{"id":81178,"date":"2024-07-13T19:23:48","date_gmt":"2024-07-14T02:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=81178"},"modified":"2024-07-14T06:00:27","modified_gmt":"2024-07-14T13:00:27","slug":"day-1-departing-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lilesnet.com\/dailydiary\/?p=81178","title":{"rendered":"Day 1 – Departing Florida!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We are on the way!<\/p><\/div>\n

When the alarm went off, we were ready to get up and excited to start the adventure. We decided to take the 102 suitcases from our room to the lobby by ourselves, a feat that should NOT be attempted by amateurs. I stacked Mary’s suitcases up and tilted them over to start the rolling process and heard a gut-wrenching sound from the top of the stack.<\/p>\n

My instincts kicked in, and I dropped the handle and ran to safety in the bathroom.\u00a0 The crashing sound was deafening, and then it subsided; I peeked into the room, hoping Mary had escaped the crash.\u00a0 She was OK and suggested we not stack the suitcases as if we were playing Tetris with our luggage!<\/p>\n

We finally got the baggage to the front desk, and the limo came by to pick us up; the driver took one look and passed out!<\/p>\n

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Oh my, how do we get Mary’s bags onto the ship?<\/p><\/div>\n

Our ship was about 400 feet from the lobby, but due to the ongoing construction of a new hotel, we had to drive ten minutes to get to the ship.\u00a0 We got everything off the limo and into the hands of a very lovely porter, and then we got into the line.\u00a0 The line moved right along, and within five minutes, we were inside, where the air conditioning kept us from melting.\u00a0 \u00a0It was already 85 degrees outside.<\/p>\n

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The line moved pretty fast.<\/p><\/div>\n

We passed through security without a hitch, except that Mark insisted on having the female security officers do a pat-down on him three times.\u00a0 They didn’t find anything, but they giggled a lot.\u00a0 They refused his fourth request, but Mark would NOT take no for an answer.\u00a0 The ladies huddled; one got her cell phone, and then a four-hundred-pound sumo wrestler in a security uniform came out and asked Mark to step forward.\u00a0 \u00a0It was fun to watch.<\/p>\n

We went onto the ship and found an alcohol dispensing room\u2014I think they called it a bar.\u00a0 Mark found a table for four after he pushed two little old ladies out of the way!<\/p>\n

We ordered our first round, and Mark decided to do a taste test!\u00a0 He took a vote by himself, and it was tied 3-3; he re-voted, and finally, the whiskey won!<\/p>\n

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Two-fisted drinkers.<\/p><\/div>\n

We sat and watched humanity pass us by, with many circling like vultures around the free food!<\/p>\n

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A light lunch?<\/p><\/div>\n

We decided to split up until dinner and headed to our cabin to unpack and recuperate \u2013 or, as I like to call it, take a “mandatory relaxation break.” The view from our room revealed a giant harbor fit for six or seven cruise ships at a time, or, as my inner kid would say, “the ultimate parking lot for giant boats!”<\/p>\n

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The harbor is large enough to handle multiple boats.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u00a0I headed to our room and was about to take a power nap when Mary yelled, “The land is moving!” My first thought was an earthquake, but then I realized it was just the ship getting its groove on while the land was playing it cool in one spot<\/span><\/p>\n

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We were sliding out of the channel at breakneck speed.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mary and I polished off the leftover wine from lunch and thought, “Why not go on ‘tipsy’ adventures for a while?”<\/p>\n

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Mary waves goodbye to the land.<\/p><\/div>\n

Our first stop was the gym (otherwise known as the torture chamber!).\u00a0 We know the equipment well and plan to use the gym every morning.<\/p>\n

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Tow that barge, lift that bale!<\/p><\/div>\n

We walked and walked and then returned to freshen up before dinner at the Crown Grille.<\/p>\n

The kids were there first, and the manager gave us great seats next to the window.\u00a0 Mark ordered a Big Mac, and the waiter nearly passed out.<\/p>\n

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Decisions decisions.<\/p><\/div>\n

We all had steaks, and they were pretty good!\u00a0 The waiter made sure we knew that A-1 sauce was not allowed in the dining room.<\/p>\n

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It was the size of half a cow!<\/p><\/div>\n

After dinner, we again decided to split up as we watched Colleen’s eyes begin to droop since it was almost 8:00 p.m.\u00a0 They headed out the door, and Mary suggested we walk for a while.<\/p>\n

We went to one of the movies, which was NOT for the faint of heart.\u00a0 It was rather x-rated, so we did not stay.\u00a0 \u00a0If I want to see something ugly, all I have to do is stand in front of a mirror.<\/p>\n

Mary spotted a mother and young son heading to the movie, and we waved them off.<\/p>\n

We found O’Malley’s Bar, where there was live Irish entertainment.\u00a0 We slithered to the bar, plopped ourselves down, and began ordering.\u00a0 I fastened Mary in with the safety belt; I needed a five-point harness.<\/p>\n

Being in Ireland, I had a Guinness!\u00a0 It was pretty good.<\/p>\n

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A bit of old Ireland at O’Malleys Bar<\/p><\/div>\n

After two drinks, I began to remember some old Irish songs, and in fact, I requested that they play ” The Irish Rover.” They played, and the whole audience clapped along.<\/p>\n

“The Irish Rover<\/b>” is an Irish folk song about a magnificent though improbable sailing ship that reaches an unfortunate end.\u00a0 Numerous artists have recorded it, some of whom have changed the lyrics over time.\u00a0 Listen below!<\/p>\n