Chapter VIII.
The family spends the next day at South Beach taking in the scenery as well as the sun rays.
Thursday, July 8, 2025 was all about spending time on the beach, getting into the cool Atlantic Ocean, and the nearby restaurants and shops.
They eat lunch at the Local Craft Food & Drink in Coral Gables. Ava and Kitty have the Romaine & Vaca Frita Caesar Salad; Paul and Christophe order The Burger; Patrick and Eric both order the fried chicken sandwich.
The family spend two more hours sunning; then they return to their hotel rooms at the Hyatt to shower, and prepare for dinner.
Their reservations are for 6:30 p.m. at the Coral Gables Ruth’s Chris. Kitty and Christophe have been there two previous times; Eric has been there once. They walk to the restaurant, as it is nearby to the Hyatt. Semi-Casual is their choice of attire. The entire group orders steak with baked potatoes and sour cream, excluding Ava.
Specifically, Christophe and Eric order filets, Kitty orders a petite filet, and Paul and Patrick both order Rib eyes. Ava orders a Caribbean Lobster Tail.
This is Paul and Patrick’s first time to Ruth’s Chris. They comment that this is the best steak they have ever eaten. The announcement of Kitty and Christophe’s two upcoming trips comes between courses.
Kitty begins, “On Friday, October 3, 2025, Christophe and I are taking a cruise to the Panama Canal. Our flight path goes from Key West International to Miami International (MIA) to Los Angeles International (LAX). We will fly Delta Airlines.”
Christophe continues, “We will depart from Los Angeles for fifteen days, and return on Saturday, October 18, 2025 to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.” Kitty says, “Our ports of call are Cabo San Lucas, San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, Cartagena, Columbia, and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.”
Christophe states, “On Friday, May 22, 2026, my birthday, Kitty and I are flying into Paris; Charles de Gaulle Airport to spend ten days.”
“We are staying at the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center for three nights. We are spending two days touring the Louvre Museum, and one touring the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triumph, Pantheon and Pont Alexandre’ III,” says Kitty.
“We are flying into Vienna International Airport, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 to spend two days at the Hilton Vienna Danube Waterfront,” says Christophe.
“Christophe was there from Monday, June 30, 2003 to Tuesday, July 1, 2003,” Kitty concurs.
“This time I wish to spend it with your mother,” Christophe states. Kitty continues, “The Schoenbrunn Palace and the Hofburg Palace are our primary points of interest, however we would also prefer to see the Spanish Riding School before we depart for Rome.”
Christophe continues, “We depart on Thursday, May 28, 2026 for Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, Rome, Italy, for six days.
Kitty and I will spend the first day traveling from Rome to Florence. In Florence, we will tour the Ponte Vecchio, the River Arno, and the Uffuzi Gallery.”
Kitty remarks, “The following day, we will travel from Florence to Pisa, where we will see the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Christophe says, “On our final three days, we will tour Venice, and stay at the Carnival Palace Hotel.” “Our main destination points are the Piazza San Marco, Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basillica, the Rialto Bridge, Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Ponte della Costituzione, Scalzi, San Giorgio dei Greci, and Carmini.”
Christophe continues, “We will board Gondolas either on the Rialto Bridge or Doge’s Palace.” Kitty states, “Our vacation will conclude with a flight departing from Marco Polo Airport (VCE), Venice, Italy.”
Christophe says, “We will fly from Venice, Italy to Vienna, Austria (VIE) on Austrian Airlines.”
“We will then switch flights at Vienna International Airport (VIE), and board on a different Austrian Air jet,” states Christophe.
Kitty affirms, “From Vienna, we will depart to Dulles International Airport (IAD). Christophe and I fly from Dulles to Miami International Airport on American Airlines. From Miami, we will fly into Key West.” They already have their passports finalized for both trips.