Pelican Landing

This is the first time Brittany couldn't finish her meal...a 12 inch hotdog! It is amazing sitting at Pelican Landing, watching the birds, sailboats and yachts sail by. We even saw one yacht that was so big that it had a helicopter on board!

This puts new meaning to Superior!

Intercoastal waterway and Pelican Landing Lunch

We made it to the Hyatt and the Marina at Pier 66.

First Plane Ride!

DJ and Brittany got their first plane ride from Minneapolis to Memphis, en route to Fort Lauderdale. The Flight attendant Ruth saw to it that they got pilot wings and a wonderful certificate marking their first time leaving the ground in something heavier than air. It was a DC-9 50.

Who said, "Pack Light!" ?

It looks like a lot of luggage but one bag apiece and one carry on apiece, along with a CPAP machine and a computer and a purse...all add up.

Off to the Caribbean

Well, we got all our stuff in the motel room and headed out for dinner at McCormick & Schmicks. As the waiter handed us our menues, to our surprise, it said "Happy Birthday D.J. Happy Valentines Day! Bon Voyage!" What a nice way to start out a vacation. DJ had fried shrimp and Brittany got them to make Shrimp Scampi just for her! We even had a fantastic dessert! Six hours till the airport. Time to hit the hay and catch a few winks before we trot off to the airport. More tomorrow!

World's Greatest Travel Agent!

It is hard to believe that we booked this cruise almost a year ago. Our travel agent is John Gawne of Cruises, Inc. He can be reached at 1-888-470-6787. John writes:A veteran of over 40 cruises, including Carnival, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Star Clippers, I have also traveled to the Far East, and Europe, including the Mediterranean, Ireland and the Isle of Man. In the mid 70�s I lived in Athens, Greece, for three years while in the Navy, and traveled to numerous Mediterranean countries. My wife and I enjoy the sunny tropics, and have cruised to most locations in the Eastern, Western, and Southern Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti, Canada/New England, Mexican Riviera, the Mediterranean. We have accumulated significant insight into ports and attractions in each, and are eager to share this information with you.

I serve on the Board of Directors of the United Way of South Hampton Roads, in Virginia. Retired from the Navy, I spent 20 years in banking as a training and management consultant, and with Old Dominion University as a faculty administrator, before joining the travel industry. With my experience, I was named "Rookie of the Year" out of 500 agents my first year, in 2005. We are turning my vacations into a vocation!

He has been a great help in planning and helping us get everything together for this adventure with our grandchildren. Using a travel agent has saved us a lot of trouble and it is nice having someone who personally cares if everything goes well. This is our fifth cruise. We have tried Royal Caribbean, Holland America (twice), Carnival, and now MSC. We have been to the Caribbean on a cruise twice before this one, and we have been to the Mexican Riviera and Alaska. We are also going to mark Valentine's Day and DJ's 15th birthday on this cruise.

A friend from Miami is going to meet us in Fort Lauderdale on Friday. I met Lyndon when he was at St. John's Abbey in Collegeville. He is orginally from England but is now an American citizen. He is an IT whiz, has his doctorate and teaches at a university in Florida.