Just Beachy

I love flying in the morning fog.  The way the fog rolls over the mountains, looking more inlets at the beach than mountains.  It all looks different up here.

When we landed in Palm Beach, it was raining. Ironically, in my hometown it was in the high sixties and sunny.  My sister said it had only rained two evenings in the whole three months she had been there. Oh well, I only had about 24 hours here so I wanted to make the best of it.   I told my mom to put on her walking shoes and off we went.

The drive from the airport to the beach was quick and easy.  We passed everything from houses that were being protected by good old chain link to houses that had everything but a moat protecting the inhabitants from the riff raff. 

The sky was ominous, but I ventured onto the beach anyway.  There was no way I was coming this far and not getting Florida sand between my toes.  I shared the beach with a sea gull and a coconut.  I think everyone else was tired of the wind blowing sand in their eyes.

No trip to Palm Beach is complete without a trip down Worth Avenue.  I was surprised how few people were out shopping.   A quick cup of coffee from Starbucks and we were off.  The most unfortunate thing I found out was that they roll up the sidewalks of Worth Avenue between 5 and 6 o'clock and it was already 4 o'clock. Thank goodness I was able to find my way to Tiffany's before closing time.  Daughter dearest has been wanting something from there for years.  I think if I put a cough drop covered in pocket lint, a used tissue and some stale gum in a Tiffany's bag, she would have been happy. Fortunately, I found a very affordable and adorable necklace instead.  After finding out that I have very good taste in purses (the cheapest I liked was $1750), we finished out our limited time browsing.

My mother had stayed at The Breakers a few years ago and since it was just down the road, we decided to go there for supper.  Before we went to eat, we went on a self guided tour of the main floor of the hotel.  Their shops were closed (after all, it was after 5).  We went in and out of banquet rooms, talked to chefs and guest service people.  I took lots of photos.  It was so large that we were up and down the hallways and often didn't see a soul.  I think we could have brought in our sleeping bags and spent the night in a hallway and no one would have noticed.  Since we didn't bring them along, we just had supper and left.  

The next morning we went for a quick drive through the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center.  It was a whirlwind tour so I don't have any great photos.  This video will give you a good idea of what it's like.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agY0aTMvEjI 

Unfortunately, all I saw was mud, golf carts and a few horses.  Maybe next winter...

After the equestrian center, it was back to pick up our luggage and off to the airport. Even though I only saw the sun for less than a minute in my 24 hours there, it was still worth the trip.  The foliage is spectacular.  The beach is beautiful.  The houses are amazing.  And I'm sure my purse is still waiting for me to come purchase it on Worth Avenue.