Delray Beach

Del Raton RV Park  is family owned since 1973. This is my fifth year visiting.
Head of the family, Arthur, helpful, knowledgeable and always friendly.

Sites are tight. Amenities includes water, 30/50 amp service, sewer, laundry, showers.
A shopping center including Walmart across the street as is Tim Finnegan's Irish Pub

Morning coffee outside is pleasant and quiet. Ray and Walter are missed.
I have yet to catch a glimpse of neighbors but I do hear a yapper on the other side.

The morning breezes are to be enjoyed; the afternoon heat enjoyed inside with the AC

Lizards (could be a curly tailed lizard) grow a tad bigger down here in Delray Beach

My stay here is the closest I get to my cousin Norma who lives in Boca Raton, 11 miles to the southwest and my main means of transportation. The other highlight of my week-long stay is getting together with fellow retiree from BMMS, Jim and wife, Missie, who live in Boynton Beach, 15 miles to the north. My annual get-together with each is something I look forward to each year. How interesting would it be for me to describe or share my enjoyment of cozy living while traveling in Winnie? No, not interesting at all. The joy is sharing the adventures with my company and best of all, the wonderful dining experiences. And so it continues. Be sure to click on the links to get the full flavor of what I experienced so as not to make these blogs any longer than they need be.

My first day, Norma picked me up and we drove to  Bedner's Farm for lunch at Cheri's NY Top Dogs. Daughter Cheri is enjoying her 17th year at Bedner's on weekends providing delicious Sabrett hot dogs and all the topping choices you can imagine. To me, hot dogs always taste better when eaten outdoors.

The menu

Once again, I enjoyed the company of Jim and Missie for our annual dinner. The choice this year was Latitudes at Highland Beach, a part of the Delray Sands Resort; an oceanfront restaurant and lounge that has five distinctive dining spaces including the outdoor Ocean Terrace, the Chef's Seafood Bar and the Wave Pool Bar.

  

While waiting for our Ocean Side
table, I enjoyed a Blue Pointe Draft Ale

Thank you, Yves, our server, for this photo. We're enjoying LaCrema Pinot Noir.

After sharing a Tuna Poke (raw cubed tuna with mango, macadamia nuts, scallions, crispy wonton chips), I enjoyed the Lobster and Crab-Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp entrée served with white corn polenta, sautéed garlic parmesan spinach, crisp onion rings.

A raspberry cheesecake with raspberry coulis for Jim and...

...Missie and I shared a Coconut Bombe Cake with raspberry coulis and coconut gelato.

Delicious and filling dessert

Monday's lunch with Norma was at JB's in Deerfield Beach 

JAMAICAN TWELVE SPEED

Don Q coconut, Midori, crème de banana, piña colada, Ron Zacapa floater

Our appetizer - LOBSTER FLATBREAD

Wood-grilled crust with fontina cheese, buttered lobster, tomato, garlic and micro basil

Norma's healthy meal - JANET’S LOBSTER & SHRIMP SALAD

Half of a steamed and chilled Maine lobster, topped with shrimp salad, served over mixed greens with hearts of palm, tomatoes, mango salsa, scallions, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and mango dressing.

My not-so-healthy Fish & Chips: Beer-battered Icelandic cod, served with citrus tartar sauce, French fries and coleslaw;
Cod was cut into three portions and taken home for future meals. Yes, I've got to get away from fried foods.

A Wednesday lunch at Carrabba's in Delray Beach, FL

The Lunch Trio: Minestrone soup, salad and...

...Four-Cheese and Sausage stuffed mushrooms

Yet another of the many treats I enjoy while visiting here in Delray; the opportunity to visit Norma at her home in Boca Raton. Before and since the passing of my cousin, Larry, many, many years have been spent enjoying their hospitality and her cooking which has always been  unsurpassed.

This is how I relax with a glass of wine in the screened in porch, called lanais in Florida, each time I visit. Today, we waited for Carlo who drove in from the west coast to join us.

Carlo, Norma and I returned to one of their favorite places, (with another on the agenda), Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza.

A cold, tall, Blue Moon Draft

Thin, well done crust, loads of cheese and small chunks of tomato.

While waiting for doors to open,
a view of the outdoor dining available but Happy
 Hour prices were inside...as was air conditioning.

And for my "last supper," we returned to Luigi di Roma Ristorante and Lounge, another of Carlo and Norma's favorite dining spots. I've been here before with Norma in years past and have always enjoyed the upscale atmosphere and many delicious selections. Be sure to click on the "Gallery" tab if you visit their website.  Even on a Thursday, the Happy Hour proved to be a popular gathering place. Arriving just before 4:00 pm, there were 8 couples lined up at the door waiting for that door to open as though it was Black Friday at Walmart. Although we weren't trampled, we were able to get a great table near the bar tended by their favorite, Brian. Later on, we ordered and enjoyed dinner. At 6 pm, the bar crowd  dwindled and the dining room became very busy.

Five-Cheese Ravioli in a marinara sauce before adding cheese. Half came home with me.

So, with a ton of thank yous to Norma for picking me up and allowing me more terrific dining experiences, this year's visit to Delray comes to an end. The weather has been perfect; warm, sunny but very dry. Florida is in need of a few torrential downpours...the natural type, not the hurricane type. I've been in Florida two months and have witnessed just one 15-minute soaking downpour event while in Clermont.

Next up is Easter weekend in the Miami area visiting granddaughter, Sara, who lives there and Chuck/Silvia/Aaron who will fly in for a few days. See you there.