Days 27-28: Back in Ft. Lauderdale down memory lane: 6 month solo road trip

Day 27-28: Flew back to Ft. Lauderdale the night before from Nassau on Jet Blue. Thank God for TripAdvisor and Yelp.  I rely on them heavily for reviews.  I look at the reviews and pictures, then go to the hotel’s website, look at their site and book the reservations. So far I’ve booked the hotels just a few days before I arrive and sometimes the day of, since I don’t always know how long I will be staying. This works out well, because it gives me more freedom on where I’m going.  The wonderful experience of solo travel is that one can decide where, when and how long to stay without compromising.

Simply furnished hotel room at Snooze

Simply furnished hotel room at Snooze

I find a small hotel on the strip across from the beach. It’s only 4 stories high called Snooze.  It’s a no frills boutique hotel with a motel style feel. Access to the rooms are from the outside walkways. The 12’x15′ room is comfortable.

Small but functional bathroom at Snooze

Small but functional bathroom at Snooze

Lightly but nicely furnished in hues of blues and whites. There is a roof top deck with lounge chairs to hang out on. Parking is on the main level. There are washer/dryers which are helpful when traveling for long periods of time. My room is directly across from the outdoor elevator which is good and bad. Good when you want to exit, bad because of the noise level. I’m in the city where there are people so that is a given.

View of Fort Lauderdale Beach from Snooze

View of Fort Lauderdale Beach from Snooze

I decide to stay for a couple of days to enjoy the sun, sand and water. I walk along the strip checking out the scene. I find an outdoor restaurant/bar with lounge type seating. I order a 45 ounce strawberry daiquiri (it’s on special). It’s huge. Thank God my hotel is just a few blocks down. I also have dessert. What the heck, I’m on vacation, I can splurge. It’s only 3000 calories! I will walk it off. Oye!

45 oz strawberry daiquiri at Sangrias, Ft Lauderdale strip.

45 oz strawberry daiquiri at Sangrias, Ft Lauderdale strip.

Sangria's version of Creme Broule. Yum!

Sangria’s version of Creme Boule. Yum!

Day 28: I have lunch with Julie, who is my sister’s friend. She was my boss at Julie’s Gourmet Ice-cream and roommate when I lived in Ft. Lauderdale from 1984-1985. A trip down memory lane.

Fort Lauderdale strip has changed. Gone are Penrod’s and the Candy Store replaced with much larger high-rise hotels that block the afternoon sun shading the beach. I walk along the strip hoping to find the swings on the beach. Back in the 80’s after work around midnight I would come down to the strip, park my car and swing on the beach swings listening to the waves. It was so peaceful. I am yearning for that again. Of course it’s gone replaced with a huge children’s playground.

I want to see what Fort Lauderdale Strip is like after 30 years: Not impressed with the changes. It’s a different time and place. I was here when I was 18-19 years old. It was a huge party scene with Spring Break. Lot’s of fun, wild times. Fast forward to now, it’s one gigantic strip mall.  I’m not a shopper or a fan of crowds. I came, I saw, and I now I’m ready to leave.  Sometimes the memories of a place should be just left as memories.

NEXT!

 

 

 

About inthecompanyofnone

Residential Designer by Trade who also blogs about various topics. Just came back from a 6 month solo road trip which took me through 30 states and two international countries. Seeing the USA by road is amazing. It's so diverse in natural beauty and climate. Traveling solo allows me the freedom to go where and where I want without compromise. It's a sense of accomplishment to be able to travel in the company of none.

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