It's All Relative!

Our month at the beach has come to an end.

The weather has been a mixed bag with the frigid northern air masses moving to the South ... it was almost like they hitched a ride with us.

We did have a few beach days in the sunshine ... well actually I think I only had my bathing suit on four days!

We enjoyed many days walking the beach not in bathing suits, but layered in capris or jeans, t- shirts, vests with a light jacket.

On our last day we had hoped for a sunny, warm day to spend lazing on the beach with a good book, but it was a cloudy, cooler day! ( High only 65 degrees F ).

There were plenty of sun beds and cabanas calling our name!

We opted to venture out further east along the beach road in search of a waterfront restaurant and refused to allow the weather to dictate where we would sit whether inside or outside.

These are the signs at "Margaritaville" ... love this!

We chose a table in the outdoor covered patio room.

    Today the windows were closed and the patio heaters were a "flame"!          

The view from our table looking out the windows ...

We enjoyed a tasty seafood lunch of crab cakes and grouper on our last day in Panama City Beach at Schooners the "Last Local Beach Club".

                     

                                     

On our last evening from the balcony of the condo we viewed yet another beauty of a sunset over the Gulf of Mexico...

As in life, it is all relative ... 

temperatures in the mid 50s & 60s Fahrenheit were still 70 degrees F. warmer than back home in Canada.

Stay tuned for our next adventure ... Postcards from New Orleans, Louisiana!

Santa Rosa Beach Surprise!

Serendipity ... is a fortunate happenstance ... a pleasant surprise ...

After an interesting morning at the weekly market and wandering around the village of Rosemary Beach we continued with our "Sunday Drive" along the scenic highway 30A. 

This is our first time in the Panhandle region of Florida; although several years ago we did look at visiting the area.

We had found a lovely two bed/two bathroom apartment located in Santa Rosa beach, but timing was not right ...we didn't know exactly where it was located, just had a photo image in my mind of the property that I had seen on the vacation rental website.

A bit odd especially when you search and scroll as many properties as we do, it is hard to remember one from the other.

We finally found a spot to stop for some lunch ... and my thoughts initially were "Are you serious, you want to eat here?"  

The parking lot was full, the outside appeared "down market" and more like a local watering hole.

                         

                

Once we entered we were pleasantly surprised to see many patrons enjoying delicious food and beverages, in a clean rustic setting.

Lesson learned "Don't judge a book by its cover".

We were seated at a window table with views of the highway ... as I looked out I saw a sign ...

"art30A" ... 

After our lunch we checked out the property across the road and sure enough it was the same place we had looked at many years ago; the apartment was located above the owner's art studio.

Unfortunately it was not open today ...

                              

 

What a pleasant surprise ...

Who would have thought you would see a place you had viewed many years ago on the Internet with limited info as to its location!

Often when we are searching for accommodation for our travels, we comment how it would be nice to know where the property is located and be able to see it ahead of time.

Now we use Google earth to get a visual impression of the area. 

Once upon a Time!

Clock tower of the deconsecrated Church in Gourdon, France framed by beautiful plane tree leaves.

Tick tock, tick tock, the clock just keeps ticking ... how quickly time flies.

It seems we are always wishing our life away ... 

waiting & hoping for tomorrow, next week, next month, next year ...

We have to learn to enjoy the present moments!

Please note I am using "we" in general terms ... there is the young 10 year old who can't wait to be a teenager, the teenager who can't wait to be a young adult of 21 years of age, and the cycle just continues.

We/ I have to learn to live in the moment and make the most of the now!

It is a fogged in day at the beach today, you can hardly see where the sky and the ocean meet or separate ...

                    

                    View from our balcony today in Panama City Beach

So on days like today I will enjoy the peaceful and quiet times, look for the beauty in nature while basking in the warmth of my family and friends' "sunshine" (far and near) and be thankful for the "time"!

Benjamin Franklin said ..." One today is worth two tomorrows ".

     Signage of a toy store in Celebration, Florida

              So how will you make the most of your time?

                        

" This -- this was what made life: a moment of quiet, the water falling in the fountain, the girl's voice ... a moment of captured beauty. He who is truly wise will never permit such moments to escape" 

 ... Quote by Louis L'Amour

Playing at Pier Park

From where we are staying in Panama City Beach, we can walk in the sand on the beach with the water brushing our feet to the City Pier (only a mile away).

Once at the Pier we can enter the Boardwalk at the wonderful Pier Park ... here the streets are lined with unique shops, plenty of places to stop for some refreshments and eats, there is the Grand 16 - plex movie Theatre, a midway for the kids, and you'll also find an outdoor shopping mall.

It has something for everyone ..

It is a fun place on a sunny day when you need a break from lazing on the beach or on a cloudy, not so great beach day ... and for a Movie date on rainy days.

                                           

It's a colourful place ...

Located in the heart of Panama City Beach, Pier Park offers many options to entertain you ...

We even pretended to be Elton John and Elliot Gould on the pianos at Rum Runners.

 

Hide and Seek in Panama City Beach ...

We were hopeful for a sunny, lazy day on the beach in one of the cabanas ...

The sun is playing "Hide and Seek" ... Haven't found it yet, it's misty, fogged in over the Gulf of Mexico this morning.

We're going to walk along the beach rather than "laze" in the sun!

The view from our balcony ... there are a few vacationers using the cabanas, they do provide shelter/ protection from the "Sun" and the windy breezes!

                       

Quite the contrast from the day we spent in Biarritz, France.

Footnote ... Monsiuer Honey says I can't throw in a Biarritz photo ... and I said I can dream that we will go there again one day soon!

Coffee with Pandora

It's early Saturday morning, coffee and quiet time in Panama City Beach ... Waiting for the sun to break through the clouds and outside air temperatures to rise so that we may spend the day on the "Beach".

I want to finish reading my book and there is nothing better than being able to do that sitting on the beach with the warmth of the sunshine on your skin.

This year's weather is constantly changing ... here in the USA the weathermen name the "Winter" storms and this morning the latest one called "Pandora" is about to wreak some havoc over the country.

"Pandora" takes me back to our time in Tossa de Mar, Costa Brava, Spain last May.

This was a memory trip for Msr. Honey ... he had travelled here as a young adult on his first trip abroad on his own. 

So for awhile today I will do some armchair travelling back in time by looking at some old photos and reading some of the older posts about our week spent in Tossa de Mar.

I've included a couple to links from May 2014 ... These are just a couple of the posts about our time in Tossa de Mar ...

http://postcardsfromthelot.blogspot.com/2014/05/tossa-de-mar-then-and-now.html?spref=bl

http://postcardsfromthelot.blogspot.com/2014/05/pandoras-influence.html?spref=bl

Hope you enjoy travelling to Spain from wherever you are today.

Rosemary Beach Market Day!

On vacation ... "Market Days"  are always a fun way to experience the life and culture of the people and locals of the destination you are visiting.

When we travel to Europe visiting the "Markets" is high on our to do lists.

 The narrow street we walked from our cottage "5 rue Marsis" leading to the Saturday market in the medieval town of Gourdon ...

We can buy fresh produce, meats, cheese, wines and many other goods from homemade soaps to lavender products, olive oils, spices, etc. 

A vender selling fresh "French" garlic at one of the many markets we visited in France ...

It is always a kaleidoscope of colour ... and a social time to meet up with family, friends and neighbours at one of the many local cafés for a coffee or an early aperitif.

Baskets, baskets and more baskets at the market in Olonzac ...

On Sundays in Rosemary Beach there is a charming market with vendors selling their wares in the square. 

We drove the scenic route on Hwy. 30A arriving in Rosemary Beach mid morning, strolled through the market ... made our purchases of homemade pasta, a fresh French baguette and homemade Jumbo Lump crab cakes.

We then walked the village streets and down to the beach ... it was an enjoyable way to spend a sunny Sunday...

Enjoy our tour of the community ...

 

                 

If you find yourself in the Panhandle, put a visit to Rosemary Beach on your itinerary! 

Scarves, Souvenirs and Sunsets!

Do the colours of the elements in "Nature" influence your choices when you are shopping?

The other day on a quick shopping trip ... the colours in this scarf caught my eye just as the muted, shimmering shades of blues & taupes in the "Sunset", the soft whites of the Ocean waves and the beige sandy beach.

When I wear this scarf it will remind me of our time spent in Panama City Beach and our nightly views of the beautiful sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico... a great souvenir with a useful purpose!

What influences and inspires your choices ... whether it is something for you to wear personally or changing the decor in your home?