Penguin Island, Antarctica 2008

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 - To Fort Lauderdale

We had a nice farewell dinner at some friends house last night. It smelled like rain on the way home. Sure enough it started raining hard sometime during night.


Dick gets up about 5:30AM as he doesn’t like to rush. Carolyn gets up about 6:30AM and we get the luggage locked up and all the last minute things done. Our driver and friend, JW, arrives right on time at 7:30AM and loads the car in the pouring rain. It rains hard all the way to the airport
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We get checked in and through security without any problem. They are not using the new full-body scanners today. We head to the first class lounge where, fortunately, we can still use our American Express card for access.he plane waiting for us outside the window and about an hour later the flight is call. We take off on time, but have a bumpy ride for about 30 minutes after that it is smooth sailing.

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale on time, we get our luggage and hail a cab to the Ritz and are in our lovely 11th floor room by 3:00PM. It is an ocean front room with a nice balcony. Dick checks in with our friends. They will pick us up for dinner at 6:00PM. We head out for a walk along the main drag that runs along the beach. Things are hopping this Sunday afternoon...lots of people sunbathing, but no one actually swimming. Even though it is sunny and warm, the water must be a little chilly.


Back at the hotel we meet several couples who are also on the cruise and visit for a few minutes before going back to the room. Dick gets involved with his game on the computer and Carolyn stretches out on a very comfortable bed to read and is asleep in no time! Next thing she knows is Dick is telling her we need to be downstairs in 30 minutes.

As we are dressing we watch the seven ships that were docked when we arrive sail away formation style! Our friends are right on time and we head to the Chart House and spend several hours catching up and enjoying a great seafood meal!

Day one of our 73 day trip has been great!
 

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