Part VIIII It's the final countdown, going home

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Checked in to my final room close to Miami airport. There's a free airport shuttle and I have to return the car a day before my flight so they can pick me up and drop me off again the day after. The room was great. I heard planes flying over (just like I did in Orlando) but none during the night. And the fridge and A/C were noisy. But hardly used the A/C and turned off the fridge at night like on most nights during my trip. I didn't do all that much here. Chill, repack, went to a mall, finished my final book, took a bath.

New shoes!

Walmart run to get some food and drinks. There's no restaurant/bar on site.

Went to the pool again the morning after, continuing my daily routine. But there was a bit of a ceepy guy, drinking beers at 9am. He said hi, I said hi back but went to the other side of the pool to the sunbeds and minded my own business. He got up and left soon after that, pfew. But then he came back with a towel. I guess he saw mine and maybe wanted to get in when I did? Luckily it started raining soon after and so I went back inside without going in and knowing the rain would probably only last a few minutes. When I passed him he said I could wait with him as well where it was dry with a smirk on his face. He was under a covered section but I said no thank you and went back to the room to finish my book with a cup of tea. And just as expected, by the time I got back into the room, it stopped raining and the sun was back out. That guy was probably expecting me to come back haha. But after finishing my book, I cruised around for a bit because I had to return the car by 2pm that day. 

Finished book #4

Final status of my cars 'scar'

I so far haven't received a reply to my damage report and I received an e-receipt half an hour after I returned the car but it didn't mention the damage, so I guess it's coming this week?

Waiting for my hotels airport shuttle. I was reading my Burgers Zoo magazine that I'd brought from home, only thing left to read and saw this little guy on the street!

Back at the hotel, snack time!

Last bag of Kneipp bathsalt, last night in the room, bathtime!

And I was able to see/hear one of my favorite shows from the tub, Law&Order SVU (marathon on tv that day).

After the bath, I did my luggage, only there wasn't much to do. When you bring so little and are pretty organized, it's done in 5. I kept walking around in circles, what else, but there wasn't anything else haha. Had a good night sleep again! 

Final day! Check out time was 12, they gave me a complimentary extra hour. And so I had my leftover mac and cheese that I also got at Walmart and cooked the day before when I ate half, for lunch and a banana. Did the dishes, had a good shower and checked out. Left my bag at reception and went to the pool. No creepy guy, no rain or dark clouds. Just me and a lot of sunshine. I followed the sun around the pool until 1630ish and took the airport shuttle back to to airport at 5ish.

My flight wasn't until 23 and I had a lot of water left, so I had some food and cocktails (3) before going through customs. I finished all the water I had left after, which was this bottle and another smaller bottle (0,7l). Pretty much downed it, which was not the best idea. I was soooo full after that!! And it's nice to only have handlugage but it's also annoying because you have to always bring it with you. But found a good spot where I sat for a bit before heading down to the gate.

My name was called for an extra document check or something and I wanted to go up there anyway to request an aisle seat. I was placed in a middle seat again. And this was a huge plane with a lower and upper deck and looking at the amount of people, I figured I had a good shot at getting an aisle seat. She asked me what I wanted and I said aisle in the middle part if possible and she asked me upper or lower? I said that didn't matter and said maybe close to the exit since I had a short layover and she said that is was the 2nd row but it was empty so far. I think my eyes opened wide from excitement haha. And you never know, I've had that before and then people come in last minute to burst my bubble. But looking around me once I got on, the plane there were a lot of half empty rows! And mine stayed empty and the row on my left did as well, besides the lady sitting at the window and the two of us made a few happy gestures and comments to one and other (the one on the right was completely empty). And on my way to Orlando, I flew American Airlines and had to pay for drinks, but not on partner airline British, nooo it's freeeee! I asked for vodka and ginger ale and as if that wasn't enough, she asked me if I also wanted a wine with my dinner haha. Sure. And so 4 seats, 4 pillows, 4blankets, 4 drinks, 2movies, couple of hours of good sleep laying flat. I was in heaven!

Safety video haha

And a 4hour delay followed. I had a very short layover and we had a slight delay but then a bigger one when we couldn't get the plane to the gate, another plane had to leave first. And so I was rebooked on a later flight. I tried to fly to Amsterdam but that wasn't possible. Went through customs and had some leftover Dr Pepper but the guy told me that plastic bottles were okay but they still had to check it in the end, that darn Dr. Pepper haha. I had plenty of time though. All good, continued my way to a Rest&Relax area and filed a claim with British Airways for the delay right away, should get a compensation for getting to my final destination 3+ hours and that could cover the rest of the costs for the cracked windshield then (I think), haha, everything happens for a reason. I then waited, ate, had a drink and waited some more. Time went pretty fast though!

Update: Claim was refused due to Air Traffic Control (ATC) restrictions. These restrictions are implemented for safety reasons and are outside of our control, meaning compensation is not payable under UK law.

1630, the time they announced the gate. A20, all the way on the other side from where I was haha. At the gate people were told to check in their bags because of limited space. I didn't want to, since I didn't want to wait for my bag in Dusseldorf and so I ignored it. I saw a girl who was told she had to check in her bag, she got so mad. She had been waiting for hours she said and didn't want to, I think she was on the same flight from Miami. She checked it in. Anyways, I got in line and the guy that was checking passports didn't notice or didn't mind my 2 bags. It wasn't a trolley so maybe it was ok, I took it in with me on the plane! It was a full flight and tight spaces but we left a few minutes early and got in 15minutes early as well so an hour or so in the air! Super fast flight with again a snack and a small bottle of water. Again, still had my dress on and my flipflops on, it's tradition! And it was fine, the sun was still under my skin and I didn't feel the cold! I was being picked up from the airport at 2000 which was just when I came out, perfect timing and was home by 2115 (most of it was the autobahn so high speeds hihi)! In the end it didn't matter much, if I had the original flight, I wouldn't have a pick up and had to take public transport which had a few detours today and it would take me 3-3,5hours to get home which would have been around 2000. So only an hour difference and this way I was dropped off at home. Again, everything happens for a reason hihi. Thanks again!!!

Home sweet home, temperature in my house read 15 degrees celcius brr. Put in a wash, put away all my other stuff, took a warm shower and drank a hot cup of tea with a dash of whiskey and ate my Key Lime dessert from the first flight (I was too full and so I took it with me). Home sweet home indeed. Thanks for kind of traveling with me through my blog, I hope you enjoyed it! I know I did :-)! Good night!!

Update: Memories remain collage :-)!

Part VIII Meeting family & friends

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Went back to a daily routine, mornings at the pool! Finished my 3rd book today and went back down to the room around noon and from outside the door of the room I could see the car in the parking spot below. I then saw that the crack had become twice the size/lenght overnight. And so I decided to file the damage report before leaving the hotel and send an email to my creditcard company to check if I was indeed insured for part of the costs and if so, to send me the form so I could fill it in when I get home right away. Picked up my cousin after that, gave her a big hug and took her back to my hotel to chill and catch up at the rooftop pool together for a bit with some snacks and beers we got at the seven eleven before getting to the hotel. We then went to a Goodwill store to drop off my Dutch books, but she then told me she wanted to keep them in case she learns Dutch at some point. I told her to just keep the 2nd one because I didn't like the last one too much. Handed in the 3rd book and we walked around the store for a bit before meeting my uncle for dinner at a Sushi boat place. I'd never seen that before, just the 'sushi trains' on conveyor belts. It was fun! Also fun to catch up with my uncle for a bit. 

I had a much better sleep that night, still woke up in the middle of the night but only once or twice and fell back asleep pretty fast. And back to my daily routine, rooftop pool around 930am. I started my 4th book, I found this in the Free Library, on day 5 I think, in Crystal River! And I was excited to read in English again. About an hour later, a couple joined me on the rooftop. It was a bit cloudy and very windy but still warm! The couple, especially the guy kept getting up to look at the views. I met them again at the elevator later that day and he said he was just so fascinated because he had never seen a rooftop pool before. They were from New York. Americans always want to chat haha. Anyways, so back to the morning. The lady got up at some point and I looked over at their table and saw two cans in coolers, the cans were red and I wondered if it was coke or beer. She came back with two more red Budweisers, so that answered my question. She then told him, she put in a little leftover tequila in his so that he should take it easy haha. It was around 1130 by then. Eh, they're on holiday so no judgement from me. She then went on about his skin color and that it was better than yesterday, when he was Budweiser Red (just like the can haha).

Went to the mall for a walk and to grab lunch. Found a bagel place, nom nom! Ordered two 'everything' bagels to go. Ate half of it in the car ride back to the hotel because I was pretty hungry. It was around 2pm and I didn't eat anything yet. It also started to rain, but again it didn't last long. The bagel had a bit to much garlic and salt on them so I saved one for the next day. I was sooo thirsty after the one. I wrote my postcards in the room, still hadn't done that. And then picked up my cousin again and we went to a nail salon. I picked a hotstone pedicure, without changing the polish. I had a blue big toe and didn't want to see what it looked like under the polish so told them to leave it haha. My cousin got her fingernails done for Halloween and so unfortunately we were seated apart from each other. The lady was such an artist though! I finished way before my cousin did and so joined her to chat for a bit and I also watched the lady work her magic, she was so good! I also finally gave my cousin her Nibbits that I had brought with me from home! It's always been her favorite and it makes her happy still! 

Went out to dinner with friends that night. I've known her for ages and always try to meet when I am in the area. I've known her husband for a while now too. It was great seeing them both again! It had been about 8 years or so! Her husband was very much into "dad jokes" haha, it was a fun night. I mentioned I'd put some of the jokes in my blog so here's two of them:

- What kind of bees produce milk? Boobees

- What kind of bees are the scariest - Boooooobees 👻

He also asked me how hard it was to ship things and told me about some German chocolate that a German lady once gave him. Most people will say Belgium Chocolate, Swiss even but German? Made me laugh. But since I'm going shopping in Germany for Halloween next week, I said I would take a look. We told eachother not to wait another 8 years for our next meeting! But since I'll probably be around again next year, that won't be a problem! 

Got back to the hotel and still had to book the next two nights. I did find something earlier that day but wanted to think about it. I didn't and so I just booked, it was a little before midnight when I did haha. 

My 3rd night was better again even though I woke up pretty early! I went to the pool again that morning, rain or shine. It was very cloudy and windy and eventually it started to rain. Again, not much and not long but enough for me to go back to the room. Took a hot shower, finished packing and checked out. Went by the post office to drop of my postcards and also get a stamp to return my tollpass on my final day. And finally, went by my family to say goodbye. And off I went, on my way to Miami. Staying close to the airport for the final two nights, they have a free airport shuttle and I had to return the car the day after. 

Just a little windy hihi

I drove past this tennis center in Delray and thought of the day that I saw Obama there. And what are the odds, it was the same date but 13 years ago!

Haha somebody had fun writing these traffic signs. 

I saw another one the day after: 

Ghosting is cool. Put your phone down.

👻

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Part VII From the best day to the worst day? Nah!

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Packed up all my stuff again and checked out! The reason I was here was for the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife refuge.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. 

After yesterday, I kind of had high hopes but also didn't know if it would top that! In the end it didn't. It was a nice drive and stopped a few times on the one way drive going through here. Saw a few cool birds again, but nothing like yesterday! I did see a manatee come up for air a few time (see video). And again, there was almost nobody else around. But again 3 out of the 4 walks/boardwalks were closed due to hurricane damages. But another peaceful area!

Fisherman

Hurricane damages

Manatee

After about an hour and a half I finished the drive and got off the island. This was the last bit of the West Coast and driving to the East Coast today! Drove down towards Naples, and saw a sign Naples Botanical Gardens. That was on my list before and also another beautiful nature trail but I realized I'd already done that years ago and so I decided to skip it this time. Because of that, I also forgot about the Botanical Gardens but decided to check it out anyways. It was a little detour and I again wondered if it would top any of the nature I'd already seen but decided to go and stretch my legs before the biggest part of the drive. 

It was okay, again not a lot of people around, maybe 7 haha. And so very quiet all around. Wasn't too impressed to be honest. But then...and this is why I also always look up...I saw Woody Woodpecker hihi. I've been wanting to see one for a while at home. I always hear them, but never see them and now I did. After that I was happy I made this stop after all! Went into the giftshop to look around for a bit before heading to the exit. And when I grabbed one of the books, the stand fell behind the shelves. I looked around if anyone saw me but there was nobody and the lady at the register was busy so I couldn't tell her. Walked around for a bit and a thought popped up, that I had to tell the lady or I'd have bad karma and so I told her and she kept thanking me. Now keep that in mind, cause I'm coming back to the karma thing.

Another rainbow tree!

Headdress of palm leaves hihi

Woody!!

And here I was, minding my own business, driving and singing along to the songs if I could. Not much to see on the way and 70 miles an hour all the way. And there was a truck in front of me with a white cloth on the back and I've never liked driving around or behind trucks ever since that Final Destination movie, the one with the logs falling off. And so I didn't really want to be behind this truck. Then something flew off the truck from under the cloth and I heard a hard tap, it had hit my window. It happened really fast and a small crack appeared, which grew and grew. I figured, must be a karma bill that had to be settled haha, which is why I told you to keep it in mind. Although I told the lady and so must be for something else hihi. I'm not insured for it, it used to be included in your insurance but because it happens so often (especially in Florida) you need an additional insurance nowadays and I didn't add it cause what are the chances? It has never ever happened to me, not with rentals and not at home. And funny thing is, with the nature drives I was afraid the tires would get damaged, also in the extra insurance that I didn't add and so in the end, rather this then a tire. And so I could have gotten angry or sad or bumped out. I know people that would have something like this ruin their day but what good would that do? So I shrugged my shoulders and Lionel Richie came on the radio pretty much right after and so I sang along and kept going my merry way. Nothing I could do now and would sort if out when I got to the hotel. I had about an hour left to go. 

I found out the next day that I might be insured through my creditcard for part of the costs but if not, my salary came in the next day so all good either way hihi. The 3rd picture is of the day after, the crack 'grew' twice it's size overnight. And 4th is a car that pulled up next to me somewhere.

It can always be worse, the entire windshield is cracked on this car. And yes, this person was just driving around like this (could have gone to the garage though but I doubt it). I've seen a lot of damaged cars over the years while I visited, cars with missing parts or parts hanging loose, cars with pretty much everything ducktaped, cars with bulletholes, this is a first though. One of my friends said 'yup, that's Florida'. And I remember my aunt told me on one of my first visits here, when I saw the car with the bulletholes I think, that she and my other aunt would 'play' find the wreck of the day when she visited because there were plenty of potential winners. I think that as long as the basics work, you can drive around in anything. 

Got to my next accomodation, staying here for 3 nights! Meeting family and friends. Went out to dinner by myself the first night. $5,99 martinis and margeritas so I tries a few (or 5-6 haha, again, fun and different flavors from the once we have at home) and left around 9pm. Happy Hour started at 9 and the drinks went from 5,99 to 3,99. It was a good thing I was leaving haha.

I had a sh*t night that night. I was used to quiet sleeps and everything was making noise here. The fridge, the a/c thing on the balcony. But my a/c was off, so I guess one of the neigbors was on and the doors are not soundproof so it annoyed me. Woke up around 3 and finally fell asleep again at some point, must have been at least an hour later. I hope it's not going to be this for 3 nights. Other than that, great place!

Private rooftop pool this time with ocean views

Maybe not completely private. Bird hotspot at dusk! They kept coming, 20 or so. Drinking, washing, singing.

Sunset :-)