On Friday (6-12-15) my niece Nicole spent her first vacation after graduating from college at Condo Lyon in south Florida. Nicole’s friend Tatianna joined her for an action packed weekend and then we settled into a tropical groove.
Paying homage to the venerable Elbow Room.
Karen took the ladies to Ft. Lauderdale’s beach to check out the nightlife after their arrival. They covered the clubs, beach vendors and even walked the sand to see if any turtles had hatched yet.
A local hat maker poses with the ladies.
Saturday we headed north to Lighthouse Point to dine at Sands Harbor, where we could dock the boat by our table and take a dip in the pool when cooling off was needed. The seas outside were confused and angry, so we cruised up the ditch and back.
The ladies chill on the bow and catch some rays.
I guarded our table while Karen took the girls to check out the pier on the beach just south of Hillsboro Inlet.
A “wefie” under the pier near Lighthouse Point.
We took a look at the lighthouse at Hillsboro Inlet before making the trip back south. The seas were running confused at four- to six feet and we opted for a civilized cruise down the inside.
Karen snaps another “wefie” with the girls on the boat.
Sunday was hot and sunny! We went to the beach early and stayed most of the day. Tatianna and Nicole dove through and got bashed by the surf, while Karen and I chose to watch from the sand.
Tatianna and Nicole take a break to bake before returning to challenge the surf.
I grilled turkey burgers for the gals and they all got a second wind after dinner. Karen took them to check out the party scene along Himmarshee Street.
Hoops in the house at a dance club in downtown Ft. Lauderdale.
Tatianna flew home Monday and Karen went back to work, leaving me to keep Nicole company. We decided to avoid major rays for a day and took the boat down the river to see Jurassic Wold at the IMAX theater in Ft. Lauderdale. The movie was exhilarating in 3-D!
Nicole takes the helm on the way to lunch and a movie.
Hanging out with me may not have been the best influence on a young graduate, but we had a lot of fun. Not only did she like driving my boat, she totally grasped the value of taking binoculars to the beach the next day.
Nicole eyes the activity on the ocean from the beach.
Karen got a VIP invite to join the season ticket holders at the Miami Dolphins stadium Wednesday night. We took a private tour of the ongoing renovations and got autographs from the featured speakers, O.J. McDuffy and Kim Bokamper.
Karen and Nicole with Kim Bokamper, one of the Dolphin’s famous “Killer B’s Defense” of the early ’80s.
Ironically, it was tropical storm Bill that kept Nicole from taking her scheduled flight back to Texas on Wednesday. We put the bonus day Bill provided to good use by learning how to play the ponies at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach.
Nicole gets a crash course on how to read the daily race program and make wagers.
She didn’t win big, but beginner’s luck kept Nicole from going into the red on her first ever visit to the horse races. Uncle Jeff managed to lose a little, but we had a great time.
We get up close to feel the thunder at the Gulfstream finish line.
I hope Nicole’s first big vacation, sans parental units, met her expectations. I know Karen and I enjoyed her visit and meeting Ms. Tatianna. They are both welcome to come back.