Our Very First Visit to Epcot Center in Orlando Florida

 From Fort Lauderdale we drove the 200 miles north to Orlando on December 13, 1984.

We both were shocked by viewing so many frozen orange trees towards Orlando and north of it as we traveled home.

That was still from the previous year's Christmas Frost.

The view with orange groves... wherever you look!

That is very much Florida's crop.

Of course we had to stop and see them up close...

Our goal was to visit Epcot Center, which we did for the first time ever on Friday, December 14, 1984.

Of course, since then we went there numerous times with family!

We had placed our Mauzie girl in a kennel.

Near the entrance before you enter, Pieter with this iconic Epcot building.

And me... Our Rollei camera back then was not the BEST we had...

In–between attractions you walked through a beautiful tended botanical garden.

Such a joy to be there!

Gardens and waterfalls and on and on...

One never grows tired of it, even after numerous visits!

And next day, on Saturday, December 15 we drove home again with our Mauzie girl.

A stop about half way...

We had our 1st American car a Buick Century 4–door Sedan

Had to capture this sign; Mauzie had to read it!

Mauzie was a happy Dachshund!

This is from December 26, 1984 with her new squeaky toy.

Posing with her squeaky toy...

That was her final Christmas as she crossed the rainbow bridge on August 29, 1985.

She lived exactly 2 years with us in the USA and has seen quite a number of states and she flew often with us.

Related links:

Our First Stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida | previous post by me

Our Very First Stop at Kennedy Space Center | previous post by me

Our First Stay in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

So from our stop at Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Center, we continued driving south on I-95.

Compared to European travel on the Interstate, this was easy and fast.

BUT that was in December 10 of 1984... NOT anymore like that and especially around the Fort Lauderdale area where we were heading towards.

 

Our destination was the Mariott Hotel & Marina for 3 nights.

We had a great room with balcony!

On Tuesday, December 11, we go to the public beach in Fort Lauderdale.

We had our stretcher in the car.

Time for reading my magazines...

And time for a bit of tanning...

We did not swim as the ocean was cold!

Funny to see the bag from Walterigato Appartments in Jesolo Lido, Italy... That was my previous beach vacation.

That's me on September 3, 1982 in Jesolo at said apartment on the beach...

We shared our lunch sandwiches with the seagulls and a dove that ate from my hand.

With our binoculars we studied the birds and a container ship that came passing by.

We stayed there from 10:00–15:00 with our winter skin...

On Wednesday, December 12 we did swim at the Marriott pool, while Mauzie stayed in the car.

The pool was not heated but we both swam!

Slowly getting in the pool...

Once in the water it was lovely!

From 11:00–13:00 we stayed at the pool.

View from our balcony.

Fort Lauderdale is also called the Venice of America, with all its waterways.

To the right you see the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 hotel where we later would be staying a few times...

In the afternoon we went shopping at the famous Las Olas Boulevard.

Pieter got a pair of shorts and a pair of wool plaid trousers.

And I got an ice cream...

Next day we drove with Mauzie to Orlando for 2 nights...

Stay tuned!

Related link:

Our Very First Stop at Kennedy Space Center | previous post by me

Our Very First Stop at Kennedy Space Center

 On Sunday, December 9 of 1984 we drove South on Interstate I-95 and spent the night at Scottish Inn, St. Augustine.

On Monday, we continued towards Fort Lauderdale and did stop at Kennedy Space Center and did admire the interesting rockets and space shuttles near the Visitor Center.

You needed to buy a ticket in order to tour by bus the rest but we did travel on...

Here I stand, together with Mauzie girl our dachshund.

Unreal the length of such a Space Shuttle... Me with Mauzie to the right.

One can only admire NASA for having accomplished this!

Pieter with Mauzie girl standing there...

Me with Mauzie standing below rocket...

Closeup

Pieter having an up close look

Pieter with Mauzie and the sun was reflecting in my lens...

We're in Florida — the Sunshine State!

In the distance, over the water, you see one of the huge buildings where you can visit when getting the tour by bus.

We would be back here; many times that is, with our guests–family and friends.

Below the tree, to the right on the water's edge is a Great Blue Heron.

Those are mainly scanned negatives, done with the Kodak Negative and Slide Scanner.

On to Fort Lauderdale... stay tuned!

Related link:

Working with my Kodak Negative and Slide Scanner | previous post by me