chapter 540
11/2-9/2019
Pompano Beach 2019
a week in Paradise
link to Pompano 2019 pic folder
Paradise- well sort of. Shangri la. Room with a view. This year we had a whole week at Colleen's time share at the Seaside Beach Club in Pompano Florida. Last year the vacation was cut short due to a family tragedy. Weather wonderful 87/77. A nice break from the near freezing temps of home. Our default view was this looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Not that we stayed there on the property a lot like some of the vacationers but you know it's very nice to have this view in the morning, evening or anytime popping in and out of the room. Left patio door open at night for the tropical breeze and sound of waves crashing on the beach. Moon at night. Wake up to sunrise. There is something to be said for paying extra for a pleasant view at your permanent residence.
Writing this from the airport as the thoughts and words are flowing like the palms branches in the wind here.
Got to mention the little single story home next door to the left. You can see its pathway on the left leading to the ocean. Listed at Sothebys for $2.9 million. Then if you buy it, gotta play $48,000 taxes each year. Well I think Colleen's deal at $550 per year with pool and a superior view, no fuss no muss is a better deal. And you can purchase for $0.
How did Pompano get its name, you ask. Well this is the saltwater Pompano. We drove our excellent rental VW TDI diesel with navigation and sunroof up to the Hillsboro Lighthouse & Inlet this year. Walked the 6 mile roundtrip via beach last year. The fisherman had just caught it and handed the rod to Colleen to hold. Route A1A Drawbridge in background.
Another day we had ventured north to Deerfield Beach and onto its nice fishing pier. The fishermen were catching them right and left. A cowfish here a needle nose fish there. The above two nice Spanish Mackerel the guy held up for me.
We rewarded ourselves by overindulging over and over. This was the site of our last meal there at the Nauti Dawg Cafe on Lighthouse Point Marina. Colleen just visible on the right at our seaside dockside table as we're being serenaded by the due playing mellow Jimmy Buffet style music. The saltwater catfish swim in from the connected Intercostal Waterway and seem to love the underwater lighting. Later a couple dinghies motored in from their yachts and parked in this slip for cocktails, dinner and music listening. Just T shirts, shorts and sandals comfortable in this warm night air. Moon was out. Scallops & Shrimp Scampi and Blackened Rib Eye steak this night.
We walked the plank after dinner over to the marina and snapped this looking back at the restaurant. Manager showed pic of 500 pound Sailfish caught that day as Colleen bought me a marina T shirt.
Maybe the best meal was the Blackened Seafood Trio at the Aruba at Fort Lauderdale by the Sea. Steak and Lobster tail another night. The Amazing Nachos at Flip Flops on the Intercoastal Waterway at Fort Lauderdale was right on our Water Taxi route. Einstein Bagels many breakfast varieties. La Crepe one time crepes for breakfast.
Visitors should never visit this area without riding the Water Taxi. Fort Lauderdale has more canals than Venice, Italy. The wealth is staggering. Multi million dollar mansions along the waterways. This yacht is the Phoenix owned by Joe Louis the 13th richest man in the world net worth mucho billions. He hails from the UK. Docked his boat here once and objected to the high thousands of dollars a day dockage so he bought the Marina. Rebuilt the 666 Hotel on the site. This boat costs about $150 million.
We got the military discount around $23 to ride all day along the dozens of stops, get on and off at will. Margaritaville to Las Olas Boulivard and down thru various bars and shopping spots. Lot of fun with the humorous easy going taxi captains. Colorful Iguanas lounging on the docks. They are not welcome and legal to shoot.
The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, largest in the world was just held here. The workmen were just taking down the temporary H pilings and floating dockage.
A Ford dealer Jim Moran seems to own this mansion and the yacht Tanzanite yacht that he'll rent out for $135,000 per week.
Jay Leno's crash pad includes a garage holding about 20 cars and motorcycles. Of course it's just one of many of his homes. Movie stars galore. You name them and they are here. Joe Namath had his old love pad here back in the 70's, probably one of the least impressive dwellings.
On our first taxi ride we had come back after dusk and the sky and lights were magical. Such a visually exciting experience.
Did I mention our trip to Margaritaville on Hollywood Beach? I was reluctant but Colleen just had to do it. Got to say the view from the 11th floor Hotel was impressive but I like our Pompano better. Too many people down there from the cruise ship groupies, and it's off season.
We walked the beach a bunch. Dragged chairs down to the beach a night for cocktails. Swam a few times. Jumping in the crashing waves feeling like 12 years old again. The Pitney Bowes guy with condo next door showed us a picture of the huge Tarpon he caught off the beach last week. Has caught everything out there including Black Fin Sharks, never saw a Great White. Many people in the water swimming, big snorkel and dive crowd, paddleboard, etc.
Got an hour tour at the Fern Forest Center with the forestry staff, just us two. Saw the largest non venomous snake in North America, the Eastern Indigo snake.Visited the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center site in Boca Raton where they rehab turtles. Visited the largest Ferrari Dealership in the world. Ran out of time for the Casinos.
Met Marty and Rhonda a slightly drunk pair at the Briny Irish Pub as we had the tasty Reuben and Chicken Fingers with Guinness. He retired many years ago from Kodak in Rochester. Was a serious skier and knew my home town Greek Peak well. I may have loaded him on the chair lift there in the late 60's.
Pompano Pier is rebuilt but not open, awaiting the grand entrance way.
Broward County 3rd most populated in Florida.
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