So, when last we left...well...me...I had just had a lovely flight and was in a fantastic mood. Sweet relief flooded through me as we landed in Orlando. Nothing like that first smell of Florida air!
There's just something about that first whiff of Florida air. 
I relished in not having anyone with me. I'm not going to lie. I've done family trips, I've done trips just me and mom, I've done trips with girls only, and they've all been lovely for different reasons.
But this trip? It was all about me.
And that is a good thing!
And I was lovin' it.
A quick pit stop, text to MJS to let him know I'd landed safely, call to Nana to do the same, and I was off to Magical Express.
Something I noticed on this trip? Now I'd snuck away on a family trip for some solo time before, so I've spent a good half day in the World by myself...actually did three parks in that half day, but that's a story for another time. And I noticed the same thing on this trip that I noticed then. People are kind to you when you're alone. Cast members especially, but people in general.
And I've got one of those faces. I used to work at a bank, and I'd swear it was like being a bartender or hair stylist. I have heard it ALL, folks!
Nice to hear; and having met you in person, I can easily see this.
Anyway! I boarded ME, super excited to get to my resort, the beloved, the tropcial, the pirate Caribbean Beach. We stopped at Art of Animation first, which was pretty cool because I was able to take a peak at it.
Little secret about me?
In my old age (ha ha) I'm becoming a resort snob. And although I looked at AoA and thought, oh, how cute! Adorable! Maybe I should stay there.....
Nope.
No desire. Yes, it's great. Yes, it's got some neat features for sure. I'd not be opposed to visiting it just to see and take some photos. But I'm pretty much done with value resorts. Tinkerbellarella and I stayed at Sports when we did our AK 5K and although the price fit, it just is not for me any more. Give me a good mod, and if I can afford it a lovely deluxe any day!
I'm right there with you; I just can't do a value anymore. I'll stick with my DVC rentals or my mods.
Shortly, we were on our way to CBR, and I was a little like this
in my seat.
Check in was a breeze, I'd done it online, and requested Jamaica. Some of you do the morning coffee walk?
I do the evening Pina CoLava walk.
And I love the walk from Jamaica to Old Port Royale. It's lovely, and even lovelier at night.
Oooh...I must start one of those evening walks on our next trip.
As long as you don't trip going over this bad boy:
Because then you'd be seeing this:
My check-in CM, whose name escapes me, sent me off with a jaunty "say hi to Mickey for me!"
Now for those of you who did not read my pre trip report, I'd been having a HUGE dilemma about what shoes to wear on this trip.
At the very last minute, I'd ended up throwing in my sneakers, but that wasn't what I wore on the airplane. What I wore on the airplane were these:
And for some reason I thought...you know what? I'll walk to my room. I'm alone, I'll stop and smell the proverbial roses, as it were.
Ha. Ha ha.
What I didn't know at the time was exactly how far that really was.
Nor did I know that I had a growth on my cartilage that literally scrapped my bone every time I bent my knee. All that angst about what to wear, about knee pain, about everything?
I had knee surgery in January, folks. Originally thought to be a meniscus tear, but actually discovered to be that cartilage growth.
I'm not a complainer. I'm really not. And I may not have talked about it on the DIS, but at that point in my life, my knee was in pretty much constant pain. And I didn't know I needed surgery. I hadn't had an MRI yet. So I walked to my room.
It felt like a mile. It may have been. It doesn't really matter.
I remember the whole shoe discussion and your knee being in pain. OUCH!
All I have to say is, beautiful walk, but ow.
And boy was I GLAD to hit my room!
These photos are actually from later after my luggage arrived, but I'll post them now for your viewing pleasure.
Obligatory Mickey Towel Head
May sound funny, but it was really trippy for me to see just my stuff hanging on those hooks. Same feeling with the closet area.
And not from this trip, but some lovely CBR photos for you:
That hammock has my name on it. Just so you know.
Up next - Where to first?
