Princess Diana's Funeral and Our Hyatt Regency Pier 66 Adventure

 At times it does not work out the way you planned it to be...

But in a good mood we set the nose of our car Southbound on September 3, 1997.

At home, ready for our short trip with end destination Fort Lauderdale, Florida...

Wearing a hat with my Hermès silk shawl around it.

Escada jeans and top...

Our wood garden visible behind me.

We woould be driving in our Mazda Millenia S, from December 19, 1994.

We did our Outlet shopping and in Ellenton at the Escada Outlet I was surprised to find still so many strawberry items; 75% off now.

One night at a Best Western in that area and next day we drove to Sawgrass Mills Outlets via I-75.

At Last Call by Neiman Marcus I found the Chanel pumps from $ 535.00 for $ 149.00 that were too small for me when we saw them in May; now in my size! 

Pieter bought a Nokia cell phone...

Then to the Budget Inn for the night.

On Friday morning, September 5, we had to leave, too bad as at 13:00 there would be a program on TV about Princess Diana...

Around 14:00 we checked in at Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale, just before the weather became really bad due to hurricane Erika being on its way from Puerto Rico. 

Pieter had to go back to the car and got wet...

Closing the double insulated curtains, I tried on my Outlet scores...

My Chanel thongs, a previous score from Last Call by Neiman Marcus.

Loved these Escada strawberry pieces when I saw them in the big catalog.

So what else to do ,when it is raging outside, but making photos...

My watch from Singapore airport taxfree

We did visit Matthew & Sandra Keysers (my sister–in–law's Uncle & Aunt) and back to our Hyatt Regency Pier 66 where we enjoyed a great dinner with a bottle of wine.

Our luxury two free nights!

Saturday, September 6, we did watch the funeral of Princess Diana at 4:40 while the storm raged outside.

Now we also got to know WHY we had double curtains in our room; for blocking out the noise of the raging wind and rain. 

We had a perfect room with balcony also around the corner but no way we could step outside...

You can view a short video of the dramatic clouds upon our arrival: Princess Diana's Funeral Day and our stay at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ←click link.

We could not swim so we went to Bal Harbour and it still was stormy with heavy rain.

We drove in our own Mazda Millenia to Bal Harbour, not in this Hyatt Regency limo...!

Pieter got a pair of nice Charles Jourdan shoes and we enjoyed an ice cream.

Already had my Escada strawberry shorts and sweater, with matching purse.

Also found my most favorite ever La Perla bathing suite at the Aventura Mall and they would mail the matching pareo skirt.

Seen in above photo, ONLY photo I have of it (click link below to know WHY...). Pareo skirt is next to my feet.

We went to bed in time and next day we drove home in one stretch the 565 mile or 909 kilometer.

Those were the days when we both were driving and traffic was not that bad!

Related link:

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

{What Type of Feet do YOU have?} | previous post by me where I show the La Perla bathing suit...

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