July 27: Tampa, Clearwater, St. Petersburg
Dear Friends and Relatives,
Sylvia beaming in with details of this, my last trip of the summer, not counting a flying visit I will make to Houston at the beginning of August.
Another wakeup call at 4:00 a.m., with flight at 7:21 a.m., arriving at the beautiful and efficient Tampa Airport at about 10:35 a.m. Nancy and Jim picked me up, and we followed the Intercoastal while I found our locations on the map. Our destination was Clearwater, a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Clearwater Beach, on a barrier island, is a 3-mile stretch of white sand backed by hotels and restaurants. Injured dolphins and sea turtles are rehabilitated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Our destination was Clearwater Beach’s Palm Pavilion restaurant, where I had had my first coconut shrimp two years ago when I visited. Now I was back, and there was a wedding being celebrated on the beach, with reception at the restaurant, so there was a lot of excitement and color on that stretch of beach. The coconut shrimp were every bit as good as I remembered them. Afterwards I treated Nancy and Jim to dessert at Dairy Queen—my favorite ice cream cone. Both coconut shrimp and a soft ice cream from DQ—almost too good to be true.
Upon arriving at Nancy and Jim’s house, I put everything away, then took a short nap while Nancy went to the store to buy a few more things she needed for a dinner she and Jim were giving tonight on the patio surrounding the swimming pool. Jim’s brother-in-law Gary, friend Don and his wife Beverly came around 5:00 p.m., and we all ate well and exchanged great stories, as all three men are motorcycle riders and have gone on several motorcycle trips together. We all laughed a lot and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a green salad, potato salad, baked beans, and grilled chicken or beef. Dessert consisted of key lime pie and coffee. They stayed until 9:00 p.m., and we enjoyed many a good toasts together.
And now I am extremely tired. I still need to pack for tomorrow, as Nancy and I are driving to St. Augustine tomorrow for two days. More details as our trip unfolds. Meanwhile, enjoy Facebook photos of today’s activities. As ever, Sylvia.
Sylvia beaming in with details of this, my last trip of the summer, not counting a flying visit I will make to Houston at the beginning of August.
Another wakeup call at 4:00 a.m., with flight at 7:21 a.m., arriving at the beautiful and efficient Tampa Airport at about 10:35 a.m. Nancy and Jim picked me up, and we followed the Intercoastal while I found our locations on the map. Our destination was Clearwater, a city in Florida's Tampa Bay area known for sunny weather and gulf coast beaches. Clearwater Beach, on a barrier island, is a 3-mile stretch of white sand backed by hotels and restaurants. Injured dolphins and sea turtles are rehabilitated at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
Our destination was Clearwater Beach’s Palm Pavilion restaurant, where I had had my first coconut shrimp two years ago when I visited. Now I was back, and there was a wedding being celebrated on the beach, with reception at the restaurant, so there was a lot of excitement and color on that stretch of beach. The coconut shrimp were every bit as good as I remembered them. Afterwards I treated Nancy and Jim to dessert at Dairy Queen—my favorite ice cream cone. Both coconut shrimp and a soft ice cream from DQ—almost too good to be true.
Upon arriving at Nancy and Jim’s house, I put everything away, then took a short nap while Nancy went to the store to buy a few more things she needed for a dinner she and Jim were giving tonight on the patio surrounding the swimming pool. Jim’s brother-in-law Gary, friend Don and his wife Beverly came around 5:00 p.m., and we all ate well and exchanged great stories, as all three men are motorcycle riders and have gone on several motorcycle trips together. We all laughed a lot and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a green salad, potato salad, baked beans, and grilled chicken or beef. Dessert consisted of key lime pie and coffee. They stayed until 9:00 p.m., and we enjoyed many a good toasts together.
And now I am extremely tired. I still need to pack for tomorrow, as Nancy and I are driving to St. Augustine tomorrow for two days. More details as our trip unfolds. Meanwhile, enjoy Facebook photos of today’s activities. As ever, Sylvia.
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