Adventures with Anabel & Dale

Noche Buena 2011

2011-12-26T21:21:00.001-08:00

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Tree Trimming Party 2011

2011-12-13T16:21:00.001-08:00

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Family Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T15:23:00.001-08:00

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Sanibel Sunsets

2011-11-06T17:45:00.001-08:00

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Halloween on Sanibel Island 2011

2011-11-06T16:29:00.001-08:00

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Lindsay & Jon's Virtual Baby Shower for Baby O

2011-10-17T15:00:00.001-07:00

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Leo's Retirement Party

2011-10-04T15:01:00.001-07:00

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The Bump

2011-09-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

The Bump

Sitges, Spain

2011-07-11T07:45:00.003-07:00

Barcelona View from Hotel Balcony

2011-07-11T07:45:00.001-07:00

The Alhambra in Granada

2011-07-10T16:56:00.001-07:00

Plaza de Espana in Seville

2011-07-10T16:55:00.001-07:00

Plaza Real in Barcelona

2011-07-10T15:53:00.001-07:00

Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain

2011-07-10T15:22:00.001-07:00

Granada, Spain

2011-07-10T15:00:00.001-07:00

Animal Kingdom Resort & Park

2011-03-20T15:39:00.001-07:00

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New Year's Eve 2010

2011-01-01T17:36:00.001-08:00

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NOCHE BUENA 2010

2010-12-26T11:45:00.001-08:00

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Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T18:18:00.001-08:00

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Visiting Lindsay & Jon in Pittsburgh

2010-11-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

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Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-28T15:15:00.003-08:00

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Summer Breeze Party 6/19/2010

2010-06-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

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2010-01-17T22:18:00.001-08:00

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Family & Friends during 2009 Holidays

2009-12-24T13:45:00.001-08:00

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Tree Trimming 2009

2009-12-13T16:42:00.001-08:00

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Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-13T15:25:00.001-08:00

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2009-10-17T18:23:00.001-07:00

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Southern Roadtrip 2009 - Savannah, Ga.

2009-07-31T18:26:00.000-07:00

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Ocala, Florida - July 10th-11th, 2009

2009-07-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

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Southern Roadtrip 2009 - Glenville, North Carolina

2009-07-23T19:06:00.000-07:00

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Family Thanksgiving Cruise 2008

2008-11-24T06:05:00.000-08:00

Breaking family tradition for the first time in 40 years, a decision was made last Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) among family members, to realize a major trip during a holiday. Thanksgiving Cruise 2008 became a reality when I discovered ONE ship that had a 5-day/4-night itinerary over the holiday. Perfect! Fourteen family members will be embarking on a very special adventure on Thursday, Novemeber 27th, 2008 from Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Among them are five related families: Anabel & Dale Butler; Pedro & Cathy Parra with their children, Jessica & Daniel; Edilio & Pamela Milian with their children, Chrissie & Alex; Maria Gonzalez with her son, Roger and daughter & son-in-law, Jacki & Andrew Stirling (newlyweds!). Say tuned for our pictures and adventure stories!

2008 Road Trip: The Florida Keys

2008-06-25T08:31:00.001-07:00

Even with the price of gas, we decided to re-visit the Florida Keys as our annual vacation trip. Our last visit had been in 1996 for Eleanor's 60th birthday (Dale's mother) where we drove to Key West and stayed at one of my favorite bed & breakfast places, Merlinn's Guesthouse. This time I planned it differently and with a more romantic flavor since it's just the two of us. Why not stay at a luxury resort in the upper keys for a couple of days and then leisurely crawl our way down to Key West and stay at the top bed & breakfast hotel there over July 4th week?

So the date is almost here - we leave Saturday, June 28th for Cheeca Lodge for three nights in Islamorada. A presidential favorite, Cheeca has just been completely renovated and the perks at the resort fit our lifestyle. Dale gets to play golf by the ocean and I get to lounge at the beach and read books and visit the spa. On the way there we will stop at Alabama Jack's on Card Sound Road for lunch. A real "Florida Keys dive", the fresh fish is terrific and the views of the mangroves into Key Largo begin. Can't get better than that!

After our Cheeca Lodge experience, we will amble down to Key West with a stop at Parrottdise Restaurant for lunch on Little Torch Key. This is a place we have yet to sample so I'll post my review later. We will be staying at The Marquesa Hotel in Old Town which is really a luxury bed & breakfast in a restored Victorian home. It also boasts a gourmet restaurant, Cafe Marquesa. We will call this home for the next five days and four nights. Can't wait!

2007 Alaska Cruise on Celebrity's "Infinity" Ship

2007-11-12T09:27:00.000-08:00

I always thought that a cruise vacation in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula would be scenic and relaxing. I didn't realize it can also be an adventurous and exhilarating experience! Viewing the massive Hubbard Glacier from aboard the ship at 30 degrees and minus temperatures was more than exhilarating - it was almost a religious event. Hundreds of people aboard the ship came out onto the deck whether they had warm clothes or not. The mood was not festive, but rather more of a respectful reverence for the awesomeness of nature. We could have stayed outside in the frigid weather for hours. The cold was insignificant compared to the magnificent sight before our eyes.

For highly adventurous souls, I recommend a helicopter tour of glaciers in Juneau, Alaska. This once-in-a-lifetime experience is not for the faint hearted but for those who really do want to "seize the day." View those pictures at my Flickr site listed below. And, if you are fortunate to be able to realize this adventure, remember to taste the pure glacial waters, breathe in the freshest air on the planet and sear the images to your memories forever.