Animal Kingdom

Only three hours from Johannesburg, often fondly referred to as Joeys or Joburg, there lies a slew of game reserves, or privately owned land that offer game drives, scenic lush landscape, and troves of South African wildlife. I have always called this game drive thing "safari" but I think the word safari is reserved for American lingo. As a devout yoga practitioner, I found this area of South Africa to be more still, more about not just connecting with the incredible Animal Kingdom and landscape that can bring you to tears, but connecting within oneself in a meditative state. There is no TV, no telephone ringing.....just the stillness of the topography where you have to stare with razor sharp dristi to actually see the babboon looking right back at you.

Before getting too philosophical, I can say that the accomodations are sickly laden with ammenities. The staff dotes on each and every person while also keeping you safe, especially walking at night as the lions hunt nightly, and often tourist go missing walking back to their rooms after dinner. Yes, we were told a story from one of the African ladies about some Japanese men that wanted to take pictures with the animals as if they were in Disneyland. These Japanese men went missing.


Game drives are only contrast to Disney. The crowd there are primarily European, many British, and the game drives run every morning at 5am and in the evening at 4pm for three hours. You basically bundle up (even in warm Africa) for the cool mornings and cooler evenings, hop in a open air jeep-like Range Rover, and go bumping through endless unmarked trails that weave all over this privately owned land. The goal of most is to visualize the Big Five---the Big Five was coined by white hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot. Having no interest in hunting these spectacular animals, I enjoyed seeing the Big Five minus the Cape water buffalo. The collection consists of the lion, the African elephant, the Cape Buffalo, the leopard and the rhinoceros. The members of the Big Five were chosen for the difficulty in hunting them and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.

All in all, the game drive experience is amazing. I don't think it is a vacation that all would fall madly in love with as it is NOT for sissies. If you delight in the outdoors, don't mind all the critters, and plentiful bug spray while sipping a nice Castle Lager or a South African pinot noir, you'll love it. You will find peace in the mesmerizing sunsets, indigenous vegetation, and the haunting song sung by the African people.

Champagne Air of Hermanus

90 minutes from Cape Town lies an intoxicating and scenic town stretched along the coastline, hugging the sea, and hemmed in by the steep mountains. Hermanus has 70,000 inhabitants with 18,000 of whom live in the township (underdeveloped slum-like area) of Zwelihle.

Hermanus has a fantastically rich history dating back to the beginning of the 1800’s.
Hermanus Pieters is credited with first finding Hermanus. He arrived in Cape Town in 1815, as a teacher and shepherd, and trekked eastwards with the first ox-wagons to Caledon, where farming was the major industry. During the summer months, he started herding his flocks of sheep and cattle from Caledon in the 1820’s, down the “Elephant Pass”, now known as the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, down to the coast, where he found good grazing and fresh water.

Hermanus Pieters did this each year and word fast got around the farming community that he had discovered good new summer grazing land. Many others started to follow him down the valley to seek lush pastures for their livestock, as well as fishermen, who found that the sea was teaming with fish and the farming families who wished to come to enjoy this new spot during the school summer holidays.

From then on, the area was named Hermanuspietersfontein, which slowly started to grow into a permanent settlement. Today there is a new stairway and walkway that is situated at the exact location where the fresh water waterfall was discovered by Hermanus Pieters.

In 1902 the postmaster decided to shorten the name to just Hermanus and the village received official municipality status in 1904.

Word spread internationally too, with Harley Street doctors in London, prescribing Hermanus as an ideal location for rest and recuperation with its “champagne air”. A sanatorium was erected over-looking Walker Bay to cater for those in need of such natural, holistic medicine.

As for our visit, it was truly one of the most beautiful places I've seen, filled with lovely people, fantastic restaurants, and heavenly wineries. If you are an adventure seeker, there is also shark cage diving and whale watching. For the oenophiles, grapes grown in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley are influenced by the cold Atlantic Ocean and the temperate conditions, and the clay-like soil produces wines similar to those of Northern France. And, better yet, tastings are free of charge.
Gesondheid! (Cheers in Afrikaans)

Sausage Master, Neil Jewell

Forget the culinary law of averages that all charcuterie kings or butchers all live in Italy, and speak fluent Italian with sausages on their wall like trophies. We have met Deon's idol, a bloke from the UK named Neil Jewell who is the proclaimed and famous chef of Moreson vineyard's Bread & Wine restaurant. From our first impression, he has a crooked smile with soft eyes, worked at many fancy pants restaurants and really just loves farming and farm-living. Our meeting was a 9:30am breakfast charcuterie/meat and more meat tasting paired with Moreson wine. He is a chef that was delayed (something I know all too well), all due to a water leak somewhere on the premises, friendly, and beyond passionate. I mean really passionate. He detailed the aging process of his meats (4 years on the prosciutto) and even snuck us in his refrigerator or butchery space. You would have thought that Deon had seen a two hundred pound tuna just hooked out of the water. Deon was NCIS in the Moreson farmhouse taking pictures of the cured meats, and even whittled Neil's biltong recipe from him. Deon has been making biltong for quite some time, so it was Barefoot Contessa versus Giada comparing notes, and I was in total amusement.

The best part was tasting the lusty, unpretentiousness of Neil's food, probably the most delightful meals we had in South Africa if I had to rank. We had such meaningful conversations with a UK expat that not only included food, but chats too deep for a morning sausage and wine tasting. The foliage around the old Dutch farmhouse and winery, the animals grazing, the gracefulness of the people...the only downside? I can't think of one. Thank you, Neil.
http://www.spill.co.za/cooking-classes/the-pig-a-charcuterie-course-with-neil-jewell/1162/

Out of Africa

We are back from our journey, traveling through Italy to South Africa, and
I should be blogging on Napa, Sonoma, or even Mexico which all occurred prior,
but I'm blogging as I speak, stream-of-consciousness style.

I'm not sure why I have waited thirty-seven years to go to Africa, but better
late than never seems reasonable. Or, maybe marrying a South African is a better one? Reasoning aside, I could go back to Africa right now, and relive the moments in the wild bushvelt which is their term for safari. I think there are certain people that just melt into the landscape and Deon and I are THESE people. The amenities are there, just know that every other creature and critter is also there.


Our journey started in Cape Town, which is iconically pictured as Table Mountain.
Table Mountain is not merely the iconic symbol of Cape Town - without it's mountain Cape Town would not exist and the south-western tip of Africa would be a dry, windswept and sparsely populated region. Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains on earth, six times older than the Himalayas and five times older than the Rockies. It is responsible for all human settlement as it provides a rain shadow, providing rain and the streams that flow in its valleys. You have two options getting to the top: hiking or riding in a large cable car. Deon has hiked before, and so as you can imagine, the ladder was the most feasible option to have lunch and a crisp blanc de blanc on top of the mountain. The landscape just swallowed me up, and the beauty of the coastline is indescribable.


The Winelands and coast are phenomenal. If I had to choose from my favorite Napa/Sonoma and the Winelands in South Africa which includes Paarl, Franschoek, and Stellenbosch, hands down, I'd have to say South Africa Winelands. The Winelands are earthy, simplistic, and rival Tuscany's Montepulciano and Montalcino. The winefarm drive-ups are lined with olive and Cypress trees which wind around the mountains, and all the tastings are free of charge....a big bonus. Every morsel in our mouths came from the land, the butter fresh from the cows, the meat from the area. The people support their farms and the word organic is humorous to them because that is all they know. You get a meritage of history with the French Huguenots in Franschoek and the Dutch in the entire Cape area. Deon's last name (Jansen van Vuuren) is always properly pronounced there, and was the favorable last name (to Perkins) for any reservations or perks.

More to come on Franschoek, and the famous sausage king, Neil Jewell...the acclaimed Bread & Wine head chef and charcuterie captain.

Our Cuban Adoption

Meet Oliver, the Havanese wonder! After months of searching for a small, fuzzy Cuban, we found one here in Naples from a local breeder. He is absolutely adorable, potty trained (for potty pads), and has enormous energy bursts where he'll run full rocket speed and leap into his bed to just roll around, and then fall asleep. He is twelve weeks old, and has four siblings and parents in town who he sees three times a week at "daycare".....yes, daycare. His parents, Helen & Rio, are Westminister show dogs that have retired from showing, but now breeding which seems they are savoring the finer things in life.

Oliver is pretty easy, so has already been given full access to patios and some restaurants here in Naples. He is hypoallergenic for those of you that plan on getting to Naples to visit. He has been sleeping throughout the night, but still has his puppy moments, some less to be desired. However, he brings such laughter and joy, and such a change in pace for us. He has requested to join us in Napa for the October Cabernet harvest, but his parents are requesting he stay with them for the week. We'll see.....we're getting quite attached!

Tasting the Land Life

Alas, sorry for the lack of blog, but
land life contributes to lack of time, less
awareness, and less consciousnness. Things are quite fabulous,
however, just different. And,
as expected, very very different. Having spent the last
year working as a chef on private motor yachts, and now,
awaking every day in my own bed living near the beach, but
not responsible for anyone's crepes or cafe americano or better
yet, morning yoga lessons....well, do I need to
say more?

I have debated some things, like well, do I write the book of all
books, where we expose the secrets of the lifestyles of the yacht folk rich and
famous? Or, do I just blog from episode to episode of my daily journal
of which I have at least one year of amazing stories of the most superfulous
people in the world?

Deon and I have contemplated both, and have decided to think on such things for a bit, but welcome your feedback. In the meantime, how about Napa for Cabernet harvest season the sixth through the eighth of October?
The itinerary will be fabulous, and if not, Africa will be blogged in the month of March and April of 2011.

PS. New pictures of Mexico a few weeks ago and the 5 ft Wahoo caught in Puerto Morellos...

Join me!
Gesondheid~
Holly

Saba, the Unspoiled Queen

If you have not been to Saba, the island known as the "unspoiled queen," it it something to appreciate and see, and an island so different than surrounding Nevis, Anguilla, St Barths, and Sint Maarten. The only issue is actually getting there......there are two options, or should I include, two safe options. You can take the ferry which is approximately two hours on what most refer to as the "vomit comet" or you can take a ten minute "white knuckle" flight which is something to be remembered. Lastly, you can go via private boat which is not the safest option considering it is a very rocky, mountainous island not truly accessible by boat.



You can probably guess as to how I decided to get there. The runway is the shortest I've experienced, with Florence's (Italy) a close second, and so weather is a huge variable as to the outcome of the experience.
Not only is the runway short short short, but the angle at which the pilot (Note: singular, ONE pilot) hits the runway is the most interesting flying experience.
If you are sitting on the right side of the aircraft, you'll see a cliff; on the left side, the water; and, those bravest to watch the runway can experience the thrilling rush of anticipation, contemplating the ability of the aircraft brakes, or the possibility of edging the cliff and pulling wheels back to pull back up....or lastly, to take a dive in the water. I was in a pool of sweat upon landing, and although a short flight, I can say one of the most engaging and thrilling!

The island's personality is nothing of its' neighbors and has this humility which is far different than glitzy St Barths or expensive Nevis. It is owned by the Dutch Antilles, and the people, primarily Dutch with a few French expats, plant their own gardens, renovate their own homes, and have an honest liking to tourists.

A few things about this island that really make it interesting:
There is no true water system, so water is frugally used and provided by a reservoir system. If the island is lacking in rain, bathing may be a bit tricky. The restaurants are what I most definitely did not expect, and are quite the culinary dream! The Gatehouse is my favorite run by a local couple who retired in Saba years ago and pretty much do "this" for fun. You absolutely need reservations as this is their home and they not only have the best and most appreciated wine list from Wine Spectator, but a quaint little table on their upstairs patio to oversee Saba.
Lastly, this is a "hiking" island, not a beach island.....yes, I went all prepared with swimsuit and flip-flops, but you're better off either renting a car or hoofing it with a good solid pair of tennis or hiking shoes.



The view posted here is the view off the eternity spa from the room, and the sunset amidst the rocky landscape is one of the most beautiful I've seen. Some think that the Queen's Garden Hotel where we stayed is rigged with music, but no, it is purely the sensational chorus at night of the tree frogs and birds on the mountain. Saba is genuinely beautiful and truly, the interesting, unspoiled queen.

Cuba to Dominican Republic to Saint Maarten

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I haven't been able to pull off a roasted turkey as of yet as we are on the water and it has been somewhat smooth to choppy, but no seasickness which is a blessing in which to give thanks! White truffle butter turkey (thanks, Cameron, for the recipe) alongside mashed sweet potatoes, haricots verts with tomatoes and bacon, sausage & apple stuffing, and plenty of pies will belatedly be devoured in St Maarten, on the French side. So, what is there to do for days on end while underway with no land in sight??? Well, cooking for the crew, journaling, watching movies, reading magazines from November, and catching some sun on the flybridge occasionally just listening to reggae wishing I could put a fishing rod in the water! We should be docking in St Maarten on Monday morning, weather permitting of course. I give thanks although after Thanksgiving for many things including my friends and family, health, and opportunity to embark on this priceless journey. Wishing all of you the happiest and healthiest every-day and Thanksgiving Day!!!

StiltsVille

Have you ever been or maybe drempt of going to the Maldives for some tropical R&R?? Maybe you've seen the rooms just above the crystal clear, turquoise water or had visions of snorkeling and swimming the water just off your room on stilts? Without the volumptuous cost or kazillion-hour flight, you can go just south of crowded South Beach to Key Biscayne whose homes rival those of Port Royal, Naples, (think: Scarface house or Miami Vice house). You must obviously be on the water via boat, and can head towards the Bahamas and see these homes just above the water on stilts, called Stiltsville.

Presently Stiltsville is comprised of seven remaining houses standing on pilings in shallow water in Biscayne National Park, that is located in between Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Before hurricane Andrew in 1993, there were over 20 structures that dotted the seascape. With sustained winds in excess of 190 mph., and much higher gusts of wind, many of the structures simply did not stand a chance against the power of nature. Although many of the structures have been through a dozen hurricanes over the years, it became one of our finer laws that the owners of the properties (or the leases) could not make any repairs to the structures, so, they would simply fall into disrepair. Some of the structures are in fantastic shape and make a wonderful place to gather with friends and family to enjoy nature from an entirely different perspective. The laws that have allowed Stiltsville to become such as mess instead of being treated as the National treasure that it is. There is no other place on the face of the earth like stiltsville. There is a grassroots movement to save Stiltsville that has taken some traction and hopefully we will be able to pass this treasure and this history on to our children.

Originally Stiltsville was built or imagined during the days of prohibition and Al Capone and rampant gambling.The law was that gambling was allowed provided that it was located a mile offshore. [Stiltsville is located just over a mile offshore.] Many structures were built, in fact, a very large boat was purposefully run aground at high tide at full speed and then more permanently secured to the ocean floor during low tide when the ground was no longer under the water but was now exposed and above the water level. It was a fine and exquisite gambling establishment and clients were ferried to stiltsville. The law was soon changed to 3 miles offshore. The gambling boats located at Bayside in Miami will be very happy to take you 3 miles offshore so that you can gamble legally. During the 1980's when Miami was in the Miami Vice days, the stiltsville area was used for seaplane dropoffs of contraband where speedboats would take off with the cargo. Film shoots have been shot there and plenty of wild parties and photo shoots for minimal clothing magazines have featured the houses of stiltsville.

Check it out!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiltsville

How long has it been since you have savored a moving tricolored sunset? Maybe yesterday? Last year on vacation? While viewing, did you enjoy your favorite Sancerre or Champagne, or just gaze as it occurs everyday as it does in Naples on the beach? What did you think about, meditate on, when you saw the colors, the movement, and the waves that surround this sensational experience--so un-man made, so Godly-created?
It has been known that the best sunsets occur not just in remote, fancy, expensive locales, but in sometimes the most unexpected pastures in Oklahoma or the extreme desert of Arizona. Where is your gazepoint or in yogic terms, your dristi at this occasion? Is there really an extreme sunset in your eye view or is it somewhere that yearns for your dristi? I ask myself occasionally how we can move through life without noting or being thankful for the most subtle blessing like a beautiful sunset.

While at Sea, it has often occurred to me at the most distinct but random times, how often I fail to acknowledge the beauty that sits outside of our windowsill, just like a summer day that is so inviting, so tempting, but is undervalued and taken maybe for granted? It is in our scope of dristi, but we humanely ignore the beauty.

So, alas, pictures of the sunset I viewed tonight just by chance after returning from Key Largo. These pictures were not clicked in Key Largo, however, but just steps from my pad in Naples.....go figure....Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero – "Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.", and the ode says that the future is unknowable, and that instead one should scale back one's hopes to a brief future, and drink one's wine....not a terrible idea!

Cat Cay, A Private Island

I returned today from beautiful Cat Cay, Bahamas, an infamous playground for the uber-wealthy to misbehave, and found a little slice of heaven in an incredibly small island with rich history. The Cat Cays are actually two islands, North Cat Cay and South Cat Cay, just 10 miles south of Bimini, and just 4 hours from Miami or Key Biscayne if you're running at about 10-13 knots. North Cat Cay is a privately owned island and is run as a private members club by the Cat Cay Yacht Club while South Cat Cay is uninhabited.

North Cat Cay is named after the cat line of a sailing vessel which it resembles, and was once the stronghold of notorious pirates like Henry Morgan and Blackbeard. The island may have played a significant role in the American Civil War, serving as an important base for the Confederate blockade runners. Queen Victoria granted the original deed for Cat Cay to Captain William Henry Stuart, as a reward for his services as keeper of the Lighthouses.

Later, Captain Haigh, of a distinguished English family, became the owner of Cat Cay. Captain Haigh established the island custom of dressing formally for dinner. His original home burned, but the cookhouse remained intact. Its huge oven fireplace is part of the rebuilt cottage named Haigh House in his honor.

Milo Strong and his wife bought the island in 1915. They built and lived in the Manor House, which still exists today. They spent nine months out of the year on Cat Cay. The 1929 hurricane blew the roof off. Although this was repaired, when Milo died two years later and another storm damaged the Manor House, Mrs. Strong decided to sell.

Friends of the Strongs, Louis and Rae Wasey purchased the island for $400,000 in 1931. Wasey, an advertising tycoon, intended the island to be a winter home for himself and his wife and as a place to entertain clients and friends. He enlarged Manor House and built a number of English styled “cottages” for his guests.

During the Great Depression, Wasey turned the island development over to Mike Smith, an architect friend. Smith loved the Bahamian and old English architecture and used both in making the island buildings. He employed Bahamians, sent a schooner to Cuba for handmade tiles from deserted churches and had men search the Florida swamps for angled pieces of wood needed for his Tudor-style buildings.

In 1935, Wasey converted the island to a private club and sold building lots to his friends. He had about 200 members paying annual dues of $500.00. Mrs. Wasey, who loved antiques, built the Cat Cay English Shoppe, where the island boutique now stands.

There were many fishing tournaments back then as the waters around Cat Cay were well stocked with fish and the deep water fishing lay just a mile off shore. The structure known as the tuna tower was invented on Cat Cay and first used by a skipper in the 1952 Cat Cay Tuna Tournament. While the first tower was rudimentary at best, its usefulness was quickly noted.
In World War II, Cat Cay was a base for PT boats of the Allied Forces. General Hap Arnold, in charge of the Air Force, spent several months recuperating from a heart attack at Lou Wasey’s Cat Cay home. An Air Force officer stationed there, Monk Forster, fell in love with the island and returned after the war to manage the club. He bought High Tide, built by Wasey’s partner O.B. Winters. TRW owner, Fred Crawford, purchased High Tide.

Lou Wasey had built a nine hole golf course that the Duke of Windsor, while Governor of the Bahamas, enjoyed playing. The course was named Windsor Downs in his honor. During one of his visits the Duke mentioned that it might be fun to have a little casino on the island for guests, Wasey readily agreed and the Duke issued a license in Lou Wasey’s name personally.
Upon Wasey’s death in 1963, the island's casino license expired. Wasey left the island to his daughter Jane, a New York sculptress, who returned for two years, but in 1965 Hurricane Betsy did enormous damage and the island was closed.

A few years later, Al Rockwell, the head of Rockwell International, put together a small group and bought the island. It became a private club owned by members.

What is there now? A pristine, untouched beach, many amazing beach compounds, a 107-slip marina, and the Cat Cay Yacht Club consisting of a boutique filled with designer clothing from France, a restaurant and bar, and the nine hole golf course built by Wasey. There are no police, no cars, and really no rules for the members and the lucky friends of the members that are invited. You either arrive by private plane on a small airstrip at the tip of the marina or by yacht. Tiger Woods' boat was there (met his staff), and he was to arrive the day I left by plane to meet his boat for his next golf tournament.

Fishing in Cat Cay is still great. Tuna are less common now, but mahi mahi, Blue and White Marlin, Snapper and Grouper are available. During the colder seasons of the year Cat Cay offers a Wahoo run and spearfishing...and of course, lots of wild parties on yachts!http://www.catcayyachtclub.com

Cat Lady of Harbour Island

While running around the Harbour Island shops and restaurants, Deon and I were followed by a team of cats, and no, we were not hallucinating or grossly intoxicated. The cats and dogs, as well as chickens, are basically running stray on the island, and poorly cared for by the locals. They lurk around restaurants in every little corner looking for you to drop a french fry or chunk of meat, and their little bones are almost transparent, so obviously, you know where this is going. At first I was buying cans of tuna at the Piggly Wiggly market and pouring them over dry Purina cat chow, but they got used to the dry chow and I would leave little piles all over town for them. The only mistake on this was leaving the bag of cat chow in the back of the golf cart overnight to find little paw prints all over the seat and the bag of chow gone the next morning. So, my cat chow (yes, and dog chow too) went with us all over Briland, and I quickly was referred to as Cat Lady which I guess is a bit more lovely than Dog Lady. Upon leaving Briland, I entrusted an older toothless Bahamian lady with the food to continue to care for the dogs and cats. I think my justification for going back to Harbour Island each year will include the care of these precious little furry animals.

Harbour Island, Bahamas

Harbour Island, although less traveled and far less touristy than its neighboring Nassau/Paradise Island, is quite the quaint, friendly, upscale Bahamian island. The island is fondly referred to as "Briland" which if you say Harbour Island fast three times maybe after a few Kalik beers, you'll get Briland. Briland is 3.5 miles by 1.5 miles with no cars on the island, so you'll need to rent a golf cart to get around which will run you about 50 bucks per day. And while there are no cars, there are no parking meters or traffic cops, so driving with a beer is encouraged freely by the locals as long as you remember to drive on the left hand side of the road. The famous beach always ranked in the top ten in the world is here in Harbour Island and called the Pink Sand Beach with sand resembling pink powdered sugar. You would obviously enjoy Harbour Island if you loathe cruise ship tourists and souvenir shops as there are none here. You can grab a cocktail at sunset at the Landing, snorkel some of the best water in the world, lay on the beach as if you are the only one there, and maybe dance to local Bahamian tunes until about 11pm when everything shuts down. As for time out of the galley, the best food can be found at Coral Sands hotel with succulent lobster (lobster season started on August 1st), Sip Sip for the lobster quesadillas and fried grouper sandwich, and the Landing known for their Aussie fare but more for their spicy crab capellini and goat cheese ravioli. What did Deon & I leave with? Of course, a tender but spicy conch salad from the famous Queen Conch, a bit more bronzed skin, and the warmest thoughts of the most personable Bahamian island where we will most definitely return.

By the way, Harbour Island is ridiculously easy to access with just a short flight from Miami/Nassau into North Eleuthera where you take a 10 dollar taxi to a ferry, and a 5 dollar per person ferry into Harbour Island. So easy and so worth it! More to come on Harbour Island soon......

Yacht Life

The New Casa on the Aqua

The question has been posed frequently as to how yacht living works and how it differs from everyday home or city life. I guess for me, even in my little exposure, it seems more logical and efficient for pure living and involves the highest level of cleanliness and organization. It has been liberating to slough off the excess, the unreasonable, and false fulfilling, to go back to the basics of a mere 15 drawers and a closet, and the paradoxical living of minimalism but in the world of excess, still enjoying the finest foods and wines, and living in a bikini, shorts, and tshirt daily. How did I ever wear suits and heels every day? How did I put makeup on daily to just go to the grocery, and maybe hit a yoga class or grab a drink? I think priorities continue to evolve and change in life, and that is just the beauty of growth and being open to change and what change can bring in our lives.

The last three months on several different yachts (it's a little like Baracuda hunting---you go where the work is, and where the yacht is). And, I'd be more honest and frank about where I've been but that conflicts with confidentiality agreements, and so for the purpose of the blog, I may use different names and different vessel names, etc. My day ends laying down in a nice comfy large bed, looking out of a circular window watching the moon beam down on the water, and begins looking out of that same circular window (yes, what Villa-O in Dallas tries to achieve decoratively speaking in the bar) on the open water. I have been cooking primarily, with a bit of physical therapy intertwined but not enough to really mention, for the most upscale but wonderful and gracious people. I have to snorkel or dive once a week (yes, really tough work), and travel with the boat when chartered or when the owners decide to utilize their yacht. I must say that this life has been nothing of pure ease in which to transition, and neither one that is for the lazy. However, this is the closest to rockstar living that I will ever near as nothing is of normalcy.

What is next????? After a few weeks in the most remote areas of the Bahamas, almost accessible to only yacht and water-plane owners, I am being lazy (wow, feels so nice) in Naples, enjoying the beach, fishing, cooking for 1-4 rather than 15 people, and a bed that fails to rock me to sleep at night. The future holds some larger, possibly newly-built vessels in Europe, and most likely, more traveling. We are all traveling in life, this journey of ours, and so while we are, we must make the best of it.

Cheers!!!

We have successfully created as requested by the Dallasites a blog in which to post our journeys, experiences, discoveries, and photos. The genesis occurred at the bar (no surprise) while at Tommy Bahama's in Naples, lured out of the Summer rain for $5 margaritas.This blog will encourage and represent the forum for all communication and idea exchanges in the near but possibly far future. So, don't hold back and let the bloggin begin!!!!

Adora Rocks Naples

Most of you know that in the summer or off season in Naples, it is a bit slow.

But there are so many fabulous advantages of being in Naples during the slow season

which include saying goodbye to all the tourists from the Midwest and Northeast and saying hello to all the Euros that come for holiday. There is a tremendous shift in business which means more happy hours, dining specials, evening bands, and far less traffic which is a good thing if you are on a scooter! I'll attempt to post pictures of the amazing drag queen "Adora" from Miami that performed recently at Bamboo Cafe here in Naples....this consisted of a Cuban man dressed up almost clown-like shuffling around the French restaurant in full jewelry and make-up while lip-sinking to classic French music. Bamboo was absolutely crammed with gay men, French locals and tourists, and conservative, retired Neopolitans in absolute disgust. Deon and I took my mom who belly laughed albeit on club soda and cranberry juice while admiring Adora's cocktail rings. Who said Naples is slow in the off season???