Florida's Pompano Beach

A few more photos of the recent trip to Florida.

Helps me relive it too. 

I'm just not a winter person! 

The sweet canal along a main strip in Ft. Lauderdale caught my eye. 

And wandering the neighborhood nearby where we parked, 

there were many gigantic, lush trees like this one. 

My father and Fairy Stepmother

rented a sweet little bungalow on Pompano Beach 

where I spent a good deal of time. 

We were literally just steps from the beach. 

They said the brush has grown up a bit since they were last here
but you can still see the water from the patio. 

And every morning

(when it was already 80 degrees)

I took a walk from the bungalow to the park along the beach.

The views were exquisite. 

Though I didn't get to see any nesting sea turtles

I was told it's a big deal here. 

The last morning I got up a little earlier to catch the sunrise

over the ocean. We're so used to seeing the sunSET over the water 

on the West Coast so I had to get a few photos. 

I could definitely use a little more beach time already!

A lovely full moon just before I left. 

Sigh. 

With the warmth, humidity and palms everywhere,

every time I stepped outside,

it felt like I was in another country. 

I didn't expect to love Florida but...

dreaming of when I can go back!

(All Photos Copyright: Kirsten Steen

Please do not reproduce)

Florida's The Breakers

I was lucky enough to do a little traveling this past month

thanks to my father and his wife 

whom I call

My Fairy Stepmother. 

Unlike some step-relationships,

this wonderful woman does everything in her power

to bring family together,

including hauling me clear across the US, 

from one coast to the other,

for a visit 

generously using her miles. 

They rented a little place on Pompano Beach 

for the month of October and invited me for a week.

And since we were having hardwood floors put in at my house,

and the place was filled with a thick layer of dust, fumes and noise, 

my sweetie thought it might be perfect timing. 

While they took me many places, 

one of those places I ogled and snapped photos of for an hour

was The Breakers in Palm Beach. 

Since I still have many family members and friends

not on Facebook or Instagram (where I upload most of my photos),

I thought I'd share. 

While I didn't see any of the actual guest rooms,

each room on the main level was an exquisite treat...

with exquisite views. 

This was only part of the wine offerings in one of the restaurants. 

There was another small locked room with most likely more of the higher end choices. 

According to someone who had been there recently,

this flower arrangement was a small one compared to the last. 

While the property was founded by an industry tycoon in the 1890's,

this hallway feels almost like Versaille. 

Each time a fire leveled the hotel in the early 1900's,

it was rebuilt more luxurious than before. 

After the 1925 fire,

it was redesigned by the very same designers of 

New York's Waldorf Astoria... 

And given a more European flavor

using the Villa Medici of Rome as a model. 

Similar to the Medici Gardens,

this courtyard is stunning. 

And this magnificent ballroom 

looks out on the gardens. 

This is the view just outside the famous bar. 

It's proximity being so close to the water,

this luxury hotel was named after the waves just outside its doors. 

Of course, a seat in the bar

calls for a little bubbly. 

While you can't see any of the fish,

you can see here by the coral 

that the counter is an aquarium. 

Hope you've enjoyed this little tour of The Breakers. 

Come back next time for more Florida fun photos! 

For more info and pics of The Breakers,

Click Here.

(All photos copyright: Kirsten Steen)