Sunday Funday!

After a day or two of rest it was time to head out again. This time closer to home. Sunday Funday was a random trip to the Irish Bar in town with some new and old friends. I made a quick trip to hug my Aunties, one who had just landed from California, and headed back to my friends.

We were the loud people that no one likes in a bar/restaurant but we just didn’t care. We had a blast together, and our server loved us!

After buying some JoJo’s and hitting up Grants it was time to head home.

The evening ended with a delicious and entertaining dinner put on by my mother for a few guests. Dad did great on the dessert. I like telling and listening to jokes.

P is Getting Spontaneous

After sleeping in and making plans with a friend for Chili’s and a beer I went to visit my grandparents. After leaving my grandparents I received a text. For the first time in my friends life that I can remember she was spontaneous. I loved it! Instead of a relaxing night in CT we got dressed up and made our way to Boston. Once in Boston we hit up Eastern Standard for drinks and dinner and then Clink in the Liberty Hotel for more drinks and mingling. What a night, and what a city! The drive home the next day wasn’t so good, but it was worth it!

New York New York/ New Mommy for a Day

Because I am crazy as well as my mother and her best friend we decided to have a girls day to NY the day after I got home. Why not? Today my mommy was not my mommy and my auntie was not my auntie. We did a swap for the day to experience the Rockettes Christmas Show in style! Thank you auntie!!!!!!

We hired the driver and made our way into the city with almost no traffic at all. Our first stop was to The Plaza Condos/Hotel. It still looks beautiful but I loved the old set up better. The best changes were the shops that were added and the how they redid the basement to add these shops. I have now seen, what I think to be, the worlds fanciest food court.

We spent a few hours in the Plaza that morning. Between the Eloise store/party room, awesome hat shop, and designer headband counters we were happy. Well I was the happiest I could be stuck shopping. We dined in the Palm Court Restaurant which is not outrages for its location and being in NY. It is also a welcomed quite place in the city.

My Auntie, being the fabulous and generous woman she is, treated her adopted daughter to this great lunch and the show. (P.S. I love all my aunties). Before the show I took a walk in the park while the ladies headed to Bergdorf. What a beautiful day. Sun out and 60 plus degrees in November. Not the best weather for a Christmas show but for walking around its great. I got to see ice-skaters and saxophone players.

I now feel like a good United Statesian now that I have seen the Rockettes Christmas Show. This show is beautiful, fun, and a must see. My favorite outfit was the first one and favorite dance was possibly the drummer boy’s. I have never sat front row and thanks to auntie/mommy I have experienced it.

After the show we met up with the driver and headed to Bryant Park. I love Bryant Park, not shopping, but checking it out.

We headed out of the city and made our way home.

Just One Hour

All I wanted was one hour on the beach while in FL. Considering I did not have sun screen I thought that should be my limit. I know, I know, not smart. After breakfast at a diner/deli place, and an argument/ purchase of a towel, we were on the beach. Yay beach! There is nothing like sitting on the beach with perfect weather.

Side note, it is so weird to see Salvation Army Christmas collectors with bells in 80degree weather and palm trees. I did it once, but is still so weird.

After the beach we walked around downtown Delray, drove the A1A to do a drive by of The Breakers, saw City Place, and headed to Boynton Beach to visit a friend and supper. It was a relaxed afternoon, great dinner, and we had the best dessert of more fat free frozen yogurt.

Not wanting to leave Florida without seeing our family friend who missed out on dinner the night before we headed to his house. Some carrot cake was eaten and discussions had. It was a great ending to our trip.

We left the next morning bright and early to travel home. Well, once we finally made it through the rental car return line.

I Like Deli’s

Wake up and walk on the beach. What a great white sand beach. Tons to do, lots of room, a path, and at 9am not crowded at all. After we got a yummy yummy smoothie we headed to JR’s Deli. I freaken love delis and no one can do them like the Jewish can. Mmmmmmm.

Traveling along A1A we made our way up from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale. Got to see LOTS of hotels and apartments and some amazing houses. We cut inland to visit Morikami but had to stop for some awesome fat free frozen yogurt. Who cares if it is all chemicals, it’s yummy. What a beautiful place. I think I like Japanese Gardens more than Botanical Gardens . Along the way they had cultural stuff amongst the garden which was very informative. I liked it all and peeked in on a traditional tea ceremony. Too bad I couldn’t buy the vanilla cupcake made of towels for mommy. I like to learn new stuff. I just wish I retained info better.

After a quick freshening up at the hotel we were picked up by some old friends and went to dinner. It was really great to see them but a bummer the husband got called to work.

Bye Bye Keys, Hello Miami

Of course we had to stop at the southernmost tip of the U.S for a picture. Then making our way back up the same way we went down and it was still pretty. We made a brief stop at a flea market, tried to stop at some shops, and then got stuck in traffic in Miami. Lunch was had at a local diner in Key Largo and we were out of the keys. There are a few things I still want to do in the keys but they will have to wait until next time.

Before we could arrive in Miami I wanted to stop at the Fairchild Tropical Gardens. My luck I was in Coral Gables the one weekend a year they were having an event. Instead of seeing serene gardens I was able to experience a wonderful art, garden, and food show. The gardens didn’t seem very spectacular so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

Miami seems like a cool city and it is HUGE! We spent our time in South Beach and that was fun. I got to see the ocean front hotel my grandfather used to own and that was way cool. We dined at Houstan’s in Coral Gables where I met a cousin for the first time and saw the Christmas light lined street. After dinner I walked around for over an hour on Ocean Drive just checking it out and people watching. I was surprised by the amount of people dining alone on a Saturday night on south beach at 11pm. Besides my grandfathers hotel all lit up my favorite was this one place where the security was so tough they wouldn’t allow people to stop and take a picture in front of it. Tough love.

To Key West We Go!!!

We awoke to drive. Slowly making our way down the keys occasionally stopping. Our first stop (besides the 7/11 to pee), was at the Coral Castle. The tour was a little too detailed and slow paced so we jumped off the tour to walk around. This place is amazing due to the science and impressive story behind it. Upon closer look it is really really cool but from far away you would never know the messy rocks are strategically carved objects.

Our next stop was at a local family style BBQ place that has been open for sixty years. I love places like this. Quick BBQ with lots of fried food.

We finally arrived in Key West after a beautiful two lane drive and seeing such lovely blue water. There was a mix up with the hotel so we ended at a not so fabulous hotel but it did the trick. Only bummer was that we got stuck in a smoking room. Oh well.

After checking in we made our way downtown to check it out. My first impressions were that I did not like the congestion. Roads are narrow, cyclist feel they are kings of the road, tourists on scooters think they are the shit, and they’re everywhere. After finding a lucky place to park it was Hemmingway House time.

I got to pet a seven toed cat and learned a lot about a very sad man. The house is nice but the compound is extremely impressive. I would love a beautiful open home with large pool and lushly landscaped grounds. Someday.

When the tour was finished we moved the car and began exploring the town by foot. Saw the shops, had an okay dinner in a great place, bought a t-shirt, and saw a boat show. The annual open water race boats were in town and were on display. What a crazy world. It would be cool to go for a ride in one of these babies. Talk about a rush.

We purchased a five dollar cookie and called it a night.