DESTIN - See You Next Year!

NEW ORLEANS HERE WE COME!

Goodbye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh!
Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou.
My yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh!
Son of a gun, we'll have good fun on the bayon.

Jambalaya, a-crawfish pie-a file gumbo!
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my machezamio.
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh!
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the BAYOU!

- Hank Williams / Jambalaya Lyrics

Here it is 5:45am Friday morning and I am looking out my balcony at the gentle Destin waves rolling in. The sun is slowly starting to rise and the emerald green starting to glow -- you can still see the moon to the far right -- and hear the birds welcoming the day. Destin truly is paradise. At least to April and I. You just can't beat it. We have been here almost 2 weeks and it is now (sadly) time to go. BUT, we have new adventures in store for us and an immense amount of new Destin memories to cherish forever. Today we check out of The Pelican Beach Resort at 10am and head to -- NEW ORLEANS for 8 fun filled nights of God knows what! LOL! We will be driving through Biloxi, Mississippi as well which should be nice to check out.

The past couple of days in Destin have been wonderful! I believe the last time I wrote was on Sunday as we checked out of the Pelican Beach Resort and into Hilton Sandestin Resort. Well, we checked right back out on Monday and BACK into The Pelican Beach Resort. Call us spoiled, but for $20 more a night -- having a full size apartment/condo that is OCEAN FRONT is well worth it! :)

Last Tuesday we just took things easy. We stayed in most of the day and worked, worked, and worked some more. We broke away for an early dinner at a very delicious Chinese restaurant called Dynasty. It was voted the # 1 Chinese restaurant in Destin and April and I agree. The food was great, very traditional and inexpensive. We loved the fact that we had the entire place to ourselves. From what we heard, starting this weekend that will be a whole different story! Memorial Day starts Destin's BUSY season! Whoa....We are getting out "just" in time as prices rise and traffic is a nightmare!

On Wednesday I was a bit under the weather -- the first time in 3 weeks -- a RECORD for me! LOL! I had a sinus thing going on (sore throat, ear ache...blah, blah, blah) -- so we hung out at the resort and beach, did work and then ventured out later in the day for dinner and some shopping. This time we went to world famous -- Hog's Breath Saloon! This place was great. We had been to the one in Key West several times and loved that one as well. The atmosphere is so laid back and the food delicious. They use their own special blend of spices on most of their foods and it is so unique and yummy! It can turn a regular burger into something really tasty. I had to laugh because April was on a drink kick again...just kidding...lol...she ordered ONE frozen drink.....something coffee flavored.....it looked VERY good and she enjoyed it VERY MUCH! LOL! I ordered a virgin pina' colada and it was just OK. It was more like an icy. I like them creamy. Like I said, we are getting VERY spoiled! Oyie! :) A cool thing, which Ape and I both loved, is that this Hog's Breath Saloon has a separate BBQ shack across the way. You can smell that BBQ smell from miles away. It is a cute little building with a couple of tables inside and several outside. It reminded me of our kitchen at home. Complete with red & white tablecloths! Now if only we had that SMELL all the time! LOL! Ape and I picked up some thinly sliced turkey w/ bbq sause to have for dinner that night. The entire dinner with potao salad was under $8.00 -- FOR TWO PEOPLE -- WOW! You just don't find deals like that anymore. Ape and I then went in the Hog Breath store and poked around a bit.

Here is a VERY cool thing I discovered about Destin this week --- it is EXTREMELY popular with lesbians. Everywhere we went there were lesbian couples or a group of friends hanging out. For a while there it felt like Provincetown, MA. Yes, we saw plenty of gay men as well, but lesbians out numbered the men, by far! It was so cool. I thought maybe there was a special event in town, but no --- it was nice saying hi to our gate attendant and the numerous couples staying at The Pelican Beach Resort. We gave a nod as if it were a treat to be in such a "friendly" area. I've said it before and I will say it again --- Destin is going to IMPLOAD in popularity within the next 3-5 years. I just know it.

Anyway, back at the resort we, of course worked, and watched TV. We were treated to a gorgeous full moon that reflected on the ocean. I had never seen anything quite like it. It was breathtaking. I took pictures, but they will never do it justice. I am telling you, the sunsets and sunrises have been some of the most spectacular I have ever seen!

Yesterday morning I woke up feeling like a million dollars! I was SO excited because FINALLY we had the PERFECT day to rent a pontoon boat! The weather was PERFECT, not too hot or humid, high 70's, there wasn't a cloud in the sky and I woke up early enough to get to Sunshine Pontoon Rentals by 9am! April was so excited! We scurried around, put our bathing suits on, inflated "crock of shit", and headed off! We were greeted by two VERY NICE Australian men who loaded us on the boat and gave us a quick lesson on how to drive the pontoon. We felt like "the queens of the world" as the cool breeze blew through our hair and the warm sun hit our face! I couldn't believe I was doing this. Desiree, the girl who is NERVOUS about EVERYTHING (motion pills...check.....saltines....check.....ginger ale....check.....you get the picture...lol)....and I was 100% FINE! The boat was rocking but it didn't bother me ONE BIT! After our quick lesson, we dropped the nice owner off at the dock and took off. There I was --- driving a boat! WOW! We went from 25mph to 30mph past fishermen, jet-skis, sail boats, other pontoon boats, a ship restaurant (yes, how cool), and BEST OF ALL.....you ready for this?????? DOLPHINS!!! YES, we were in the middle of the bay admiring the amazing, emerald shallow water and then PLOP! We heard a dive sound......and then we saw it.....a beautiful black dolphin bobbing up and down. We saw it's fin rise and fall. It was BEAUTIFUL! I was lucky enough to even capture it on video (no picture however). We actually were blessed enough to see TWO dolphins that morning. Our adventure however, wasn't without incident! LOL! Both anxious to get in the crystal clear water, we dropped the anchor, lowered the ladder and both jumped in the waist high water. It was slightly cold at first, but we adjusted. Then......um.......errr.......it was time to get back ON the boat....hehehehe.....OK, let's just say, Ape and I are....well......"full" figured gals. No skinny minnies here. We didn't really think everything through. The ladder was VERY tiny, with small steps and the arm poles were wet. When I tried to get on my first (several) attempts failed. Ape and I looked at each other and had the same expression crock of shit had......HOLY SHIT! LOL! It started to feel like the movie JAWS! Seriously! Ok, Ok....granted we were in a BAY, not the ocean, STILL.....there were dolphins close by....Couldn't they have eaten us?......lol......AND the sun was getting hotter by the minute. Those who know me well, know I was getting a bit anxious at this point...."Captain Desi" needed a "calm your ass down" pill and those pills were on the boat......whoa....lol! Then, with all the power in myself (and a little push from Ape) I lifted myself onto the boat! SWEET JESUS, HALLALUAH! I had some choice words to say through my laughter and then I looked back over the boat at sweet April still floating in the bay. She had that look of "I am just fine" panic. Those who know April know she is very stubborn and will NEVER admit she needs help. She was all ready to SWIM to land miles away....ye'ah....NOT happening my friend....lol...I would've NEVER LEFT HER THERE TO SWIM WITH THE FISHES!! LOL!!! I then switched into "survivor" mode and used all my tactics to talk her into KEEP trying. Several times she just couldn't do it. She was giving up and then I went into MILITARY MODE (damn, where does this stuff come from? lol...) -- I said, "YOU'RE GETTING ON THIS BOAT......!" And she knew I meant business! I gave her my arm and tried lifting....no luck.....we tried again....no luck AND this time I cut my leg very bad on a piece of metal on the boat (I bled all the way back to our resort 45 minutes later).....I said, "WITH ALL THE POWER IN YOURSELF AND ALL THE POWER IN MYSELF.....YOU ARE GETTING ON THIS DAMN BOAT!" And that time, between the two of us, we SCOOPED her onboard! LOL! She isn't fooling me. She was a "tad" nervous and VERY happy to be back on the pontoon. We were both slightly green for a bit after that....LOL....but we forged on! We headed toward a stretch of barrier island near the bay. Our plan was to anchor there and swim/sun awhile...well....OF COURSE we had an issue with that also! LOL! I mean, c'mon....we're city girls.....this was our FIRST time driving a boat.....this was to be expected, right?? I drove the boat to the stretch of sand and we try to anchor. Once again we were off the boat, but something wasn't right. Even though we were anchored the boat was moving, or rather drifting!!! I managed to get back on the boat (thanks to the sand leverage) and April started to push the boat back to sea since it was rocking pretty bad and felt, for a second anyway, that it MIGHT tip! It was working.....but APRIL WASN'T ON BOARD!!!!! OH NO!!!! I think she had enough of our previous crisis and this time hopped on by the motor! ONCE AGAIN we were both safe and off! LOL! We decided to stay afloat and just drive around the bay. About an 1 1/2 hours later we headed back. The nice owner only charged us $25 per person!!! What a deal!!! And even though we had some mishaps, we had an AMAZING TIME and would do it again in a heartbeat. I was so happy to overcome one of my fears. Now I don't have to worry about the ferry's that take you to/from Martha's Vineyard! I am so excited about that!

Back at the room we freshened up and I tended to my cut. At this point it was hurting pretty bad. I had washed it out with salt water since that is known to be good for cuts and cleaned it again at the condo. It was stinging pretty bad, but as I write, Friday morning, it feels fine. We were still on high gear so we headed out for lunch. We went back to our favorite BBQ restaurant -- Jim-N-Nicks at Baystowne Wharf at the Sandestin Resort. They have the best lean cut turkey there! A nice, delicious, healthy lunch. We walked around the village, took some pictures, went in some shops and then headed to Destin Commons. We were going to go to a show but got there at an off time. There was nothing playing that we really wanted to see, so we walked the stores. It was just the PERFECT day outside. It wasn't too hot at all. I love days like that. The breeze helps a lot also. I stopped at Cold Stone Creamery for a small ice cream (the 2nd time in YEARS that I have had ice cream). This has got to be my # 1 treat now. The small is a great size and the chocolate ice cream with small pieces of brownie, kit kat and oreo delicious! I just found out there is one in Newport, RI and one opening up on Thayer Street in Providence! WOO-HOO! :))

We were both tired at this point. It was already mid afternoon and we had to get a lot of work done, so that is what we did. We worked, watched TV and then went to bed and here it is FRIDAY, May 27th and it is the day we leave Destin for New Orleans. I am SO excited. I can't wait to check out The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, The Garden District, Charles Street Cable Car, Riverwalk, Riverboat Ride, The Great River Road scenic drive, Plantations, Historic (and haunted) cemeteries, ghost tours, and -- Jimmy Buffett's Margaritavillle and much more! How exciting! New Orleans sounds like soooooo much fun!

I am sure I will have much to write tonight or tomorrow! :)

Til then....

HAPPY TRAVELS!
Des & Ape

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