At last it was a bit more of a leisurely start to the day.  Breakfast was a bit quieter than previous days.

Sharon told me that Roy and Mary were going to have to stay an extra day in Belize because their flight had been cancelled. I went over to say goodbye, as they clearly wouldn't be on the bus with us, to the aiport.

I did my final bit of packing and put my bags outside the door. During my packing session, I found one padlock so I fixed that to my main case that would be going in the hold. I felt a bit better knowing that it was more secure.

I was one of the last to get to the bus. The bags were all aboard as well and off we went.

Except Cheepi decided to take the hotel sign with him.

Oops! 

A bit of reversing and hello, is that the kerb??

And we're off.

Belize airport is positively tiny.

Any hopes I had of finding a new padlock melted away.

I think I was the only one going to Miami as Kristin had bravely booked herself a few days at a hotel along the beach in Belize and would be travelling home later.

I had to wait for my check in to open and finally arrived in the departure area an hour later.

Kristin, when I found her, was looking a bit unsure. I have to say, it was a very small airplane that she was going on. Probably like the one Wendy and I will be on when we go on safari next year.

I stayed with her long enough to see her walk off to board and then watched the plane take off. A very nice lady, I hope she had a good time.

I found everyone else waiting for their flight.It was such a small airport that all the gates overspilled into each other.

I did a spot of last minute shopping with Sharon and then they called the flight to San Salvador, which was hers.  

Ooh dear, I was quite emotional, very unlike me really. It felt like I was losing a part of me, we had become such good friends.  I hope that we may manage to meet up again, maybe on another OAT holiday. We have tentatively discussed maybe the Lost Kingdoms in 2017, to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, my big chance to see Angkor Watt.

Otherwise look out Pennsylvania, here I come!!

My flight was called soon after and once aboard, I started to look forward to seeing my family again, although it would still be a few days until I was home.

Sharon was convinced that Miami Airport would be like a morgue. Unfortunately, she was wrong!

They do now have these Immigration machines, like Tampa. So I zoned in on one of those. I went through the whole thing, struggling a bit with the fingerprints because of my osteo-arthritis. My joints are a bit bent and I can't get my fingers flat enough. Eventually we gor there though and the machine splurged out the worst photo yet.

I joined the queue to get through and was turned away, because mine had a big cross over it, which I hadn't noticed. I was forced to join the long Immigration queue instead.

I was a bit peeved because if I'd done that rather than get Mr Machine to process me I would have been through by now.

Oh, and guess who got Mrs Stupid Immigration Officer??

Is this trip business or pleasure?

Pleasure.

Why are you here?

I'm on my way home from Belize with two nights in Florida first.

Have you got a home in Florida?

No    (Not anymore love, after my divorce) 

Do you have paid work in Florida?

No (Come on love, get real, I'm just passing through your s***ty airport on the way home)

Do you live alone? (What the hell has it got to do with you? Are you coming on to me??)

Yes, me and the cat (trying to be a bit light-hearted)

Why didn't you bring your cat with you?

(Are you fricking serious??}

Well, we had a chat about it and he decided that as he's 17 now, he didn't fancy the journey (sarcasm, the lowest form of wit, and my particular forte)

Ok

Stamp, Stamp and I'm through. 

What the hell was that all about!!

The rest went really easily.  My luggage popped out as I joined the carousel and Customs was just lip service.

Outside I navigated my way through the massive Miami airport, which I'm getting quite good at now, and emerged at Departures where I spotted the Regency Hotel bus, just turning up.

Now, this is a nice hotel, I like this one, it has a nice feel to it.  Pleasant room, pleasant staff, who could ask for more, especially in Miami.

I have a really nice room with every comfort. There is a shuttle bus to the Mall but hang it, I can shop in Tampa, let's try out the bar!! 

It's a very cosy bar, despite been annexed to the hotel lobby. Here I meet up with a couple of English people and have a wine or two and a chat. Really nice people ....... aren't all we English though!!

The bar provided me with a complimentary starter for my meal, some kind of ham croquette thing. It was Thanksgiving and the only meal was a big Thanksgiving (Christmas turkey style) dinner. I didn't want that, so ordered more wine as it was Happy Hour.

The idea was that I would catch up on my blog, as I had been led astray and into various drinking establishments by Sharon and neglected my blog.  I was now seven days behind.

I decided that the ham croquettes would be my evening meal and went off to check in for my next flight tomorrow morning, to Tampa.

And, off to bed I went. A bit of TV and I was just dropping off when I realised ...... AAARRGGHH....... Tomorrow is Black Friday ...... And I'm going shopping!!!   AAAARRGGHH