Greetings from Sunny Florida!
On January 8th we hit the road very early for McAllen TX. We made good time, had good directions to the airport, and arrived with time to spare. Our flight was a little late departing but we made up some time in flight. It was a smooth flight and Jon and Phyllis were waiting for us when we arrived at the Sanford-Orlando Airport. We jumped in the rental car and made our way to the condo on International Way. Even though I had printed out a mapquest, we evidently came out of the airport on a different road (even though there seemed to be only one road out) and we had a few false starts, u-turns, etc. before we got our bearings and got headed in the right direction.
We got checked in to the Hilton Grand Vacations condo with no problems. The resort is very nice - it is in a Tuscan theme. The main pool area is spectacular and there is a second pool area at the far end - slightly smaller and less spectacular but perfectly nice. There are six buildings spaced around a lake with a bridge across in the middle. We are in building 3 Villa Franconi. The condos are very nice - king beds with down comforters, screened balconies/patios (we have a patio since we are on the first floor), granite countertops, jacuzzi tub, etc. We had dinner on Thursday at a seafood restaurant.
We've done some sightseeing but mainly have been relaxing, enjoying the condo and our time together. We have gone to a couple of the flea markets in the area, the outlet mall adjacent to the condo. Last night Jon, Chuck and I played Texas Hold'em here at the resort (the activities department has different things going every day). There was no cost and the prizes were: 3rd place, $10 Hilton money to be spent in bar/snack bar/marketplace on the property; 2nd place, $20 Hilton money, and 1st place, $50 Hilton money. There were 7 players and I was the only woman. Jon took 2nd and I took 1st!!!! Chuck took a couple of bad beats and had to sit and watch us finish. This afternoon the four of us played bingo by the pool (activities department again). They played five games - Jon won one, I won one, and Phyllis won two!! Prizes included t-shirts, mugs, wine, sunglass cases, Hilton money. Phyllis won a bottle of wine, $10 in Hilton money, a mug, sunglass case, two ice cream sundaes. Jon a bottle of wine, $5 in Hilton money, and a t-shirt. I won a t-shirt, $5 in Hilton money, and a sunglass case. Poor Chuck was skunked again.
We have plans to go to Tampa to an RV show on Friday, go up to Leesburg to visit neighbors of Jon and Phyllis on Sunday, and to Epcot on Monday. They are having some cool weather this week - but of course that is cool by their point of view . . . . not by the standards of our family and friends up north. Sixty some degreees is cool for Florida but if the sun is out it's darn nice. Jon and Phyllis are enjoying their respite from Ohio weather. They have been buried in snow and experiencing bitter cold . . . based on reports from Phyllis' daughter, sister, and mother. Hope they can find their car when they get back to Ohio on the 22nd!
