On The Way There

Yep this is another pic spam Vacation, wish I was there, posts.

Those of you with pets know that leaving them when going on vacation takes planning.  We have a wonderful pet sitter that has always done superior work with our furry babies, Always There Pet Care. However for the first time in many years our holiday and theirs lined up.  So I was in a quandary as to what to do considering I have two furry boys that need medication.  At their check up I was asking the doctor if she could recommend someone.  To my surprise one of the vet techs volunteered!  Of course I paid her the same as I do our usual sitters and was glad to have the boys in good hands while I was on the high seas.

We flew to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday to catch the ship on Saturday in Miami.  We left on an early flight from O’Hare and thanks to Mike’s frequent flyer miles the flights were $20 roundtrip!  We had a connection in Charlotte and every flight went off without a hitch.  Though really I swear if the seats get any thinner I’m going to have to sit on one cheek.  My dream is to travel first class if not like this.  And may I add I have never been in or through an airport that wasn’t under some kind of construction/renovation.

My BFF lives ten minutes from the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  So she graciously arranged to be off work and picked us up at the airport.  Then it was over to her place to shed our Wisconsin Spring clothes (warm!) for shorts, sandals, and tees.  Then we went to the Hollywood, FL beach for a walk in the sun.   After that to Las Vegas (yes in Hollywood) for a real Cuban dinner.  It was delish!  and yes Walter (for the fellow Fringe fans) is right everyone loves Flan!  I however could make a meal on their black beans and rice with plantains for dessert.  Then she graciously drove to our hotel in Miami Beach.  By then I was exhausted.  I’d gotten up at 4am to make it to O’Hare for our first flight.

We stayed on Miami beach in the Old Cadillac Hotel now a Courtyard by Marriott.  The hotel was built in 1940 in Art Deco style and is on the US National Register of Historic Places.   It was renovated in 2004 for $40 million and is a beauty any way you look at her.  We stayed in the original tower.  That night we did a walk on South Beach.  Let me say I saw more silicone than you’d see at a caulking convention.  Also I’m out of touch apparently the style is to wear neon undies beneath a thin white dress.  We in Wisconsin are so behind the times…

The next morning was a great breakfast (split a HUGE omelet with Mike) and another walk on the boardwalk (very different scenery this time).  We were just down from the famous Fontainebleau Miami.  Of course being a crime show addict I had to tell Mike about the Batman memorabilia collecting heir’s murder.  Once we enjoyed seeing the ocean and beach section that came with our hotel (that we didn’t have time to enjoy).  We checked out and caught a cab to the port to catch a ship.

I guess this 24 hours was our version of Planes, Trains, automobiles, and ships.  (train at O’hare to get to the airport from remote parking).

Next time I’m on travel it’ll be about being on board ship.

As always you can click on an image to be taken to my Flickr account and see more photos or click on the links for more information about other stuff.

Until next time!