Star Princess Cruise November 12-16, 2015 from Los Angeles

Catalina Cruise Nov. 12-16, 2015

by Tom P. Blake

Last February, a travel agent friend, Ann Ronan, San Juan Capistrano, asked if I’d be willing to have a four-day “Tom Blake Loving Life after 55” ocean cruise from November 12-16 aboard the Star Princess out of San Pedro, California. We’d promote the cruise in my “On Life and Love After 50” newsletter and newspaper articles.

My partner Greta and I love cruising and thought it would be fun.

 

Star Princess anchored off of Avalon Catalina Island - a large ship

 

The ship is enormous; it's longer than 3 football fields--950 feet. There was a crew of 1,100 and close to 3,000 passengers. It has 17 levels (decks) and more elevators than Macy's. Multiple Broadway shows every night. I counted 35 desserts at one lunch buffet.



Thursday, November 12

In our experience, Greta and I have found that checking in for a large cruise is always a jam-packed event. There are, without, fail long lines of people, and waiting is the norm. So, instead of arriving at 12:00 p.m., the initial check-in time, we decided to arrive at 2 p.m., after the crowd had gone aboard.

Greta, her daughter Tina Skelton of Murrieta, California, and I drove from Dana Point to the embarkation port in San Pedro (near Long Beach). On the way, we received a text message from the Star Princess stating that embarkation would be delayed until 2 p.m.—a two-hour delay. The problem began with the disembarkation from the ship’s incoming cruise from that morning.

But, we were already on our way so what could we do? Just bite the bullet and get in line. So, we parked in the terminal lot near the ship for a reasonable $16 per day.

When we got inside the building, there was an enormous backlog of people, at least 1,000, who were in line to sign in. And then there was an announcement that the sign-in was temporarily suspended. We simply took a seat and decided to wait until the line shortened. People were getting pretty frustrated.

After an hour or so, Tina talked to an official near the sign-in window, saying something about "her parents''" age, and gosh, we got checked in right then, but that was just the first step.

 

Once signed in, you went through security, and then I had to go to a table to "register" the two bottles of wine we were allowed to bring on board. And then into to another waiting room from which you boarded the ship. That room had another 1,000 people or so waiting. People were really getting antsy.



Cleared to board but ship not ready at 3 p.m., 3 hours after the check-in time



The ship handed out free water; the trash can was beyond its limits

We finally boarded about 4:15 p.m. Greta and I have learned that when traveling, there are going to be times when you've got to be patient and this was one of those times. That's the nature of travel, especially when visiting foreign countries. I was able to use the internet with my Verizon Mi-Fi device.

Before the ship sailed, everyone on board had to attend the safety demonstration on how to put your life jacket on. This is mandatory.

 

Greta holding life jacket before drill began

Our group, which totaled 13 people, met at the Wheelhouse Lounge, on the 7^th level of the ship, for cocktails and to get to know each other.



Thursday night group first get together

Then, Greta, Tina and I had dinner at Sabatini’s, one of the speciality restaurants on board—where we paid $25 per person. There are a few of these speciality restaurants aboard where you pay, but tons of other choices of restaurants where the cost is included in the cruise price. Later, we were pretty wiped out and hit the sack by 9:30 p.m.

Friday, November 13 – Avalon, Catalina Island

A beautiful, sunny day greeted us as we were anchored off of Catalina Island. This guy was perched on our railing:

 

Johathan Livingston Seagull

 To go ashore, passengers had to ride one of the ship’s water taxis, called tenders, into Avalon. You gather in one of the dining rooms and get a boarding ticket with a group number. When they call your group number, about 110 of you carefully board the tender. This can be a little tricky because the swell from the ocean can make the footing a little unstable.  

Port of Avalon with tender on left approaching ship. Concert pavilon on right



A ship's tender waiting to take passengers into Avalon
 

For Greta and Tina, the visit to Catalina is always a little nostalgic. All four of Greta’s children were born on Catalina, and Tina is her youngest child. The three of us strolled around ashore for a couple of hours and, they shopped, while I checked my internet messages. An Avalon classic old bar:

 

Marlin Club has been in Avalon forever

 

We returned to the ship for lunch and a leisurely afternoon on board. These cruise ship lines make the onboard lifestyle so enticing it's easy to just stay on the ship and be pampered.

That night, our group gathered again in the same place in the Wheelhouse Lounge, and then we all went together to dinner at a restaurant called Porto Fino, which was one of the ship’s regular dining rooms, where there was no extra charge.

 

Saturday, November 14 – At sea the entire day

Our group gathered that morning at 10 a.m. for a 1 and ½ hour seminar that was a part of the “Loving Life After 55” package. I was the moderator but all of us got to share our dating and romance experiences. It was informative to hear how the couples in the group met and to also hear the internet dating experiences that our members willingly shared. This photo was taken after our morning session.

 

Our group after the Saturday morning session

People were free to do as they pleased the rest of the day—the ship offered endless things to do.

That night, most of the group got together again for dinner. I was pleased to see how many new friendships were being formed among our members.



Sunday, November 15 – Ensenada, Mexico

On our final day, the ship arrived early in Ensendad, Mexico.

 

Most of our group went ashore, not together, but in smaller pods at different times. Greta, Tina and I walked into the city and enjoyed window shopping and we even stopped at a Starbucks (believe it or not) for a cup of coffee.

 

Hotel row in Ensenada

Hotel rooms start at 270 pesos, or about $16.00. The cost of living is dramatically less than in the states.

 

I got a kick out of this sign outside a pharmacy in Ensenada. In a newsletter two weeks ago, someone mentioned that in the USA, Viagra cost $44 per pill. In Mexico, it’s a heck of a lot cheaper:

Viagra sign outside Ensenada pharmacy

 So 5 pills in Mexico cost about $12.00. Could this be true? $44 in the USA; $2.50 in Mexico.

 

Now, I am not saying that the these Viagra pills are of equal strength as those in the states, or are even the real McCoy, but who knows? The truth be told, I did not purchase any (thought about it, but well...you know).

On the walk back to the ship, we passed this magnificent flag of Mexico. It was huge:

Flag of Mexico

Back on board, I watched a NFL football game on the big outdoor screen at the aft end of the ship around the pool.

Sunday night dinner

That night, most of us dined together again and promised to keep in touch with each other. Some of us attended the “British Invasion” musical production put on by the ship’s entertainers. It was terrific with music from the Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Rolling Stones, and Hermit’s Hermits, to name just a few.

Later that night, there was a dramatic change of weather, as the ship was sailing north to Los Angeles. The wind starting blowing and the ship started rocking. One big wave hit the port side and shook the entire ship. The winds reached 100 mph across the bow.

Greta and I had packed our suitcases the night before. When the wind picked up, the hangers in the clothes closet had no clothes on them. They were big wooden hangers and were banging so hard against the partition that we had to lay them on the floor. Even the water in the toilet was swishing around and spilling over ever so little. It was one rocky night.

We arrived in San Pedro by 6:30 a.m. and I think most everybody was happy to have the ship tie up to the pier. The three of us were off the ship and in our car by 8:45 a.m.

What a nice four-day experience and cruise we’d had.

Travel agent Ann Ronan's contact information: www.sjctravel.com

 

3 days in Sonoma County - November 3-6, 2015

My life partner Greta and I took a four-day road trip from Dana Point, California, where we live, to Santa Rosa, California, where we own a rental property. We needed to check on some proposed maintenance and repairs to the property. It had been more than a year since we had been in Sonoma County.

On Tuesday, November 3, we left Dana Point at 5:30 a.m., which we discovered was perhaps a half hour later than we should have left, as the traffic was already slow on the 405 Freeway from Long Beach through Los Angeles to Sunset Blvd., near the UCLA campus.

Our road trip took 10 hours, which included a half hour lunch break at a Carl's Jr. in Santa Nella, a major crossroad on the I-5, a little over two hours south of San Francisco. Be prepared for lots of semi trucks when stopping there.

Greta belongs to a website called Home Exchange. She traded visits with a family who lives on Sonoma Mountain Road in the Bennett Valley area south of Santa Rosa, where we stayed; the family will stay at her home in San Clemente next month.

Our accommodations were a studio suite on the side of the family's home. As we approached the entrance to our place, 10 deer were feeding in a wooded area 20 yards from our entry door.

We were exhausted from the long drive so we decided to stay in that evening. I found a Safeway store five miles away on Yulupa Street and picked up a few things for dinner and, of course, Sonoma County Chardonnays from Chateau St. Jean and Kenwood wineries.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

The main purpose of our trip was to visit our property in Oakmont, an age 55+ retirement community about four miles east of Santa Rosa. Our tenants, Vern and Judy, take such good care of the home that we barely recognized it. The property is located on Twin Lakes Circle, on the 10th fairway of the Oakmont executive golf course (no par fives).

View of the 10th Fairway from living room patio

We discussed a few needed repairs and then the four of us went to lunch at the Quail Inn, which is in the heart of Oakmont. Our tenant Vern works there helping out with banquets and wedding receptions. I had one of the best corned beef sandwiches ever, very lean and tasty.

On the way back to our studio apartment, we stopped at Matanzas Creek winery on Bennett Valley Road.

Matanzas Creek Parking Area

Matanzas Creek Fountain

What a pleasant surprise. The winery is known for its elegant wines and fields of lavender. It is owned by the Jackson family, the same family that owns another well known Sonoma winery, Kendall Jackson.

Greta with lavender plants

We purchased a couple bottles of their wines to take home and save for a special occasion.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

In the morning, we awoke to all kinds of deer activity just outside of studio. The bucks were having at each other:

Bucks locking horns

I have been coming to Sonoma County on a regular basis since 1977, when I purchased a small home for my mom, where she lived for nearly 32 years. During that time, I never visited the historic Jack London State Park in nearby Glen Ellen.

We stopped as we left the property to take a picture of this cute guy:

 

Bennett Valley, California, Donkey

Greta and I took Bennett Valley Road to Warm Springs Road and then went into Glen Ellen. Shared a hamburger at the Jack London Saloon, eating outside on the back patio. Both Greta and I recalled having a nice meal there with my mom 7-8 years ago.

In front of the Jack London Saloon

Then we drove up the hill to the State Park, about a mile and a half from the center of town. There is a fee to enter the park but our annual California state park pass got us in for no cost.

The whole state park is known as the Jack London Ranch. Our first stop was the cottage where Jack London and his wife lived for a few years.

Cottage is white building. Entertainment area for guests is on the left

To get into the cottage, which is staffed by volunteers, the cost was two bucks each for seniors. Well worth watching the video and then touring the house. The docent, Judy, a former teacher, loves her volunteer work and was very knowledgable.

In the adjacent guest entertaining area, to the left in the picture above, when we saw the kitchen, Greta said it reminded her of the kitchen up the road a piece in Asti, where the Italian Swiss Colony winery used to be. Our friends, the Rossi's, own the home where the vineyard manager used to live. It has 13 bedrooms, all on the same floor, a single story preserved home.

Judy commented that she knew the original family that owned the winery.

Jack London died at age 40 due to kidney failure in the cottage house. Both London and his wife Charmian were interesting people.

Then we drove to a different parking lot within the Ranch where we took the half-mile hike through the woods to the Wolf House, a mansion that London had built but never lived in. Just a short time before the house was ready for occupancy, it burned to the ground. The cause of the fire is thought to be from spontaneous combustion from rags left by workers with linseed oil on them. 

When you walk through the woods, you are constantly reminded by posted signs to beware of rattle snakes, poison oak, and bobcats.

Warning signs on the walk to the Wolf House

When you arrive at the Wolf House, you are sad and amazed at the same time. You see the size of the house, and the windows and fireplaces, and then you realized the dream house of Jack London and his wife went up in flames.

Autumn tree a few yards before the Wolf House

 

Beans holding up chimmneys in Wolf House

One of many chimmneys

Interior of burned out Wolf House
 

A gentleman from Glenn Ellen was visiting the Wolf House and offered to take a picture of Greta and me in front of the building.


Greta and Tom at Wolf House in Jack London State Park



That night, we drove to Petaluma, a half hour away, to have dinner with my sister, Christine, and her friend, Bill. We dined at the Central Market, 42 North Petaluma Boulevard. This is a really good restaurant that has an outstanding reputation in Petaluma, which is booming with retail activity in that part of this cute, historic city.

http://www.centralmarketpetaluma.com

Friday, November 6, 2015

Our short visit to Sonoma had come to an end. It was time to drive home. We stopped in Pleasanton to visit our friend Bob Rossi, who owns the Sunshine Saloon off of Santa Rita Road. It is Bob's family who at one time owned Italian Swiss Colony in Asti and whose family still owns the 13-bedroom historic home there.

Bob and I worked together at Victoria Station, the prime rib and boxcar national chain in the 1970s. I wrote a book about it, titled, "Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?" Of course, Bob Rossi is included in that book.

Bob started the Sunshine Saloon some 30 years ago and still works there with his son and daughter.

www.SunshineSaloon.com

It is a very popular sports bar. He was able to spend a few minutes with Greta and me, but then, had to attend to his customers.
Greta took this picture of Bob and me outside when we left.

Old Victoria Station buddies - Bob Rossi and Tom

We arrived in Los Angeles at 5:30 p.m. That is not the time, particularly on a Friday, to try to pass through that enormous city. It took us two hours as every freeway was packed. We will plan that differently on our next trip to Santa Rosa. We chose the I-5 as the traffic reports on KNX radio indicated problems on the 405 and 210 freeways. But, we exited the I-5 and took the 710 to Long Beach and then came home on the 405 and 73 toll road. About 12 hours transit time from Santa Rosa.

Ann Arbor, Michigan and Marblehead, Massachusetts trip September 24 2015

Ann Arbor and Marblehead trip September 24 - October 1, 2015

"12 Lobsters"

 

by Tom P. Blake October 26, 2015

On Thursday, September 24, 2015, Nick, a limo driver that my life partner, Greta, and I had used before, picked us up at our Dana Point, California, home at 5:15 a.m. for a quick lift to John Wayne Airport. Greta and I are both retired, in our mid-70s, and trying to travel as much as we can while we are healthy enough to do so.

A US Air flight took us to Phoenix where we changed to another US Air flight to Detroit. US Air is now a part of American Airlines. Every seat was taken on both flight segments. It was fun to see several BYU football fans board the plane in Phoenix, obviously headed for the big game against my alma mater, The University of Michigan, at the Big House on the Ann Arbor campus, on Saturday, September 26. That was our destination as well.

We picked up a car at Enterprise Rent A Car at the Detroit Airport and headed for a new Holiday Inn Express on Zeeb Road, a couple of miles west of Ann Arbor. After checking in, I was itching to take a look at the campus as it had been several years since I had been there, so we drove to the sports complex that houses all of UM's sports arenas, including the Big House (seating capacity 114,000, largest college-owned stadium in the United States). We wanted to scout out where we'd be parking on Friday night for a special event at Schembechler Hall that we had been invited to.

Michigan football tradition runs in my family so I had to take this picture, halfway between the Big House and Crisler Arena. It is of a fire hydrant topped with a painted-on UM football helmut and the number 98 on it. My Mom told me I was born during the Michigan-Minnesota game on November 11, 1939, and was named after Tom Harmon, the Michigan football legend who was playing on that day. Harmon wore number 98. His son is Mark Harmon, the actor.

Tom Harmon #98 fire hydrant adjacent to Michigan Stadium

We had dinner at Metzger's, a famous Ann Arbor family restaurant known for its German food, at their location next to our Holiday Inn. Great place to eat. We were tired, it had been a long day.

Friday, September 25, 2015

I was born and raised in Jackson, Michigan, about 30 miles west of Ann Arbor. So, Greta and I drove to Jackson to spend a few hours with my childhood friend, Jimmy LeFere. Jimmy and I grew up together and did our share of hell-raising and although we attended different schools, we have remained friends for all of these years. Jimmy is a widower whose nine grandchildren keep him busy. He's a graduate of Notre Dame.

Jimmy graciously drove us around Jackson with a drive-by of the world famous Cascades, a man-made water fall that lights up at night and is a big tourist attraction. Of course, he drove us past the homes we grew up in. I was snapping pictures, enjoying the tour of Jackson. Back in the 1940s and 1950s, Jackson had a population of 50,000.

 

Now, the population is down to 35,000 or so. The decline in the Detroit auto industry has hurt cities like Jackson that were so dependent on the auto industry business. We even took a tour around nearby Clark Lake, to see the massive homes that are replacing the old cottages around the lake. This photo was taken at the Beach Bar, on the east end of the lake at lunch time.

 

Old friend Tom Blake & Jimmy Lefere - Beach Bar Clark Lake - Sept 25, 2015

Back in Ann Arbor, Friday night was special for Greta and me. Let me explain. In 1976, I was the marketing director for Victoria Station, the prime rib and boxcar national restaurant chain. I worked for the company for eight years and published a book in 2006 titled, "Prime Rib & Boxcars. Whatever Happened to Victoria Station?"

 

The company had a football award called the Wiseman Trophy, which, to be honest, was a second-guessing of the much more famous Heisman Trophy. It was my job to select the recipients of the award and in 1976, I insisted we present the award to Rob Lytle, who was the all-time leading rusher at The University of Michigan (even more yards than old 98, Tom Harmon). On December 9, 1976, Rob was awarded the trophy at the Southfield, Michigan, Victoria Station with Coach Bo Schembechler present. 

After the ceremony, this picture was taken of Rob and his wife Tracy, who was also a student at the University of Michigan.

Tracy and Rob Lytle (holding Wiseman Trophy)

After graduating from Michigan, Rob played for the Denver Broncos for 6-7 years. He was tough as nails, and yet just a wonderful, gentle, human being with a cute grin and a sly sense of humor. He and I became friends. When Denver would play the Oakland Raiders, I would meet him for dinner the night before the game in Oakland at one of our restaurants. He would bring any number of his teammates. What fun for me. 

After football, Rob returned to his native Fremont, Ohio, where he grew up. We'd touch base on the phone once in a while. I'd phone him on a Michigan game day to get his opinion on who would win. I was shocked and devastated when I picked up a Sports Illustrated magazine in November, 2010, to find out he had passed away from a heart attack at age 54.

A year ago, his son Kelly contacted me, asking permission to use the same above photo for a book he was writing about Rob. It is called, "To Dad From Kelly." It is a warm, heart-wrenching book, written by a son who so loved his father. The question of concussions to football players is raised in the book by Kelly. Rob took a lot of hits and had close to 30 surgeries as a result of football injuries.

To Dad From Kelly book cover (available on Amazon.com)

Kelly autographed individually 10 books for Greta's book club. Greta is in yellow and her friend Terri is wearing a Denver Broncos jersey. Photo below taken September 15, 2015 in Dana Point.

Greta (in yellow) and her book club holding Kelly Lytle's book

Rob Lytle will be inducted into the college football hall of fame this December. The University of Michigan decided to honor him during the halftime at the September 26 UM- BYU football weekend. I wanted to be there. It was just one of those times in life when you have to go.

The Athletic Department invited Rob's teammates back for a ceremony on Friday night. Greta and I received this wonderful invitation to that Friday night event.

 

So there Greta and I were, in the hallowed Schembechler Hall in Ann Arbor, along with 80 or so of Rob's teammates and Rob's family--his widow Tracy, whom I had met 49 years ago in Southfield, his kids Erin and Kelly and some nephews. Kelly did a great presentation honoring his Dad. I was very proud of Kelly. Greta and I were honored to be included.

 

Tom and Kelly Lytle

Later, the University sent us a collage of 186 photos taken that night.

Saturday, September 26, 2015 - The day of the big game at the Big House

Greta and I left our hotel at 9:30 a.m. and drove to my friends’ Bruce and Susan Allison’s home. I had known them since the mid-1970s when Susan’s dad, Don Lund, was the associate athletic director at Michigan. Don and I had become friends back then and had often stayed in touch. When Michigan would play in the Rose Bowl, he would often come down to my Dana Point deli. Don Lund was one of the finest gentlemen I ever met in my life. He was a very classy representative of the University of Michigan. He played three sports at Michigan, coached the Michigan baseball team, and had played for the Detroit Tigers.

On the way to the game, Susan told Greta and me that she had arranged a tour of Michigan Stadium’s new six-story press box. Oh my gosh, what an experience that was. We ended up in the sixth level in the booth where the guys are located who operate the sky camera that moves up and down the field. They use joy sticks to manuever the camera. Our view from the press box:

The University of Michigan Big House September 26, 2015

This picture was taken by me of the scene in our booth at the press box:



Sky cam men on left, Greta in the middle

And from there is where we enjoyed the entire game. Michigan beat BYU 31-0.

 

Tom, Greta, Susan Allison, Bruce Allison in press box at the Big House

At the end of the game, we remained in the press box to watch the Michigan band put on a concert right on the 50 yard line in front of the press box. This is a short video I took of that special occasion. Click on this youtube link to see and hear video.

UM band concert on u tube 

After the game, Susan and Bruce had several friends over to their home to meet us. I was reunited with Dr. Gary Sandall, reknowed ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan, and Michigan football team eye doctor for years in the 1970s era. I autographed a copy of my Victoria Station book for him at the reception. The people in Ann Arbor are just terrific.

Sunday, September 27, 2015 – It’s on to Marblehead, Massachusetts

Since Greta and I moved to Dana Point in 2014, she has used her San Clemente, California, home frequently as a vacation rental on VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner), and as a home exchange on homeexchange.com with people who want to exchange their home for short periods of time.

While back east, we thought it would be fun to visit north of Boston for a few days at the start of the turning-of-the-leaves time of year. We did a home exchange with Barbara and Don Dennis of Marblehead. Their home fronts the Atlantic Ocean in this wonderful little city. We agreed to stay in a cute studio apartment in the back of their home. Don and Barbara were staying in the main part of their home.

We flew from Detroit and rented a car in Boston. We used Enterprise Rent a Car and rented from the Government Center in downtown Boston. By renting off-airport, you can save a substantial amount of money vs. renting at the airport. We took a taxi that cost us with tip a little less than $20. The driver was not friendly and the cab back seat did not have enough room for our legs. It was not a pleasant cab ride. We probably would not rent a car from that downtown location again.

After stopping for lunch at a waterfront restaurant in Marblehead, where we had lobster salads (of course), we went to our studio. Oh my gosh, it was beautiful and the home was beautiful.

 

View from the Marblehead home where we stayed

That night, we had a pizza delivered and just enjoyed ourselves in this great location near the water.

On Monday, Greta and I drove to Salem, and then on to Gloucester, the oldest seaport in the United States. We stopped to see the Fisherman's Statue, with its poignant message: "They that go down to the sea in ships."

Tom at Fisherman's Statue in Gloucester September 28, 2015

This statue had special meaning to me in that my great grandfather and grandfather were ship captains on the Great Lakes and both went down with their ships. 

From there, we drove to Rockport, Massachusetts. Another wonderful New England seaport city. It was a glorious day; the weather was about 80 degrees.

 

Famous Red historical building - Rockport, Mass.

On the way back to Marblehead, we stopped in Salem at the last remaining Victoria Station restaurant. When I introduced myself to the manager, Elizabeth Collett, she was so gracious to meet one of the original employees of the company. She has been there for seven years. We had a delicious prime rib dinner, just like the old, glory days of Victoria Station.



Greta, Tom, and Manager Elizabeth

Be sure to stop in there when you travel nearby and say hello to Elizabeth. The restaurant is located at 86 Wharf Street, just a quarter mile from The House of The Seven Gables, that Nathaniel Hawthorne made famous with his book of the same name, about the Salem Witch Trials.

On Tuesday, we went kayaking right in front of the house and over to Crowningshield Island. If you go to the island, don’t stay too long as the tide goes out and you wouldn’t be able to paddle back. You could walk back carrying the kayak. In the afternoon, we took time to look around Marblehead and visit stores and shops. Be sure to include Crosby's Market in Marblehead. It has everything you need and the food choices are yummy.

Tuesday night, our hosts prepared a dinner for us that was quite special. Don went diving for fresh lobsters and that's what we had to eat. When the word "Dinner's ready," came from the kitchen, a large plate with 12 lobsters was placed on the dining room table. That meant three per person. Oh were they fresh and good! And Barbara did an incredible potato dish to go along with the tasty red guys.

 

On Wednesday, it was pouring rain. But, there was a two-hour break in the afternoon so we scooted back up to Salem to take a tour of The House of The Seven Gables that our host Don Dennis arranged for us. It is worth your time. Fascinating history and a neat historical visit.

Greta waiting to go into the House of the Seven Gables
 

The House of the Seven Gables

On Thursday, we headed to Logan Airport. I had called Enterprise the day before and told them our flight was moved to an earlier departure time (we had to be at the airport by 5:15 a.m.) so they let us return the car directly to the airport instead of dropping it off at the Government Center and then having to take a taxi (hopefully, not the same one that drove us there on the Sunday morning before). Very nice of Enterprise to do that for us. We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare and to have a New England breakfast.

In Orange County, our limo driver Nick was waiting for us at John Wayne Airport. It had been a wonderful one-week trip. And remember, "Go Blue.!"