On December 26, I drove with my Pieter South on Interstate 75, towards Orlando, Florida...
Feeling good for having managed to get in the car after having been so sick for almost one week.
Even had to vomit after drinking more than 3 sips of water.
The traffic was horrible—standing still and the final stretch took us 2 hours more and arriving in the dark.
From the car I had to call and change our dinner reservation at the Four Flamingos Restaurant.
Not so good for arriving in the dark and driving full 8 hours instead of the calculated 6 but we were there!
Checking in and leaving our luggage still in the car, we went to the restaurant.
We opted for one Florida Seafood "Moqueca" with
Jerk Spiced Cauliflower and it came with Coconut Steamed Rice
For me it is difficult to find some low potassium, low protein, low phosphorus food...
The small potato halves, inside the "Moqueca" I left for Pieter to eat.
But it was delicious!
Now we had our valet guy bring the car so we could unload and go to our room 1804 at the top floor. But this time we had no pool view like in 2003 on exact the same day—December 26 when we were there for 2 nights!
We were back again with Daughter Anita and her then fiancée on December 18, 19 and 20 of 2004 while visiting Kennedy Space Center, Epcot and Seaworld with them.
From there we went to Coconut Point, another Hyatt Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida towards Naples, FL.
And both of us once again for two free nights on April 26 and 27 in 2005.
It sure felt great for having this confirmation from October 20, 2022—otherwise no chance to find a room during the Christmas season.
We used Pieter's Hyatt points for free nights this time.
Our room with King Bed had a sunny balcony and view toward Orlando...
On December 24 it was very cold in Dublin, Georgia –10°C or 14°F and still several days of frost coming.
Here it was cool as well but we went to the pool on December 27, and it was a lovely heated pool!
What we both LOVED about this Hyatt Resort that you really are on vacation—no rush!
Other Hyatt Place and such, at times have breakfast till maximum 9:00 AM.
Here it is from 7:00–11:30 AM so we could make it leisurely into a kind of brunch.
Breakfast was at the Lakehouse Restaurant each morning and this is the view through one of its windows.
This I took from another window and it actually shows the huge lake.
You can canoe, sailboat, hydrobike and cayak.
From our brunch we walked to the area where they keep the bikes so we knew what they got and after Pieter took his nap, we would go biking.
Look at that blue sky and Pieter is seen in his Royal Stewart tartan plaid shirt.
Just snapped this photo of the Hotel, from the Lake side—where the bikes were...
Water fowl standing right next to you...
And yes, that hydrobike would have been a fun activity as well!
We walked past the pool on this sunny day—where we swam the afternoon before...
When I'd gotten out of the water I noticed that my 22 karat gold toe ring was gone—after having worn it for 30 years!
I peered at the bottom and said to Pieter, one never finds that back!
Then Pieter spotted two Hyatt employees, and he talked to the gentlemen.
They said, well for that we got our vacuum cleaner and we will find it!
I'd swam into that cave the afternoon before (even though it was a lot colder in there!) and as we walked past this enormous lagoon–style pool around 11:40 AM we went back to our room.
Walking on our 18th floor and center right you can see one of the elevators going up.
The Christmas tree dwarfed...
A very interesting center part with metal pipes and glass roof top.
The Christmas tree with lots of Poinsettias...
Than at 12:26 Pieter took this photo of me—holding my 22 karat gold toe ring in my hand!
It just got delivered by two men that had indeed vacuumed it up in less than an hour since Pieter talked to them—WOW!
What great courtesy in true Hyatt style!
Close to 2:00 PM from our balcony showing you our view.
And a photo from the balcony, showing you the lake...
We soon would be biking there, within the boundary of the Grand Cypress 535...
Pieter on his bike and the contrasts are far too strong with that sunshine and shade.
I just walked out of the shade for taking a picture of the Hyatt Regency from here.
Palm trees and lots of live oaks.
Pieter captured me and his own shade...
Hard to avoid in such weather!
My Campbell Soup cap shielded me from the sunshine.
Here we biked at the entrance side of the Hyatt Regency at the front of this huge 779 room hotel.
Beautiful grounds—so well kept!
Our 3rd and final dinner had come...
Time in Paradise passes fast!
We again went to the Four Flamingoes Restaurant.
This time we both shared a Surf & Turf
Half Lobster but we did have some very special high quality Filet without the Bacon with the Coconut Au Poivre and we went again for the Coconut Steamed Rice.
Walking past this fire pit on our way back from the Four Flamingos Restaurant, to the lobby...
A closeup view of the Christmas tree and the poinsettias.
And our final brunch...
My waffle with maple syrup and fresh berries and Pieter went for the continental (cold) buffet each morning.
We had received a one hour extension till noon and now we had to check out and also were able to cash in our anniversary Hyatt eGift Card of $ 100.
EVERYTHING here during this stay was just GRAND.
Now, I drove off to the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota...
Stay tuned.
