Lingering
Fort Lauderdale, Florida:
We woke Lisa, she packed and we took her to the airport. I didn’t think it
was necessary to actually take her to the airport… but Daddy insisted.
We made sure she had a seat on the plane, and then went back to the hotel and to
the pool. She phoned us from DC to let us know she had arrived and then again to
let us know she was back at her dorm. We were poolside. Sitting in the sun.
Swimming. Listening to the waves. Drinking rum punch. Trying to figure out a way
to remain two more days… but we couldn’t… RV appointment… Dog/cats in kennel.
Dave and Terry in Fort Lauderdale
So, we took photos of each other, poolside. Maybe it will
help us remember the warmth on a cold Oregon day. Near dark, we dressed-up a
bit and walked down the “Avenue that’s known as A-1-A”. Stopped-in to a few
shops. Who would have ever known there were so many tropical shirts in this
world? (Not one tanzanite store to be found.) We found a Hooter’s bar… but
the waitresses were wearing sweatshirts – so, really, what was the point?
Instead we stopped into a party-bar called LuLu’s Bait Shack. Smelled a bit
like someone had gone chumming, but it was a fun place just the same. Later,
we took a taxi to
Mark's Las Olas – the trendiest of the trendy restaurants in Fort
Lauderdale. We did not have a reservation, so waited in the bar. It was like
a Hollywood movie set. Everyone was dressed so fashionably and there were
several couples with women MUCH older than their escorts… hmmm… note to
self… I ordered a gin and tonic and it came in a pint-sized glass. Nice
place.
We were seated at a table for two, right in the center
of the restaurant. Great menu. About 20 starters! I had a tomato and
fresh mozzarella salad. It was heavenly. Red pear, yellow and roma
tomatoes – perfectly dressed in balsamic and the most-virgin of olive
oils. Fresh basil leaves. The tomatoes were so sweet! Dave had a Caesar
salad. For a main course, DT had dolphin
fish (not a dolphin, just dolphin fish – they said it only resembles a
dolphin) wrapped in a banana leaf. There was only one non-meat entree on the
menu, so I ordered it: penne with tomatoes and arugula – it was delicious!
We were very full – the meals were nice and the wine was very good… but we
could not resist a certain dessert on the carte: banana date upside down
cake with coconut ice cream. I will dream of that cake until I can find the
recipe. We waddled out of the restaurant and hailed a cab… perfectly happy.
So, we flew home. We left sunny Florida, and arrived in Portland to
cold rain. All was fine at Taylor Manor. We are happy to be home, but are
happier for our memories of the cruise, time with our daughter and warm Florida.
Where have you been this time?