How Much Do You Ladies Charge to Haunt the Castle? -- Departure Day up (See index

[glennbo123]

Okay, so I'm caught up! The Stepsisters look like a riot. I've seen them in several TRs, but haven't had the pleasure to meet them in person. They seem like the best characters in all of DisneyWorld. (Sorry Big Guy. ) Plus, you had the Fairy Godmother, dinner at the Plaza, the departing balloon tribute , Nicki and Todd, and lots and lots of coffee (and a couple of resulting bathroom breaks). And I think I saw that you're planning on posting 2 or 3 more updates in the next couple of days!

 

[KatMark]

Gee, I wonder how this day started off? If you guessed going to Starbucks, you win a gold star.

After getting our coffee, we drove to the Waffle House that is on the way to the highway and had some breakfast.

We then drove to Ft. Myers where we went to the Seashell Factory. I have to say I was very disapponted in the Factory. I was expecting so much more than what they had in the line of seashells. So many of them looked fake, they had far too many other items that had nothing to do with seashells, the ocean, etc. That's not to say I didn't get a few things. I picked up a frame for me, one for Alisha, I got Mark a "mine mine" statute for his desk and I think I picked up some soap.

From there, we drove to the Dillards in Ft. Myers. While Nicki and I had been shopping, I had found the perfect dress for Markie and Alisha's wedding, but they didn't have my size. I was hoping this Dillards would. Unfortunately, they did not even have the dress.

After all this, we were hungry. We stopped at a place we had eaten at the year we won the $1000 on a scratch ticket...the Shrimp Shack:

Some of the decor at the restaurant:

I had the clam chowder soup which was not very good (I've had much better at Red Lobster):

Mark's meal:

My meal:

Although the soup was not good, the rest of the meal was delightful and very filling.

On the drive back to Marco, we stopped at the mall in Naples and checked that Dillards for "the" dress, but had no luck there either.

Even though it was hotter than heck out, we decided to stop and play some mini-golf.

I think in all of the years we have been together, I have beaten him ONCE! He cheats at mini-golf, just like he cheats at TSM and Buzz. In mini-golf he cheats by using a little kids golf club. Seriously, you are almost 60 years old, use the right kind of golf club.

We went back to the condo where I made grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner as we were not meeting Nicki and Todd this night (Todd works late one night a week).

After dinner, Mark wanted his second cigar and we went outside and sat in the huge tent area where they have games for the "older" people during the season. We sat here because it had been raining off and on for over an hour and was still drizzling when we went down.

That wraps up Day 10; only three more to go.

 

[eandesmom]

Pool, tropical drinks and dinner, beach, more pool, dinner

Some coffee here and there

Sounds like heaven to me! Some very relaxing days there. Just lovely! We enjoy Tommy Bahama's. It is a bit overpriced I think but lovely inside and pretty darn good food.

Bummer on the pixza though, bleh!

 

[pas130]

OMG MY back hurts watching Mark with that club

The Shrimp Shack is cute

 

[KatMark]

Today was the day we were going to

Previously, Nicki had told us to avoid it because it wasn't a "great" zoo, but they had added some animals and decided it was a good day to go for it.

So for all of you who have never been at a zoo (guys excluded because I think they have their "own" zoo), here are some photos of the animals we saw on this day:

Had enough animals? No, well here are some more:

When we had gone to the Jacksonville Zoo a couple of years ago, Mark surprised me and got "feed" so I could feed the giraffes. I reciprocated this year and let him feed my favorite animal:

Wait...that's not an animal --

Nor is that (QUIET, MARV!) --

We watched the gators being fed....

Continued in next post

 

[mommy2mrb]

wow more food porn...you are making me hungry Miss Kathy
not a seafood lover, but those hushpuppies look yummy!
funny about Mark using the kid club

 

[KatMark]

As with almost every single Disney attraction, when you leave it, there is a Dump Shop. The Zoo was no different. And my loving husband did not want to leave my faithful readers without a hat picture, or two.

After the zoo, we went to lunch back on the Island at:

This place was started by a man from Chicago so we thought he, of all people, ought to know HOW TO MAKE A GOOD PIZZA. Well, after our lunch, we found out his son took over and the pizza ain't what it used to be. It wasn't awful...the cheese side was okay, but the sausage side -- not so good.

The garlic bread was very tasty though.

Back to the condo and the pool for the afternoon.

Take a look at the size of THIS jellyfish:

For dinner, we joined Todd and Nicki at --

For some reason, I have NO pictures of the four of us. I think this night we were all a little tired and it was a first time at this particular restaurant and we were much too busy talking. But I did get FOOD porn.

Another end to another tropical day.

 

[mommy2mrb]

the zoo looks cute! did you get the giraffe ears?

okay I definately need to go eat something, my tummy is a rumbling pizza looks good, but would of been happy with that bread!

what a nice view to end your day!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Sounds and looks like a wonderful day from beginning to end. I really enjoyed the zoo pictures. Our zoo stinks (both figuratively and literally ) and is in the crappy part of town so we don't go there much.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Gee, I wonder how this day started off? If you guessed going to Starbucks, you win a gold star.

The deja vu is getting thick in here.

I think in all of the years we have been together, I have beaten him ONCE! He cheats at mini-golf, just like he cheats at TSM and Buzz. In mini-golf he cheats by using a little kids golf club. Seriously, you are almost 60 years old, use the right kind of golf club.

Ok, that just looks painful. I'm not sure I'd be able to stand up by the end of the round.

What happened here? Did he win a silver medal in gymastics?

All in all, it seems like there was a lot of relaxing and eating going on. As it should be.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

enjoyed all the updates.

is that how they serve pickles in that restaurant in a beer glass with the juice?

i bet that is so you can drink all of the juice after you eat the pickles.


and that steak and onion sandwhich in the last chapter looks like hte clear winner for best looking food pic of all the last chapters.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

Nice day! Love that you still took hat pictures, even away from WDW!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

All caught up!! Looks like you are having a wonderful time!! Loved the ornaments for your tree. Ours seems to be getting more and more Disney-like as well.
Hunting for seashells is always great fun. And it's addicting. We used to go every summer and stay on Anna Maria Island in Bradenton Beach. Loved those summer vacations. I spent hours combing the beach for shells.
I understand the Starbucks addiction. The holiday season is particularly tough to avoid the place. Peppermint Mocha--

1 Week!!! Bet you can't stand it!!

 

[Nermel9]

I read all four of your updates when I was bored at work! The zoo looks like fun! I love those little animal hats and headbands you guys tried on, I would have definitely bought the giraffe ears! And yum, all of the food pics look SO good! Even that pizza looks really good!

 

[shan23877]

You've been an updating machine!!

I don't even know where to start! Love the kids golf club. I feel you pain-I swear my DH cheats at Monopoly. The zoo looks pretty nice! And of course I love the hat pics.

Were you ever able to find your dress or did you have to find something different? So disappointing when you find the perfect thing but they don't have your size.

 

[Woth2982]

That alligator guy is brave! Not sure I would be standing near an alligator during regular times, never mind feeding time! My dad likes to tell the story of how he once fed an alligator a cheese curl at the zoo. Crazy man my father. The views from Buzz's Lighthouse are so pretty! I can see why you enjoy going to Marco Island after Disney! However now I want garlic bread. That looked so good. Garlic Bread is my weakness.

 

[amandaw]

Looks like y'all were having a lot of fun on the 2nd part of the vacation!! And all of the food is really yummy looking! It's making me that much more hungry for lunch than I already am.

 

[Poolrat]

Kathy - Looks like you are still avoiding Mark... But I think you must really feel bad. Hope you feel better.

 

[MEK]

Holy crap - is that guy awful close to the alligators? That doesn't look all that safe. Just sayin!

Cool animal pictures. I love the big black panther and the cheetah. Oh - and that turtle looks pretty neat, too.

Yeah - you can stop it with the food pictures now. Not good for any diet attempts.

Those beach pictures are gorgeous. Wow - what a beautiful beach.

And Mark - I guess he can find hats to try on wherever he goes.

 

[marvali]

Gee, I wonder how this day started off? If you guessed going to Starbucks, you win a gold star.

I got a gold star!!!

After getting our coffee, we drove to the Waffle House that is on the way to the highway and had some breakfast.

Hey wait, you had breakfast for dinner. Doesn't it mess up your whole day to have breakfast for, well, breakfast???

Some of the decor at the Shrimp Shack is definitely interesting, and that seafood does look pretty good!

And that is one of the more interesting mini-golf courses I have seen, but I hate when they use brick for the walls since you can't count on a true bounce all the time. As for Mark using a kids club, I would think that would be a disadvantage, so you might want to make sure he sticks with it or you may never win again.....

When we had gone to the Jacksonville Zoo a couple of years ago, Mark surprised me and got "feed" so I could feed the giraffes. I reciprocated this year and let him feed my favorite animal:

Looks like a good variety of animals, and so glad you got to see your favorite and surprise Mark with the feeding!

Nor is that (QUIET, MARV!) --

The elusive ice cream sandwich-eating Kathypus!!!

As with almost every single Disney attraction, when you leave it, there is a Dump Shop. The Zoo was no different. And my loving husband did not want to leave my faithful readers without a hat picture, or two.

This hat pic requires no words..........or at least it is probably safer if I don't add any!!!

Not sure you could have picked a more appropriate "hat" to model!!!

The garlic bread was very tasty though.

Yes, that does look yummy! Plenty of cheese.......

For some reason, I have NO pictures of the four of us. I think this night we were all a little tired and it was a first time at this particular restaurant and we were much too busy talking. But I did get FOOD porn.

Interesting name for the restaurant, and MMMMMM.........Steak!!!