Florida Extravaganza

“ 1st trip to the U. S. A.

Martin and Debbie Kinally

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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 21, 2022, 8:00am · ☁️ 11 °C Altitude: 449 ft
  England Hagley 52.438241, -2.12659752°26’18” N 2°7’36” W
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Day21
That's All Folks
May 21 in the United Kingdom ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
Well it's all hands on deck today as we have to pack, strip the beds, clean and re-make the beds before heading up to the Golf Club for lunch . Salad I think as I have now reached capacity on the food levels.

We check over the villa one last time and start the drive to the airport, on the way we noticed the temperature on the Sat Nav, it has reached the magic 100 degrees.

We arrived in plenty of time for our 7.40 pm departure that is until we have an almighty storm with torrential rain, thunder and lightning. We board the plane 40 minutes after we should have taken off and then sit there for over one and a half hours before we finally take off.

We have a good flight considering it's still lightning when we take off but not too restful. It was interesting being able to watch our progress on the in-flight information on our personal Tv's and the camera on outside of the plane gave wonderful pictures. Thank goodness we have a taxi waiting for us and we don't have to drive home.

The end to a wonderful holiday, thanks Fiona and Mark for the great company and loads of laughs xxRead more
Thanks Deb and Martin for a wonderful holiday, we've had lots of laughs, great outings and made some very happy memories! The weather forecast each day? Hot, damn hot!! [Fiona]
5/22/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 20, 2022, 7:30pm · 🌧 23 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132153, -81.62754528°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day20
The Last Supper
May 20 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 23 °C
1
Tonight we are going back to Manny's for our dinner, we all get changed ready to go, the minute we are ready the heavens open and we get soaked just getting in the car.

At Manny's we have to wait for our table and while we do we noticed an electronic display stating that in 2019 they had over 1,055,620 guests visit. We had a bottomless Salad and Steak & Chips and Fi had Shrimp.

Back at the villa we watch the lightening.

It's a shame but we're going home tomorrow.Read more
SPEED!!!!So we're on plan!!!! [Fiona]
5/21/22Reply
I think I was quite chivalrous dropping D&M by the door, then once park in a "river" I actually took my shoes off and paddled from the car to the door!!! Crackin meal, great holiday, lots of laughs. So when is the next adventure!? [Fiona]
5/21/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 20, 2022, 10:00am · ⛅ 24 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132147, -81.6275428°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day20
Breakfast at Egg City
May 20 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Today we have woken up to quite thick cloud again so our plans of chilling by the pool and soaking up the rays don't look like happening.

We went to a real American Diner called Egg City for breakfast. It's a very popular place Fi ordered an omelette with potatoes, Mark had similar to English Breakfast. Martin and me decided to share an omelette with potatoes and a stack of Blueberry Pancakes. There was way too much.

After breakfast Martin went for a walk, Mark stayed at home to start the cleaning and Fiona and I went to get some souvenirs.

On the way back the skies turned black and the lightening started, next we had monsoon conditions which made driving difficult but Fiona coped well even with a very nervous passenger.Read more
Deb was so nervous and no way was I going to say it was a bit scary, she'd have been worse still......rain rain go away.......within an hour we had the heat and sun return!⛈️⚡️⚡️🌫🌧🌞 [Fiona]
5/21/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 19, 2022, 3:00pm · ⛅ 33 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132141, -81.62750628°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day19
International Drive
May 19 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C
After the Outdoor World shop we drove down International Drive, a long road and one either sides were shop, bars, restaurants, hotels and rides such as a big wheel, an reverse bungie jump.

We also drove past what is reputedly the largest McDonald's in the world, Ripley's Believe It Or Not, The Upside Down House, we could also see Volcano Bay, the water park for Universal Studios.

Back home and Martin is waiting for us after a good game of golf, a dip in the pool and pizza and salad for tea.Read more
Sunshine, torrential rainstorm, 86' we only needed snow for al 4 seasons!! [Fiona]
5/21/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 19, 2022, 12:30pm · ⛅ 30 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132119, -81.62753828°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day19
Outdoor World
May 19 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Today Martin is playing golf at White Heron so Fi, Mark and myself are going to the outlets stores at International Drive.

We started at the outlets but apart from shoes for me and new Trainers for Mark we didn't have much success.

We then drove to Outdoor World, possibly the largest shop I have ever been in, they give you a map so you can find your way around.

Clothing, Shoes, Fishing equipment, Guns and Ammunition, Camping equipment and Boats plus lots of other stuff.Read more
Mark was definitely the shopper of the day! 🏆🏆 How am I going to get that lot home? [Fiona]
5/21/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 18, 2022, 12:00pm · ☀️ 31 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132223, -81.62755228°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day18
Celebrations In Celebration
May 18 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
1
Today is my Birthday and I've had lots of messages, cards and gifts.

Fiona and Mark are meeting up with Francis and Mark at Disney for the day so Martin and me are going to Celebration a Disney town.

When we get there we walk down to and around the lake where we saw a Heron, Turtles and a Racoon but still no Aligators.

We went for a drink in The Celebration Town Tavern and I had a birthday video call from Jackson and Tom.

On the way back to the villa we shop at Aldi for some nice bits of steak for tea then spend the rest of the day by the pool. It's 98 degrees and we finish the day with thunder and a rain storm.

As it's my birthday Martin has offered to cook the tea and a very good job he did of it too.Read more
Glad you had a nice birthday and that you liked Celebration, it's a lovely place. Happy (proper) birthday Deb xxx [Fiona]
5/19/22Reply
A lovely romantic candlelit dinner for 2, what could be nicer! The youngsters didn't get back til 10.30pm....stopouts!! [Fiona]
5/19/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 17, 2022, 6:30pm · ⛅ 31 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132175, -81.62754228°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day17
Cherry Pocket
May 17 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
1
After a quick freshen up we head out to one of Fi and Mark's favourite eateries, Cherry Pocket at Lake Pierce.

We sat outside overlooking the lake on Aligator watch. We had a lovely meal and we even tried grilled 'gator., it tastes very much like chicken.

There was live music while we ate and we saw 3 small alligators swimming around. I can see why Fi and Mark like it so much.

After our meal we walked down to sit by the lake to see if we could see any more Aligator, no sightings but we did hear one.Read more
😂 [Vicki]
5/18/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 17, 2022, 1:00pm · ☀️ 30 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132205, -81.62755628°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day17
The Grand Floridian
May 17 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
Originally Fi wanted to take us to afternoon tea at The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, Disney's flagship hotel but since Covid they have not resumed and the only way you can now get into the hotels is with a reservation, as she wanted us to see it she blagged her way in. Fi made a reservation in an attempt to get on the car park and with help from the nice security guard between them both booked and then cancelled an order for a pickup food order so we were allowed to park for a look around.

The hotel is huge but very beautiful both inside and out. We sat for a while listening to the piano player.

We walked down to the lake where I managed to get a picture of the turrets on the Magic Kingdom Castle.

Now as it's over 94 degrees we are heading home before going out tonight.Read more
Wow that looks stunning! [Vicki]
5/18/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 17, 2022, 9:30am · ☀️ 25 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132216, -81.62756828°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day17
Birthday Breakfast
May 17 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
1
Today we are celebrating my birthday tomorrow , and Fi's belated one from last week, with Fi and Mark as tomorrow they will be meeting up with friends who live in the States.

Fiona and Mark have arranged for us to have breakfast at The Cape May Café at The Beach Club Resort in Disney. It was an all you can eat buffet in lovely surroundings. Fiona and I were wearing badges stating is was our birthdays so everyone was wishing us Happy Birthday, we were also given a cupcake with a candle in it and I had a birthday card. Pre Covid the Disney characters would have been touring the restaurant for photos.

After breakfast we walked around The Boardwalk looking at the other hotels in the 4 resorts around the lake.

After this we drove down to Disney Springs where I bought a Christmas decoration celebrating Disney's 50th year.Read more
Lovely pic! [Vicki]
5/18/22Reply
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Martin and Debbie Kinally
- May 16, 2022, 2:00pm · ☀️ 31 °C Altitude: 157 ft
  Florida Polk County Windmill Village Mobile Home Park Tower Lake 28.132119, -81.62754228°7’56” N 81°37’39” W
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Day16
Sometimes It Hertz
May 16 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C
Today is going to be a lazy day to get over the travelling of last week.

Martin goes to check out some golf courses, Fi and Mark have a man come to talk about roof tiles and I chill out with a book by the pool.

After lunch Mark goes out to check the car will start ready for tonight.

Oh no flat as a preferable fart again, and so the saga starts. Fi gets on the phone to Hertz car rental, explains what has happened and how we'd had the same problem yesterday. They would send out the AAA to check the battery Fi said that's not good enough. After over an hour and us saying we were not prepared to drive to the airport to pick up a new car, which could have taken us anything up to 3 hours, they finally agreed to deliver a new vehicle to us at no charge, should be there in 2-3 hours.

Eventually after about 4 hours and 2, more phone calls plus the AAA man telling us the battery was knackered the new vehicle arrived.

How Fi managed to keep her temper, especially after being hung up on, I will never know if a true star..

Unfortunately due to the late delivery of said vehicle our dinner plans had to change so we went to Rock Brews a restaurant playing'rock band' videos and sports channels, very different but good.

Let's hope the new car starts in the morning.

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Everybody Hertz sometime!! Text book argument and no swearing, until I was off the phone after the 5 hour saga!! The review of Hertz will be interesting 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯 [Fiona]
5/17/22Reply
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