Columbus > New York City

I am working in NY this weekend. I promised Dave years ago that one of these days I would take him with me since he has never been. Thanks to another losing CBJ season, his schedule was wide open!

Somehow, I tricked him into a 6am flight. Still amazed at that one!

But it was perfect – we landed at LaGuardia a little after 7:30am and had the entire day ahead of us!

Got our luggage and called the car service… within minutes we were on our way into the big city!

Even though I always use the Dial7 Car Service when in NY, sometimes you still end up with a foreign driver.

But the cars are always clean and safe!






Since it was so early, our room at the hotel was not ready yet, however, Otto, the head bellman, was quick to lock up our luggage so we could get on our way.











A few minutes later and we were in the middle of Times Square.

He didn’t exactly look thrilled in the photo – but to be honest, he was a bit overwhelmed with everything. So much bigger and better than he ever imagined!







Over the past couple of weeks, we had compiled a list of places we wanted to see, most of which I have seen over the years, but also some new ones for me.

I had grand plans of planning it all out on a map so we didn’t waste any time (or steps), but I never had the chance.

So we found a café, had a bagel and a cup of coffee and then got our bearings.

We headed over to NBC Studios so we could go on the NBC Experience Tour. Which I had done back in 2001 and it was pretty good. They were just getting to debut HD on some of their shows and I found the tour to be interesting. So I wanted to do it again.

Good thing we got there when we did! All the tours were sold out until 6pm. So we signed up for that one and wandered around a bit.

We happened to spot the New Years Ball – we didn’t realize it stayed up year round.

Out of fear that the Madison Square Garden Tour would also be sold out for the day, we hiked over there.

That is where I will be working tomorrow – the Jordan Brand Classic.





We were able to get a tour that started about an hour later. So while waiting, we walked over to the Empire State Building to see what the ticket situation was there. Found out you just come and go as you please – no advance ticketing.

On our walk back to MSG, we had the idea to do the Empire State Building tomorrow night after work. Since we would be just a few blocks away. Plus we were going to do Top of the Rock this afternoon when we returned to NBC. So this way we would get a birds eye view from one place during the day and the other place after dark.

On to our tour of MSG. Dave was giddy with excitement as he grew up watching sporting events on TV being played in this very arena.

For the most part we knew what to expect since we had been on tours of other arenas and since we both work in them all the time. But we still had a great time!

They were setting up for tomorrow nights game.

WOW!

They might think about upgrading the locker rooms a bit if they think they are gonna lure LeBron here!






Seriously – the Rangers locker room?




Even the worst team in NHL has a better one!






We had a nice time on the tour.
Even though the place is kinda a dump, I appreciate the historical value.
That can never be replaced.

It was only mid-day and we were pooped!

The hotel had left a voice mail stating our room was ready, so we walked the 12 blocks back.
Got checked in and up to our room.
I was disgruntled as ever!
TV didn’t work, the extra towels and pillows I had pre-ordered were not awaiting us, nor were the extra hangers.

After a few phone calls, a maintenance man came up and figured out the problem with the TV. It was plugged into the outlet, however, the power cord was lose coming out of the TV. Ok, one problem solved!

As much as we wanted to nap – nope!
We only have so much time before we have to go home.

We decided to walk towards Central Park as we had a few Seinfeld spots we were looking for. On the way we found a nice little café and had wonderful chicken club samiches.

Then we found the Soup Nazi! It has been closed for years. I was afraid it might be gone, but it was still there!

From there we walked to Central Park but didn’t enter. We just observed it as we walked towards FAO Schwartz. We went in there for awhile to look at the insane toys. I got a pair of crazy toe socks. Socks with toes, so I can wear flip flips when it’s cold out.

We wandered up 5th Avenue. Peeked inside Trump Tower. Goodness it doesn’t seem as fancy as the first time I visited it – back in 1989 I believe.

We window shopped at the usuals… Tiffany’s is always one of my favorites.

Then we stopped at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

As always, I went in to make a donation and light a candle. I say a little prayer for safe travels on the rest of my visit.

A mass was being said, so we didn’t linger long out of fear of lightning striking. But we stayed long enough to admire the amazing craftsmanship.





We ventured back to Rockefeller Center. And looked for the theatre used in a Seinfeld episode where Kramer talks Jerry into being a bootlegger. “Death Blow” was the movie. Based on the research I had done – it’s location HAD to be what is now the Anthropology store.

Next we headed to the Top of the Rock!

Look close for the Statue of Liberty

He really just wanted a photo of the hot chick behind him





It was crazy cold up there!

We still had about an hour before our tour at NBC, so we headed over to Dean & Deluca. We sat there and had coffee in attempts to warm up a bit.

We peeked in the windows at the Today Show studios. We only wished our friend Bettes had been filing in this weekend on the Today Show so we could stand on the plaza with silly signs to embarrass him.

Then it was time for our tour!
No photos – sorry.
The tour was good, but not at all what it was in 2001.

All in all we had fun impressing people with our useless TV knowledge.

After the tour, we practically crawled back to the hotel. And someone thought we would actually use the gym this weekend?

Our plan was to freshen up and go out do dinner. I mean it was around 8pm on a Friday night in New York City!

Yah… well, we caved. Ordered room service and watched Dateline NBC murder.

We felt like losers, but at least we were doing what we really wanted to be doing.

Columbus

Today I had my first meeting about Red, White & Boom!

It’s the fireworks show that is in Columbus every July 4th weekend.

Fort Myers

April 11th – 14th


Over the next few days, I didn’t really do a lot of anything. Which was pretty weird.

For the most part, I hung out with cousin Harry.

He loved the window in the kitchen. It was right at his level so he could watch the lizards scurrying about in the jungle of the yard. He could also watch the birds frolicking in the fountain.

          

The cool tile made a nice napping place.

I ran errands each day and made dinner.
That was pretty much it.

I also started on my quest to gather as much information as possible for my insurance claim. I exhausted every resource I could think of…. I gathered as many news stories as possible from the internet and my old contacts at the local tv stations and newspapers. Additionally, I was able to obtain police reports from the accident scene and even got a letter from the Florida Highway Patrol stating there was no way I could of possibly made it to the ship on time.

I can become rather vigilant when I am told I can not have something I am deserving of. And right now, mom and I deserved a vacation!

On Wednesday, I met my friend Tony for lunch. We went to Nino’s in Fort Myers – a place we have met many times over the years. It was one of our favorites back in the day (when we worked together).

He still works at WINK – so he got me caught up on the gossip and goings-on there. And he also told me all about the excitement of being a daddy-to-be. His wife Laura is due in October.

So it wasn’t the vacation I had hoped. But it was relaxing.

Additionally, I got to explore more of my home state of Florida.

And someday, hopefully mom and I will get to enjoy that cruise!

Fort Myers

This morning we loaded up the boat and took our visiting family out off Sanibel.

We stuck to the back bay off Sanibel since it was rather windy and choppy.
Cousin Eduard has traveled the world, but had never been on a boat before. He was a little green around the gills for most of the day.

For lunch we went to one of our old ‘favorites’ on Pineland.

However, the past few visits have quickly proven it to fall quickly from our ‘favorites’ list.


Unfortunately, there was a long wait, it was hot and the service was terrible. But the food was at least tasty!




It was a nice family day though.

Key Largo > Ft. Myers

Woke up around 6:30am

Had some coffee and then headed to the gym for a workout.

Later we went up for breakfast – very good!

Quickly changed into our suits and headed back to the pool for an hour in the sun.

Then back to the room to shower, pack and get on our way.

As soon as we were headed north, traffic stopped!
NOT AGAIN!!!

It took about 25 minutes to go 1.5 miles.
Not an accident this time, road construction.

We passed by the site of the ValuJet 592 memorial. It was the plane that crashed in the Everglades in 1996. Chemical oxygen generators had been illegally placed in the cargo compartment and had caught fire. The plane plunged into the Everglades at 500 mph.

We later stopped in Ochopee at the Clyde Butcher Gallery. It’s a small gallery in the heart of the Everglades.

Clyde Butcher is a black & white photographer who takes his photos on large format film. His images are captured with an 8"x 10", 11"x 14", and 12"x 20" view camera.



The large format camera allows him to express the elaborate detail and textures that distinguish the intricacy of the landscape. The photographs range in sizes from 8"x 10" inches to 5'x 8' feet.

Mom likes the old Florida photos that he's best known for.

For the most part, his collection is of Florida. The photos are amazing and it boggles my mind that he is IN the Everglades while taking them.

I can’t believe he hasn’t been eaten by a gator yet!







I have wanted one of his photos for years now, but since they are incredibly expensive, I have held off.

By visiting the gallery, I was able to narrow it down to my 2 favorites, however I will never own the real thing – as they start at $1,600 and go up to $15,000+ But I hope to get a print in the near future. (more in the ($300-500 range)
Here are my favorites

Shell Key

Cayo Costa Island






After visiting the gallery, we stopped by the Skunk Ape Research Center.
(Okay, just to take a photo, not to go in)

The Skunk Ape is kinda like Florida’s version of the Loch Ness Monster.

From http://www.skunkape.info/content/view/61/60/
Skunk Ape is a large hairy, bipedal (meaning they walk on two legs) mammal that calls the Everglades home. Castings of their tracks confirm they have four toes. Male Skunk Apes stand up to 7 feet tall and can weigh more than 350 pounds. Females are considerably smaller, standing 5 - 6 feet tall and weigh 180 - 250 pounds. Both male and female are covered with reddish-black fur.

Most confirmed Skunk Ape sightings report an individual animal however, increasing sightings reported claim to have seen several Skunk Apes traveling together. These groups also known as troops are becoming more common.


Skunk Ape sightings are reported throughout Florida. It is estimated between 7 to 9 Skunk Apes live in the Everglades area. These sightings suggest the highest concentration inhabit the Florida Everglades. Big Cypress National Preserve offers the best opportunity for researchers to locate Skunk Apes. Skunk Apes are very elusive. They also have exceptional hearing as well as the ability to climb trees and swim in order to evade detection or capture.


Our next stop was at the smallest post office in the United States – Ochoppe, FL

It is a 7x8 foot building.






I napped the rest of the way home.

That evening, some of our family was visiting from Michigan – so we had a huge dinner of crab and shrimp (ugh!). Aunt Karen and 2 of her kids – Eddie and Becky from dad’s side of the family.

My “cousin” Harry (from mom’s side) who is vacationing with my parents, was quite interested in dinner!

Key West > Key Largo

Woke up around 6:30am

Mom and I planned to take the Conch Train Tour of Key West before heading up to Key Largo.

We got ready, had breakfast, packed up the car and headed downtown.

Walked to where we thought the train depot was located.

As I was paying for our tickets, it clicked in my head - "this is not the tour company we researched" - but it was too late, I was already paying.

Sure enough, mom and I walked to the other side of the building and there was the place we had researched!

Nothing we can do now.

So we waited... our "Old Town Tour Trolley" was, of course, late!

Got on and we were the only ones.

Our tour guide was all flustered because "her" trolley had broken down, so she wasn’t familiar with this one she was driving today.





Took her forever to get the PA working to her liking. Then.... the seat belt was broken. It was against the law for her to drive unbuckled... so we sat there for several minutes while she fought with it. I saw this as a potential for disaster!

She eventually "out smarted" it and our tour began.

Most of the tour and history mom and I already knew about and had seen over the years.

But it was still fun to hear it all again.

Unlike the tour we had researched, this one made 12 stops. So people we getting on/off.
(the one we thought we were going on only had 2 stops)

For the most part it was elderly tourists who talked out loud while the tour guide was talking. A common occurrence on any tour in Florida.

After our 70 minute tour, we headed back to the car and on the road for Key Largo.

It was a little over 2 hours. Mom drove most of it as I became sleepy after about 25 miles.

Upon arriving at the Hilton Key Largo Grande, we escaped into Old Florida. It's an older Hilton property, but it's true to it's Florida roots.

Our room was not ready, but we headed over to the adult pool for a few hours. Sipped on fruity drinks and baked in the sun!

Around 3pm, we headed to our room. Which was pretty nice considering the late booking at a sold out hotel.

We cooled down for about 45 minutes and then went to explore the 2 beaches, boat docks and nature trail.

The "north beach" was nice - but a lot of kids.



We checked out the boat docks... hmmm... looks like "The Sh'Ed II" will be able to dock here.

Future family vaca spot?

We went to "Hammock Beach" and it was just that - a very secluded beach with hammocks and private spots along the shore. We decided that was were we wanted to sit, however, there was not a towel station. So we had to head back to the North Beach to get towels.

On our walk back, along the nature trail, there was a mom and 2 little kids running between us. Out of nowhere, I spotted "nature" and few explicatives flew out and I ran away. I apologized quickly to the mom explaining there was a snake in the tree above our heads on the walk.

I hate nature when snakes are involved.
Mom knows my fear of snakes, so we plotted a different path to the beach.

We sat in 2 chairs near the shore and read books.

Very relaxing aside from the fact that nature kept getting in the way – chunks of sea weed kept brushing up against my legs. Ugh!





After baking in the sun, we headed back up to the room. Showered and went to dinner. The restaurant is situated in the treetops so you have an excellent view of the back bay and the sunset.

 
Very tasty dinner – especially considering it was at a hotel.

Went back to room and went to bed shortly after.