TGI Friday helping the Community

Having popped into Port Charlotte today do some shopping, we decided to eat at the local TGI Friday restaurant. Welcomed in by some very friendly staff, including some we met on our last trip. Many staff are wearing theme costumes tonight. Having ordered our meal, our server, Angela explained that the branch was running a "make a wish" event to send a deserving child to DisneyWorld for a trip. A good cause and it was obviously meeting with huge success. Angela agreed to explain more on this brief but informative video. Well done Angela, and well done TGI Friday.

Tampa - hmm smell the air..!

Superb flight over the Atlantic, two good meals and some fine wine and landed on time at Tampa. Tampa is a lovely airport to fly to and from. Interesting shops, restaurants and people from all walks of life and all going to and from amazing places. The car park levels are all named after space missions and astronauts.

The departure/arrivals terminals are all connected by monorail and the trains run autmatically with no driver, shuttling backwards and forwards every few minutes. Interested to note that the Airport has decided to reduce one shuttle line each day at certain times to conserve energy. No inconvenience at all, so hope it is working for them.

Exiting the aircraft you immediately feel the heat, before quickly coming into air-conditioned halls again and there is that distinct Florida smell - can't describe it but it's there. Customs is quiet, calm, CLEAN and TIDY and everyone lines up. Photos and fingerprints done, Visa waiver cards handed in, passports checked and stamped and the smart-looking staff quickly wave you on your way.

I have to say, you know you have arrived in the USA. The flag is central, staff are smart, the place is immaculate and evryone talks in hushed tones. British Airports take note - if the Americans can do it, why can't we? Ok, I know why......

Now to pick up the car. We usually use Hertz or Budget and they can be found straight across from the baggage carousel. Car is waiting, quick bit of form filling, directions map provided and off we go. I want to get across the Sunshine Parkway Bridge before sunset.

38,000 and we're off

It's now 1:30pm on Saturday 25th July and we're cruising at 38,000 feet on board a BA 777 heading to Florida. My daughter, Rebecca and I have decided to document this trip to the USA in order that our friends and contacts who often stay at our house can see what we get up to on our trip. Our flight day usually starts with a leisurely drive to the Airport, check-in and then through security.

We are all agreed that our vacation breaks down into component parts - getting ready for our holiday, getting to the airport, the check-in, getting through immigration, through into the main terminal, breakfast, bit of shopping, walk down to aircraft, etc etc.

A good full English breakfast in Cafe Noir in Gatwick overlooking the aircraft stands sets us up nicely for the day - we don;t bother with brekkie at home on flight day, better and more fun to have it at the airport. The coffee is good and we relax. Probably a bit too much relax because before we realise, our aircraft is notified as boading and we hurry on down to the departure lounge.

Ok, all on board, settled into our seats, take off nice and smooth and within a few minutes cabin crew have come round with complimentary drinks - another tradition, large gin and tonic with ice!