Sarasota unexplored

Yesterday we explored the environs of lovely Kissimmee [bottom photo] and 2 urgent care facilities. On our final night at disney, Kelly fell down 4 steps at the Magic Kingdom and we spent yesterday finding medical help. She "just" sprained her ankle and hurt her wrist but she left with crutches, ankle and wrist splints and an order for a wheelchair for the cruise. Needless to say, we didn't do much sightseeing in Sarasota. Ringling Museum and Clown College will need to wait for another trip.
Today (New Year's Eve) has been a beautiful day in Naples. We are in a great hotel [top photo is the view from our room]. So far the only drawback is the guy smoking a vile cigar out on the patio beside ours. Happy New Year to all. May 2010 be great for all of us!

Acting Goofy

This is what happens when the park opens at 7 A.M. and you are in line with the other crazy people by 6:30 A.M.! We even had one fanatic in front of us who whispered to his son the logistical change in plans as if he were launching a major military offensive.

Disney World

Southward Bound

No matter how many times we drive to Florida, there is always a special anticipation of the trip. Even before the trip, we've destroyed the car - packing it full of junk food, fruit, drinks, suitcases, pillows, CDs. The drive is full of reliable markers that we can always use to gauge our progress. Who needs a GPS? We know where we are when we pass the Little Pee Dee River, Francis Marion "the Swamp Fox", the wonderful "Pedro sez" signs (even though they seemed fewer in number this year), the Sabatier outlet, Cafe Risque, all the McDonald's and Cracker Barrels we've visited over the years and, of course, South of the Border. As soon as we see the South of the Border compound, we know we've made incredible progress on our journey. This year we left at 1:45 A.M. in a thick fog that lasted until North Carolina. We were in a steady convoy of cars from New York, New Jersey and Canada, passing and being passed by the same cars and trucks over and over. The after-Christmas migration south had begun.