearly 50 years ago, but the beacon still stands as a landmark in the heart of town. My great-great aunt and uncle once called the historic lighthouse and its adjacent quarters home, which definitely would have made them the coolest aunt and uncle ever if I had been around during that time.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeW8zfObyng4dUJsfKIXvSKpOAA5lKA64Rzz5oGb3Pi0ZgK7IaGFhz5SlWybMlbNbGGLm_lAxHpyMnOv0GxknR4_EbmgU2B63z9HvN0Lq9xdl_uEuJaCSN8v-44RDNNHg7Xe1o0haXanu/s1600/IMG_7289+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeW8zfObyng4dUJsfKIXvSKpOAA5lKA64Rzz5oGb3Pi0ZgK7IaGFhz5SlWybMlbNbGGLm_lAxHpyMnOv0GxknR4_EbmgU2B63z9HvN0Lq9xdl_uEuJaCSN8v-44RDNNHg7Xe1o0haXanu/s1600/IMG_7289+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All of this walking helped us to work up an appetite, and thankfully I knew just the place for a quick lunch nearby. El Siboney is something of a Key West institution, serving perhaps the most authentic Cuban food outside of Havana. I can remember coming here as a kid and going through roughly 4 baskets of their mouth-watering Cuban bread. Thankfully, not much has changed in 25 years, including my degree of bread consumption.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhRlRN44KRPwJ7JQ7HcYzB2-dAIhGsQ6OX3Ro-UFS9KiNMCeorZAdhcPPeJSIMo64F4vs_ltymAvx1g7qL64yn_faBSbaI9JmnVyBKOUUBz-L87rfTKxGhSkHTrbl4PVXIHWRMpIxXL3F/s1600/IMG_7405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhRlRN44KRPwJ7JQ7HcYzB2-dAIhGsQ6OX3Ro-UFS9KiNMCeorZAdhcPPeJSIMo64F4vs_ltymAvx1g7qL64yn_faBSbaI9JmnVyBKOUUBz-L87rfTKxGhSkHTrbl4PVXIHWRMpIxXL3F/s1600/IMG_7405.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Back outside in the sauna, MJ and I made our way over to Duval Street, stopped in for a slice at the Key Lime Pie Company (Note: Don't believe the hype. Go to Kermit's instead) before arriving at the next stop on our makeshift tour. St. Paul's Episcopal Church has to be one of the most ironically located houses of worship in the world. Multiple generations of my family were married here and all of the doors entering the church bear a plaque in remembrance of once ancestor or another. And yet today, St. Paul's stands as a gleaming white edifice surrounded on all sides by the debauchery of the Duval Street area, no doubt casting a bit of shame on those stumbling by in the small hours of the morning.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN8iY-Gy2psOSoEtScIbUU6wPhYelScexuiLIh5HfoeOhF87EuW4FJUUqAAOEmiCMlOv2psNUg3_DOVtFXerjVewjBWrLGznEmXHFC0GNFI3H3mdk1rd2A40mjF5QjokS9L92ajfPmBZC/s1600/IMG_7404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyN8iY-Gy2psOSoEtScIbUU6wPhYelScexuiLIh5HfoeOhF87EuW4FJUUqAAOEmiCMlOv2psNUg3_DOVtFXerjVewjBWrLGznEmXHFC0GNFI3H3mdk1rd2A40mjF5QjokS9L92ajfPmBZC/s1600/IMG_7404.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, no telling of our family history in Key West would be complete without a mention of the game of golf. It was here that my connection to the game was born, with my grandfather and great-grandfather both serving as head professional at Key West Country Club. When he wasn't at Augusta or running the country, President Eisenhower would join the two quite often for a few rounds of golf. Before his arrival, the President would famously call and inquire about the severity of the mosquitos. If they were bad, an Air Force jet would arrive soon thereafter, drenching the course with a layer of insecticide. An abuse of power? Maybe, but golf is just that important.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ak6MxprR-YqirWnQY5KCdm1VoNUj22H_AVRFD0DE-rB8easiF4gIJ9h1HEStQ9_7d1y40CyHsV-D0X7R1SZXrkAf5IjjEIc2Q0XBahSMl1v4ON-WrdR-wpIMuxf1YhFg8_XZNyjPO-Fc/s1600/KWGC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ak6MxprR-YqirWnQY5KCdm1VoNUj22H_AVRFD0DE-rB8easiF4gIJ9h1HEStQ9_7d1y40CyHsV-D0X7R1SZXrkAf5IjjEIc2Q0XBahSMl1v4ON-WrdR-wpIMuxf1YhFg8_XZNyjPO-Fc/s1600/KWGC.jpg" height="198" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty sure it didn't look like this during their day.<br />
Photo Courtesy KWGC.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The final stop on our tour of Key West is, somewhat morbidly, the same for many of my ancestors. The Key West Cemetery is well known for its stacked grave sites, and many generations are at rest within the gates of our family plot. To stand beside the grave of my great-grandmother, remembering the countless games of gin rummy she purposely lost to me as a kid, with <i>her</i> great-grandmother just a few feet away, always feels just a little bit surreal. But there is simply no better place to grasp how deep our family history runs on this tiny island than by stepping inside that gate.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YYuqxx-vCaDvbbODtjOaR3km7W-qnRyrelEUvWWkTPPrra0kxaeCXRVYA2rS4WTcd_f3gtg33-37Lvszw4M49lKaekbDrhJT1XER1rXmDUo2jhu9p3c_YtX1PlwGL-oLLSwnUvIZOK8t/s1600/IMG_7302+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YYuqxx-vCaDvbbODtjOaR3km7W-qnRyrelEUvWWkTPPrra0kxaeCXRVYA2rS4WTcd_f3gtg33-37Lvszw4M49lKaekbDrhJT1XER1rXmDUo2jhu9p3c_YtX1PlwGL-oLLSwnUvIZOK8t/s1600/IMG_7302+(1).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And yet, the story of that history has largely come to an end, with most of our family having moved on from Key West - literally and figuratively - leaving behind a legacy that's a source of pride for us all. But just as all politics is local, all history is personal. Key West remains a very special place filled with equally special memories. It was here that I caught lobster by hand with my grandfather, and proposed to MJ at sunrise some 20 years later. Perhaps one day I'll share those stories with an inquisitive niece or nephew, adding a few more chapters to their own story of Key West.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-44147045290509453812014-11-05T01:00:00.000-05:002014-11-05T19:45:45.495-05:00A Photo Tour of Streamsong Resort<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes in this business, it's best to set aside the writer's ego and just let the pictures do the talking. There are simply some stories that are better told with images, because no amount of highly descriptive adjectives could do it justice. Pebble Beach was one of those places for me, and so too was the Streamsong Resort - Florida's newest golf destination that defies everything I'd ever come to know about golf resorts in the Sunshine State.</span><br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6e2gA4dh8X7zGse6-ujjdB52l3K1-0QAdrQTJuivblkno3fLgxIx-qxgdU-VKFyc94fNI2M_wB6uCEuqwtXBB7_Y9lVcYQEvqrdxuG6KATLk7Afm8XKw4n-0JJ-ctEoIxQLOBXuTIAY_/s1600/Streamsong5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Blue 7th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6e2gA4dh8X7zGse6-ujjdB52l3K1-0QAdrQTJuivblkno3fLgxIx-qxgdU-VKFyc94fNI2M_wB6uCEuqwtXBB7_Y9lVcYQEvqrdxuG6KATLk7Afm8XKw4n-0JJ-ctEoIxQLOBXuTIAY_/s1600/Streamsong5.JPG" title="Streamsong Blue 7th Hole" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The postcard hole at Streamsong.. The 7th on the Blue course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you prefer the longhand version of the story, then here's <a href="http://www.golfwrx.com/250991/a-jewel-in-the-dunes-floridas-streamsong-resort/" target="_blank">1000 words on the resort</a> from yours truly at GolfWRX. Otherwise, here's the story of Streamsong in pictures.</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSQgvHeHQoxNJ9HXfw2H99Ceghf9ha0DXzQgObH-nj1xqVKTFQC9rEg9cUf5XB_XTB-RFtD_WcjeNOEkCVgMOosu5-kE6pE7uVFXa8mEzpoCCkFI_yqwY14BcbbWt0Hec8B97FczefKUr/s1600/IMG_6847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Directions to Streamsong Resort" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSQgvHeHQoxNJ9HXfw2H99Ceghf9ha0DXzQgObH-nj1xqVKTFQC9rEg9cUf5XB_XTB-RFtD_WcjeNOEkCVgMOosu5-kE6pE7uVFXa8mEzpoCCkFI_yqwY14BcbbWt0Hec8B97FczefKUr/s1600/IMG_6847.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Resort Directions" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Directions to Streamsong: Go to middle of nowhere. Turn left. Continue 40 miles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwL9dQXvKXo0KdhiAKw8VRpHnXbgiDTNweQfwEmL392FTNyebIM-mvGz5_XRLAwQG_3GtTolVAXk6YIe1AEMdbBtDf5T7VfV75FRfPUiMtxn4X7gSl5fh7n3zEYo7E2MbShybLID8l8wg/s1600/IMG_6406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Directions to Streamsong Resort" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwL9dQXvKXo0KdhiAKw8VRpHnXbgiDTNweQfwEmL392FTNyebIM-mvGz5_XRLAwQG_3GtTolVAXk6YIe1AEMdbBtDf5T7VfV75FRfPUiMtxn4X7gSl5fh7n3zEYo7E2MbShybLID8l8wg/s1600/IMG_6406.JPG" height="300" title="Directions to Streamsong Resort" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting closer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIMSXY-atgfd01Vh5q6kUWEXj5XbvHNeI8pbKGET8iiibn-shhWX-rYayuYa7gLkfSG4uC1Ef-ihkSxoGONLLCY_n3YLuKlyGyxUEPqPwEvKCVmiFZDbpSh1hmw-roG5FpfgwblXjXUji/s1600/IMG_6848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIMSXY-atgfd01Vh5q6kUWEXj5XbvHNeI8pbKGET8iiibn-shhWX-rYayuYa7gLkfSG4uC1Ef-ihkSxoGONLLCY_n3YLuKlyGyxUEPqPwEvKCVmiFZDbpSh1hmw-roG5FpfgwblXjXUji/s1600/IMG_6848.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made it... I guess?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqbMlgjNtzbF7PTkLBBjXlqvVAMSaMYfX2gTxt6HgF6C0XP6TVX8J4T4_Jfw22Pe5DBZGmLhyphenhyphen_UA_pgpjOm54siPi_19MD_VxYmb7ZqgLW5uAwYx2fg1ZexfaiG6P_F38qi3zthbaGeW2/s1600/Streamsong4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLqbMlgjNtzbF7PTkLBBjXlqvVAMSaMYfX2gTxt6HgF6C0XP6TVX8J4T4_Jfw22Pe5DBZGmLhyphenhyphen_UA_pgpjOm54siPi_19MD_VxYmb7ZqgLW5uAwYx2fg1ZexfaiG6P_F38qi3zthbaGeW2/s1600/Streamsong4.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ultra-modern Lodge at Streamsong inspired by Salvidor Dali.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp0fvqb9DcpPyHHBtBqsuNFoUfOfkK1VvjDT9CcQpS3UfgjgHSaWwp7LMUBXdMVVqCJ9sX0aGyYzBzVrKtZl7vN0UfBnieaKCZriNxQp_co2GPB4NXBYQRh9kIAHBA3nTlqSiuPlWgLz2/s1600/IMG_6612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpp0fvqb9DcpPyHHBtBqsuNFoUfOfkK1VvjDT9CcQpS3UfgjgHSaWwp7LMUBXdMVVqCJ9sX0aGyYzBzVrKtZl7vN0UfBnieaKCZriNxQp_co2GPB4NXBYQRh9kIAHBA3nTlqSiuPlWgLz2/s1600/IMG_6612.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sleek, if maybe a little sterile, front desk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ABWgS1vGKxL9nz45uE89TBWPG5VfHymch4Uegg4CGFv22a4akJCmDcsmjUiCUpUjyBGh_UHH_5KAY6hlRLUVBt0nzQAfJoR7UoF7vpKA4N-JsYp1FCmj-DH6mJOSDptjMVfe4oGjGME6/s1600/IMG_6584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ABWgS1vGKxL9nz45uE89TBWPG5VfHymch4Uegg4CGFv22a4akJCmDcsmjUiCUpUjyBGh_UHH_5KAY6hlRLUVBt0nzQAfJoR7UoF7vpKA4N-JsYp1FCmj-DH6mJOSDptjMVfe4oGjGME6/s1600/IMG_6584.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plenty of seating and an incredible sunset. My kind of lobby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hibr0Z_UZfKbmeXV0GN_1tgnSoUbghr5K9m4Lm0cdtcXKOfNqC0LDA7oelKkGLGBCnDKZ4yN4f8sRezX6WOxMvbX_NBSctwCxB-XVbIIB8jGAbandcAZlmmlGoWtyzRCbzViAuFZNaQK/s1600/IMG_6849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Hibr0Z_UZfKbmeXV0GN_1tgnSoUbghr5K9m4Lm0cdtcXKOfNqC0LDA7oelKkGLGBCnDKZ4yN4f8sRezX6WOxMvbX_NBSctwCxB-XVbIIB8jGAbandcAZlmmlGoWtyzRCbzViAuFZNaQK/s1600/IMG_6849.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An interesting choice of artwork.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTXvElap9AS4A8Dox_nUTKgixBbzJmjGRE5vUrvT-qJkRYKMauXSMBP8h1vNMcwFBrxWTcGwWSl5fXY4_pfohSBVZngeWaqb-EdsjyFR70qMh_k-KGhY_9BI06JC23kDU5724bbVS5twu/s1600/IMG_6608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTXvElap9AS4A8Dox_nUTKgixBbzJmjGRE5vUrvT-qJkRYKMauXSMBP8h1vNMcwFBrxWTcGwWSl5fXY4_pfohSBVZngeWaqb-EdsjyFR70qMh_k-KGhY_9BI06JC23kDU5724bbVS5twu/s1600/IMG_6608.JPG" height="186" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A photo history showing the property's former life as a phosphate mine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9b5xA_RX4BbUx7a_FRSbmBXmzpr3XjaCyDQ4s7uk2hNoPKnrl9M-fJbHNuxUuoZ0fNc_0Taf2iIsHQEE2uSUBBVOnx63VN2h3CeXI58Wb6qhhEqrMLPnptkRdl9wwqkEpeum4jdEJyhD/s1600/IMG_6589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy9b5xA_RX4BbUx7a_FRSbmBXmzpr3XjaCyDQ4s7uk2hNoPKnrl9M-fJbHNuxUuoZ0fNc_0Taf2iIsHQEE2uSUBBVOnx63VN2h3CeXI58Wb6qhhEqrMLPnptkRdl9wwqkEpeum4jdEJyhD/s1600/IMG_6589.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White duvet... Check. Awesome view... Check. Two TVs in one room... Check.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ovlFE-wbydZZnDKNM8CyyRSKMjMd_XdIgNZZkRhO8RhFzJXzrlNV5NHnr02XxOjgUGQL28F_CW_DIC8WI-FbXHUGxGgwh0m9Se3dG-VBp3phWM684lrOrLopZlO3-lkPgTTDp4FlKgU0/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Lodge" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ovlFE-wbydZZnDKNM8CyyRSKMjMd_XdIgNZZkRhO8RhFzJXzrlNV5NHnr02XxOjgUGQL28F_CW_DIC8WI-FbXHUGxGgwh0m9Se3dG-VBp3phWM684lrOrLopZlO3-lkPgTTDp4FlKgU0/s1600/IMG_6422.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Lodge" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The impressive book collection in the room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtCDIMX24H7syWdnf23LbWd6o6H7vdI8-ynzQxmnHTE2aI7Q1ZMXlSzBBdIjiCYadFLuC6iTrq7LPh9lx7t_yS9-12WOp0b07DTGT90WuNMBg6SyUF_zvBxSU0XbhyphenhyphenzFzK0RyAnVzk2qz/s1600/IMG_6447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Golf Clubhouse" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGtCDIMX24H7syWdnf23LbWd6o6H7vdI8-ynzQxmnHTE2aI7Q1ZMXlSzBBdIjiCYadFLuC6iTrq7LPh9lx7t_yS9-12WOp0b07DTGT90WuNMBg6SyUF_zvBxSU0XbhyphenhyphenzFzK0RyAnVzk2qz/s1600/IMG_6447.JPG" height="328" title="Streamsong Golf Clubhouse" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showtime... The clubhouse as seen from the putting green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQy-7aurRZLlPRXH563x6VW49TXV8v2QajoMjaVvQ5qufmeqbhr-wXBYEgSoP2m2Gsu4vL82aHDzraIlhWdolND3t3MWP2tU7_x1uCmlVd4PTaqxnnN_IqeRcfajem09cMnIO1Wt1f3PV/s1600/IMG_6455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQy-7aurRZLlPRXH563x6VW49TXV8v2QajoMjaVvQ5qufmeqbhr-wXBYEgSoP2m2Gsu4vL82aHDzraIlhWdolND3t3MWP2tU7_x1uCmlVd4PTaqxnnN_IqeRcfajem09cMnIO1Wt1f3PV/s1600/IMG_6455.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st tee on Streamsong Red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeZkJtHytbp0sTi42WXSDc5DU0rRD1YbxFshQghk1QgZiNvNkbI2TaHzB1qehaUMVx6VQgo8zPRZyeJ7ZzXtVPzFVRqPaoptyO3tQDYSdvCO6M7F7cfgC8fOFKcmwPui7grikyKrkVfH/s1600/IMG_6458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPeZkJtHytbp0sTi42WXSDc5DU0rRD1YbxFshQghk1QgZiNvNkbI2TaHzB1qehaUMVx6VQgo8zPRZyeJ7ZzXtVPzFVRqPaoptyO3tQDYSdvCO6M7F7cfgC8fOFKcmwPui7grikyKrkVfH/s1600/IMG_6458.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where not to miss it on the 1st hole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAH6kVEgNBAPEPvy4ZNRH_Db8FT3HWBggJxe6p8KNQnj_9drYvcnXQPZvtAmOsV4RN667MEmfO12jXk5MxI6Crvxa8pr3KlX-JSvs4NlDoWw8RKrEib5HGw1IB___F8HMohsH0tGu68iU/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAH6kVEgNBAPEPvy4ZNRH_Db8FT3HWBggJxe6p8KNQnj_9drYvcnXQPZvtAmOsV4RN667MEmfO12jXk5MxI6Crvxa8pr3KlX-JSvs4NlDoWw8RKrEib5HGw1IB___F8HMohsH0tGu68iU/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG" height="284" title="Streamsong Red 1st Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back from the 1st green toward the clubhouse.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcj3SGugFeK78vrhmbWgQ7P4Ewn4vIl-sWnxxJIOrpPuQ3Hgvwq_6sIrN0P6xGO6-nf1MLtejP3kcoBQSm5OJ3BqQXmlIAsQWkP69QX_EBlWq7Me4ZU9W9icUUe0_8AyJTXrk77p5jn32/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 2nd Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcj3SGugFeK78vrhmbWgQ7P4Ewn4vIl-sWnxxJIOrpPuQ3Hgvwq_6sIrN0P6xGO6-nf1MLtejP3kcoBQSm5OJ3BqQXmlIAsQWkP69QX_EBlWq7Me4ZU9W9icUUe0_8AyJTXrk77p5jn32/s1600/IMG_6462.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 2nd Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd fairway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6y7jGGIjCUg1BVlajktN5Wyt-1YdpUArVr4tsRTrMxNJJSMBP-2U-_MhcfmEg1ndnWXXGh0tVi0VojfZqswD_ajBlD-QqhfA5hL9aJbDdVfpn3aSFOJpQt6Hah6pDirmBRt84o9tEL4E/s1600/IMG_6475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 4th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6y7jGGIjCUg1BVlajktN5Wyt-1YdpUArVr4tsRTrMxNJJSMBP-2U-_MhcfmEg1ndnWXXGh0tVi0VojfZqswD_ajBlD-QqhfA5hL9aJbDdVfpn3aSFOJpQt6Hah6pDirmBRt84o9tEL4E/s1600/IMG_6475.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 4th Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perhaps my favorite approach of the day. Par-4 4th hole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-XWqONWd_iCAipJVqsw31JyLdmmciTISKs-HeAtReugDQ7TDq8Fkfxaecq7v418VpQi-3klUkzFglubvB9978ZcMch2v1Qeu3062_JtWTmgxHR7AoxBmNMjLoxXU7njeV55JkgcdpnDx/s1600/IMG_6483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 5th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-XWqONWd_iCAipJVqsw31JyLdmmciTISKs-HeAtReugDQ7TDq8Fkfxaecq7v418VpQi-3klUkzFglubvB9978ZcMch2v1Qeu3062_JtWTmgxHR7AoxBmNMjLoxXU7njeV55JkgcdpnDx/s1600/IMG_6483.JPG" height="334" title="Streamsong Red 5th Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5th tee. Great short par-4, at least from the black tees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH3UHIdsc7Qc_7YgtaR9cKsQ9E1T4LmFmdTPuzuSiZg4T28ovYSbJgqtqmXcuRINc7erq5zeLU97RByyiHtBo_-Jg5KtJGtzNe8hvY_1-wr49xPya_1zlayIzfHUQzIKDUsqjAwg1ctBp/s1600/IMG_6485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 5th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH3UHIdsc7Qc_7YgtaR9cKsQ9E1T4LmFmdTPuzuSiZg4T28ovYSbJgqtqmXcuRINc7erq5zeLU97RByyiHtBo_-Jg5KtJGtzNe8hvY_1-wr49xPya_1zlayIzfHUQzIKDUsqjAwg1ctBp/s1600/IMG_6485.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 5th Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The enormous 5th green with 6th in background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDW7hmRnN8HQO5Y2r7TCZSvXcACYHvLJRidC9uysvdME59Xp-p2n6r3JbKzyhG-W9ATuEuS8RR4Lrgtu3Nw2FKbjQK6u4sHwXaxvgcwESPpoZYkfkA42mOgb8qq8b9zvEp41jDBG1Xw9I/s1600/IMG_6850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 6th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoDW7hmRnN8HQO5Y2r7TCZSvXcACYHvLJRidC9uysvdME59Xp-p2n6r3JbKzyhG-W9ATuEuS8RR4Lrgtu3Nw2FKbjQK6u4sHwXaxvgcwESPpoZYkfkA42mOgb8qq8b9zvEp41jDBG1Xw9I/s1600/IMG_6850.JPG" height="480" title="Streamsong Red 6th Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing par-3 6th, with a huge gator out of scene left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjf1mG9FCwzTq5ulNy6zUTUiCZMmQ15XsP2a9szGwW_eDIlX4hg896k5EtjboVWqzxce3xFBAr9NRoLWl3p1xQaBpVyVAqaVozZVQDl-1mypE27fJ5CVve5UZFpaHo0S412ykiaP4IjRM/s1600/IMG_6493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisjf1mG9FCwzTq5ulNy6zUTUiCZMmQ15XsP2a9szGwW_eDIlX4hg896k5EtjboVWqzxce3xFBAr9NRoLWl3p1xQaBpVyVAqaVozZVQDl-1mypE27fJ5CVve5UZFpaHo0S412ykiaP4IjRM/s1600/IMG_6493.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One should probably be in moderately decent shape to walk this course...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V3f18jtXvyuseuZwF2eeGUvobSFojItbBICQ_h4Q68ojRZd_8z_L0Q_t1CGrRm2Zq0L9D9WINNFivk-3vIqz6qdrlWosyZgFhVClnRNThJjwxyNmaPjpawDRI0jxV7b-DhvkA5pmUCZg/s1600/IMG_6851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2V3f18jtXvyuseuZwF2eeGUvobSFojItbBICQ_h4Q68ojRZd_8z_L0Q_t1CGrRm2Zq0L9D9WINNFivk-3vIqz6qdrlWosyZgFhVClnRNThJjwxyNmaPjpawDRI0jxV7b-DhvkA5pmUCZg/s1600/IMG_6851.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRnJRBnIBRqa_HvZZnLsNNPG54VeZpnEjPEJiu6bOgwda2xmkhcrh5d6o19M5wGGyS_mlgPdJnNm0lkG8XXasjFDhMLQgh0u5XIF4t_vlQ2opwRVZ9aFUSCR6GUdsYxKtS62nT9_9YCNc/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRnJRBnIBRqa_HvZZnLsNNPG54VeZpnEjPEJiu6bOgwda2xmkhcrh5d6o19M5wGGyS_mlgPdJnNm0lkG8XXasjFDhMLQgh0u5XIF4t_vlQ2opwRVZ9aFUSCR6GUdsYxKtS62nT9_9YCNc/s1600/IMG_6517.JPG" height="480" title="Streamsong Red 7th Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the view was worth the climb.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XR2L70SsoZ38MLUvwSErlprgAzQxdV1wkC2DKNyqpgpeRMV2z4S8TH2O5cLvnGOP3o5ltyqwqx_HE2F9oZhdvpiqOwDSdCOWoEb4GrfAeTOXHID1MIOS4TtWxy0ta2iv-gaU5CDkFkIV/s1600/IMG_6502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XR2L70SsoZ38MLUvwSErlprgAzQxdV1wkC2DKNyqpgpeRMV2z4S8TH2O5cLvnGOP3o5ltyqwqx_HE2F9oZhdvpiqOwDSdCOWoEb4GrfAeTOXHID1MIOS4TtWxy0ta2iv-gaU5CDkFkIV/s1600/IMG_6502.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just your ordinary 57 yard deep green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWaGB-jVZ7XIapZtWAQzIVkAtJz2okodLyuKLlfIzubF93rEaxA8y03Jb3gzk_RLL6lAjijHkndgS_VE2-IT5ywKSoyGluEQ5Zwer7chW2L1odsmHX15VvfjUezdDrjwFlZfHyVcIvc1U/s1600/IMG_6513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWaGB-jVZ7XIapZtWAQzIVkAtJz2okodLyuKLlfIzubF93rEaxA8y03Jb3gzk_RLL6lAjijHkndgS_VE2-IT5ywKSoyGluEQ5Zwer7chW2L1odsmHX15VvfjUezdDrjwFlZfHyVcIvc1U/s1600/IMG_6513.JPG" height="330" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite things about Streamsong... Undefined tee boxes. Just slap down some markers and call it a hole.<br />
Worth noting that's roughly 70 yards of bailout area to the right of 7th green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvehOkvIZ7-mUSSenWuMeHMJ0bIxSmDsp1kt8tmM11gnXh0-C1kcLIeCkBVT3Eik6JoetNDpr2tH8W9h9byI4NQqokv_nAtFu9y0mHC-SRzP2CLhknzMqXwkFjT6QCh7fvVysPMPXaX5yF/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvehOkvIZ7-mUSSenWuMeHMJ0bIxSmDsp1kt8tmM11gnXh0-C1kcLIeCkBVT3Eik6JoetNDpr2tH8W9h9byI4NQqokv_nAtFu9y0mHC-SRzP2CLhknzMqXwkFjT6QCh7fvVysPMPXaX5yF/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shade... A rare commodity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs7yqIC6cVU0y5TnMbRK7B6GXq4UCxnn2Hg_Hy0O8XS8HoUsURWWJA9bttDaNV3IMTd0pXSLUVjycps5IMv-0Z6lNfD7TVu2W7sI-BLmjr0-W_T4mqGMAynCHKWWUxiuhSP7SQPDcFCGT/s1600/IMG_6853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 13th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrs7yqIC6cVU0y5TnMbRK7B6GXq4UCxnn2Hg_Hy0O8XS8HoUsURWWJA9bttDaNV3IMTd0pXSLUVjycps5IMv-0Z6lNfD7TVu2W7sI-BLmjr0-W_T4mqGMAynCHKWWUxiuhSP7SQPDcFCGT/s1600/IMG_6853.JPG" height="338" title="Streamsong Red 13th Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing on top of a dune left of the 13th green. Just for the picture, not cause my ball was there...of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzHwBDv5QHcKUvJAPutLs3Y5OOrP2iLA4IXy3jpIncnaU_f-vMKS_TX9EM-_oxqw4Ujs3E4_5rVNmsBPfw88hni9GP9SP8Rp92qV9pngITeJ9YL0K_l28uPqbWrd8Yg3RDOvehusHWt9k/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 14th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRzHwBDv5QHcKUvJAPutLs3Y5OOrP2iLA4IXy3jpIncnaU_f-vMKS_TX9EM-_oxqw4Ujs3E4_5rVNmsBPfw88hni9GP9SP8Rp92qV9pngITeJ9YL0K_l28uPqbWrd8Yg3RDOvehusHWt9k/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 14th Hole" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 14th. My favorite par3 on the Red...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGZenkoH2hXVo2dvzzA6DNm2JFRvCCXEh0JBQDv737h_cOd8e4WcA9HCcNxadkaBkVUCbjADIE9uHbs9cSepEV2JKlP-eijP9Tp5ftROSgbWdLHEbwDFH7REHE4VbZSSOKbkI1bKzhtkx/s1600/IMG_6555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 16th Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGZenkoH2hXVo2dvzzA6DNm2JFRvCCXEh0JBQDv737h_cOd8e4WcA9HCcNxadkaBkVUCbjADIE9uHbs9cSepEV2JKlP-eijP9Tp5ftROSgbWdLHEbwDFH7REHE4VbZSSOKbkI1bKzhtkx/s1600/IMG_6555.JPG" height="480" title="Streamsong Red 16th Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until I got here... The 16th on Red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLv1bKWEVvW6jh1bdNxXtDQ5vwJyfT0_igaj4cqAXk9VWb2Rhiz6KaWA86GWw6I5LZ8v0mVS6jGvPCNCQSr6AxwfQVkE7Y5jQr1bLwdCq95UEbl1OeFizokLkHp_kTNBeLvXLM9BS0nkaJ/s1600/IMG_6852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Red 16th Green" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLv1bKWEVvW6jh1bdNxXtDQ5vwJyfT0_igaj4cqAXk9VWb2Rhiz6KaWA86GWw6I5LZ8v0mVS6jGvPCNCQSr6AxwfQVkE7Y5jQr1bLwdCq95UEbl1OeFizokLkHp_kTNBeLvXLM9BS0nkaJ/s1600/IMG_6852.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Red 16th Green" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The old school Biarritz green on the 16th of Red.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge59jaUVJzMWdMgKQR2_ajlEKg5y0-Equ47BHHj97F1Ey32rwcYdZT8X7kY3dw4jlSqoLQIjBqh6UKU7Sbr43h8RwGfP5DXYEyOQ16gLkosSm5234a-pY5NMaeTCqxXTwCrOvSofEkR5tn/s1600/IMG_6580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge59jaUVJzMWdMgKQR2_ajlEKg5y0-Equ47BHHj97F1Ey32rwcYdZT8X7kY3dw4jlSqoLQIjBqh6UKU7Sbr43h8RwGfP5DXYEyOQ16gLkosSm5234a-pY5NMaeTCqxXTwCrOvSofEkR5tn/s1600/IMG_6580.JPG" height="354" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a day...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-q_7PqXlaBECrPtYfvW9xupHu59RshH63K-P6NaWoZv0ubSGldJn29LNgK6fOfVLoZDr26-PjJpHS9jeQx032xJJe64SGLXeweR_jcdcz9JhQYLP4FvpZSavxx_57988oHYL_VZFizoP/s1600/IMG_6604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-q_7PqXlaBECrPtYfvW9xupHu59RshH63K-P6NaWoZv0ubSGldJn29LNgK6fOfVLoZDr26-PjJpHS9jeQx032xJJe64SGLXeweR_jcdcz9JhQYLP4FvpZSavxx_57988oHYL_VZFizoP/s1600/IMG_6604.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Old Fashioned and crabcake in P2O5 to celebrate a great day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt3SnspVFQ-P_v5WOu248YAZ2G7jtskpQ1purVse9GH4jHXy-u2g-8vfg59XXsAAsY6sBmZPKnMIMxjcUlsrJUVWpUQlV81ursAFnMfW4ypM0KvJjEiBDIy-7NfHr8n_eVgQtkxr_4FKn/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSt3SnspVFQ-P_v5WOu248YAZ2G7jtskpQ1purVse9GH4jHXy-u2g-8vfg59XXsAAsY6sBmZPKnMIMxjcUlsrJUVWpUQlV81ursAFnMfW4ypM0KvJjEiBDIy-7NfHr8n_eVgQtkxr_4FKn/s1600/IMG_6629.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the sunrise from a lounge chair by the pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y1CMqQX3m1-MClJj2L7kPmaawziIFKtwnC8icghZnVKaQbgtQnZ5xz6eQwTZFwM0wEGpN4wrKVqhBmVWRta2T6GmucLKAnGJXlncMahCMpVZ9kEqSUPrPxVnjJowqrj19-P63eNWrcJ9/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Bye Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y1CMqQX3m1-MClJj2L7kPmaawziIFKtwnC8icghZnVKaQbgtQnZ5xz6eQwTZFwM0wEGpN4wrKVqhBmVWRta2T6GmucLKAnGJXlncMahCMpVZ9kEqSUPrPxVnjJowqrj19-P63eNWrcJ9/s1600/IMG_6642.JPG" height="360" title="Streamsong Bye Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bye Hole. Perfect for settling those pesky bets or a few nervous warm-up swings.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3c11KDPxLPjKlAFt8hgBHrV1lZ-UXx_LgNHmK760_6gu53-5Z-FefIHGeEWTfHkaOpD8RsFjfDde24gWtX40p_lTr6B3lF_rESeoQRAJP_rbtJuEl79JauP3Rm4upT11iZGquBKwtnv5/s1600/IMG_6644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Blue 1st Tee" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3c11KDPxLPjKlAFt8hgBHrV1lZ-UXx_LgNHmK760_6gu53-5Z-FefIHGeEWTfHkaOpD8RsFjfDde24gWtX40p_lTr6B3lF_rESeoQRAJP_rbtJuEl79JauP3Rm4upT11iZGquBKwtnv5/s1600/IMG_6644.JPG" height="300" title="Streamsong Blue 1st Tee" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The workout starts right away on Streamsong Blue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJJORGo8rnDFuYz8EpSI-aKRWorP9CZa5j28oCCw-w_115oFyXkaXBLXBG995XfnTNgBJtfC_No0Mdg_F6_f3m0CIkOKZw38HZYHipMxsEfWNgLTJ7j9oDu2jVmlNBDHW2FHwkNbUJCpz/s1600/IMG_6645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJJORGo8rnDFuYz8EpSI-aKRWorP9CZa5j28oCCw-w_115oFyXkaXBLXBG995XfnTNgBJtfC_No0Mdg_F6_f3m0CIkOKZw38HZYHipMxsEfWNgLTJ7j9oDu2jVmlNBDHW2FHwkNbUJCpz/s1600/IMG_6645.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But again, the payoff makes it worthwhile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3e7cEz1YBMKJMwkkZqNggj2NIfV9_FHbxT2sER8Urqqv1N0A7kra-F7q8ayk3kf-gmimNypgpzaKUDQdkc7Gh-KpmaQTBZj2Hnb4EIkNDzgI32C9ADembMHVrUFVNGTSLzCUjFeTbta8/s1600/IMG_6652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Streamsong Blue 1st Hole" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3e7cEz1YBMKJMwkkZqNggj2NIfV9_FHbxT2sER8Urqqv1N0A7kra-F7q8ayk3kf-gmimNypgpzaKUDQdkc7Gh-KpmaQTBZj2Hnb4EIkNDzgI32C9ADembMHVrUFVNGTSLzCUjFeTbta8/s1600/IMG_6652.JPG" height="410" title="Streamsong Blue 1st Hole" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The opener on Streamsong Blue with the 7th on the Red to the left. Confession: I topped my 3-wood off the tee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoodEvN-k7O4QSq6Jo_Q7cuRLNO5_PzCvWY5SUWYmE42vNRXWTijVWMGjmVJhJ7evIK9BAgOYy6vOC77R_ZoWvmrJ7OQxlLa-BBf1jwJWNMYdMpOSMjwzErUYeApBxe5e9hly1bjIBy49/s1600/IMG_6670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoodEvN-k7O4QSq6Jo_Q7cuRLNO5_PzCvWY5SUWYmE42vNRXWTijVWMGjmVJhJ7evIK9BAgOYy6vOC77R_ZoWvmrJ7OQxlLa-BBf1jwJWNMYdMpOSMjwzErUYeApBxe5e9hly1bjIBy49/s1600/IMG_6670.JPG" height="256" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 3rd tee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxwtknIvW0xx18NkOxf7sJ8ffJXa0IfFM6A2k3dK7qVqzkxJlSW16AIAC8fy5BwGKSNwqR7RB7JaRS9CmjcOgK1lH9q7ewdpghCFPOo3bj6ZPb2EWPQkaHK4G4EN7lkLmXD9Ulmxo2_ZJ/s1600/IMG_6854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPxwtknIvW0xx18NkOxf7sJ8ffJXa0IfFM6A2k3dK7qVqzkxJlSW16AIAC8fy5BwGKSNwqR7RB7JaRS9CmjcOgK1lH9q7ewdpghCFPOo3bj6ZPb2EWPQkaHK4G4EN7lkLmXD9Ulmxo2_ZJ/s1600/IMG_6854.JPG" height="243" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Himalaya-style bunker on the 4th. Yes, those are people in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL221ek8e2Wzrm-LZrtFVacNS-LZxjUXEdRXQHpx5MBoantkVRz9WENkcHYaeGBC7lNbTbbFJFPIHkwfcORoIcsu8Avg-_zUrkZ-XGh8WqYvolp-7yFqjs5ql4ZjyU1kKpPiQRBKDiL3h/s1600/IMG_6855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFL221ek8e2Wzrm-LZrtFVacNS-LZxjUXEdRXQHpx5MBoantkVRz9WENkcHYaeGBC7lNbTbbFJFPIHkwfcORoIcsu8Avg-_zUrkZ-XGh8WqYvolp-7yFqjs5ql4ZjyU1kKpPiQRBKDiL3h/s1600/IMG_6855.JPG" height="370" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dainty par-3 5th hole. All 100 yards of it. Some people take out the putter, and for good reason...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlio36C88VzXMllMgGKGSc89y3YuVDsy8o8e3qVKUZ-_PkgK5sawLtwq0uG6A6McthwUkQjcKmd4OTXz0-8PFCzmgPJym_gYxprsK36cTpUZzlRFn4ch1zUojQoD_gnwyINQsDs8z86ms/s1600/IMG_6856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlio36C88VzXMllMgGKGSc89y3YuVDsy8o8e3qVKUZ-_PkgK5sawLtwq0uG6A6McthwUkQjcKmd4OTXz0-8PFCzmgPJym_gYxprsK36cTpUZzlRFn4ch1zUojQoD_gnwyINQsDs8z86ms/s1600/IMG_6856.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This. Don't miss the 5th green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL7Drq1EOZwcaFkC7zj95POBiD2hmFjfwTElyetTRa_fSwmv2rWYHHqo_XjXVuxB-wmDEQiQNQ3jXiLFnFT3s6_C-4Lua-FqD7W4sHCCBuTcGZ1jZFOEwQFZMHgYv128CBewu9qDzUoVW/s1600/IMG_6713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL7Drq1EOZwcaFkC7zj95POBiD2hmFjfwTElyetTRa_fSwmv2rWYHHqo_XjXVuxB-wmDEQiQNQ3jXiLFnFT3s6_C-4Lua-FqD7W4sHCCBuTcGZ1jZFOEwQFZMHgYv128CBewu9qDzUoVW/s1600/IMG_6713.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The somewhat daunting par-4 12th hole.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhFb55oGVy17gza5Ft4XheOU2wBQ2p0nPOmRkINug2hN1ia-cvCNyy_teCOjegB_JuPSoDdvu3uJgjr0Vz-TsJsKEKtAbFNcwSpJ5VM46ago84yyYMdyBUizGh6bbRCbzejc2LC5eqk5z/s1600/IMG_6721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhFb55oGVy17gza5Ft4XheOU2wBQ2p0nPOmRkINug2hN1ia-cvCNyy_teCOjegB_JuPSoDdvu3uJgjr0Vz-TsJsKEKtAbFNcwSpJ5VM46ago84yyYMdyBUizGh6bbRCbzejc2LC5eqk5z/s1600/IMG_6721.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best break of the trip. Went for the drivable par-4 13th. Wound up on the cart path.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIFWTM5lyTi2Ufuvq5j6tLftaTmEaeS70ComeiTDO-VFcVfhM7GQJp54ZyVJXxrXjtRoIycBYLPoxLYEaDBoGMlkca4XNAgVc6gMXVPHnBHlBTmQ-UsptxQEOK7prygqb7SfEJ-tiTVZA/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIFWTM5lyTi2Ufuvq5j6tLftaTmEaeS70ComeiTDO-VFcVfhM7GQJp54ZyVJXxrXjtRoIycBYLPoxLYEaDBoGMlkca4XNAgVc6gMXVPHnBHlBTmQ-UsptxQEOK7prygqb7SfEJ-tiTVZA/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3rd shot to the par-5 17th. Played 876 yards into the wind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd-7eowbJhSHc6rSvZGPGsFPzc_J6IkpGyNtkAJ0rQPMJGvHTF36PMi5Jvyt8DejQ_Odr51GDbYujB11Z-FVE9Fzucz5QR90UzIFkmQEOm6TL0VFE5KyTUC3MqOncRZqg6xWQK_x1E640/s1600/IMG_6859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCd-7eowbJhSHc6rSvZGPGsFPzc_J6IkpGyNtkAJ0rQPMJGvHTF36PMi5Jvyt8DejQ_Odr51GDbYujB11Z-FVE9Fzucz5QR90UzIFkmQEOm6TL0VFE5KyTUC3MqOncRZqg6xWQK_x1E640/s1600/IMG_6859.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You get used to this after a while.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIqk7YtkZ54GGS1HKrQMxG1BoCJOoD4iR5Dt2O1B-s762y4MCXx2LriV-8Ur_3jJwOzOr_q18L7_968EW4knuELbamPsq1Abwc6kw9nT4DFF7he2GGb6cD2Pa1rfzx82WRPUT3m3NpIsK/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIqk7YtkZ54GGS1HKrQMxG1BoCJOoD4iR5Dt2O1B-s762y4MCXx2LriV-8Ur_3jJwOzOr_q18L7_968EW4knuELbamPsq1Abwc6kw9nT4DFF7he2GGb6cD2Pa1rfzx82WRPUT3m3NpIsK/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The approach to the 18th. The tee shot is blind, cresting this knoll is quite a thrill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">So there you have it, a failed attempt at brevity because somehow this thing still took 1000 words. But that pretty much sums up the Streamsong Resort - it's the kind of place that no amount of words can do justice. From the day this resort was announced, many were predicting it would become "the winter Bandon Dunes." After two days at Streamsong, I'm beginning to think they may be right.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6454384482160346120.post-16326625241516574792014-10-20T01:00:00.000-04:002014-10-20T09:02:40.220-04:00Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party<span style="font-size: large;">I’m not much on Halloween. It’s not because I’m too old or some strange aversion to costumes, I just don’t do scary. Horror movies, the dark, particularly intense episodes of Scooby-Doo - all are things I try to avoid like the plague. By default, Halloween falls into this mix, though it’s partially offset by the copious amounts of leftover candy. This year, for the first time in at least two decades, I was able to take part in the Halloween fun because my good friends at Disney have a celebration just for guys like me… <a href="https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/" target="_blank">Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party</a>.
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsOQRvwSrVnSDFABUlOE3sEWl7Dcdvw2hLYk_IwhE44dqdIjPJ3BWw0rD9IqUzFL4ddIo-pJfpqaQXlBT_GBCLTKuE_zuDr3ZUjugZmP2g0aLnlT1YU7-MG3Ai3PAi0ZimWk-dZ_9BSAq/s1600/IMG_5883-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsOQRvwSrVnSDFABUlOE3sEWl7Dcdvw2hLYk_IwhE44dqdIjPJ3BWw0rD9IqUzFL4ddIo-pJfpqaQXlBT_GBCLTKuE_zuDr3ZUjugZmP2g0aLnlT1YU7-MG3Ai3PAi0ZimWk-dZ_9BSAq/s1600/IMG_5883-1.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Just like its Christmas Party cousin, Mickey’s Halloween Party requires a separate ticket for entry, which always makes me gristle a bit being a passholder. But I learned long ago to keep an open mind when it comes to any bash hosted by the Mickster, because they’re usually worth every penny.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My first experience at Mickey’s Halloween Party was no exception. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oddly enough, both the Halloween and Christmas parties begin two full months before the actual holiday they’re celebrating, leading me to often wonder how anyone can get excited to Trick or Treat on Labor Day or eat Christmas cookies on November 7th. In our case, the first weekend of October felt more like mid-July, but that would change just a few hours after we scanned our MagicBands...</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTMcLeJlxFiMoQEn1Nos58NZKH_1GShoyVATn-0-dOBE8D1TgppZnkqn_EsPZWNUyby4YJj3gk8asl24idpbjAzQR0jfROODhyg9oxaeMH8d9YS6oP-D0L3btKtceY6M8rIzRc1KPt4hs/s1600/IMG_5877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTMcLeJlxFiMoQEn1Nos58NZKH_1GShoyVATn-0-dOBE8D1TgppZnkqn_EsPZWNUyby4YJj3gk8asl24idpbjAzQR0jfROODhyg9oxaeMH8d9YS6oP-D0L3btKtceY6M8rIzRc1KPt4hs/s1600/IMG_5877.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although Mickey's Halloween Party technically doesn't begin until 7pm, guests with tickets can enter starting at 4pm. Since the overwhelming majority wait until the official start time - Disney doesn't exactly advertise the 4pm thing - those that do enter early are given a truly spectacular treat in the form of ridiculously short wait times. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKYOsJmJEF482wGmNUSze8tnQsyUhkCkW8JcXirkB_cwnTRNCmmhlMq238gBsFvuXYgS39amYCiSGVOdyhBkP8B5-RZV5JC8Yi3kRC_qsttUtxkppp7K05xxxtJYz7gXmpJz58xmVcGy0/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKYOsJmJEF482wGmNUSze8tnQsyUhkCkW8JcXirkB_cwnTRNCmmhlMq238gBsFvuXYgS39amYCiSGVOdyhBkP8B5-RZV5JC8Yi3kRC_qsttUtxkppp7K05xxxtJYz7gXmpJz58xmVcGy0/s1600/IMG_5976.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">You see, since the park "closes" at 7pm and the party "begins" at the same time, there's a brief lag where the rides are in something of a flux. All the normal park-goers have made their way toward the exit, while those attending the party haven't quite hit Tomorrowland en masse. Word to the wise... Get to Mickey's Halloween (or Christmas) Party early, because this sure beats a few pieces of candy...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5fbX5M-MgMypsUmsHSfbDTYshvr3ophBlwtBpBXPphElEr5EPodxsioAw6MMRdoZEKdwpZ4qAnIIqTOlygmKbofNfWwBNkHM4Q81vEO-EIzRBL-32kfUvHCKwYV4ftvd_of-vkGSoBN-/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5fbX5M-MgMypsUmsHSfbDTYshvr3ophBlwtBpBXPphElEr5EPodxsioAw6MMRdoZEKdwpZ4qAnIIqTOlygmKbofNfWwBNkHM4Q81vEO-EIzRBL-32kfUvHCKwYV4ftvd_of-vkGSoBN-/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ahh but the candy... arguably the best part of Mickey's Halloween Party. I turned the page to my 30s long ago, but that didn't stop me from grabbing a bag with the best of them. There were roughly a dozen Trick or Treat stops around the Magic Kingdom and we hit them all. In the end, we came away with 4 bags that were overflowing with sweets. And not cheap knock-off brands either...I'm talking the good stuff.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b9EIBdZLDQmrcigoGZjY6waL1Azlidyj_aCKfg8ZtonzSxpm8K97tqcw5sslhVsrhGxtaYap0BCE_UtuA0lskNa9cXUFp9uGW0NRlSqSRuIXRS1sYG6hyphenhyphenhOTX4C-vDbAvZp0wuvM1j_e/s1600/IMG_5974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5b9EIBdZLDQmrcigoGZjY6waL1Azlidyj_aCKfg8ZtonzSxpm8K97tqcw5sslhVsrhGxtaYap0BCE_UtuA0lskNa9cXUFp9uGW0NRlSqSRuIXRS1sYG6hyphenhyphenhOTX4C-vDbAvZp0wuvM1j_e/s1600/IMG_5974.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Mr. Smee and Wendy went Trick or Treating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, the main attraction during the Halloween Party is the special edition of Wishes and the Boo To You parade. Our problem was we arrived at the Main Street hub a little later than usual and the place was already packed. It looked like we would have to watch from a rather lame location, but just then the Disney Gods threw us a bone.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A rain storm... </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDY0JZoAKxY70BVOsc-eTAsSo7MyBkCaQkO-hYenzob3s5UdTPEuFTgYE-nVGgVRLCYz43PyduxLjWFzGdQdFYQItOLC6EctwIFHyci7Aj975sp1PsjZwPuJ6xGkhxVCBe2FQOcyulYFx/s1600/IMG_5971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDY0JZoAKxY70BVOsc-eTAsSo7MyBkCaQkO-hYenzob3s5UdTPEuFTgYE-nVGgVRLCYz43PyduxLjWFzGdQdFYQItOLC6EctwIFHyci7Aj975sp1PsjZwPuJ6xGkhxVCBe2FQOcyulYFx/s1600/IMG_5971.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">The crowd on Main Street scattered like they'd seen a ghost from the Haunted Mansion, and just like that we had the best seat in the house. Sure we got drenched, but it was totally worth it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To put it mildly, Hallo-wishes was phenomenal. In fact, it just might be my favorite edition of Disney's fireworks extravaganzas, with the 180-degree finale playing a close second to the one at Epcot during New Year's Eve. </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw7dIGNOUPU7qUDNbr6vWp6wG1HHnqSSk8m175MtuyPVkS85HY5Q6RBtGRJjevlDeH6dSHNNxSDFiIGOW-UIzNFruySKpy6kVNvmeLMNozAHZ8V69OxVWCViUAz4b391QdS4ctkUPQRzQ/s1600/IMG_5927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw7dIGNOUPU7qUDNbr6vWp6wG1HHnqSSk8m175MtuyPVkS85HY5Q6RBtGRJjevlDeH6dSHNNxSDFiIGOW-UIzNFruySKpy6kVNvmeLMNozAHZ8V69OxVWCViUAz4b391QdS4ctkUPQRzQ/s1600/IMG_5927.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finally, it's true what they say... Everyone loves a parade, and the Boo To You is especially good. All the usual cast of characters make an appearance, plus a few that seem out of place - read: girls dancing in Daisy Dukes - but overall it's worth the investment of time. Besides, who am I to complain about girls with fake southern accents dancing in short shorts. But fair warning: the song which accompanies the parade will be permanently implanted on your brain. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw4EN-9evB-0TOi4vC9pJONPIc4XD-esQPVZB7Crp1ch1p_aszJaJFMFde_7FtNNGjGeywAB_tw7BH260N05NMrL8cmyfXz3tQPRMmMVSRxy3jR7LRrYeufEy6NAwoqKzI6ErT9yAtyrT/s1600/IMG_5955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw4EN-9evB-0TOi4vC9pJONPIc4XD-esQPVZB7Crp1ch1p_aszJaJFMFde_7FtNNGjGeywAB_tw7BH260N05NMrL8cmyfXz3tQPRMmMVSRxy3jR7LRrYeufEy6NAwoqKzI6ErT9yAtyrT/s1600/IMG_5955.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;">For a guy that's not big on anything Halloween, Mickey's version of the holiday is one heck of a good time. The ability to ride our favorite attractions with no wait, plus the candy, fireworks and parade made for a great evening - rainstorm and all. Will we be back next year? Probably...right about the time I get the Boo To You song out of my head. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Enjoy Your Stay</i></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932996053592618275noreply@blogger.com