SVR, Orlando, Florida – 12/30/2014

December 30, 2014 (Tuesday)

Mike here. We slept in today.  It felt very good. We spent most of the morning working on the upcoming cruise. Edie and I discussed things we wanted to see and whether or not we wanted self tours or paid tours. She diligently surfed and has set us up with 5 excursions and got us a four star hotel in Rome for around $50 a night. She’s found a place for us to park our car and stay in Atlanta. We have a place to stay in the Italian port town as well. She was on it. We have more to do, but she got a lot done today.

Our cereal breakfast was wearing thin and we decided to go out. Today is a little chilly with scattered showers. The first thing we noticed was that traffic is terrible, again. We went not very far away, less than a mile, probably took 20 minutes. We went to a Dollar Tree store to look for little things that will come in handy on the cruise.

Terrible traffic in our area.
Terrible traffic in our area.
We think it is all the resorts and the Premium Outlet Mall.
We think it is all the resorts and the Premium Outlet Mall.
Giant buildings full of people are everywhere around here.
Giant buildings full of people are everywhere around here.
Pretty woman getting prepared.
Pretty woman getting prepared.

 

After that we made our way to a Carrabba’s for lunch. Edie has wanted to try one since we saw them last year. It is a chain Italian restaurant. We were surprised at the prices and the waitress explained that they only have one menu and just started opening for lunch. Dinner menu, dinner prices. We each had a salad with delicious hot bread and olive oil with Italian seasoning. Edie had a chicken and rigatoni dish that was very tasty. I had a chicken Alfredo dish that was excellent. A little over $37 with tip. Not bad, plenty of food, and very tasteful.

Traffic was rough going to Carrabba's too.
Traffic was rough going to Carrabba’s too.
I was hungry by the time we got here.
I was hungry by the time we got here.
Interesting water drops on the poinsettia leaves.
Interesting water drops on the poinsettia leaves.
We both had salads with creamy Parmesan.
We both had salads with creamy Parmesan.
No ranch dressing.  Unbelievable purists.  The creamy Parmesan was pretty good.
No ranch dressing. Unbelievable purists. The creamy Parmesan was pretty good.
The bread was A+, hot and the dipping oil was seasoned really well.
The bread was A+, hot; and the dipping oil was seasoned really well.
Edie had Rigatoni with grilled chicken and a marinara sauce.  She gave me some and it was very good.  I think she won today.
Edie had Rigatoni with grilled chicken and a marinara sauce. She gave me some and it was very good. I think she won today.
I had fettuccine with an Alfredo sauce, grill chicken and green peas.  It was very tasty.
I had fettuccine with an Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken, mushrooms and green peas. It was very tasty.

 

After lunch we walked over to a nearby Verizon store to check out the cruise package for our cell. The best solution they had was a phone upgrade and new plan. We will search for the internet when we are there, no phone.

We then went looking for a post office to mail a letter. We ran across a Tuesday Morning and a Ross Dress For Less on the way. We went shopping. It is a marvel to watch Edie on a mission. She found two blouses that look lovely on her.  (Today was senior 10% off day.) We returned to our home after a quick stop at the post office.

On the way to the Post Office we saw this Seaworld vehicle.
On the way to the Post Office we saw this Seaworld vehicle.
The fun is diminished by the controversy of keeping the killer whales in captivity.
The fun is diminished by the controversy of keeping the killer whales in captivity.
A fun store, we didn't find anything that would fit in the Prius.
A  favorite of ours, Edie found two blouses here.
A fun store, we didn't find anything that would fit in the Prius.
A fun store, we didn’t find anything that would fit in the Prius.
There are many well know resorts here.
There are many well know resorts here.
On the way back we drove pasts resorts we have never heard of but look nice.
On the way back we drove pasts resorts we have never heard of but look nice.

 

It is such a contrast from Longboat Key. So quiet there and not crowded. Orlando is the opposite. The noise and traffic is oppressive compared to the traveling ease and silence of the Sarasota area.

Well this has been our day, hope yours was great.

 

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