Wednesday - 28 January 2015 - Fort Lauderdale, FL

Phil was up very early and downstairs planning our day.  He brought me coffee about 6:30 am as I was checking e-mails.  Part of Phil's plan was a breakfast place called Harbor Café -- a twenty minute walk from the hotel.

We set out on a crisp Florida morning -- and found this wonderful coffee shop tucked into a corner of a strip mall.   We had a great breakfast costing half of what we spent in the hotel yesterday.  

Exploring Fort Lauderdale Beach using the "Sun Trolley" is on our agenda today. For $3pp we can hop on and off all day.   The trolley takes us over the Inland Waterway and continues along A1A to the end of Fort Lauderdale Beach.  We get off the trolley to walk a beautiful stretch of the beach with trees set back by the road.    Our task today is to find plastic water bottles for the ship since Holland America charges $3-$5 for bottled water in the room.  However, you can fill up your own plastic bottle in the cafeteria anytime.

Pat on Fort Lauderdale Beach

 It is breezy but a beautiful walk  --- stopping in several beach shops but no luck with the water bottles -- did I mention we don't want to spend more than $5-6.   Cutting to the chase -- we found exactly the right water bottle at CVS --- and just $5.99.

Now we begin searching for the "Elbo Room" -- a beach bar established in 1938 but made famous in the 1960 film "Where the Boys Are" starring Connie Frances.   I lived in this area for a few months in the spring of 1967 and with my roommate frequented the Elbo Room.   However -- we were not successful in finding it so apparently it was not meant to be.  

View of Bahia Mar Yacht Basin -- Yellow Boat is Water Taxi

Deciding it is time for lunch -- we take the trolley to the Bahia Cabana -- self-described as "The Last Place in Fort Lauderdale with a Key West Setting" -- it overlooks the Bahia Mar Yacht Basin -- talk about opulence.   The food is good -- the atmosphere is casual and we are hungry -- all the stars are aligned for a good lunch.

Back at the hotel we start repacking for the move to the ship tomorrow and I work on this blog. 

Phil Leaving Bahia Cabana Restaurant

Dinner tonight is a short walk from the hotel to the Bimini Boatyard -- an active crowd is in the bar for happy hour.  We opt for the dining room which is not much quieter but the food is good.

We enjoyed our time in Fort Lauderdale but are looking forward to boarding the Statendam.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat