Just A Dream

The just over two weeks in Florida and NY now seem like a dream. If it wasn’t for the photographs I might even believe that it was a dream. But good vacations always have that dreamlike quality don’t they? Now it is back to the real world – jobs, bills, tidying and so on.

Our vacation started more like a bad dream however as our daughter immediately started with a fever, stomach pain and diarrhea more or less on arrival at Disney World. Once the diarrhea turned bloody it was time to deal with US healthcare. The hospital was just outside of Disney in Celebration, FL and it was palatial – I am not surprised after being presented with the bill for around 4-hours cooped up there, one saline drip and a few samples analyzed later. I was insured. I was insured very well. The problem was that somehow the insurance started 2-days after our arrival! Somewhere, I screwed up I guess and it cost me right royally. Thank goodness I had relented and ordered a credit card prior to the trip. Of course, peace of mind is priceless when it comes to your daughter’s health.

Deni struggled on. She wanted to enjoy herself so much but that little pale face, inability to eat or be more than a dash away from a bathroom, limited our Disney adventure somewhat. She did however, get to meet all the main characters and she did enjoy the Test Track ride in Epcot. By our last day in Disney (Day 5), she was actually no better. I called the hospital to find that the sample showed she had a bacterial infection and needed antibiotics – why they didn’t call us immediately is beyond me.

Sick Deni the space girl

Sick Deni the space girl

Goofy!

Goofy!

Mickey!

Mickey!

The antibiotics were a miracle. Within hours of the first dose, we could see the improvement and her last day at Disney was somewhat enjoyable. More importantly, by Day 6 and our arrival on Anna Maria Island, she would be allowed to swim. And swim she did….. like the Dolphins that she fell in love with. 8 Days of bliss on the beach, by the pool and at the outlet center! (shopping bliss for Gabriela).

Sunset on the Beach

Sunset on the Beach

The Beach

The Beach

The Pool

The Pool

Deni's favorite - Dolphins

Deni’s favorite – Dolphins

Looking for Dolphins

Looking for Dolphins

Deni

Deni

Deni Was Here!

Deni Was Here!

Two days in New York staying on the 38th floor of a downtown Manhattan hotel and toured around by my eldest son – Paul – who lives there and it was finally time to go home.

Central Park

Central Park

One more curved ball.

When we arrived at JFK our flight had been cancelled. No one bothered to tell us. We had been re-booked on the direct flight to Prague – a blessing I suppose, but we would need to wait an extra 5 hours in the airport….. oh well, time for a few beers and last minute gift shopping.

Next year, by popular demand, it seems Florida will again be our destination if pocketbooks allow…. Meanwhile, we will dream.

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