(smile!)
I've just returned from an impromptu long weekend in one of my favorite places, at one of my favorite resorts. I even made a cool Benjamin just for donating an hour - or so - of my time on Sunday morning. Woohoo! That'll come in handy on my upcoming trip to another wedding this Saturday.
I know - busy, busy! My summer is flying by!
Oh, what about that "impromptu"?
Well, I debated even using that word. But, truly, it was an unplanned trip for me. I booked it last month, while I was at Polynesian Isles, after my eldest niece, Christy, asked what I might be able to get for her family in July. I did so with the knowledge that she would eventually, most likely, back out. I had explained to her how rare a summer opening is at the DBR, but I don't know that she grasped the situation. When the one-bedroom efficiency had popped up on my screen, I snagged it immediately!
She had said that day that she would call me back after talking with her husband.
I never heard back.
Three weeks ago, while I was working with Smitty, her stepdad, on his business taxes, I asked him if she had mentioned it to him.
She had not.
I texted her to see if they had made a decision.
She replied that John's family was coming for a visit, so they would not be able to go after all.
Well, alrighty then! The condo was mine, all mine!!!
Then again, you already know that part of the story.
So, what's new, pussycat?
Well, I killed some zombies and got a fridge rover of my own on Thursday, on my way down, while taking a break from the heat. (Note: I had given my first fridge rover to my first niece's foster son, who gained great joy from the science toy!)
I arrived and headed straight to the pool after dumping my stuff in the room and sending celebratory photos of the view (shown above) to my first niece and my eldest niece.
Then, over to Cinematique for a fun French film!
I even managed to find an open Winn Dixie afterward to buy milk and fruit. Hooray!
I was in 507A. The folks in 507 had a girl named Aliyah who wouldn't 'sit down and eat her Froot Loops' and a son who had to have 'Ashton time all the time'.
(smile)
My biggest complaint at DBR are the paper-thin doors. Noisy neightbors, though, can be drowned out fairly successfully, though, with the television and the fan. (I made sure Mike Grass knew that when I spoke with him on Sunday morning.)
Saturday morning, I slept in. Very nice! Then I caught the 1:30 PM Cinematique film with Juliette Binoche. Tre bien, mon frere!
Then I did something I had not on previous travels. I ate lunch at the pizzeria on the corner. YUM!!! The Original Stavro's Pizza House had smelled so good... I just couldn't resist!
I indulged in a glass of the house Chianti - cheers to you, Mama! - and baklava, for a little sweetening. What a grand way to pass the time before the next film!
Good thing I took that time for pleasure. The film that pitted a blackfella versus the whitefellas reminded me far too much of my stubborn middle brother and his insistence that society conform to his lifestyle. I was actually relieved when the fake documentary was over.
Back to the pool! Back to the air-conditioned condo!
Saturday morning dawned.
Time for something new! A search for movies that used Daytona Beach locations revealed that I had missed a site in all my holidays spent here. I had never, ever, visited the Daytona International Speedway.
I know... hard to believe, isn't it?
Having driven past it every time I came into town and almost every time I left Daytona, I had yet to actually go there. Time to rectify that at once!
I selected the 90-minute All Access Tour. Here's the description. Everything in bold are my notes about the experience. The photos are all mine, too.
Take a privately guided tour by open-air tram, with Steve around the track, along the infield and down pit road.
Explore the NASCAR Sprint Cup garages and Tech Inspection, including the Rolex car.
Check out the Drivers Meeting room and listen to the same safety video the drivers see and Gatorade Victory Lane.
Access the Coca-Cola Theatre for a close-up look at the Daytona 500 Champion Car driven by Joey Logano and the video as he crosses the finish line.
For a limited time only the All-Access tours will include a stop at the Florida Hospital Injector on the west end of the stadium. Guests will get an up-close look at the new amenities including vertical transportation and the wider, more comfortable seats.
Very enjoyable! I'll have to remember to go to tripadvisor and recommend it to other non-race fans!
Then, time for supper! I had been dreaming about the hotdog at the Starlite Diner! I ordered the same thing I did the last time I was there: the footlong hotdog, with mustard and ketchup, lots of french fries, a tall glass of unsweetened iced tea and... a slice of warm cherry pie. So very good! I took half of it back to the condo, but I ate all of the pie.
Oh, yes I did!
(smile)
Then, it was time for the concert at the Daytona Bandshell! On this summer Saturday night, the music of Journey would be featured for three hours. Woohoo! The tribute band Never Stop Believin' took the stage with "One Love" showing their expertise with the tunes. Very nice!
I danced for almost every song for those first two hours, too! Hear for yourself how good they are. Too bad more folks chose to sit instead of dance to the live music!
Why did I only stay for two hours?
Well, I had a 1981 'Cult Classic' to catch at Cinematique.
Why?
Because a 23-year-old Melanie Griffith was in it! I love her movies and this one, with her stepdad, certainly explains the rift between them.
Sunday morning, I was up and at 'em. Breakfast was the half-hotdog from the dine. Yum!
Got that $100 VISA for my early rising, and owner update, too.
Then I returned to my little efficiency. What a treat! The screaming parents next door had checked out! Hooray!!!
Lunch was asparagus, served alongside a healthy portion of my chicken and pasta that I whipped up in the tiny kitchen. (I would even have some for dinner later that evening, still in peace and quiet, as no one else had yet checked in to 507. Yeah!)
When 2 PM rolled around, I was in my seat and ready for take-off on my Stay-cation to the Ukraine, my passport stamped and everything!
Stephanie, the owner of Cinematique, served as our air hostess, directing our attention to the location of the lavatories and the two exits. (smile)
Debra, from the library, prepared deruny for us to munch on. (She used a packaged latka mix for the demonstration, but had true homemade deruny for us to sample.) Two assistant hostesses passed out the flavored vodka (mine was tomato! Quite tasty!) and the tonic water (very popular in areas with nonpotable water).
Then we all settled in for our inflight movie, featuring Elijah Wood as a young man in search of his grandfather's past.
At the end of our three-hour adventure, our hostess thanked us for flying with Cinematique and invited us on upcoming visits to Australia, Iceland, and beyond. I do so hope I will be able to ride along!
The less traveled road.
The road along the A1A, on this beautiful day. Storm clouds were off to the west, but the east beamed over a rolling sea.
I did eventually rejoin the masses flowing northward on I-95, but this respite was a good beginning for my journey home.
The free fried shrimp dinners at SONS were a good lunch to welcome me home and an excellent meal for tonight.
Now, the laundry beckons and I must tend to it.
Через мої друзі!
(Later, my friends!)
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