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)