Thanks to a last minute change in plans, we ended up spending March 8-15 with Lynn's friends in Boca, Jackie and Louis Abouzeid. Jackie (Oates) and Lynn Grady have been friends since childhood, when both their families moved to Rockledge, FL in the fifties. Both their dads served as Rockledge's Mayor back in the day. Jackie's Boca home is warm and welcoming, with a Key West-inspired decor.
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| Sea turtle sand sculpture |
The week was like a private health spa for the two of us. Fruit smoothies in the Vitamix for lunch, gluten-free meals at night, daily meditation from Deepak Chopra and Oprah's
21-Day Meditation Challenge, and while Jackie was at work, we explored area beaches and local attractions. Boca highlights:
Clara the Psychic - Traveled to Miami for a personal reading. The experience could take an entire blog post, but let me just say that Clara was authentic and her well-worn tarot deck predicted my future as mostly rosy. Same for George, Drew and Jamie. She said to expect good health, prosperity, new business ventures, and even two great sons-in-law down the road... Can't wait to see it all come true!
Butterfly World - Coconut Creek FL. This is a must-see attraction for anyone traveling to Florida! Classical music surrounds you in the parking lot and throughout the exhibits. Hundreds of exotic butterflies flutter around you in a spectacular enclosed flower garden. There were also giant macaws in another section, and an aviary. The butterfly house was magical, like being granted a temporary visit into heaven.
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| Colors, colors, and more colors |
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A Blue Morpho camouflaged on Lynn's bag. The photo at
the top of this post reveals their bright blue inside wings. |
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Jackie poses by one of the oversized Passion Flowers,
developed and bred at the facility to attract butterflies |
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| Lynn was a butterfly magnet that day! |
Beaches of Boca
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| Deerfield Beach - Palms were swaying in the stiff breeze |
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| White caps made for beautiful surf |
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Giant starfish graced the beach at Red Reef Park
(photo by Lynn Grady)
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Coastal ecosystem, sea turtle rehab and nesting protection,
and a 38' tower with ocean and intracoastal views |
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| Meandering raised walkway through the coastal forest |
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| At 40' up, we had a good case of "blender hair" |
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This turtle was hit by a boat propeller,
and is recuperating at the Center |
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Banyan tree, part of what is called
a Hardwood Hammock forest |
Odds 'n Ends
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| Lynn and Louis in a heated ping-pong match |
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We got henna tattoos in Boca --
mine still lookin' good on Vero Beach |
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| The colors of downtown Boca |
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| Jackie's tray of shells and beach glass says it all |
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