Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Key Largo Trip Part One

Sunrise in Key Largo


We're back from the land of palm trees, private jets and ocean front properties. We landed in the land of snow, snow and snow! I'm not complaining though, this is where I love to live and the 39* didn't really feel all that cold when we got off the plane at our small airport. :o) A person in front of me asked which baggage return would we be going to and I told him that there are only two and they are side by side so he couldn't miss it. I guess he'd never been here before.

We had a lovely time but for a while didn't think we were going to make it there. We got up at 4 AM to make our 7 AM flight but when we got there there was no one in sight except one other couple that was looking as confused as we were. We went to the desk and they said our flight had been cancelled due to the big storm the day before. Flights are rarely cancelled at our airport. We have some of the longest runways around and the ground crews keep them clear even in the worst storms as we get a lot of international flights that come through plus many of the army flights land here on their way back from the war. What had happened was the aircraft wasn't able to leave where ever they were coming from to get here. Great.

We had several options and the one that would get us to the convention sooner rather then later was to drive two hours to Portland and catch a flight out of that airport at 11. We didn't want to take our car as that would mean we would have to fly back there to get it so we rented a vehicle and headed down 95.

The roads were slushy so every time someone passed us we would get this muddy spray onto our windshield that you couldn't see through and there wasn't any washer fluid!!! No washer fluid! So we had to keep stopping every few miles and throw snow on the windshield and run the windshield wipers so that we could see again. It made for a long two hours to Portland. We arrived at the Jetport and I stood inside the door as Hubby was bringing in the luggage being gone from the car for maybe 30 seconds at a time and we GOT A TICKET FOR UNATTENDED VEHICLE! $50.00. Sigh....well I am glad they are being watchful.

We went to the counter and purchased a new ticket and headed towards security and we were flagged! Because we were flying the same day we purchased the ticket the computer automatically flags you now. (Seeing as one of the terr*orists on 9-11 went through this Jetport I can see why they are careful.) So they separated us and we each were patted down, scanned, my shoes were a problem for some reason so they x-rayed them, and they used the wand on us. We passed with flying colors and were on our way to Philly for a two and a half hour layover and then headed to Miami.

We arrived in Miami, went to get our luggage all the while looking for our driver who was nowhere to be seen. By that time it was 8 PM and we had been up since 4 and were very tired. We called the resort and they said the driver was there but had gone to the wrong gate and would be there shortly which he was thankfully. The resort is about an hour from the airport so we arrived about 9ish in time to run in to the function that we were supposed to be attending. Everything was over but we did get something to eat and headed to our room and went to bed. It was a long day.

One of my favorite things about this convention is meeting up with my dear friend Needled Mom. It's the only time we get to see each other throughout the year although we keep in touch regularly through blogging and e-mail. We were at one of the functions and I wanted hubby to take a picture of us together but didn't know he was taking pictures while we were taking our name tags off.


During the social hour we got a kick out of some of the things that decorated the hors d'oeuvre trays.
When we went into the ballroom for dinner the tables were set beautifully and the food was divine.

During the Super Bowl we always go out into the lobby where it is quiet to talk for an hour or so. It's much too noisy in the ballroom where the super bowl party is going on. These times are very special and I look forward to them all year.
Hi NM, I'm back in the snow and you're back in the sunshine! xoxo




One thing we always enjoy doing while on this convention is to ride around in a golf cart and see the sights. There are beautiful homes here and I especially enjoy the yards with all the flowers.




We love having lunch outside at the Palm Court. I had crab cakes, coconut lemonade and key lime pie. YUM!


Continued next time! :o)

19 comments:

Frazzled Farm Wife said...

How F-U-N! Looks like you had a great time...what a beautiful place!

Susie said...

Hi,
So glad you're back! That flight down sounds somewhat stressful and to get a ticket to boot! bummer..
What a beautiful place to relax in the sunshine though! All the food looks and sounds just delish. Loved the pics of you and NM. You both look terrific!
love you!
xoxo

Needled Mom said...

Oh....and didn't we have fun??? The best part of the trip is the fun time that we spend together. I could visit with you forever and it is amazing that after all these years we STILL don't know everything about each other. :)

Glad the trip home was less eventful for you. E says he was on the bus 15 minutes after you guys.

Our trip home was perfect - cheery transfer, smoothe flight, perfect landing to 82* temperatures. I love it! It is suppose to rain Thursday so a cool down is coming. Of course that means snow in the Sierras for our annual snow trip this weekend.

Great pictures of that sunrise. Wasn't it spectacular? I could almost feel that I was back there.

Now I need to try a few of those bird carvings!!!! Hugs, dear friend.

Dawn said...

It's great to see pictures of you and NM together - what fun! The sunset and the food - fantastic - the trip down - not so much. Which airport is "yours"?

It's such fun when we get to share each others' excursions. Looking foward to Part 2.

Nancy said...

Sounds like quite a trip! Even
after all the hassle, you looked beautiful! So nice that you got to meet up with a blogger friend, too!

Aren't the homes lovely there? The landscaping is just so plush and different, too. I love it!

That menu was to kill for! Sounded so good. The chefs do a fabulous job of the carvings and things, don't they?

You got some great pics to post! Glad you had a fun time and a break from the snow. Waiting to read Part 2 next!

((( HUGS )))

Raymonty said...

Thank you for sharing your vacation photos and experiences with me. I don't get out much because of the ice and snow here in Jersey in the mountains. We had an earthquake here in Rockaway,NJ; we are on the Ramapoo fault line.

Carole Burant said...

Soooo glad you're home safe and sound!! I think I would have loved to stay in the land of sun and warmth though! lol

My goodness, you sure did have a time to even get there, it's no wonder you were both so exhausted by the time you arrived at your hotel!! I know it's a pain when the security officials at the airport are so thorough but then at least you know that they're looking out for your and other's safety. How funny, though, that you even had to have your shoes x-rayed!

It must have been so wonderful to see NM again...wish I could have been there with both of you. Glad you had a chance to have a few talks:-) Loved seeing the pictures of both of you!!

Oh, wow, look at that scenery and the flowers...and eating out on the patio...I'm soooo green with envy! hehe Can't wait to hear more about your trip! Love you xoxoxoxo

hippo chick said...

What a wonderful trip. It looks like it was worth all the hoopla to get there.

How nice that you and NM could spend some time together.

Waiting for the next installment.

~hippo hugs~

palmtreefanatic said...

my oh my! What a lovely place! And look at that palm tree photo! I am drooling!hehehe

the food looks amazing and sweet;)
what a wonderful time you had there and such gorgeous photos of the flowers!

Train Wreck said...

Oh you lucky! How wonderful! I'll bet the food was to die for.Look how gorgeous you two are! What a fun trip.

Val said...

That sounds like so much fun. It reminds me of my best friend. We don't get to see much of each other during the year, but once a year we go on a trip together to Helen Ga. which is not too far away but we have so much fun. Our guys fish (and we do a little)but we just love to do nothing. Last year I took my sewing machine and worked on my quilt. I think I will do the same this coming year. I am glad you both get to see each other at least once a year and what a nice place to visit.

Aspen Photography said...

Hello I love your blog what a wonderful trip. Megan
www.happyheiferhouse.blogspot.com

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

I am so jealous! It looks like a fabulous time was had! I am anxious to hear more.

Margaret Cloud said...

These pictures are really nice, and looks like you had fun with your friend, isn't it always great to get together with someone you only see once in a while, thanks for sharing with us.

Sharon said...

What beautiful photos.
It sure did look like you had a blast.
Love the one of you and NM on sofa you do like so relaxed.
Glad to hear you made it back home safe.
God bless.

About Nancy said...

Such beautiful pictures and what creative appetizers. Your trip looked like a true blessing.

Barbara said...

Came over from Needled Mum. Nice to see these photos of Florida and what a beautiful table.

That cat facility looks divine. I could spend all day there. Wonder if they fight though!

Kerri said...

Oh what a trip down you had! Glad you had such a wonderful time when you got there though. I guess that made all the headaches worth it :)

Anonymous said...

Hi!
My name is Jane and I'm with Dwellable.
I was looking for blog posts about Key Largo to share on our site and I came across your post...If you're open to it, shoot me an email at jane(at)dwellable(dot)com.
Hope to hear from you :)
Jane