Day one - Drive to West Palm Beach

Up for breakfast at the Players Cafe.  Said goodbye to Mike and then returned to the house to finish packing and put the house in order.

We had to pick up the rental car at the Sawgrass Marriott by 1pm.  Turns out to be a Hyundai Tucson.  Not the greatest car but it served its purpose.  We packed up the car and started out by 2pm.  Our plan was to drive until we got tired or 5pm which ever came first.  So we made it to Vero Beach only to find out that every hotel in the area was booked.  Seemed there was a soccer tournament and a AKC dog show in the area.  And further down was a baseball game that the Mets were playing the Yankees which caused more hotels to be booked.  This was the first time we did not plan ahead and it will be the last time.  Finally found a Hampton Inn in West Palm Beach that we were able to book.  Last room.  So we checked in around 7 pm.

Decided to go out for dinner and Bob had looked up and found a Romeo's Italian that he felt looked good.  When we drove to where it should be on the map, we could not find it.  So we settled on a small pizza place.  Really a take out but they put in two tables inside and two outside.  So we ate there.  Food was good but the place itself was dumpy.  When we returned to the hotel, we asked the gal at the desk where Romeo's is.  She told us it is in the gas station.  Sort of glad we could not find it.

Up in the morning for breakfast which was slim pickings.  Then we packed up and headed south to the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  Returned the car and finally found the shuttle area.  We had to call the hotel for them to send the shuttle.  Our driver is from Haiti.  He returns there from time to time.  We checked into the hotel (Embassy Suites) and our room was ready.  So up we came and now I am catching up on the blog.  There will not be much to talk about until we get to the other side of the Atlantic.

Tonight we will attend the managers reception and might meet some of the cruisers from Cruise Critic that are staying here in this hotel.  But more on that later.  Now we are off to grab a quick lunch and then Bob will take his nap.