Tuesday 19 December 2017

Back to Reality

We are back much later than anticipated but safe, sound and overflowing with some wonderful memories.  Memories of the welcome that we received from our family and the wonderful activities planned whilst we were there.  Memories of an amazing holiday and the wondrous things that we have seen.   Memories of the welcome that we received from friends, both in America and on our return to our Island paradise.  We are indeed blessed.

The first week in Florida was Thanksgiving so very busy in the parks,  turning people away at one point as they were full to capacity.  We decided to save ourselves and enjoy the sunshine, relaxing in the pool and the beautiful  grounds of our resort.









Mount Dora is always such a pull for us as we have friends that live there.  As always we were made so welcome and enjoyed several visits both to their home and the Lakeside, a beautiful hotel for lunch.  We were blessed to be included in both their Thanksgiving celebrations and birthday meal.






Food certainly played a big part in our time away from home, I still have yet to weigh myself since our return but I do know I have certainly put weight on.  I have decided not to worry about it until after Christmas and then a real effort will be made.

The extravaganza at Renninger's was once again a joy, so many stalls and amazing relics and artefacts from a bygone era.  It was difficult to decide what to buy, the space in our suitcases was limited.  We laughed at how many times we said "if only".  We had so much fun wandering about enjoying the atmosphere and soaking up the sun.




Gerard had to sit down regularly which enabled me to take a closer look at some of the stalls and chat.  It certainly was a lot of fun.


The Street of Shops was also a delight where we met up with another friend and enjoyed the abundance of vintage Christmas decorations.




We had the pleasure of strolling around the town of Mount Dora both during the day and at night with the wondrous lights.  The decor in the shop windows were amazing and provoked memories of many a Christmas past.

The parks took everything to a different level, the Christmas decor was a joy to behold.  A feast for all the senses.  The Disney Floridan resort was one of the places we visited to enjoy a meal with some of the characters.  The resort is very English in a Victorian style and is very elegant.  The Christmas decor was a treat with an enormous Gingerbread house in the lobby.




This photo gives you a better idea of the scale, it was indeed an amazing sight.

We had some fun with the characters...




Tigger was a firm favourite.  The food was a little disappointing overall but the desserts were a joy which more than made up for it.


There are some pieces of melon to give you an idea of scale.





The grounds were a delight, such a wonderful experience and a marvellous place to explore and spend a few hours as was the Polynesian resort.  The decor at this resort was right up there as one of my favourites. The grounds were also  a delight, the perfect place to sit, chill and take in the atmosphere.





There were so many elements to this resort but the entrance to me was award winning creating the perfect image of what a Polynesian resort should be.  I will let you decide for yourselves.








I will finish today's post with some images from Disney Springs previously known as Downtown Disney.  Another impressive area of Disney, once again the Christmas decor was a delight.  The Christmas tree trail and Santa's chalet were a joy, each tree themed around a film or character.  The intermittent snowfall was a little surreal in Florida but did indeed add to the atmosphere.  There were 25 trees on the trail, with some of the decorations available to buy.  I resisted the temptation but it could have gone either way.







A bit of a photo overload so I do hope that you are still there.  A wonderful holiday that will stay with us for a long time to come.  The trials and tribulations of our journey to get home will hopefully become something to laugh about in time.  I would like to thank you for your emails and comments, they are greatly appreciated.  I have started to reply to some but time is sadly lacking at the moment.  I will try to visit your blogs over the next few days.  Take care.

See you soon.

33 comments:

  1. What a glorious trip you had. I loved the photos. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. I was just thinking yesterday you must be due home and then here it is a wonderful post of your amazing holiday! Such super fun and interesting photos. What a time you had. So glad you both really enjoyed yourselves.

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  3. So good to hear from you, glad you and Gerald had a wonderful time here in the states. I have to say I've never been to Florida myself and by your photos it looks beautiful. Bet you are ready to rest up now, holidays can be exhausting sometimes.

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  4. That all looks totally amazing. I am so glad you enjoyed your holiday.
    Welcome home.
    Hugs-x-

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  5. How wonderful it all looks, Welcome back:)

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  6. What a beautiful place to stay. We go to Florida, but never to Disney world, looks wonderful. Glad you had a safe trip.

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  7. So many wonderful pictures! Tigger is my favorite too ;-) Always so happy and full of joy :-) We did Disney a couple years ago at Christmas and stayed through the New year, it was a lot of fun. Have a wonderful day!!

    Blessings,
    Jill

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  8. I have not been to Disney World for many decades now, but is fund to visit Florida. It is so very different from where we are in Pennsylvania, and makes such a change and for you too. You will never say in the USA that the food was not good. Glad you had such a wonderful time.

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  9. Welcome home and thankyou for sharing your wonderful trip. x

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  10. So happy to see you here again, my friend!!!
    I have been thinking of you!
    Such beautiful photos of your amazing time!!!
    Welcome home just in time for Christmas.

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  11. What a fabulous time you've had making some wonderful memories. Good to see you back. X

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  12. Welcome home. It looks like you had a wonderful time. It's many years since we visited Disney, we were there in 2000 and 2002 but it's somewhere I'd definitely love to visit again.

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  13. Welcome home and thank you for sharing your wonderful trip! I'm so glad you got to see your family and have Christmas with them before you left, and also that you had good friends to visit in Florida. How nice they hosted you for Thanksgiving dinner, did you enjoy it? ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
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  14. Here I thought that you ran off on a Florida breeze and wouldn’t be returning! 😉 Glad that you have come in for a landing. Sounds as if you enjoyed a wonderful time and I know that you have family times to share as well. Looking forward to it. If I don’t visit again before the 25th, Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

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  15. Glad you made it home safely. From the beautiful pictures, it looks like the perfect vacation. We have never been to Disney World. Welcome home...I missed you!

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  16. Welcome back home! Traveling can be quite hairy sometimes, but glad you are home safely, now. I enjoyed seeing all of the wonderful places you visited. What a magical time you enjoyed! Merry Christmas to you and yours. ♥

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  17. What a wonderful trip! I'm glad you had such a good time and now are safely home to celebrate Christmas. I imagine you are inspired by all those beautiful Disney decorations and in a very festive mood.

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  18. I feel like I have just been on a mini holiday, thank you! I am glad you enjoyed your time in Florida. It sure looks fab. xx

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  19. I am so glad you’re safely back home. Your trip looks fabulous and I loved all of the photos. I’ve never been to Florida so I always enjoy seeing it through other people’s eyes. It looks like a magical place.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  20. I'm glad you're safely home. Looks like your had a really wonderful time. The photos are amazing! Time had just flown by.

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  21. I enjoyed all your lovely photos. That big gingerbread house is simply amazing!!
    It's nice to have you back again. You were missed.

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  22. Good to know that you are back home safely after such a delightful and wonderful holiday. I enjoy going through your photos, I felt like I was there strolling with you. The nature and surrounding are beautiful and so much fun looking at all the display. And of course, the food and desserts are a treat to my eyes.

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  23. How welcoming your home will have felt after such a long time away. One of the best parts of travel is coming home to one's own bed and hearth. Your vacation looks like a lot of fun, and the sun would be most welcome, too.
    Have a very Happy Christmas, if I don't visit before the big day.

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  24. Welcome home. Glad you had such a great time.

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  25. What a temperature difference ! And a nice change compared to the rough island weather ! The pictures are beautiful, I wished we would have the same weather here too !

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  26. Your photos are wonderful! I felt I was there with you...and my goodness those food photos were amazing! Thank you so much for your lovely comments on my blog too 😊

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  27. Great pictures !!!!
    I see you enjoy the trip and the weather ;)
    Back to the cold reality you should say...
    Glad you are back !
    Hug
    Anna

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  28. well well well, welcome home sweet home!! Looks like a fabulous time and a fun time. Glad you are back safely.

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  29. What an amazing trip you had. The pictures are beautiful. Hopefully that all made up for the trip home and you are home safe and sound! We have had about a foot of snow in the last 24 hours so time to go and start shovelling!

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  30. Welcome home, what a fantastic trip. Your resort looks gorgeous. Is that scrumptious pecan pie I spy?
    I think you’re right not to worry about the weight. I'm sure I put some on while visiting my daughter in Australia but I haven’t weighed myself, I will deal with it after Christmas :-)

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  31. Here I have to learn all about Disney Christmas from you barbecue I have never been at Christmas time. Your time here in Florida sounds wonderful. So glad you had a great visit.

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  32. Looks like you had a great time, such a fun collection of photos. And you must be pleased to be home after this long trip.
    Amalia
    xo

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  33. Oh my goodness! What fun! I love Disneyworld and am overdue for a return trip. I've never had time to complete the World Showcase at Epcot.

    You look as if you're having a great time. So glad you had fun and met Mary Poppins. I loved that movie.

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