A Completely Biased After Action Report
Alina and I went to the keys this weekend on a much needed mini-vacation to recoup our thoughts and to rest. Here is my review of the experience.
Driving down to the keys was a fiasco; evidently I am unfit to navigate the highways and byways that are part of the South Florida road system. Then again, I'm pretty sure that the city planners and road developers are working hard to keep things this way. I am convinced that the map was planned out by a few civil engineers spreading their after flesh globes and emptying their bowels above a piece of grid lined paper. We shall not go into further detail about that. Suffice it to say that the drive down was an adventure in "Do I get off here? No, HERE? no... THERE!? AUUUUUAUAUUAAAGH GO FORNICATE WITH FARM ANIMALS SOUTH FLORIDA ROADWAYS!!!!!!!" Once we arrived to Key Largo the driving became much easier. Even one so simple minded as myself can easily navigate a single road.
At about 21:30 we arrived at our destination the White Gate Court (http://www.whitegatecourt.com) resort in Islamorada. (About mile marker 70). This wonderful place ended up being one of the best places I've ever had the opportunity to stay at. The grounds are well kept; the little duplex/cottage we rented was rustic but clean and well appointed with all the conveniences that one could ask for. I was impressed and quite happy with the accommodations. The resort itself is quiet and since it’s in the middle keys not overcrowded with those of mine own generation that have little to no worth save that as self mobile meat sticks with a penchant for destroying all they touch. In other words, it was a nice getaway without the party atmosphere (you know the smell of booze, vomit and too loud morons singing out their obnoxious alcohol induced mating calls.) I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to get away from noise and bother... an excellent stress detox center.
The dog, bless her little canine heart, got to run and frolic off the leash as much as she wanted. She went absolutely nuts a few times, but she had a great time. We got her to go swimming at the beach (Animals are not only allowed at this place but encouraged, this is obviously more than just a pet "friendly" place and more of a place that "loves" animals.) She got to play with other dogs, she got to splash in the water, and most importantly she got to run around the grounds as if the devil himself was chasing her... an activity which dogs seem to enjoy.
Saturday, the only full day we would be staying at the place was an awesome day. We got up early (6am) to watch the sun rise. An awesome sight for one who hasn't seen on in YEARS. Went down to this little Italian restaurant for a breakfast of crab eggs Benedict with key-lime hollandaise sauce on biscuits. Not the best rendition of my favorite breakfast food to be sure, but adequate and still enjoyable. We went to the store to buy fishing gear (as I had forgotten to bring my own) and some basic groceries.
After our little shopping trip we decided (or more correctly I decided and Alina relented) to renting a boat from a place about a mile down the road from our resort (a place called Robbie’s) the rental was inexpensive and the boat itself while no great beauty was good enough for our purposes. We spent the next three hours playing around the bay side in this little boat, attempting (and failing) to fish, finding the dock for our resort (which was difficult but we got it) chasing dolphins and all around just cruising around having a good time.
Having failed miserably at my attempt to catch fresh fish for our dinner, we went down to a place called "Mr. Lobster" (http://www.mrlobster.com) which was about a half mile away from our resort. There we bought 6 fresh key lobsters, which later got made into lobster bisque for dinner. (which was nummy... I'm a damned fine cook if I do say so myself)
That evening we stayed in, read, relaxed and vegetated after dinner. It was AWESOME! It’s nice to do... absolutely nothing. We went to bed early because we were tired and well... because we could, a good night’s sleep was had by both.
Sunday morning we packed the car, took the dog for a walk, checked out, did a little swimming at the beach and then reluctantly drove home.
This concludes my biased after action report save for the statement that I would definitely (and plan to) go back to this resort again and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get away from the grind for a stress free, relatively inexpensive, and pet friendly mini-vacation.
Driving down to the keys was a fiasco; evidently I am unfit to navigate the highways and byways that are part of the South Florida road system. Then again, I'm pretty sure that the city planners and road developers are working hard to keep things this way. I am convinced that the map was planned out by a few civil engineers spreading their after flesh globes and emptying their bowels above a piece of grid lined paper. We shall not go into further detail about that. Suffice it to say that the drive down was an adventure in "Do I get off here? No, HERE? no... THERE!? AUUUUUAUAUUAAAGH GO FORNICATE WITH FARM ANIMALS SOUTH FLORIDA ROADWAYS!!!!!!!" Once we arrived to Key Largo the driving became much easier. Even one so simple minded as myself can easily navigate a single road.
At about 21:30 we arrived at our destination the White Gate Court (http://www.whitegatecourt.com) resort in Islamorada. (About mile marker 70). This wonderful place ended up being one of the best places I've ever had the opportunity to stay at. The grounds are well kept; the little duplex/cottage we rented was rustic but clean and well appointed with all the conveniences that one could ask for. I was impressed and quite happy with the accommodations. The resort itself is quiet and since it’s in the middle keys not overcrowded with those of mine own generation that have little to no worth save that as self mobile meat sticks with a penchant for destroying all they touch. In other words, it was a nice getaway without the party atmosphere (you know the smell of booze, vomit and too loud morons singing out their obnoxious alcohol induced mating calls.) I would highly recommend this place to anyone who wants to get away from noise and bother... an excellent stress detox center.
The dog, bless her little canine heart, got to run and frolic off the leash as much as she wanted. She went absolutely nuts a few times, but she had a great time. We got her to go swimming at the beach (Animals are not only allowed at this place but encouraged, this is obviously more than just a pet "friendly" place and more of a place that "loves" animals.) She got to play with other dogs, she got to splash in the water, and most importantly she got to run around the grounds as if the devil himself was chasing her... an activity which dogs seem to enjoy.
Saturday, the only full day we would be staying at the place was an awesome day. We got up early (6am) to watch the sun rise. An awesome sight for one who hasn't seen on in YEARS. Went down to this little Italian restaurant for a breakfast of crab eggs Benedict with key-lime hollandaise sauce on biscuits. Not the best rendition of my favorite breakfast food to be sure, but adequate and still enjoyable. We went to the store to buy fishing gear (as I had forgotten to bring my own) and some basic groceries.
After our little shopping trip we decided (or more correctly I decided and Alina relented) to renting a boat from a place about a mile down the road from our resort (a place called Robbie’s) the rental was inexpensive and the boat itself while no great beauty was good enough for our purposes. We spent the next three hours playing around the bay side in this little boat, attempting (and failing) to fish, finding the dock for our resort (which was difficult but we got it) chasing dolphins and all around just cruising around having a good time.
Having failed miserably at my attempt to catch fresh fish for our dinner, we went down to a place called "Mr. Lobster" (http://www.mrlobster.com) which was about a half mile away from our resort. There we bought 6 fresh key lobsters, which later got made into lobster bisque for dinner. (which was nummy... I'm a damned fine cook if I do say so myself)
That evening we stayed in, read, relaxed and vegetated after dinner. It was AWESOME! It’s nice to do... absolutely nothing. We went to bed early because we were tired and well... because we could, a good night’s sleep was had by both.
Sunday morning we packed the car, took the dog for a walk, checked out, did a little swimming at the beach and then reluctantly drove home.
This concludes my biased after action report save for the statement that I would definitely (and plan to) go back to this resort again and would recommend it to anyone who wants to get away from the grind for a stress free, relatively inexpensive, and pet friendly mini-vacation.