Orlando - April 23rd - 25th

 23rd - What a beautiful day today! Plans are to go to Lake Eola Park. We will meet Stella, Andrew and Joshua there. When we arrived in the area, the roads were closed so we decided to park and ask Stella & family to meet us along the parade route. Apparently it was Earth Day in the park and there was going to be a parade to also celebrate Earth Day and Puerto Rico. Stella & family arrived where we were as the parade started. It was a good parade with Police, Fire, Sherriff, Schools, Puerto Ricans, Floats, Fancy cars, Slingshots, etc. We then went to a Japanese restaurant for lunch.

Then we went into the park and walked & talked and enjoyed all the activities and vendors. There were many swans around. We saw black and white swans and ducks. We were thinking of renting a peddle swan boat, but didn't get the chance (I would have been a passenger, not a peddler). Back to the apt. by 5:30.

24th - Sunday. Kenna was too sick for us to get together so Lilia and I went their house and dropped off some luggage they said they would hold for us while in Key West. Then Lilia and I went to Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. Very nice. It's free. They have outside a Navy jet, an Army half-trac, two helicopters and a few memorials. The museum is small but crowded with information. Very informative!

Then we drove to Cocoa Beach and ate at Captain J's. Food was good (Lilia said she had the best raw oysters on the half shell ever). The weather was sunny and we overlooked the ocean and Cocoa Beach as a couple ocean cruises departed from Orlando.

Please see below the first set of pictures for more text and additional photos of Disney Springs.

 

On Monday the 25th, we went to Disney Springs and spent the day walking around enjoying the area. It is free, the parking is free. They have many restaurants, stores, some exhibits and some rides that have a charge. We ate at the "Earl of Sandwich" restaurant. We decided not to do the boat/car ride as it was $125 and we went to the Helium Balloon ride tethered (named panoramagique in Disneyland Paris) and took that one. It goes up about 300' and since it is helium there is no hot flame to endure. On the way back to the Airbnb, Lilia suggested we get the car washed, so we did and vacuumed it also. Set up the middle seats in anticipation of meeting up with the Schechters on Thursday. Then we went to Walmart and got me a new set of Hair Clippers (haircut around here cost $35 - $45 and all I want is a buzzcut).