A family of rare Black Skimmer birds has set up a nest on the beach at Daytona Beach Shores.  It is rare for these birds to nest along Florida’s east coast and even more unusual that they are not nesting in a colony.  The first picture shows the Skimmer parents.  The second picture shows a growing baby Skimmer with one of the proud parents!

This is also the time of year that Sea Turtles make their way onto the beaches at night to lay their eggs in dry sand nests.  They attempt to disguise their nests and return to sea in hopes that their hatchlings will crawl into the ocean in about two months.  Thank goodness for the volunteers that walk the beaches to patrol for new nests.  Here you can see the mother turtle’s tracks onto the beach.

She was unable to get to the dunes because of a seawall and she laid her eggs in the middle of the beach.  The nest was located within a high tide zone.  The volunteers had to dig up the eggs and move them to a sager place.  This is a shot of the eggs in the nest.

The male eggs are always on the bottom of the nest.  Each eggs has to be carefully removed.

The exact measurements of the nest are taken to ensure that the nest is properly recreated.

And finally the original nest is filled in and the eggs relocated to a safer area.

Thanks to all of you and to Stacey for helping to support so many of the worthy animal charities!

Vicki

vickid@MEI-Travel.com

As if that wasn’t enough natural beauty for the visit, upon returning to my Mom’s we were welcomed by a rainbow!

Make sure you take the time to enjoy all the beauty that nature provides!

Vicki Damanti

vickid@MEI-Travel.com

I have an odd obsession with Mr. Toad, even more so since he left Walt Disney World.  I told you on an earlier blog that I would hunt him down.  And I found him.  I really wanted to take him home.  Instead I settled for this photo opportunity. 

I admittedly sort of stopped the Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride line to do it.  But it was momentary and my fellow Disneylanders didn’t seem to mind. 

My thought process here was sort of like "don’t you send me to hell again".

Once on the Magic, there were plenty of ways to be silly and many goofy photo opportunities:

One of my traveling companions, Terry, was so sweet and bought us shirts before the trip.  What Terry didn’t realize is that we fit the theme perfectly at Animator’s Palate. 

We decided to coordinate the evening we dined there.  If you’ve never been on the Magic or seen the Travel Channel special, Animator’s Palate restaurant is a treat!  It is the dining room in your rotation that literally puts on a show.  The room and your waitstaff start out in black and white (a la the pencil drawing) and then "animate" to full color.  It is a sight to see and just one of the reasons that the Magic deserves its name!

And when it came time for the Pirates In the Carribean Party night, we all got into the spirit.  Janet and Terry couldn’t help but channel Jack Sparrow and Barbossa with a fight with the swords from their themed drinks.

My point is, yes, we’re all very silly and had a great time together.  We were NOT hesitant to be that way!  I say let the theming and the magic wash over you and sweep you up off your feet.  Get involved in the activities!  Become part of the atmosphere!  Don’t just watch your kids doing it…you should do it too!  I think that’s the best way to enjoy a Disney vacation.  Declare at least for that week, that you’re never growing up.  

You may stand out but you’ll definitely meld into the atmosphere.  It makes for great stories and photos.  Plus it’s a whole lot of FUN!

Anyway, thanks for being patient!

As you can tell, my friends did much better at the relaxing part than me.  Our first day out of Los Angeles was a bit chilly, but that didn’t stop Terry and Janet from getting some sun. 

Later in the week, I did spend a great hour or so on the deck watching ALL the Pixar shorts back to back on the big screen!  The waiter came around with a Itzakadoozie popsicle (you know the spiral ones that you spend like $4 for at Disney World) FREE!!  This was following my massage, and boy oh boy, it was a great day.  However, keep in mind that even though you shower after a massage, that massage oil stays on your body.  Let’s just say I got a little crispy.

Even though I ate a lot of desserts, I’d really prefer a meal to desserts.  And although the food on the ship was very good, don’t miss the opportunity to dine in port.  I like to ask the locals where to go.  My first stop in Cabo was at this little fast food place.  I got a HUGE, delicious meal….ah…YUM!

Our second stop in Mazatlan was just as good and was recommended by our tour guide on the Hike to the Lighthouse  (more on that later).

I ate so much on this trip that I passed on the midnight dessert buffet.  However, I did enjoy looking at the sugar sculpture and thinking about the hours I spent watching those sugar sculpture competitions on the Food Network!

And finally there was the place that was cozy when it was cold, made awesome soy hot chocolates with no whip cream and was home a rousing game of ’80s Trivial Pursuit between my friend Wayne and I…Cove Cafe.  The ladies who run this place never leave and are as nice as can be.  If you’re looking to socialize with the crew, this is the place to be.  But remember adults only!

So that was the sweet part of my trip….the relaxing part.  But there were plenty of adventures, parties and fun that was had.  Arrrgggghh! 

If you look down and see this: 

you know that you are on the stairs of the Magic.  Melina, our guide, laughed out loud when they taught her that in her training. 

If you look down and see this carpet:

You know you are on a stateroom deck.

And on the entertainment decks you’ll find the following carpet: 

 If you’re seeing this carpet:

you are likely on deck 9, i.e. a pool deck. 

And if you’re seeing the carpet below, it is likely your mouth is also watering or you’re very full because you’d be at Palo!
 

 And of course, if decide to navigate the way most people do, you can always use this:

In Japan I made a beeline back to the store.  After looking around the store and realizing I had no idea what I was looking at - and seeing the dried fish - I decide to ask for help.  The Cast Member in the sotre was GREAT!  I explained what I was doing and he tok me straight to the best chocolate of the day!  Three little pieces shaped like strawberries. AND the tasted like Nestle Strawberry Milk!  Perfect choice here!  The others are eating on gummies and pop rock cotten candy as we walking over to Morocco.

This has to be the hardest place to eat for me.  I follow Len’s example and get a baklava, but I go for the Chocolate and Cherries one.  BAD CHOICE.  It was really good, but about 5 pounds.  I actually ask the gal at the counter for the smallest piece she had!  Mike followed my example and we both struuggled to get this down.  At this point, Len is reminding us he has to leave and we are running out of time.

France - just the thought of pastires normally gets me all excited - not today.  I would normally get an eclair or creme puff, but today I am thinking croissant - light, fluffy, NOT SWEET.  This was a great choice here and a good change from all the sweets I had eatten.  The downfall here - jello.  I still had to eat/drink the jello and the longer I kept it the more liquid it became.  The guys were not letting me off the hook.  Len had downed Peach Tea - so I had to drink the Watermelon jello. (Yep, didnt know I had a choice on this one - cause this is not the flavor I would have gone with) YUCK.

As we walk over the bridge to the UK, the smell of Fish and Chips greets us.  If this is a smell that helps you over the bridge in hopes of eating some, then this would be perfect.  For 5 people with full stomachs - not so appealing.  it was a really fast walk right past the stand to the Tea shop.  I was really hoping for a cup of tea, but instead was convinved by a Cast Member that the Flake would be the best choice.  It was a favorite of his and that it was light and airy.  NOT - it was light and flaky Chocolate.  It was not that it tasted bad, but it was the texture that got me.  It was flaky like bark.  So, once convinced to get this, I had to make sure others joined in.  So I was singing the praises of this candy - only to watch everyone elses faces as they took a bite.

Finally, the last country - Canada.  Two hours after the first meal, we are walking up to the Trading post.  Now, we all thinking something small.  hoping for a pack of two Maple cookies.  Well, think bulk here.  Everything seemed to come in dozens.  Well, there was no way any of us could eat 9 of any of these.  I kept searching and found the candy bars.  It was actually a very good candy bar - if I was wasnt full.  You can tell from the picture that Mike and I were just eating to be eating.  We dont look all that thrilled.  Only one of us was crazy enough to think liquids here.  yep, Maple Syrup!  Len could not eat anything else, so he opted for a small bottle of Maple Syrup!  Not sure how he kept it down.

Now, I know many of you are reading this and asking yourself, why would anyone do this?  I have to say that afterwards we were asking the same thing!  But I have to say, the five of us had a great time and we have all commented on the fact that we explored into the countries more than we have in the past.  While I dont recommend eating around the world in 2 or so hours - I have to say that spending the day eating small portions of real food from around the World would be a great past time and a great time with friends.  All and all we had a great time and had lots of great laughs together!

If you would like to listen to us talk about our Sip and Snack around the world here is a link to the podcast  WDWToday

Today was another wonderful day in port.  When the alarm went off at 6:30 am this morning, I said aloud, "Who is the dork who planned this early morning excursion?"  Of course, there was only myself to blame.  The regret was momentary.  Because we had a wonderful Hike to The Lighthouse to which to look forward.  We met our guide just as we got off the ship.  She was a wonderful local woman named Bricia.  We drove to  the hill and began our way up.  It wasn’t an easy hike.  We climbed a little over 300 steps at the top.  We were hot and sweaty, but the views were absolutely worth it.  (Photos to come later!)

Bricia then gave us some great information about the city, including a great lunch spot called the Panama.  She was right on the money!  A lot of locals were eating there and we even saw her there eating later in the day.

Tonight we head to Animator’s Palate.  My group of four have donned our black and white Disney character tees….very apropos.

So until we meet again, I raise my drink to you and shout out "Hasta Manana" (sans tilde) from Mazatlan!

I’ve already had more than my share of food aboard and have subsequently hit the gym.  I’ve danced; I’ve sung; I laughed until I cried.  And now it is time for me to head into Cabo San Lucas.

My traveling companions and I are splitting up for the day.  I’m doing the sedate Land’s End Coastal Cruise.  I’ve got my hat, my sunblock and my adventure is about to begin.  So until there are more stories to report, I bid you adios.  Wish you were here!

Joanne