Week in South Florida

Sailfish Marina, Palm Beach Shores

Well-where we started off, we ended at. Sailfish Marina. After our crossing we arrived here safe and sound, just in time for lunch. We had 10 days left until our flight back to Long Island. We contemplated going up the ICW, crossing through Lake Okeechobee and cruising the west coast of Florida, but too much traveling. We considered camping out here at Sailfish for the time, but in the end we decided to head south.

We were immediately amazed at how large and big a yacht or home could actually get. The ICW heading south from Lake Worth Inlet was flanked with high risers, megahomes and mega-yachts and sportfishes. From our pared down existence in the Bahamas we were now faced with what seemed like "excess".


"Mid-size" House in Boca Raton


Megayachts on ICW


High end trailor home park on ICW


Bridge at Boynton Beach

We had a lovely lunch at 'Banana Boat' Restaurant in Boynton Beach and then made a pit-stop at Delray Beach. We encountered our first bridge at Atlantic Ave where we had to radio for an opening! To our west we saw a park and decided to wait until the next opening. Little did we know - a wonderful playground with benches occupied the girls for hours. Across the street we made pottery and did a little window shopping. We then proceeded south and were unable to make a reservation at any marina for a night's stay. When it became clear that running 15kph with other boats became treacherous at dusk-we illegally docked broadside to a fuel dock at some random marina for the night.

We snuck out at 6am and headed for Fort Lauderdale. We arrived at 7:30am and docked at the Bahia Mar Marina, home of the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show. Never saw so many megayachts in one place. It made Nantucket look almost poor! For lunch we took at taxi to the Riverfront area. The mega-yacht boat traffic in the area of canals was amazing. Everyone was jockying their positions as the area low-lying bridges were about to open.

It was Lexie's lucky day. Around the corner, the King Tut exhibit was in town. I always wanted to see this when it was in NYC in the 1970s, but we were unable to get tickets. The exhibit was phenomenal! The only one not present was King Tut himself. Apparantly, King Tut and his golden sarcophogi and masks have not left Cairo since the 1970s.

One evening-Doug let his girls have a mall night out. We taxied to the Galleria Mall where we were flanked with Masseratis, Bentleys, and Benzes waiting to be valet parked. Interesting-after our main mode of locomotion in the Bahamas were golf carts-should we choose to rent them. We ate at a high-end gourmet food court where I had pomegranate juice with raspberry chocolate cheesecake. Then I had dinner after dessert. AFter the 3 months-thank God we girls chose only to window-shop. LIndsay and Jillian tried on "Crocs"-fad mule-type shoe. The girls' feet were too narrow-therefore no purchase. But we did manage to spend some money at Teavana-tea shop. Must try to get out of the mentality "Must spend $$$$ to be happier!" That's one of the reasons for going on our trip to Bahamas. Oh-well.


"Modest" sized home in Fort Lauderdale


Jillian totally intrigued by sights on ICW


Girls and tea-cup poodles at Bahia Mar Marina

AFter leaving Fort Lauderdale we headed back north. We then spent the night at Delray Beach's Delray Beach Yacht Club. There we were able to catch the annual, 1 week early, St. Patrick's day Parade. We made a stop at Boynton Beach. Jillian and I walked to my Lola Min's house (grandma) and picked her up to eat at Banana Boat and to pick up my uncle's car. Jillian and I stopped by a Blockbuster!!!New movies finally!!!-after having watched the same ones for the past 3 months.



St Patrick's Day parade- Delray Beach

Very poignant day for us as we were nearing the end of our trip. Tide Pool was being hauled to be placed on the tractor trailor to be driven back north. Reality hit. Amazing how the time flew by.



Tide Pool hauled at Craker Boy Marina

After saying our 'good-byes'to Tide Pool for now, we spent the afternoon and Lion Country Safari in the West Palm Area. Interesting concept-we drove the care through the preserve and watched the animals in their own habitat. Only rule-keep all doors locked and windows up. The animals were literally walking all over and there were even some curious ostriches who were pecking at the driver's side window in the car in front of us. The girls enjoyed seeing life in the prairie and savanah of Africa, India and some parts of Asia.


Rhinos at Lion Country Safari in West Palm Beach


"Yummy!" humans!


Arrival at LaGuardia Airport. It's amazing how thin one's blood can become after spending time in the warmth. We were freezing at 40F and Lindsay couldn't understand why we have to wear jackets!