....actually saw my first group (a family of three) wearing protective face masks at the airport yeserday. Noticed many other travelers were looking at them and laughing....but if it made them feel safer....why not? No masks for me yet!

A big cheer for AA...they came through with the Business Class upgrade seats to Chile! Much easier to arrive there ready for a holiday after being able to sleep in a lay flat bed rather than crunched up in Coach!

...only one more day of work...then we can jump on Spirit Air and head off to GUA early tomorrow (what an airline....by the time you add up all of the fees and pay $19 for each checked bag - do it on-line and save $6.....or pay $25 at the airport). Spoke to The Filadelfia last evening and our driver is ready to meet us at the airport and take us back to our little piece of heaven!

What a beautiful morning......flat Atlantic Ocean, just after first light and before the sun started to rise....and still with the retaining wall accent lighting:

....this week proves to me the legacy carriers are parking the bigger planes and replacing with the smaller planes.....gues those new 737s are more fuel efficient. Unfortunately, this means crowded flights and less room....

Are those red lights along the beach for turtle eggs hatchlings?

t-2-f, you are correct...the red accent lighting (and in some location total blackouts) along the beach is designed to avoid confusion and misdirection for the new hatchlings.....we like to see as many of them as possble make it to the Atlantic and at least have a chance at life!

O - what beach is that with the red lights for turtle hatchlings? A few years ago we went to Costa Rica in October so we could see the egg laying part of the giant sea turtles - we went to one of the national parks on the Pacific side and had a very interesting experience. We got there around 11pm and waited for about 2 hours with another couple for the park rangers to tell us turtles had started to come out of the ocean to lay their eggs. Once there were some turtles on the beach, the ranger took us down (only using flashlights with red light bulbs - very dark) to the beach where we could watch the egg laying. These turtles were huge - about 6 feet long and 3 feet wide - they had already dug their egg laying holes and we got to watch them lay the eggs - they go into this trance like state and then all of a sudden the eggs start coming - the eggs were slightly smaller than a softball and they would lay around 25 or so. We got to watch them cover the eggs and then trundle back to the ocean - we were on the beach for about 1 1/2 hours and then had to drive back to our hotel - a whole other experience on its own - driving Costa Rican roads at 1am in the morning!
Haven't had the opportunity to see the turtle eggs hatch yet - maybe on our next trip to Ciosta Rica.
Denise

....the pictured beach is in Hollywood, Florida...just south of Fort Lauderdale.

The turtles are closely observed by Wildlife Officers and volunteers when they come ashore to lay their eggs and return to the sea.....their nests are clearly marked and protected until the hatchlings emerge and begin their journey out to sea.

Light ordinances are very strict regarding public lighting and even residential lighting near nesting areas and stiff fines are imposed on individuals unable to observe the clearly posted laws concerning the wildlife.

Looks like a photo shoot for aGEICO commercial.

t-2-f...he (could be a she) really is a cute little critter....and a perfect match with the palm frawn on whichto bath inthe morning sun light!

On the way to to BHM, then ATL, then into FLL....going home!

Well, that was my first mistake of the morning....stopping at Starbucks on my way back from my beach run and trying a Pumpkin Latte! Maybe the taste of cloves in coffee is best reserved for Ethiopia.

Was actually expecting a much longer delay at TSA this morning.....pleasantly surprised not to be caught in longer slower lines. Using the extra time to read the WSJ and have a second coffee courtesy of the nice folks here at the Crown Room! Back to the post holiday grind...

....smooth flight today, but I'm not dealing with a -40 degree temperature differential on the ground.....I hate coming north in the winter!

.....actually, I hate living in South Florida in the winter when the temps drop below freezing!

My buddy, Darien is in town this weekend for the Super Bowl. He is staying at one of the host hotels..the Westin Diplomat right on Hollywood Beach (I didn't ask how much he is paying...but it can't be a bargain).



I met him for coffee this morning and thought I would get this shot of the inside reflection pool in the lobby before everyone else got up and started wandering around...trying to recover from the parties last evening:

....how great is it when your "high roller" friends are in town.....making suggestions like, "both of you come by and pick us up at the hotel and we'll go to the spa for morning massages...our treat!"



Sure they are going to the Super Bowl game later and we'll be watching it on TV at a friend's party....but somehow, we don't feel neglected!