Trip Report The mistakes that I learned from..Trip back in time..

Friends, I've been thinking,

I need a major distraction, and also, I received too many compliments for my laid back style..
I'm going to continue on the trip report binge and do a comparison of our 2015 trip here. It won't be as long.. I promise. If you want to follow along with my madness, you are welcome. I've had a rough past few days and need something to keep me busy.

So here it goes.. first I should change the title though..
ETA- actually its easier to do in a separate thread.

So here I am....

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

Apparently there was not a car ready for us, unless I wanted to upgrade to a SUV or Minivan "at a discount"... which I didn't. I said we'd wait for one to be ready.. was quoted an hour. We went ahead and had breakfast at the airport.

Finally get a car and make our way back to POFQ.

It's not even 10am and I'm already completely over this day, we get to our room..
And see this..

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Sometimes the small things make all the difference!!! T loved the Yoda towel art, and it brought me back out of my frustrated mood.. a slap to remember what this vacation is about. Him. His excitement. And Us. Enjoying time together.

Thank you Mousekeeping!!!!!!!!!

Who would have thought you could make Yoda out of a towel? Pretty cool! POFQ is a beautiful resort.

Cannot believe what happened at the pool! Yeesh! Totally embarrassing for sure. I always keep the vest on dd6 too. She is not a strong swimmer yet either. Better safe then sorry. Poor T probably got scared.

We always make a point to get to POFQ just to get those yummy beignets!

 

[21stamps]

I know you were beating yourself up over changing plans for T, but I have to say that you are a super nice mom. I am not sure if I would have gone and canceled hotels last minute. I like you am a stick to the plans for the most part person, which is why I cannot over plan because I will stress too much if we are not somewhere at a certain time. I have this thing where I cannot be late for anything. The possibility of cancellation fees would have bugged me too. I give you credit. You actually did go with the flow, but I guess the stress of it happening in real time was overwhelming.

Love that guitar plate. What restaurant was that at?

I think I was forced with the tide more than going with the flow.lol. I felt like I was stuck between a rock and a hard place.. drag my kid along.. or just give in and eat some fees for the sake of our sanity. It just felt like things were completely out of control. I don't let typically my child dictate what we do, but in some situations, I just didn't know if the alternative would have been miserable.

The restaurant is Hard Rock Cafe. It was not on my list of things to do.. I usually steer clear of chain restaurants in Key West, but the only other option at that time of night was a Denny's.lol

 

[21stamps]

Who would have thought you could make Yoda out of a towel? Pretty cool! POFQ is a beautiful resort.

Cannot believe what happened at the pool! Yeesh! Totally embarrassing for sure. I always keep the vest on dd6 too. She is not a strong swimmer yet either. Better safe then sorry. Poor T probably got scared.

We always make a point to get to POFQ just to get those yummy beignets!

I was definitely excited over the towel art! It was so unexpected.

The grounds were so pretty and the beignets were great!

I was furiously angry when T complained about the slide though. I have never been so mad/disappointed in my child as I was in that moment. I don't think he meant to be bratty, and he obviously didn't realize what the decisions to change our plans cost me, but I seriously had to silently count to 10 before speaking when he was acting like that. We had a few talks about appropriate behavior and complaints afterwards.

The poor kid was so embarrassed after the lifeguard jumped in. He was shocked, scared, and humiliated. He just stood there staring blankly when we got out of the pool, and then took off running once I told him that the water had stopped. He was crying in the room, but he didn't want to go back to the pool. Neither did I.lol

 

[21stamps]

..We wake up to the sun and no rain!!

Hooray!

I unpack our luggage for this portion of the trip. Sit on the balcony and drink coffee. Walk downstairs and have breakfast, then walk around the property admiring and just breathing in the ocean air.

We take off for our first excursion.

Ft Zachary Taylor

Plan is - explore the fort, then spend the rest of the morning afternoon on the beach there. I am bursting with happiness. Let's go T! Time for some history!

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I was definitely excited over the towel art! It was so unexpected.

The grounds were so pretty and the beignets were great!

I was furiously angry when T complained about the slide though. I have never been so mad/disappointed in my child as I was in that moment. I don't think he meant to be bratty, and he obviously didn't realize what the decisions to change our plans cost me, but I seriously had to silently count to 10 before speaking when he was acting like that. We had a few talks about appropriate behavior and complaints afterwards.

The poor kid was so embarrassed after the lifeguard jumped in. He was shocked, scared, and humiliated. He just stood there staring blankly when we got out of the pool, and then took off running once I told him that the water had stopped. He was crying in the room, but he didn't want to go back to the pool. Neither did I.lol

Why would the lifeguard have jumped in knowing that the slide would be turned and everyone would be forced out of the pool if she was supposedly just trying to make him feel safer? Did it look like T was struggling to you? Those are the times where you wish you could disguise yourself and get away real fast before people get a good glimpse.

 

[21stamps]

We walk around the fort reading the signs, looking at cannons, mess halls, and meeting rooms, looking for ships on the horizon.. and we make a new friend

Poor guy lost his tail
T was concerned, but I told him that it will grow back, and No, we can't take him as T's new pet. Sorry, bud.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

..We wake up to the sun and no rain!!

Hooray!

I unpack our luggage for this portion of the trip. Sit on the balcony and drink coffee. Walk downstairs and have breakfast, then walk around the property admiring and just breathing in the ocean air.

We take off for our first excursion.

Ft Zachary Taylor

Plan is - explore the fort, then spend the rest of the morning afternoon on the beach there. I am bursting with happiness. Let's go T! Time for some history!

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People don't realize how much seeing the sun in a bright blue sky can really help your mood out. It looks like T is really enjoying the frolic through the fort. We never went there when we were in The Keys, but then dh was suffering from food poisoning. Never get a pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut on Marathon.

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

We walk around the fort reading the signs, looking at cannons, mess halls, and meeting rooms, looking for ships on the horizon.. and we make a new friend

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Poor guy lost his tail
T was concerned, but I told him that it will grow back, and No, we can't take him as T's new pet. Sorry, bud.
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Yikes!

 

[21stamps]

Almost 2 hours later we say goodbye to the Fort and head to the beach in the same compound.

 

[21stamps]

Why would the lifeguard have jumped in knowing that the slide would be turned and everyone would be forced out of the pool if she was supposedly just trying to make him feel safer? Did it look like T was struggling to you? Those are the times where you wish you could disguise yourself and get away real fast before people get a good glimpse.

I didn't think so! Like I said he was in a skilled swimmer but he had just done the same thing with me about 15 times. I posted the video on Facebook I just don't think it looks like he was drowning. And the lifeguard even said that she didn't think he was that's why made me so angry I have no idea why she did it. If you want to make him feel safe fine but not at the expense of everybody in the pool having to get out for 20 minutes!!

People don't realize how much seeing the sun in a bright blue sky can really help your mood out. It looks like T is really enjoying the frolic through the fort. We never went there when we were in The Keys, but then dh was suffering from food poisoning. Never get a pepperoni pizza from Pizza Hut on Marathon.

I cannot even put into words how happy I was to see this on that morning. It was short-lived unfortunately.
Oh no! I am so sorry about the food poisoning that is horrible oh my goodness!!!! How long was he sick? Did he stay in the room all day?

 

[MySmallWorldof4]

I didn't think so! Like I said he was in a skilled swimmer but he had just done the same thing with me about 15 times. I posted the video on Facebook I just don't think it looks like he was drowning. And the lifeguard even said that she didn't think he was that's why made me so angry I have no idea why she did it. If you want to make him feel safe fine but not at the expense of everybody in the pool having to get out for 20 minutes!!

I cannot even put into words how happy I was to see this on that morning. It was short-lived unfortunately.
Oh no! I am so sorry about the food poisoning that is horrible oh my goodness!!!! How long was he sick? Did he stay in the room all day?

It lasted most of our stay there unfortunately. We didn't get much of a chance to explore Key West too much. Public bathrooms were always on the radar. Hence the need to go back sometime in the future.

 

[21stamps]

It lasted most of our stay there unfortunately. We didn't get much of a chance to explore Key West too much. Public bathrooms were always on the radar. Hence the need to go back sometime in the future.

Wow that stinks. I'm so sorry to hear that. Not the most convenient place to get to.

You'll see over the next few posts why we need to go back soon as well.

 

[Courtney6682]

..We wake up to the sun and no rain!!

Hooray!

I unpack our luggage for this portion of the trip. Sit on the balcony and drink coffee. Walk downstairs and have breakfast, then walk around the property admiring and just breathing in the ocean air.

We take off for our first excursion.

Ft Zachary Taylor

Plan is - explore the fort, then spend the rest of the morning afternoon on the beach there. I am bursting with happiness. Let's go T! Time for some history!

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The fort looks so cool!!! Kevin and I are huge history buffs...

 

[21stamps]

The fort looks so cool!!! Kevin and I are huge history buffs...

It is so cool!!!!

Key West has such a reputation of Drunks, Nudity, and Drag Shows.. and yeah, there's plenty of all 3, but there's so much history as well!!
T is mildly obsessed with the Overseas Railroad ever since then. I have always been mildly obsessed with Henry Flagler, so we spend a lot of time learning about him and what he did for the East Coast of Florida, but especially the Keys.
I told T a small white lie that when the hurricane destroyed the railroad no one was on it. I don't think he believed me.lol

 

[Courtney6682]

It is so cool!!!!

Key West has such a reputation of Drunks, Nudity, and Drag Shows.. and yeah, there's plenty of all 3, but there's so much history as well!!

Yaaasssss!!! We love all of those things as well! Sign us up!

 

[21stamps]

Onward to the beach at Ft. Zach

I rent 2 chairs
An Umbrella
A raft for T
Snorkeling Gear for both of us.

We had stopped and bought sand buckets and shovels the day before.

We are both looking forward to spend the day relaxing and swimming in the ocean.
There is a restaurant on the beach where we can have lunch.
Plans are- camp out here all day

Time to relax!!! (I think..)

For those of you who have been to KW, you already know this.. but for those who haven't.. the beaches (on the island itself) are not soft white sand.

Most have a lot of shells. The beach at our hotel wasn't too bad, but I had forgotten how rocky and how many shells were actually at Ft. Zach's Beach.

T was complaining within 1 minute. I couldn't blame him, I could barely walk as well.

So, back in the car and on a hunt for water shoes for us.

You would think they would have been easy to find. Nope, not in T's size.
Couldn't find any on Duval so we headed to New Town.

FIVE stores and 90 minutes later- finally found some!

Now we can go back to our spot and relax!!!
The sun is still shining!!

 

[Courtney6682]

OMG lol...the beach and water are beautiful tho!

 

[21stamps]

We get back to our chairs and immediately go in the water.

Finally, I'm in the ocean!!!

I had picked up a water proof case for my phone while we watershoe shopping.. now we are all set to swim, snorkel, take photos..and enjoy this beautiful place.

No joke, not even 2 minutes later..

I see this-

No!! The rain is NOT going to hit us yet. We haven't done anything!!! This is our first beach day!!! This morning/afternoon has been planned for 2 months!!

I grab T and hurry back on the beach.. then ask a stranger, in the chairs next to us, to take our photo standing on the rocks.. once we swim out to them. (I swam- I put T on the raft)

First of all, I've done this swim maybe 50 times. Doing the swim with the raft is a little more difficult. I'm a strong swimmer and even I was a little tired. BUT- we're getting there.. I want this photo!! I want my son to remember this!!!

The water here gets very deep maybe 30 ft or so..and then you reach the rocks.

We made it!!! I climb up on a rock while holding T's raft. Grab his hand to pull him on the rock with me.

And then I look down.. CRABS EVERYWHERE!!

I picked the wrong rock!!! I don't want T up here!! I push him down, too quickly, and I completely WIPE OUT.
Not in the water, on the rock!!

Now my legs and hands are bleeding.
Omg I'm going to get attacked by a shark!!!
With T!!!

Forget the rocks.. we need to get back.

Please please please.. don't let a shark see the blood!!!

I swam faster than I probably ever have before. I kept pushing the raft trying to get T to catch a wave and go to shore in front of me.. in case- SHARK.

I can't even imagine the look on my face at that time.

Anyway, here are the photos.

See us out on the rocks?lol. We're the 2 tony dots.lol Never did get both of us to stand long enough for a photo.
Bright side- I didn't get eaten by a shark, so there's that positive.lol

We arrive back to shore and see people pointing and gathering their belongings..

I go up to retrieve my camera from the stranger.. they point to what everyone is looking at.

WATER SPOUT.

A small one, but still- time to go. The pouring rain came not even 30 seconds later.

Snorkeling gear untouched, chairs unused, we're leaving just after we had arrived

 

[21stamps]

We leave and make our way back to our hotel.

Stopping first for antiseptic wipes and bandaids. I cleaned up the blood, and it didn't look as bad as I thought it would.

Oh well.. let's go grab a Cuban Sandwich from my favorite hole in the wall tourist unknown Cuban restaurant.

This will make us feel better.
Best. Bread. Ever.
We'll regroup, and figure out what to do with the rest of our afternoon now.

 

[Courtney6682]

I'm sorry lol...but that was a very funny story!!