A week out and a lifetime ago...

We got to laughing last night about the fact that every time we come home from vacation, I always pull the 'I wish we were..' card.  Home is great, laundry is finally done and needing putting away, and we are starting to recover from the pace of Disney and the epic travelling there and back.  Now, we see pics and hear about Disney and wish we were back in Florida.  I guess that is the sign of a great experience, eh?  That you cannot wait to go back and wish in weak moments you were back there....this time last week we were drinking coffee in Magnell's kitchen, preparing to go to the ocean.  The screensaver on my computer is the pic posted; one of my faves from the trip.  For now, the ocean captures my imagination.  Soon, it will be the Rockies of Estes Park.  In all honesty, though, the sunsets of Iowa are where it is at for us.  The others are places to visit and cherish; here is home.  That is enough for me!

Some thoughts:

Best drive -- tie between the 'loop' Chris and MaryAnn have that goes thru a crazy swamp and along the ocean front.  We turned a corner, and were in swamp.  Another corner, there is the ocean whipped to a frenzy.  Jaw dropping.  The second first place was the interstate south of Chattanooga, TN into Georgia, up and over Signal Mountain.  Pretty cool, even in the rain.

Best food -- grilled burgers @ Magnells; fish and chips and battered burger at Raglan Road (with a cold Smithwicks!); spicy Bloody Mary at the pool bar

Best ride -- safari @ Animal Kingdom -- wicked cool.  Kari liked Expedition Everest; the kids Space Mountain; Emy, the whole adventure.

Best thing about Port Orleans Riverside -- all of it?  The smell of our room...so fresh so clean!  Did not once smell like a hotel room.

Best reason to go back -- the whole experience was so much more than I expected; I honestly am wondering how to spring for a trip next year (for sure in 2 years!).  Disney, hats off.  You got me hooked!

Tomorrow -- the 'worsts'...