Day 11 - Mobile, AL to Orlando, FL

Today was another long driving day, although we are staying in Orlando for the next five nights, so it averages out nicely.

We started out early with breakfast in the car until we reached Loxley, a town of no real significance.  There, we saw the car below.

The mysterious car.

 When we pulled in for gas, look who appeared!

Mysterious hitch-hiker.

We fed her Diet Dr. Pepper.

With our new friend in tow, we headed off towards Orlando.

Welcome to Florida!

The hours to Tallahassee were mundane, so I stopped for a fun lunch.

Why do you think it is called the Paisley Cafe?

More hints behind Mom.

Apples and brie on bread from NYC.

Prime rib with pesto.

This massive brownie was cut into four chunks.

Clearly that lunch was for the two girls, so afterwards we did something aligned to my tastes.

This is the Capitol of Florida.  It really is.  Weird, I know.

This is the Supreme Court building.

We found yet another Liberty Bell replica to add to our collection.

The old Florida Capitol still exists in front of the new one.

1912 Florida Supreme Courtroom.

Governor's desk with original furniture.

Dome interior.

Quite a handsome man on the right.

Really ugly trees outside the Capitol.

After our Florida history lesson, we headed on through pouring rain to our next distraction.

Ice cream at the most famous place in Gainesville.

Strip mall, but fun flavors.

Of course, we had to go to the University of Florida next.  We can't break tradition now.

University of Florida auditorium.

Not sure what building, but it gives an idea of the campus style.

Overall, I still think Virginia had the best campus.  We all agreed the Spanish moss in the trees makes everything look dirty.

Our last stop in Gainesville was for tacos.  They were fine, but as with barbecue, it's best to leave Mexican food to Texas.

Our dinner stop.

After dinner we drove straight to the hotel in Orlando.  We paid an obscene amount of tolls to cross the city and because of the rental car, we have to pay cash.  With 5 toll stops within the city limits, it was slow-going.  We have to be really careful not to pass through any cashless tolls because the rental car company will happily pay the tolls on my behalf after they get a bill in the mail.  Oh, and they also add a $25 "processing fee" PER TOLL.  I'm glad they're looking out for me.

We'll have to be really careful in Florida, although I've heard most other areas of the country have cash options still.

Tomorrow is the first of our four days in Orlando and I believe the plan is to go to Universal Studios.