I have often written about our besties that moved to the West Palm area about 11 years ago....to this day we miss them so much. As couples we did almost everything together and our families grew up together and we made a vow when they left we would meet up each year (alternating trips to E/W coasts or meeting up in places like Savannah, New Orleans, Vegas, etc). So far we have kept that up and this year our visit was for the Bonehead Reunion (Steve, Scott and a bunch of diving buddies trip to Key West) and us girls opted for the historic Inn at Mt. Dora near Orlando for some shopping, dining, relaxing and gator watching. This was all planned before the 'transversed universe email' (more on that later)...
We arrived on a Wednesday night....it was the day after the election and we flew thru BMI....it was a sad day for us as we really wanted Romney to win....we worry so much about this country and what type of life our grandchildren will have in what appears to be moving in a socialistic culture. We saw an awesome shirt at the airport, Red, White & Blue that said, 'Don't blame me, I voted for Romney'....it made us smile and accept that there is nothing we can do right now but keep moving forward...there are many paths through the forest....so we arrived in West Palm about 6 pm, headed to our friends house and had a non stop catch up evening and ordered in (Chinese)....it was just like the old days.....
Thursday a.m. we headed out in their boat to the Jupiter Inlet.....it was a spectacular day...cool by Florida standards, the waterways were empty except for a boat or two and we cruised by Tiger Woods mansion, Alan Jackson's mega mansion, Burt Reynolds, Tony Bennet, Madonna, Greg Norman etc., etc., everyone who is anyone has a place on the Jupiter Inlet. We decided we are going to be professional poachers as these incredible places are empty 90% of the time.
We love to go by the Square Grouper (where Jimmy Buffet and Alan Jackson taped the video for 5 o'clock somewhere and bob around the water looking for Manatees. We had all day to play before the big reunion bbq.
Square Grouper:
We ate here at Guantemanos...yum
A little older, a little wiser and a whole lot more fun
I had the yummy lobster quesadilla....did not disappoint!
Then it was off to Costco to pick up the cake.....
...and ice down the keg....
Karen joined us to get the party started....and we did!!!
Yummy catered BBQ
Lots of Bonehead stories and even a slide show with some great 80's shots of mullets, OP shorts and tucked in shirts....
Early Friday morning we said goodbye to our Boneheads and they headed South to Key West, us girls headed North to Mt. Dora (after many many stops and distractions....we just went where we wanted to!) We finally checked in at the Mt. Dora Historic Inn....we felt like we were in a little town in South Carolina (think The Price of Tides) - it was so quaint and comfortable...and haunted....
It was on this huge lake (Lake Dora) and we had this whole lawn, then a pool, then the beach and dock.
Being an Inn our room was old however comfortable and decorated nice....the only drawback was the bathroom which needed to be renovated and Karen's had a linen issue....we spend our days eating and talking and shopping and gator watching then we would jump in our jammies and watch Hallmark movies and cry.....
This is our bay window overlooking the pool
After a full day we would take our champagne down to the beach and sit on the Adirondack chairs and talk and hang out, watch the sunsets and visit with the local gator....we solved a lot of problems in these chairs!
Every sunset seemed more beautiful than the rest...
Here's our little friend....he was up near the beach and then would cruise around...
Loved this shot with the chair in the lower left side....
We spent every day lingering over coffee and shopping in the boutiques....they are spectacular and several times I experienced visual overload (in a good way)
We also liked this spot...'One Flight Up' as it made us feel like we were in New Orleans with the black wrought iron and balconies....
A little wine....A little Cheese....
This was another favorite....The Windsor Tea Room....it was all done like an English tea house with pictures of all the Royal Family...except Camilla which the owner said was by design ;)
The picture of Shy Di made us all sad
This was our table by the french door and we soaked up every minute....
This was another great shop however the glare does not do it justice...smelled like lovely soaps and had jewelry and birdcages and so many cute pieces....
Designer boutiques, antique stores, foo foo shops...this place had it all and one right after another...I wanted to bring all my girlfriends here to share it all with them....
This was a little French Cafe we also liked....but the hostess was a b&*ch....
So we toased her to have a better attitude....love those 'Country Club Pours'
I had this incredible French Onion Soup
While listening to this Kenny G wannabe....
We also found a great Cuban place to eat....Karen had the skirt steak....
Tracy had the combo plate....
I had the Grouper....we all loved everything especially the sauces!
We found this awesome shop that had all kinds of sports and holiday things....sadly, no Dodger stuff for The Addie....but I loved this flag:
I love Thanksgiving - it is my fave holiday and hate to see it brushed off or run over by Christmas....oh, they also had these mens aprons....so funny!
So after both our getaways we met back up with the guys on Sunday night and swapped stories....and ordered in (Italian)....see the pattern here?
Monday a.m. we headed back to SD, relaxed and happy...until we hit Nashville where we had a 4.5 hr delay and after that it was a grind. We got home exhausted and then Tuesday I twisted by back and rib....another story for another day. Needless to say the rest of the week has been all about catching up and getting ready to go again!
Love you besties.....can't wait for our next adventure.
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