We showered and changed and headed back down to the boat. We took the boat to Citywalk and then got the Portofino boat. We had no wait as there was one waiting when we arrived.......it`s so convenient a way of getting to each resort, and such a nice little ride.
It`s a little further to PBH, but still so convenient to walk from the parks.....and as with all the walking paths, so pretty.
We get off the boat and as usual with PB it`s so quiet during the day, any time we come over it feels a little deserted.....it does get busier at night.
We have a quick wander around and take some pictures and we go ask for Mike at the desk, and they call and let him now we are there. It is a beautiful hotel. I would always recommend anyone to have a wander around the other resort hotels if you have the time. They are so different and even if they don't quite appeal to stay in them, they are lovely to see.
At this point Mike comes out......it was so lovely to see him. We became friendly when he was one of the supervisors in the Club Lounge at RPR, but he was now back at PBH and I think I said earlier he had contacted RP CL to find out if we were staying yet........so we were looking forward to seeing him again. We had the same adoration of HHN and especially Michael Myers. He had told us some things we weren't aware of and some behind the scenes stuff......and we so enjoyed our time getting to know him in 2014. Really good guy and is very good at his job.
We gave him a big hug and chatted about the hotel and how he had come back here......it`s always interesting to hear how people end up doing the jobs they are in. Everyone has a story somewhere. He asked if we wanted to go to the Club Lounge.......I had never been in here before properly so we wandered over and went in. The Club Lounge here is off the main reception area, rooms are usually allocated to be close, but if you opt for Club Lounge here you can be a little walk away. It is a nice room but getting a revamp sometime..........
They do have a little balcony in this room, tiny, but it`s there........the view is across the piazza and to the water
We spend most of the afternoon here chatting to Mike in the Lounge and have some lemonade which is really nice, but eventually we leave as it`s getting near the time for guests to be coming in, and that's always a busy time........so we bid our goodbyes and hug, it really was lovely catching up with him again, and now we know where he is we can go back and visit again.
We head back and get the boat back to Citywalk and then RP.
On the boat a lady starts talking to us. She was a
travel agent and was there for a convention.......we mentioned HHN and she had never heard of it.....we found this strange as surely a travel agent would know about that.....so we briefly gave her the details and she said it sounded fun. Told her it was an amazing event. We wished her an enjoyable visit and got in the queue for RP boat.......at that point an older couple who had been on the boat came up and asked us if we minded telling them about HHN too.......explained the event again to them and told them their ticket options as they could only go one night.....not sure they would go when they understood they couldn't use their day tickets to get in. I suppose I do get a bit surprised when folks visit anywhere without researching everything about the place......the internet is full of info on everything.
We go back up to the Club Lounge for while during which time I take some laundry down and get a full load in......all machines were being used, although 2 are just about to finish, and I wait and think maybe I should come back another time, at that point a lady appears and takes loads out of 2 machines......she apologises for being late.......I tell her not to worry they had only just gone off.........we chat about how she had to empty a machine once......she had came down and no one came back for their laundry after the machine had finished, she waited 15 minutes then emptied it and put hers in. When she came back the same laundry hadn`t been removed. Some people just don't consider others. I always make sure I`m back in time to take it out. I would do that too if I had to.
I go back to Club Lounge and have a glass of wine and sit till clothes are done, then put them on hangers and back to room. Then we leave for dinner. Tonight we are driving back to LBV for Longhorn Steakhouse
We had made the mistake the year before by going to Longhorn on IDrive........awful place. Poorly cooked steaks and bad service made for an unpleasant evening. But the one in LBV has always been excellent.....food and service, so we tend to just drive back there, it`s only 15-20 minutes away.
Tom goes to get the car and I take some rare pictures of the entrance being relatively quiet and no cars.......doesn't happen often........
It is such a pretty entrance to a hotel, and the music playing adds to the atmosphere.........Tom appears and we drive off to LBV for a relatively early dinner........it takes 15 minutes to get there and the car park looks busy. But, we get seated straight away and it`s not as busy as it looks.
It`s such a nice restaurant and we have always had exceptional food here for such an inexpensive place to eat.......steaks are always good quality and cooked as they should be.
We order strawberry lemonades and then they bring the bread.......this is so nice!!! You can get more, but we try to just eat the one wedge they bring........
We both order salads, both with honey mustard dressing, I order a filet with baked sweet potato and Tom orders the outlaw ribeye and garlic mash........we don't feel like appetisers tonight..........
We get 2 salads put in front of us.......doesn't look like honey mustard to me.......I put my finger in and its blue cheese......almost immediately another waitress appears and says we have been given the wrong salads, I tell her I was about to call someone over, and I make sure I tell her I stuck my finger in the dressing......would hate for someone to get it after that!
She brings over our salads and that is honey mustard dressing.......and our steaks soon follow, and I have to say are cooked just as we asked. It`s one thing I am incredibly fussy about........I like medium rare and can take it rarer......but aything more than that and I will send it back......Tom will eat anything as long as it is not still mooing or radically overcooked.........
We do enjoy our meal and are feeling quite full tonight, I was glad we hadn't ate any more of the bread.......we don't take dessert as we plan to try dessert hour at the Club Lounge......something we very rarely do or go have some pool time. But, we don't feel like doing much tonight so we plan one of those. We ask for the check and our waitress brings us 2 strawberry lemonades to go.....a nice touch. We pay her and then leave.......then we see the rain is bouncing down......well that rules out the pool then.......Tom goes and gets the car so I don't get wet.......and we are back home in 20 minutes.
Quite a cosy feel at night coming back in to the hotel.......doesn't seem too busy tonight either......
We go straight to the lounge and check out the desserts. I`m not a big dessert eater, but Tom loves them......get us both some coffee and go have a look at what`s there
The cookies and the canolies are nice, Tom tries the little dessert but doesn't enjoy that one........but, we sit for a while and chat to staff, it is so quiet up here tonight.........it`s very cosy and warming sitting in here at night, very welcoming lounge.........
We sit for a while longer and just watch the weather outside, it`s still raining........eventually we head out and decide to go back to the room.........I have some laundry to sort out and we are quite tired tonight........so, TV is put on, we have a bottle of wine in the fridge, so that is the rest of our evening. Really is like home from home tonight........
Think we put lights and TV off around 11.30pm........and by that time we really are exhausted. We plan an easy day tomorrow.
. A darn shame, they could turn it into a themed TS type if they tossed in a character or2 and clean up IMO.
..........there were so many to choose from......and they are so good at wrapping them up securely........they always ask if we're flying home, well in our case I think they can guess from the accents......lol.......but we had no breakages again this year, so our trees will be adorned with a load of new garnishes..........
