The Elite of Palm Beach

Sat. Jan 17,2015
West Palm Beach , FL

We started the day by going to shore to a green market. Every Sat. various local producers come to a grassy park area just on shore. It was very nice with not only fruits and veggies but baked goods, local sea food, tacos, gourmet coffees etc. After picking some healthy foods to take back to the boat we indulged in a couple of pastries. We took our bounty back to the boat and headed out again for more exploration.

We took the town trolley to hook up with the arts & culture trolley across to Palm Beach and the Society for the 4 Arts complex. Just as we got there a sold out play was about to start, The Merry Widow.  I have seldom seen so many well dressed, well manicured men and women. Smelled like money. The cars, jaguars, BMWs, Beemers, Bentleys, you name it. Palm Beach society was there for the play. Us in sandals and tee shirts. Did not exactly fit in. We went to an area where there were fountains, ponds, sculpture and wandered around. It was absolutely zen. Peaceful and refreshing. By this time we figured the play had started and the gentle folk were seated. We wandered back to that building to find that they were between art exhibits and there was none to be seen. So we headed to the library which had closed 5 minutes before we got there. Oh well, at least we had seen how the other half dressed and drove---expensively!!

West Palm beach is where ordinary people work and play, Palm Beach is the high society area. Separated by a little strip of water only, but worlds apart  We caught the trolley back across the water divide and came back to the boat.  Judy and Mark were just heading to the trolley to get a few groceries so we said to come over for drinks when they got back.  They came over as the sun was setting.  We visited a while and planned the next couple of days.

We were able to get a slip in Los Olas in Ft Lauderdale to put the solar cells on our boat and work on the fresh water problems. Handleys will anchor less than a mile away so it won't be too bad for Mark to shuttle back and forth to help Lee with the installation. Tomorrow evening we will anchor just inside the inlet that puts us in the Atlantic and then Monday morning we will go off shore for a long day to get to Ft Lauderdale. Predictions are for 5 ft seas at 7 or 8 sec intervals, winds 8-10 knts.

West Palm has been a good experience over all and would enjoy coming again.