On our way to Gatlinburg

It was hard saying goodbye to Mamy, but pretty soon we were all happy and excited to fly in American Airlines. For Miranda it was her first time. Santy flew from Venezuela to the United State when he was five years old and didn't remember a thing. While they were waiting, of course, it was "navigation time".

FROM FORT LAUDERDALE TO CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

The captain and the entire crew fell in love with Miranda - "La Reina de la Parranda". She and Santi were invited by the captain to join them for a while. It was fun...!!!

We did some shopping while we were in Charlotte airport. We even called Mamy to let her know that we were OK. Charlotte's airport is very nice... small, but nice. It was the first time for all of us.

FROM CHARLOTTE TO KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

Knoxville, Tn

FROM KNOXVILLE TO GATLINBURG

We took the long way from Knoxville to Gatlinburg because the view was nicer. Our driver was a really nice lady. It took us about an hour and a half to get there and we stopped on ou way to let Miranda & Santi feel the snow for the first time. We were a little disappointed because there was not too much snow along the road. To really see snow we needed to go up the mountain, in Ober Gatlinburg.

Gatlinburg

THE SIDNEY JAMES MOUNTAIN LODGE

WALKING & DRIVING AROUND GATLINBURG

Our first activity was walking around Gatlinburg's downtown. We went in in every little shop, looked everything over. It was very very cold, at least for us Floridians, but we were all prepared with our winter clothes, bought the day before in Walmart We wanted to see Gatlinburg at night, so we asked our driver to go around the town, from one end to another. It only took five minutes to see it all. There is only one big avenue that runs through Gatlinburg.

WESTGATE RESORT

This was a very bad experience. We went crazy with the place and bought a week in a beautiful cabin. We paid $ 500 down, and since we then realized that we were not going to use it, we needed to pay $ 1,200 to get off the contract. We spent half a day there and the kids were entertained by a specialist.

SHOPPING AROUND GATLINBURG

Of course, the vacation was not completed without buying "porqueries", Miranda & Santi's favorites. So, in Gatlinburg: we went to "porqueriés" shopping...!

PLACES WE VISITED IN AND AROUND GATLINBURG

Miranda and Santi had a really good time in Wonder Works, but Abito and Abita couldn't wait for the day to end. The place is huge and the Miranda and Santi rode in everything. Santi talked Abito into riding this bicycle and he almost had a heart attack. Never again...!!!

THE HATFIELD & McCOY SHOW