Day 7
Its Saturday so it must be SHOPPING DAY!!!!
22nd December 2001
Well, its Saturday, so it MUST be shopping day in anyones books!
Start the day by calling my brother in UK as its his birthday today (mine tomorrow, how exciting). Dont manage to catch him but leave him a birthday message anyway. Its the very first time Ive not spoken to or seen him on his birthday so it seems very strange. I sing Happy Birthday to him anyway, which if nothing else manages to wake Becky up no mention of a cats chorus please Shaun!
We leave the hotel just after 10 which I suppose isnt too bad considering DDs late night and her usual bathroom routine! Wed intended to go to Golden Corral for breakfast as it was recommended by Fatman, but we reach The Ponderosa first so just cant wait Im afraid (I think GC was only a few blocks up IDrive actually).
Mostly Brits (complete with sunburn) in here, as usual, always makes me laugh. Im sure we are all so impressed by the value for money thing here! Might have met some of you there around the pancakes and maple syrup, you never know! There were some Americans too though as this weekend was the start of their Christmas holidays, so I was told.
There were all the usual goodies on show; eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, fruit etc etc and not so usual ones like bright blue jello .yuk! On our last trip, my niece had eaten several bowls of blue jello for breakfast one morning much to our disgust!! We ate our fill (and more!!). I just love the pancakes, syrup and fresh fruit here. Then I noticed the e-mail facility oh GOOD!! For a couple of dollars I am able to check my Hotmail account (while others finish their food, such piggies!) and collect all my birthday messages from friends as well as my brother and niece. That was really nice. Id miss them over the holidays. Cost me $2 for 10 minutes which I thought was pretty good. Checked the Dis quickly..well, you have to dont you?
Off to the Premium Outlet Mall at last
What a great mall this is. Wed discovered it last trip, thanks to Simons book and I could nt wait to get back there. Found the shop recommended by Shirley (Paul & Shirley) and managed to buy some Christmas crackers, shredded tissue paper for packing, some dear little gingerbread men (tiny ones for stockings) and some nice looking Lindt chocolates, also for stocking fillers. Very pleased with myself! Even more so when I bought lots of lovely undies for both myself and DD at very reasonable prices good, no washing to do now then!!! Looked at trainers and CDs. DH bit disappointed as he normally buys his Adidas trainers here but could nt see any he liked this time still lots more shops yet!! Cds were not much cheaper here, but wed try another couple of places before we went home. Browsed in the cheap Universal and Disney shops and bought a few bits and pieces before we decided to go back home. It was still quite warm and sunny, even thought the forecast had not been so good for today, so I went to sit by the pool with my book. Vince & Becky had suddenly remembered some important shopping they had to do at Walmart for tomorrow .hmmmm it had better be for something very lovely for my Birthday I thought They were on a mission!
While I sat by the pool there were only 2 kids in there and if it had been a tad warmer Id have gone in, but it was 4.30 by then and the sun was going down, so I sat and chatted to their Gran instead, a very nice old lady from Miami who complained about the bitter cold!!!!!!! Oh well, its all relative I suppose!
2 hours later, .. they must be buying me LOADS of presents I guess the sun had gone and I was distinctly chilly so I went in to change to go out for dinner. We were going back to our favourite Red Lobster at the Crossroads (even tho there was one right opposite us on Idrive), and I was really looking forward to it. DH & DD returned armed with a large bar of Cadburys and I got all excited until I realised it may say Cadburys on the wrapper, but its produced by Hersheys and tastes nothing like our good old Cadburys still, 8 out of 10 for effort!! Another big bag of M&Ms (well I have to keep my strength up) and a couple of disposable cameras cheer me up. At least I can take some photos now. The cameras were only $5 in Walmart and the pictures are actually really good!
All ready? Off to Crossroads at LBV for our treat at Red Lobster. Sat in our first real traffic jam on the I4 which I guess was due to Xmas shoppers, and also Americans arriving in town for the holidays. We crawled up the interstate and it took ages, but it was worth it! Id recommend this place to anyone. They dont just do fishy food here, steaks and chicken and all sorts are on the menu. We didnt have to wait for a table which was good, as we usually do. Though thats no bother, sitting by the bar drinking and looking round the restaurant is always fun too!
The Cheddar Bay biscuits that they bring out are superb! Always fresh and still warm, they just melt in your mouth, and I could just eat them all night .but of course I didnt! I followed it with a Caesar salad, and a combo meal of steak and shrimp, with a wonderful salted baked potato. All accompanied by a VERY strong frozen margerita of course!. Becky had the popcorn shrimp, and Vince had his usual combo meal of shrimp pasta, clams, crab etc I think with drinks it came to $50 odd. Not bad for 3 healthy appetites Cant fault anything here, the service is great, food amazing, excellent value just one small gripe .wish theyd turn the a/c down a bit!
Had thought of walking round Downtown Disney for a while but were all too tired (and full) now so just crawl back to the hotel , catch some tacky TV, drink another Ice and fall into bed tomorrow is my Birthday and I need my Beauty sleep!
Will we get up in time for Bomas tomorrow (ps for 8.30) .wed better!!
Night all
Sweet dreams
Its Saturday so it must be SHOPPING DAY!!!!
22nd December 2001
Well, its Saturday, so it MUST be shopping day in anyones books!
Start the day by calling my brother in UK as its his birthday today (mine tomorrow, how exciting). Dont manage to catch him but leave him a birthday message anyway. Its the very first time Ive not spoken to or seen him on his birthday so it seems very strange. I sing Happy Birthday to him anyway, which if nothing else manages to wake Becky up no mention of a cats chorus please Shaun!
We leave the hotel just after 10 which I suppose isnt too bad considering DDs late night and her usual bathroom routine! Wed intended to go to Golden Corral for breakfast as it was recommended by Fatman, but we reach The Ponderosa first so just cant wait Im afraid (I think GC was only a few blocks up IDrive actually).
Mostly Brits (complete with sunburn) in here, as usual, always makes me laugh. Im sure we are all so impressed by the value for money thing here! Might have met some of you there around the pancakes and maple syrup, you never know! There were some Americans too though as this weekend was the start of their Christmas holidays, so I was told.
There were all the usual goodies on show; eggs, bacon, sausage, cereals, pancakes, biscuits, cookies, fruit etc etc and not so usual ones like bright blue jello .yuk! On our last trip, my niece had eaten several bowls of blue jello for breakfast one morning much to our disgust!! We ate our fill (and more!!). I just love the pancakes, syrup and fresh fruit here. Then I noticed the e-mail facility oh GOOD!! For a couple of dollars I am able to check my Hotmail account (while others finish their food, such piggies!) and collect all my birthday messages from friends as well as my brother and niece. That was really nice. Id miss them over the holidays. Cost me $2 for 10 minutes which I thought was pretty good. Checked the Dis quickly..well, you have to dont you?
Off to the Premium Outlet Mall at last
What a great mall this is. Wed discovered it last trip, thanks to Simons book and I could nt wait to get back there. Found the shop recommended by Shirley (Paul & Shirley) and managed to buy some Christmas crackers, shredded tissue paper for packing, some dear little gingerbread men (tiny ones for stockings) and some nice looking Lindt chocolates, also for stocking fillers. Very pleased with myself! Even more so when I bought lots of lovely undies for both myself and DD at very reasonable prices good, no washing to do now then!!! Looked at trainers and CDs. DH bit disappointed as he normally buys his Adidas trainers here but could nt see any he liked this time still lots more shops yet!! Cds were not much cheaper here, but wed try another couple of places before we went home. Browsed in the cheap Universal and Disney shops and bought a few bits and pieces before we decided to go back home. It was still quite warm and sunny, even thought the forecast had not been so good for today, so I went to sit by the pool with my book. Vince & Becky had suddenly remembered some important shopping they had to do at Walmart for tomorrow .hmmmm it had better be for something very lovely for my Birthday I thought They were on a mission!
While I sat by the pool there were only 2 kids in there and if it had been a tad warmer Id have gone in, but it was 4.30 by then and the sun was going down, so I sat and chatted to their Gran instead, a very nice old lady from Miami who complained about the bitter cold!!!!!!! Oh well, its all relative I suppose!
2 hours later, .. they must be buying me LOADS of presents I guess the sun had gone and I was distinctly chilly so I went in to change to go out for dinner. We were going back to our favourite Red Lobster at the Crossroads (even tho there was one right opposite us on Idrive), and I was really looking forward to it. DH & DD returned armed with a large bar of Cadburys and I got all excited until I realised it may say Cadburys on the wrapper, but its produced by Hersheys and tastes nothing like our good old Cadburys still, 8 out of 10 for effort!! Another big bag of M&Ms (well I have to keep my strength up) and a couple of disposable cameras cheer me up. At least I can take some photos now. The cameras were only $5 in Walmart and the pictures are actually really good!
All ready? Off to Crossroads at LBV for our treat at Red Lobster. Sat in our first real traffic jam on the I4 which I guess was due to Xmas shoppers, and also Americans arriving in town for the holidays. We crawled up the interstate and it took ages, but it was worth it! Id recommend this place to anyone. They dont just do fishy food here, steaks and chicken and all sorts are on the menu. We didnt have to wait for a table which was good, as we usually do. Though thats no bother, sitting by the bar drinking and looking round the restaurant is always fun too!
The Cheddar Bay biscuits that they bring out are superb! Always fresh and still warm, they just melt in your mouth, and I could just eat them all night .but of course I didnt! I followed it with a Caesar salad, and a combo meal of steak and shrimp, with a wonderful salted baked potato. All accompanied by a VERY strong frozen margerita of course!. Becky had the popcorn shrimp, and Vince had his usual combo meal of shrimp pasta, clams, crab etc I think with drinks it came to $50 odd. Not bad for 3 healthy appetites Cant fault anything here, the service is great, food amazing, excellent value just one small gripe .wish theyd turn the a/c down a bit!
Had thought of walking round Downtown Disney for a while but were all too tired (and full) now so just crawl back to the hotel , catch some tacky TV, drink another Ice and fall into bed tomorrow is my Birthday and I need my Beauty sleep!
Will we get up in time for Bomas tomorrow (ps for 8.30) .wed better!!
Night all
Sweet dreams