Sarasota - 27th to 31st October

Travelled on a direct daytime flight from Gatwick to Tampa where I was met by Rose at around 6.30 pm Florida time. We talked non-stop on the drive to her apartment at the Stoneybrooke Golf and Country Club where we arrived at 8.30 - too late for dinner but not for a bottle of pink champagne and a giant bag of potato crisps!
It was really cool the next morning when we took a long walk all around the complex - but the sun was shining in a clear blue sky which made up for the cold wind. Spent the rest of the morning drinking coffee, unpacking and getting organised (not a word usually associated with me). After lunch, we took a trip to the nearest shopping mall where we spent a couple of hours. Back at the condo, Rose prepared a delicious supper of stone crab claws and king crab clusters with salad and asparagus accompanied by a bottle of bubbly! Give me crab any day, rather than lobster. Absolutely delicious!
Wednesday morning there was still a cold wind blowing but, undaunted, along with another brave soul, we were in the club house pool at 9.30 for aquarobics. Actually, it was great as long as one kept one's shoulders under water. Rose had tennis practice at one, so I drove to the mall again and treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. There was no one else in the salon at the time, so I had a great time chatting to all the staff. Wednesday evening is 'Pub Night' at the club house so we went along around 5.45 and sat at a table eatng and, yes, drinking, with a load of Rose's friends.
Thursday was Rose's tennis match against another club so we started the morning with a brisk walk around the complex as a warm-up. It was still not weather to sit outside, so, on her way to tennis, Rose dropped me at Michael's craft store so I could look for scrapbooking stuff. Loved it as I could just look round at a leisurely pace. Did some other shopping and went to an Italian coffee shop for a pannini and coffee before heading back with Rose (who had won her match). By now the wind had died and it was HOT so we lazed by her complex's pool and read.
At 5.30 we drove into downtown Sarasota to the dinner theatre. After we had eaten our buffet supper, the stage was transformed for the play 'Gold Diggers of 1633' a musical adaptation of Moliere's comedy 'School for Wives'. Zany and entertaining. Afterwards, on our way to the car park, we heard some great sax playing. Our investigation led us to an outdoor courtyard of a nearby restaurant. There was only one group there, all ladies enjoying the music, dancing, eating and drinking. They called out to us and asked us to join them. They were on their annual reunion holiday and were all involved as consultant architects at airports in the US and Canada. We joined them for a glass of wine and stayed until the musician left.
This morning was HOT. We started the day with aquarobics then took a picnic to the Siesta Key beach. I just love this beach; the sand is fine quartz and always feels cool no matter the temperature. Had a long walk paddling through the water and watching the birds diving for fish. Came home when it got too windy and we were covered in sand.
Getting ready now to go downtown again for supper and then, maybe, go to see the Halloween revellers.