Chapter 699

Nov 19, 2025

Orlando 2025

turning 80 yrs old

link to Orlando photo album

Turning 80 is a milestone, I believe. Colleen decided we should do it at Margaritaville Resort in Orlando. This venue DOES have the right laid back Jimmy Buffett vibe. Free rum punch at the reception desk continuously (yes got our money's worth of there), tropical tunes always playing, and tasteful decorations everywhere. For example, in the Wastin Away in Margaritaville song it was "blew out my flip flop, stepped on a pop top" giant size and decorated for Christmas. 

Food and drinks poolside via friendly and courteous wait staff with pleasing temperatures in the 60's-80's all week. Surprise at the end, when all the food and drink was free when we mentioned our shower hot water was running cold. Shoulda ordered more rum buckets. They also gave us another upgraded room.

"Shrimp beginning to boil" - birthday steak and shrimp meal at Texas Roadhouse. Got to ride the Bronko to celebrate.

Decades old friends Tony & Darcy insisted on joining us for the week.

At Disney Springs I was impressed by Jimmy Buffett's Hemisphere Danger vietnam era Grumman Albatross seaplane. Jimmy was quite a guy with net worth one billion dollars at death (melanoma) at 76 yrs a couple years ago. An accomplished pilot owning and piloting a half dozen planes. Noticed the bullet hole in the side then found out the Jamacian police shot at him thinking he was a drug runner- might have been? He also crashed another seaplane on takeoff in a swell at Nantucket. Plane sank but he swam to a passerby boat and got to shore.

We had visited EPCOT (big ball) one day and Disney Springs the next. "Nibblin on spongecake" at very cool Tainos Puerto Rican bakery (if it's south Florida- it's hispanic), almost need a translator to communicate. Rest of our group totally savored the theme parks, I still don't understand the fuss.

Everyone says i'm not flexible so I just tried to go with the flow. Indulging in food, drink, and relaxation is not my norm but I just wanted to please everyone.

To finish off the trip we got back to the airport early to avoid the crowds and killed some time for lunch at El Cilantrillos Puerto Rican Restaurant.

The marinated braised chicken stuffed with cassava wrapped in bacon with yellow rice pigeon peas, pork chunks and spanish sausage was a real hit.

Did not need it, but had to have the Flan and Flancocho desserts. Oh Yeah.

We were definitely the minority in this restaurant, which was filled to capacity with a lively crowd. Did not want to be intrusive or disrespectful but had to snap a candid shot of the little boy carrying around his little sister giving her hugs and kisses. It was a large family and then they brought out the birthday cake and we all sang something in spanish. On the closer table a couple experiences a house plate of ungodly volume. He had previously downed a beautiful mofongos in the green serving dish. Just couldn't get my table interested in one.

Must find a restaurant like it up here. Such decadence. 

Can't wait for my 90th !