Mostly Spain 2023 - Transfer to Florida

 Since last Thursday, we've made a major transition. 

On Thursday we were up super early in the morning so we could drive the two grandchildren back to Madrid for their flight back home to the U.S. We stayed overnight in Madrid near the airport. We were really tired from having to get up so early and then the long, four hour drive. Thankfully, our flight out was later in the afternoon so we could catch up on our rest. 

Our next destination is Pass-a-Grille, Florida, a very small community just south of St. Pete Beach Florida. We flew from Madrid to Miami. The 9-hour direct flight had no problems. I was successful at keeping myself up for most of the flight to get onto the U.S. body clock time table. International arrival at Miami is a hellhole. Long walks, poor signage, escalators and moving sidewalks that are inoperative, train/people movers with completely opaque doors so you have no idea if something is arriving.

A longish wait for our hotel shuttle, followed by a great check-in person who comped us breakfast. But the hotel room (a Sheraton) which was nice WAS COLD AS HELL. And the controls to change the temperature and speed did not respond. I finally was able to get the A/C to turn off but the room retained the cold all through the night.

The next morning we enjoyed what had been called a 'continental' breakfast but in fact was a full breakfast buffet with eggs made to order. As luck would have it, the auto rental center for the airport was right across the street from the hotel...a very big street. There didn't seem to be any direct way across but I sort of made my own way. Thankfully it was Saturday morning and the traffic was light. Getting across the I start circling the rather immense building and realize there is no way for a pedestrian to enter the facility from the ground level. The only way in is via the airport's people mover train station across the street to take you up to the fourth floor where the actual entrance is! Of course, this is Miami International Airport so the escalators up from the ground level aren't working. Thankfully, the elevators are. 

Remember, I mentioned the center is right across the street from the hotel. Sadly to drive that short distance requires about 15 turns and 50 times longer distance...at which point you realize the hotel has failed to put enough room for vehicles to stop to load and unload.

However, Wife and I did load up successfully and made the four-hour drive north to Pass-a-Grille, Florida. Pass-a-Grille is a community just south of St. Pete Beach in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area where daughter #2 lived for a number of years prior to joining the Foreign Service. We visited them many times during that period. They have come back to visit since they've been overseas and we've joined them. It is kind of special place. This time we've brought in #1 and #3 for a very short core family reunion. It is a rarity we can do so. 

Sunday and Monday were spent lolling around in and around the pool doing nothing but talking and catching up. Sadly on Tuesday, the two other daughters had to leave for their homes. We are spending time now just with the #2's. More on that the next post.