Moving Day; Bella Vida; Citricos, Orlando, Florida – 1/7/2015

JANUARY 17, 2015 (Saturday)

It is Sunday morning and I’m sitting here (still full from our dinner last night) and ready to tell about our lovely day yesterday. It was moving day and we left our unit around 9:30 AM and went to the internet center to print off more things. I thought I was going crazy because I had just been there a couple days before. A couple (also printing off things in the internet room) said I wasn’t imagining things, that they were working on the room and gym and the door used to be near the gym. Anyway, we got everything printed off that we needed.

The guy on top was talking to a guy on the ground.

They only represent Westgate. Been there, done that.

We left the Vacation Village at Parkway and drove down to the local Denny’s. The wait time was almost twenty minutes so we left and headed down the street to the other Denny’s. While we were driving, we saw a large sign for the Cracker Barrel and decided to go there as it had been awhile since we had one of their breakfasts. Glad we did as the breakfast was so good. I had a yogurt with granola, eggs and turkey bacon. Michael had the best blueberry pancakes ever. We knew this was going to be our only meal until we had dinner tonight with friends Beth and John.

These were good blueberry pancakes. They had a crisp quality to them.

Edie's. No processed meats for me. — Edie’s. No processed meats for me.

After Denny’s, we went to do a favor for Miss Marty. She has been so wonderful in suggesting things (and is right on with these suggestions), that when she asked us to look at a resort for her – we were glad to return a favor (plus we enjoy looking at resorts). She had asked us to check out Bella Vida. It’s a gated community, pretty new as a lot of construction was still going on. We asked the lady in the sales office about it and she gave us a pamphlet and said you could either live in Bella Vida full-time, or you could rent it out. She then directed us to the models down the road.

This is a gated community with a staffed gate house, as well as electronic entry and communication port.

It is a nice residential community with a large club house at the front of the development.

Landscaping was nice enough, though due a trimming in lots of places.

It is a big development and growing. — It is a big development – and growing.

Looks like a card room with an attached kitchen.

Computer room, just off the lobby office.

As we drove down the road – we noticed most of the homes looked like they were full-time residents. We also noticed that the roads were pretty narrow and the grass needed mowing. We got to the models and boy were they beautiful – and HUGE. They was a five bedroom and the other was six, and as many baths. Beautiful and very ultra modern. The stairs were very steep but there is a large bedroom and bath downstairs. The only reason you would have to go upstairs was for the laundry room. These units also had their own swimming pool and hot tub (enclosed). Very beautiful.

Inside is under construction, otherwise empty.

We went through and into the first of two homes. This is the 5 bedroom/5 bath.

Game room on the right as you go through the front door.

Living room, dining area and pool beyond.

Black and white theme. Nice space above the cabinet, probably a 9 foot ceiling.

Pretty close to the lake. Staging is nice with outdoor patio furniture.

Every bedroom has it's own bath. — Every bedroom has its own bath.

We don't think it is the master because it has the wall closet. — We don’t think it is the master because it has the wall closet.

Nice angles in the stair well. — Nice angles in the stairwell.

Huge bathroom, walk in closet and toilet.

No TV in the master....impossible. Where would pretty woman watch? — No TV in the master….impossible. Where would pretty woman watch?

3 more bedrooms with baths.... — 3 more bedrooms with baths….

As we were leaving Edie decided she really liked the glass block on the wall above the counters. — As we were leaving, Edie decided she really liked the glass block on the wall above the counters.

We use this kind of dead bolt on our studio so guests can get in without a key and no one has to be there when they arrive.

Bedrooms and baths... — Bedrooms and baths…

At last, a bath tub. — At last, a bathtub.

Fine print warns that the models have lots of upgrades not included in the list prices.

Overall, reasonable looking to us Californians.

Once we left Bella Vida, we continued driving down Irlo Bronson but took a little detour when we saw a sign that said “Historic District.” While we were trying to follow the sign, we saw two of the most beautiful birds hanging out on a church lawn. We hadn’t seen this type bird before (that we could remember). They were very tall and gorgeous.

This is so Florida. These beautiful redheads were about 4 feet high.

We never did find the historic district so we went back to Irlo Bronson and continued our leisurely drive to our new home. We were still trying to kill some time so we stopped at a local Salvation Army. It was huge and had everything you could imagine, except what we were looking for. We were looking for a cheap wallet to take to Rome to use as a decoy for pickpockets. When we were there last time (in 2005), they tried to get Michael but didn’t succeed. We vowed then that if we went back we would bring a “fake” wallet that was filled with old or fake credit cards (and a little love note for them too).

A huge Salvation Army with almost every thing you could want, except a cheap men's wallet. — A huge Salvation Army with almost every thing you could want, except a cheap men’s wallet.

There is a Mecum auction going on just down the road from our new place.

We got to our new home around 1:00 PM to see if we could check in early. They were very kind and said they had a unit available. We were able to check in and take a little nap before leaving for dinner. Was nice as we knew it was probably going to be a late night.

Fair sized complex, a Vacation village property. — Fair sized complex, a Vacation Village property.

We are on the second floor. Good exercise, we like it. Plus, we are the elephants, rather than the elephanted.

Kitchen. Granite counters but fridge opens wrong way.

We met Beth and John last year. They had contacted us through the blog and we made arrangements to meet them for the first time at a restaurant near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We had such a nice visit and so enjoyed them that when they were in the Carmel, California area in July, we got together again. We were glad to hear they would be in the Florida area and wanted to get together again. They asked us to join them for dinner – we were thrilled to be able to spend more time with them, especially since they were in Florida only for a very short visit.

Beth and John made reservations at Citricos at the Disney Grand Floridian Hotel. We were excited to get to see the hotel, and to have dinner at this very upscale restaurant. Most of the things on the menu I could not pronounce (saw menu online). We left our new home around 5:30 PM and headed for the Grand Floridian Hotel. Traffic was pretty bad. We were able to tell the Disney employee at the parking pay toll that we were heading to Citricos, and he let us through without having to pay. Since we were later than we thought we would be getting to Citricos, we used the valet parking ($20.00).

Where you pay to get into Disney World. We told the fellow we had reservations at Citricos and he had us go to the far right lane which took us a long way around, without charge, to the Grand Floridian Resort.

It is such a huge and beautiful comples. — It is such a huge and beautiful complex.

The guy doing the valet was dressed up like in the good ole Florida days. Too fun. Everyone inside was dressed up like in the old times too. The lobby was amazing with someone playing the piano, and later on they had a band upstairs overlooking the lobby. Gorgeous flowers were everywhere. We walked up the massive stairs and headed for the restaurant. Beth and John were waiting for us and we were seated immediately. Beth and John had spent the day at Disney World and didn’t look tired at all, in fact they both looked great. They said the park was very crowded.

Pretty woman following me to the restaurant.

Our server, Ray, was excellent and told us about the wines and answered our questions. I can’t remember what everyone got but it was all presented so beautifully and we all ate everything and appeared to enjoy it. The beet salad that Michael and I split was so good that I wished I hadn’t agreed to split. Also, I know my swordfish was the best ever. We were full but had to try the dessert. I already knew what I wanted (I had read about it on the internet) and got the tropical crème brulee. Michael got a chocolate banana thing that was so pretty when they brought it to the table. Beth and John got some gelato, but because it was Beth’s birthday – not only did she get a special menu with her name, but she also got a cute gelato birthday cone with a chocolate happy birthday sign on the plate. Fun. Probably one of the most expensive dinners we have ever had, but also one of the best tasting and beautifully presented.

These counter chefs inspected everything before it left. It was hard to watch all the great looking food get staged up there. I wanted it all.

John, aka: "grouse in the house". — John, aka: “grouse in the house”.

Beth, tonight's birthday girl and pretty woman 2. Or 1. — Beth, tonight’s birthday girl and pretty woman 2. Or 1.

Lord Grantham would have been happy here.

Edie and I split the beet salad. It was fantastic.

Beth had a butternut squash soup and reported that it was excellent.

John had a "Crispy-fried Ashley Farms Brown egg and mizuna greens salad. The egg is soft boiled, then breaded and fried. The yolk is still soft and becomes the salad dressing for the greens. John liked it. — John had a “Crispy-fried Ashley Farms Brown egg and mizuna greens salad.” The egg is soft boiled, then breaded and fried. The yolk is still soft and becomes the salad dressing for the greens. John liked it.

I had Ashley farms grilled chicken breast over spinach and risotto. It was excellent. The chicken was perfect.

Edie had swordfish on cous cous with scallops and shrimp. Edie declared it was the best she ever had. — Edie had swordfish on couscous with scallops and shrimp. Edie declared it was the best she ever had.

Beth had Grouper over pasta. She lShe is the foodie among us and her praise counts extra. — Beth had grouper over pasta. She is the foodie among us and her praise counts extra.

John had braised beef short ribs and subbed mashed potatoes for the menu standard.

Edie had tropical fruit creme brulee. She loved it.

I had a warm chocolate banana tort with ice cream. Not sure what the ice cream was sitting on but I liked it too. The lattice work was dark chocolate, delicious and glued down with melted chocolate. The warm tort was soft and gooey inside, gosh it was all wonderful. Bananas too. — I had a warm chocolate banana tort with ice cream. Not sure what the ice cream was sitting on but I liked it too. The lattice work was dark chocolate, delicious and glued down with melted chocolate. The warm tort was soft and gooey inside. Gosh it was all wonderful. Bananas too.

Beth and John split, "A Tasting of Gelato" Cappucino, raspberry and vanilla bean. There was a curved string of dark chocolate and they reported the cones beneath the foil tasted wonderful too. — Beth and John split, “A Tasting of Gelato” – cappuccino, raspberry and vanilla bean. There was a curved string of dark chocolate and they reported the cones beneath the foil tasted wonderful too.

They also brought Beth a birthday gift of an additional gelato with a happy birthday placard made of dark chocolate that read, "Happy Birthday." — They also brought Beth a birthday gift of an additional gelato with a happy birthday placard made of dark chocolate that read, “Happy Birthday.”

Fun wine rack behind the glass. Everyone but me had wine, damn gout.

The kitchen is entirely open. Much magic happening here.

We waddled out, went to the bathroom, and then decided to head out to try to see the fireworks at Disney. It was nice just to walk and see some of the resort. It is just so beautiful. Rooms here are very expensive but I think it would be fun to stay here a night (when we win the lottery). We walked outside and got there just in time to see the electric boat parade go by. How fun that was. We also got to see a little bit of the fireworks.

Another wine room as we were leaving. Nice wines and our waiter was well versed.

Edie loved this old toy ferris wheel. The patina was great.

Beth and John. A wonderful, fun, adventurous couple enjoying life and each other. What a pleasure to know them.

Grumpy and pretty woman emulating John and Beth.

We walked out to the water in time for the electric water parade.

The illuminations are animated, it is Disney.

By this time John was getting tired (long day for them) so they left. Michael and I went back into the hotel and walked around. We ended up at the Mercantile store on the second floor. We found the mouse ears that Lexi had wanted – Minnie ears with red glitter bow. They are so cute that I don’t think Lexi will be getting them anytime soon. I’m kinda loving them.

They were playing, "In The Mood." Everyone was bouncing to the music. If my Mom were still alive I would have called her, let her listen, and complimented her on her generations's music. — They were playing, “In The Mood.” Everyone was bouncing to the music. If my Mom were still alive I would have called her, let her listen, and complimented her on her generations’s music.

Monorail going bye. — Monorail going by.

Pretty woman found a gift for the girl. Lex will be very happy.

We finally left the resort and drove home. Traffic was (once again) pretty heavy. We got home around 11:30 PM. That was our day. Hope yours was great!