A very confused Scottsman

Here is a picture of Pete being very confused (please read the sign!! But this was not the first time he was confused today you can also ask me when we are back how Pete decided to drink everyone's beer besides his own at Ed Smith Stadium yesterday

Day 1 8 March 2012

Hi Everyone here is DougWell it off to Sarasota today have our first game to watch today at 1:05 PM, Baltimore Orioles vs Atlanta Braves.I woke up at 5:30 and took a walk it was already 20 degrees outside. I am the driver today so spend the rest of the morning mapping out the way to Sarasota found a route that takes us along the Gulf Coast and over some long bridges between the islands around Tampa. Well we will for sure update this more today so see you later

Pete here - doug refused to stop at Dinosaur World so we made good time to Sarasota. Really enjoyed the game which the Os won 2 to 1. There was a story about me and beer which I will allow Doug to tell.

Spent the evening at historic downtown sarasota, had a mexican meal, saw fire-eaters and sword-swallowers outside the noisiest bar in Sarasota then had an early night as I'm getting an early haircut tomorrow.

On the way

On the train now on the way to the Airport. Just heard from Pete he is checked in on the way to Frankfurt?

pete here... In the lounge at frankfurt, about to purchase a bottle of duty-free for the trip. After shave, of course.

The Trip Begins

Hello Everyone,

Pete and I have created this blog so all of you can follow our trip to Florida to watch some baseball a little hockey and just have some fun.

So get a beer sit down and put your feet up and watch the ride

Pete and Doug

Our Itinerary

Orlando
March 7, 2012
Pete flight arrives: 17.55
Doug flight arrives: 17:35
Pick up car: 18:00 from Sixt Rent A Car Car Rental

Pete had to stand for one hour to get through Immigration (The USA welcomes you!) but eventually we met up and took the bus to the Sixt Car Rental.

It being an "odd" day, Pete was the designated driver.

We drove just under an hour to Lakeland and managed to find rooms in the 4th hotel we tried. luckily very close to an Applebee's Bar and Grill so we decided to try both of them.

The Bud Light was like water but the Yuengling wasn't bad. It was happy night so if you ordered a beer she brought two. At first I thought maybe she couldn't understand my accent.

Pete was slightly miffed that the waitress didn't check our IDs, probably cos Doug just looks so middle-aged.

Anyway 8 beers and an appetizer plate of deep-fried stuff cost us $32!

For reference 2 us beers == 1 european beer, 3 bud lites == 1 glass of european water.

Sarasota
March 8 , 2012
Atlanta Braves at Baltimore Orioles
Ed Smith Stadium
Sarasota, FL

Hotel Indigo
1223 BOULEVARD OF THE ARTS
SARASOTA,FL 34236
UNITED STATES

Fort Myers
March 9, 2012
Pittsburg Pirates at Boston Red Sox
JetBlue Field
Fort Myers

Hotel
Holiday Inn
FORT MYERS DOWNTOWN HISTORIC
2431 CLEVELAND AVE
FORT MYERS,FL 33901
UNITED STATES

Tampa
March 10 , 2012
Lunch with Tom Maloney

http://maloneyslocalirishpub.com/

then Tampa Bay Lighting vs Carolina Hurricane

Hotel
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
5303 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33609

Tampa
March 11, 2012
Detriot Tigers vs Philadelphia Phillys

Bright House Networks Field

Clearwater

Hotel
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
5303 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33609

Tampa
March 12 , 2012
Golf

Hotel
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
5303 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33609

Tampa
March 13, 2012

Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees

George M. Steinbrenner Field; 1 Steinbrenner Drive

Tampa, FL 33614

Hotel
Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore
5303 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33609

March 14 , 2012
Last day flight back to Europe
Pete's Flight: 20.55 => FRA
Doug's Flight:19:10 => MAN

Pete and Doug

useful websites

http://springtrainingonline.com/

If we do surf...good websites

http://www.surfline.com/travel/index.cfm?id=2156

http://www.gulfster.com/home.html

http://www.tampabay.com/features/fitness/article609218.ece

http://suncoastsurfshop.com

http://www.surfshacksurfshop.com/index.html

Here where we are going