Day 15---Coming Home, Miami to Toronto

Last day of our trip! Virgin Voyages has later disembarkment, however, we were still off the ship pretty early.  Well, not compared to times we've been off at 7:30pm, but still....it felt too early.

The building with the cool roof is the terminal our Celebrity ship used in 2017. We were at the inside end of the island that all the terminals are on. 

Not sure what all this was....buffet for the Rock Stars?

Remember, you can click on any photo to open the picture viewer. I like taking pictures and seeing the changes every time we come because we're not there all that often.

We disembarked easily and grabbed a taxi. When we got to the airport (another crazy drive, though better than others), it was more than what others had told us it should be, Rob's credit card would not work, and he didn't want to tip and it was all awkward. 

This time we did not have to walk from one end of the airport to the other. We were definitely in the economy section this time. It was very different than our first time in Miami  and different than the last two times too! 

We found the Porter counter quickly and it said it would open at ....9:46 rings a bell. There were already a few people lining up, so after a bit, we joined them. We were maybe the third couple back. We were all in one line. Others joined behind. We heard the couple ahead of us talking about having trouble with the app too. 
Around 10:10 an airport worker, I think, asked why we were all lined up. We said the sign said they would open 20 minutes ago. He was like, no that's totally wrong cause we don't open until 2 (or 3?) hours before the flight, so they wouldn't be opening for another hour. There were some pissed Canadians!! Those at the back of the line did leave, but those of us at the front were like, well, we already waited this long, we're not giving up our spots now! 

While we were passing the time, chatting with other couples (Hi to the couple ahead of us from outside Calgary but she grew up in Norwood!), another airport worker came out with the stands and ribbon things that organize the lines you wait in. You know what I mean. We made so many jokes about it because we had already formed a nice line. He asked us all to move and we'd move 1 step LOL. He wanted the lines to go more side to side instead of straight back. He did have to make the Porter VIP line though, and I believe the couple ahead of us went to that line. Or they came from that line and we let them in front of us because they hadn't realized it wasn't the main line? 

Finally, they came and opened the counter. We were the third couple up and told them what had happened and that we weren't happy.  They were really surprised the sign had said it would open so early. Then Rob launched into his tirade about the app not allowing him to pay and how unhappy he was with Porter after these two things. The agent was so nice though, and she took off the checked baggage charge!! 

We went through security, where the roller conveyor belt broke off the tab of one of the zippers on the main compartment of my backpack :( 

Then we walked towards our gate.

Where were the restaurants?

There was a general store with a pizza counter, and a small bar with food. On our other trips to Miami, there were lots of food choices! We ended up at the bar. It was okay, and not too badly priced for an airport.

When we went to board, they were using face recognition at the gate. I failed! Rob is always worried about this because of his nystagmus (eye shaking). They just scanned my pass. 
The plane is basic. Rob's Coke was very warm. I can't even remember if there were seatback screens. It felt very, very cosy. It was cloudy all the way home; I think the first time that's happened. Disappointing!

We got in to Toronto, and it wasn't very clear about where to go for customs. There was a row of terminals in the hall but everyone was passing them. We realized it was customs pre-screening. Fast. Can't remember where we went after that, if there was customs as well. Funny how quickly we forget these little details.  Got our checked bag, and headed for the place to call for our ride. That was also a little confusing, but we managed and he showed up quickly. We had the same driver as on the way there (I think his name was Rob) and some of the conversation was exactly the same LOL. 

And with that...our big trip was over! What an adventure. 

 

Road Trip 2018: Day 5

This was Monday. I've been looking at my pictures, trying to figure out what we did. Cheryl remembers being hung over, so we didn't do much LOL. I have these pictures:

 Enjoying a coffee in the screened in porch and noticed this little guy

 At some point we went out. Not sure where, but I just mentioned "We should go to a Krispy Kreme". Well, that was entered into the GPS and within minutes we were at a Krispy Kreme. They were SO good! I rarely eat doughnuts here, but I'd eat those again! And we did, later in the week LOL.

Cheryl bought these peel off masks for us all. I won't post the group shot LOL

 Ah, why not? It was fun.

 And I missed this photo from the Sunday when we were walking around.

Road Trip 2018 Day 4

Sunday came, and it came in hot. The other ladies went to the Publix grocery store to get some cream and produce (Wal-Mart wasn't very well stocked the night before) and I putted around and organized.

I was very disappointed to discover I had forgotten my good camera at home and also the charger for my Garmin Vivofit.  However it was cool to find these charging plugs connected to our clock-phone in our bedroom.  Doesn't do the waterproof camera or my mp3 player but I don't have my own ipad cord so now I don't need to borrow Cheryl's cord. The weird thing was our clock had the wrong time and there was no way to change it!

This is mom's and mine bedroom

Our bathroom had only one sink and no storage. The shower head kind of sucks.

Looking towards the front door

The living room

The living room in 1989. They've really upscaled the furniture!

The dining room.  

The under equipped kitchen.  LOL. We kept saying "I wish I had..." a cheese grater, a rubber scraper, another cutting board, scissors, knife sharpener, some Tupperware, plastic wrap, proper salt and pepper shakers instead of packets...

Our unit is the bottom left

They've recently added a BBQ area behind but the patio is screened in with no door so we have to walk around.  Oh well, it's still nice.  Not used much!

Mom had to touch all the plants 

Going by the brown railings, this was 1989. Back then there were stairs from the 2nd floor! And the patio wasn't screened in. That was frustrating when we were bbq-ing. I wouldn't even bother if I were on the upper floors. And look how they've changed the windows!

 Can you see the little fellow?  So many of these little lizards!

The master bedroom with a huge bed. There were no overhead lights in the bedrooms and it felt a little dark. Our room had room-darkening curtains, but no sheers, so it was all or nothing, and faced the parking spots. 

 They get a walk through closet to a large bath

Another view. My bedroom was down the hall where the dryer is.

Mom just went and grabbed this plant.  Luckily it's quite soft

The first pool.  It was the only one here when my parents bought their timeshare

When I was here last I think this was a simple white slide. I didn't notice it this time but Mom and I went back another time and I could see where the slide had actually been on the "rocks".
I found this picture!

Yup, this was the "big slide" in 1989!

If you like tennis, this place is for you. 

The mini golf has changed a lot.  There is now a fee but owners get a discount. I was told it was renovated last year.

Super pool.  There are seven pools plus a couple kid pools and hot tubs at each pool

We checked out one of the activity centers.  Cheryl was pretty tipsy by now 

Hanging it out with Nicki

Found in the Marketplace

Some of us wanted sun, some wanted dappled shade

This is the same pool, taken from the other side. It was busier in Oct 1997

This is the far end of the Super Pool (actually, it's the end closer to the villa, but the far end compared to the vantage point of the above photos). In the picture higher up, you can see they've added a white railing around this pool.

Cheryl and her mom went to a paint class

I took this shot to compare with an old photo from our first or second trip

They made a few changes! The railings are now white, and that big bulky divider in the upper middle is gone. Actually...looking at this photo, below, from 1989, I think that was a bump out, but just an optical illusion.

Dec, 1989

October 1997. The railings, doors, and door frames are teal.And those palm trees aren't even visible in 1989! 

This is the same as the photo near the top. So, they put in a little roof on the 2nd floor, and took out the palm trees. The white is definitely better, and the villas are more yellow than the cream from earlier. 

Mom, Nicki and I went to Movie at the Pool but it wasn't very good.  Too much light and the kids were noisy.  So we didn't stay.  

It was a lovely day.  Quite hot but that's why we're here!