Beach Days and Tropical Nights

For the final days of our adventure in Mexico, we decided to take it easy! After touring the Mayan Ruins, check out my previous blog post for the details on that, it was time to hit the beach!  This meant finding the perfect spot, under a shade umbrella, listening to the sounds of the Caribbean and taking in the salty air.  Oh and being served tropical drinks and food without ever getting up!  After a few hours of complete relaxation, we had dinner reservations at Chianti.

Chianti is an Italian restaurant located at the resort, Hotel Nyx, where we were staying.  We made our way at sunset which was perfect timing for a great photo before heading into enjoy dinner.  The service was great and the food was even better.  I started with Beef Steak Carpaccio followed by the Caprese Salad, while he opted for the Spicy Tuna.  For the main course I chose the Neapolitan Ravioli which was very filling.  A few cocktails ended dinner perfectly before we headed to end the night with the local bartenders.

The last full day in paradise, we spent entirely at the beach. After having an early breakfast and changing into proper beach attire, we found our usual chairs which we managed to have the entire time we were there and settled in.  Hours of beach time, napping, eating, enjoying fruity drinks and a few tequila shots in between was the perfect Sunday.  We did take a small break so I could get my most favorite souvenir, my maracas, made right there in Mexico!  The next and final morning in Cancun {insert sad face}, we managed to get a late checkout. He had some emails to get to, so I made my way to the beach for a few more hours of sunshine, sand, and sea before he joined me for our last tropical cocktails beach-side. As we were leaving a storm rolled in but it was the perfect ending to one amazing adventure.

Sea you soon Mexico! 

Shona 

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Vitamin Sea and 56'

My recent trip to Clearwater Beach was a bit cooler than what I have experienced previously.  The water temperature was 56' but that didn't stop a few brave souls from splashing around.  I had no intention of taking a dip but rather wanted to feel the warm sand beneath my toes and get my feet wet as the waves rolled in.  A quiet stroll down the coastline, coffee in hand, with my Mom was the perfect way to spend the day.  I enjoyed the sounds of seagulls flying overhead while a few were "sunbathing"  and the shore filled with seashells and the air which smelled of salt.  The beauty of the ocean and the sound of the waves always gets to me; this is one place where I feel quite at home.

After taking in the ocean views, we made our way over to Papaya Street as it was time for lunch!  And there is one place I will always go, Pearly's Beach Eats. Their Fish Tacos are amazing and you can't go wrong with their Gnarly Nachos, big enough to share for sure!  They offer local beer and one I have come to love is the Clearwater Honey Cream by Pair O' Dice Brewing Company.  Their surfboard tables and vibrant beach colors make this place a must-stop spot to visit in Clearwater. Jimmy Buffett playing the background only added to the atmosphere.  If only Uber-Eats could deliver to Kansas City!

Before heading out, we took a quick walk down Mandalay Street popping in and out of the local beach stores before heading to our next destination.  We decided to drive the coastline which was a great way to enjoy the palm-tree lined streets and quaint sea-side towns.  It was a great sunshine-filled day.

Until the next time in paradise...🌴

Shona

Sun, Sand, and Dive-Bombing Seagulls

I'll do just about anything to get to the beach...a two hour drive with two of my favorite people just to see and feel the salt filled ocean and sand between my toes.  We decided on Clearwater Beach since neither of us had been there and since it's supposed to be one of the best in Florida, we headed out early to spend the day soaking up the sun.  Besides, I had already checked out the places to eat and found the cutest little joint just two blocks off the beach.

After finding rock-star parking, we found our perfect spot for the day and set up. Three beach towels, one umbrella, lot of sunscreen, snacks and water...because they don't allow "drinks" on the public beaches. But don't worry, we took care of that beforehand.  The water was the perfect temperature, not too hot or cold and I found that most people spent their time there.  It was nice to lay out for a while but the salt water was too nice to pass up...and the views of passing sailboats was just the view I needed.

But then this happened.  As we were eating our cheese, crackers, grapes and pineapple...because I can't imagine eating anything else at the beach, the seagulls started to surround us.  Almost as if they were talking to each other, like..."these people have food, get here quick before it runs out."  At first, no big deal...and then it happened.  Out of no where, one dive-bombed down and took the cheese right of Shelli's hand..as in beak-to-hand and I have never seen her jump up so fast in my life.  Apparently there was one hovering over my head but I was laughing so hard at what had just happened I had no clue.  Literally one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life and apparently everyone else around us found it just as funny.  And so that was the end of lunch...it was either that or Shelli wasn't going to return to the beach towels...she hates birds.  

After gaining our composure and spending a few hours at the beach, we wandered around the local shops before hitting up Pearly's, which was perfect timing too...as it started to downpour right when we got there.  Seriously the cutest little beach bar, all outside seating, surfboard tables, bright orange and teal chairs and serving local beer.  We opted to share the Gnarly Nachos and a Blackened Fish Taco and I tried the Clearwater Honeycream Ale, which was perfect for a sunny/rainy/humid afternoon.  On the way out we stopped by Whiskey Joe's, it was Happy Hour...and enjoyed a few cocktails on their outside patio before heading to their Beach Bar where you could enjoy more ocean views with your feet in the sand.

A day on the water is always a good day.

Until next time Clearwater Beach...keep the seagulls at bay. 

Shona

Palm Tree's and the Ocean Breeze

Recently I had the chance to visit my Mom and her hubby Phil while they were in Florida for a quick vaca and it was just what I needed to unwind!  Between school, two jobs, and lack of sleep from studying, I needed to get away to the one place that calms me, the sand and sea.  I can't give away all the details quite yet...but something exciting is soon to happen, and I will tell you it's going to be great!! So stayed tuned for that!

Friday night, I arrived fairly late but we ended the night with light appetizers, cheap wine and sitting in the sun-room enjoying the Florida weather. Saturday after breakfast and coffee, we took a day trip to the Atlantic and ate at one of my favorite beach-side spots, Toni and Joe's.  They have an amazing patio and allow dogs...even better since we had their's with us, it was his first trip to the sand and sea. We ventured around all day, cruised the A1A, stepped our feet into the ocean, collected a few seashells and lastly found a beach just for dogs....Dodger wasn't too sure what to think about that, but he can now mark that off of his doggie bucket-list.

While driving back to the vaca home, we ran into the wildfires there, road closed...no getting through and that meant we had to adventure back about 2 hours to go around it.  A terrible thing to witness on television, let alone in person.  Florida is a state full of water so there are no "back roads"...we had one way out.  Fortunately from the report I read on CNN, no one was injured, but many homes and habitat was destroyed.  So venturing another 2 hours isn't really a problem when you look at it that way!

Sunday morning meant the usual walk with Dodger and meeting new people, breakfast, snapping a few photos and preparing for my journey home.  My Mom made Easter lunch comprised of chicken and noodles, green beans, mashed potato's and for dessert, strawberry shortcake...two words: food coma! Shortly after they dropped me off at the airport and I was headed back to reality!

Florida, you were just what I needed. 

Shona