12-1-16  back to the beach!!!

Can't go back without a trip to the beach.  Even though we chose to stay at the Wyndham Palm Aire to be closer to Coral Springs, the ride to the beach isn't bad.  After all, we wouldn't have seen this palm tree transporter if we stayed at the beach.  It amazes me that they can transplant such large palm trees and their root system is so small.  It's surprising they don't all fall down when a little wind hits them!

First stop---another of our favorite places---Lester's Diner.  There's lots of diners in South Florida, but this is one of our favorites.  

Lester's interior.

 on to the beach.  This was being built when we were there.  Now we get to see that it's a parking lot.  A pretty one, too.  I hate that you have to pay for parking to go to the beach, but at least there's ample space now.

 walkway along the beach in Pompano.

 another of the Pompano Fish statues.  There are several around town all commissioned by different artists.

 looking towards Pompano's fishing pier.

decorative grates on the walkway.

 Ever wonder how the beaches get so nice and smooth?

 Dec. and the air and water are still over 78!

 When we first started going here, there were individual meters.  Now they've gone high tech.  You can even phone in your payments at many of these parking areas.  That's especially convenient when you're on the beach and want to extend your parking time.

I guess that's what a Pompano fish looks like.

 Another of the Pompano fish artworks

Hillsboro lighthouse along A1A.

Love being back in the land of palm trees! 

 and these trees

 especially when a flock of wild green parakeets are in them.

 Awwwweeee-----

back to the decorative walkways.

 Love the painting on the firehouse along the beach in Deerfield.

 Deerfield's fishing pier.

more of Deerfield beach.  This is the beach we usually went to when we were living in Coral Springs.

did I mention I like palm trees?!

 Even hit up our favorite Salvation Army which is in Tamarac.   Love that thrift store---so clean and really has nice stuff.  Even picked up a few pieces of nice furniture from there when we lived in Coral Springs.  But today we kept it small---3 books for the price of 2.

 cute metal fishies.  And a little easel.

 Of course we also had to drive by Angie and Josh's former house.  Seems odd that we can't stop and visit them there!

Then on to probably our favorite restaurant there---Dyan's.  We probably went here at least twice a week.  Their early bird special had great choices and was only $12.99 which included a drink, entree, and dessert.  They have raised the price a couple dollars, but it's still a good deal.  Plus the employees there have always been great to us.  Wish this restaurant was near us in Georgia!

No sunset again today.  So we headed back to Palm Aire and some pool/jacuzzi time.  Nice to be able to get in an outdoor pool again!