Blogs from Palm Beach, Florida, United States, North America

The Flagler Mansion and The Breakers in Palm Beach have long been on our "to do short list!" Both were worth the wait and anticipation. We had toured Flagler College and the Flagler Museum in St. Augustine a few years ago but loved hearing more about Mr. Flagler from Don our impeccably dressed docent with Gucci loafers and no socks. Henry Flagler was John D. Rockefeller's partner. It was his "new idea" to incorporate Standard oil across state lines. He was the visionery who made Florida the agriculture and tourism center that it is today. He was quite the businessman and very generous. His method of philanthropy was to build towns - total infrasturctures with utilities, schools, hospitals, libraries, parks, municiple buildings, etc. - and turn them over to the people. The Palm Beach mansion, Whitehall, ... read more

Our Florida layover began on Tuesday morning when we disembarked in Ft Lauderdale. The ship is on a five day private charter so although we were able to leave one large suitcase and two shipping boxes on board, we had to vacate. We are making our temporary home at the West Palm Beach Marriott which we selected because it's close to the home of cruise pals Jim and Diana Blundell. We've spent two fun days visiting them and seeing first hand where they spend the winter. We've made a trip to Target to purchase those essentials we forgot. Dick finally succumbed to the cold I gave him so with luck that will be behind both of us by the time we begin the South America trip on Sunday. Saturday we depart our West Palm Beach "home" ... read more

Left Vero Beach at 7:30. I can see why they call it Velcro Beach. It's hard to leave. Achored about 2:00 us at a place called Peck Lake just north of West Palm Beach. It is secluded but you can dinghy over to little beach and grove of trees and walk through a path and lay on the beach at the Ocean. I may stay here a few days ----- or not. Might be in Miami by the end of the week if I move fast enough. Then on to Marathon in the Keys. Then I may come back up to West Palm and decide if I am going over to West End on Grand Bahama. That would be after the New Year probably though. So it looks like Christmas in Marathon. EZ Breazes and Triumph, ... read more

Got a call from the Captain, asking me to meet the boat in Charleston, SC on the 31st of May. Of course! Pack some "going out" clothes, and a computer. I have no idea what to expect, what type of crew is already on board, where I'll be sleeping, or what I'll see. This is a good start into the yachting industry. As a temporary deckie, I have a lot to learn this summer. We are planning on heading north to NYC and Long Island, around Halifax, Nova Scotia, into the St. Lawerence Seaway, and through a series of locks. The month of July is supposedly spent around the Chicago/Milwaukee area. Should be interesting, to say the least...!... read more

To celebrate our 35th anniversary, we took a three day detour to Florida on our way home from ABWE Meetings in PA. From a contact through www.sermonaudio.com/wftw we were able to stay in a Resort Home in West Palm Beach. Here are a few photos of our short vacation.... read more