This time with Sharmila. First drink of the evening at the packed Rooftop Bar of Birchwood Canopy. Great views of the Tampa Bay right next to us!

This was not part of the plan. At least she had never warned me about it.

We landed up visiting just about every gallery in downtown St. Pete so that she could check out this area as an art market. Then, in the evening, we landed up doing the St. Pete Art Walk. Which is basically visiting about 30 galleries – each within a spitting distance of at least three breweries each – a mile off downtown St. Pete.

Over 15,000 steps later, I have to admit that there were a few pieces I would have liked to buy. I am really really getting afraid that this culture thing is getting to me. I better get back on my motorbike moment I get back home.

[This picture is from Five Deuces Gallery]

Every time I step into this near 100-year old hotel, I am immediately reminded of my good friends from Lexington – Mark and Jen. I think it was Mark who had first pointed me to this great property (Vinoy). They still have the hundred year old stone tiles on the floors and the original beams and joists. The entire decor inside will remind you of traditional classy hotels from India.

Mark, my friend, you might remember the glass of wine we had at the Verandah long time back. Sharmila and I had one last evening too!

A few days back, in Roatan. Raj brought out a pack of Taboo cards and the four of us settled down to have at it. Somehow, I have too many funny stories from the past about incidents that occur when people try to clue words while specifically asked not to use certain other words. There is one involving Rema and Sanjay from 1993 that started the whole series.

In any case, there we were… settled down in the air conditioned room after a days worth of hot and humid adventures. We had finished dinner and some of us were lying on the sofas when the game of Taboo ensued.

This is where Raj enters the stage. He pulled up a card and started clueing…

“This is a very small bird,” he said.

We pounced with as many small bird names as we could. First, of course, was the “hummingbird”. We had just seen one in the garden a couple of hours back. Then we kept going with guesses like sparrow, finch, dove, crow, swallow… None of them were it. We even went up to an owl.

Now, before I go any further, let me tell you that the word Raj was trying to clue was “flamingo”. Don’t ask me why he got it in his head that a flamingo is a small bird. (Incidentally, he later tried to justify it by saying he was comparing with an ostrich).

Since we could not come up with anything, he offered the next clue:

“It also walks!”

And were were even more bewildered. What do you mean “It walks?” When have you seen a bird that does not walk? Well, I guess we can look past the hummingbird for that.

At this point, I was convinced that his clues were wrong. I offered to see the card and see if I could clue alternately to Sharmila and Viji. He would have nothing of it.

“There is also an Italian dance by this name,” was his final clue.

Now, I am not into dancing but I am fairly sure I will know dance names better than Raj. After a few more moments, I was able to put the whole thing together…

“Dude, that is not even the name of the dance. And the Italians are going to be mighty peeved if you try to foist a Spanish dance on them”

And that is how we cracked “flamingo” in spite of a clueless Raj.

So, here you go Raj : We got down at Tampa airport yesterday and as we were walking out, we took a picture of this statue of a flamingo bird inside the airport in the hope that this might vaguely remind you in future whether a flamingo is a small bird or not!!!

After coming back from DC on Thursday evening, Sharmila and I were relaxing with Jay Jay at Truck and Tap in downtown Alpharetta over some wine and live music. We were discussing what a great time we had in Roatan island with Raj and Viji this week. And in Abaco island with DJ and PJ a couple of weeks earlier.

“What are we doing tomorrow?”, she asked.
“We are going to be in the lake during the day. We can go somewhere in the evening after that,” I said.
“Ok. Also, I am not working on Monday and Tuesday. We can do something over the weekend.”

I think she was hoping I will look up some wineries or a day trip to some North Georgia mountain or do some hiking.

I thought for a few minutes. And then came back with what I thought was a killer idea.

“I have an idea.”

“What?” she asked.

“Let’s go to the beach! I feel like I have not seen a beach in some time.” I deadpanned.

“WHAT???”

I am a bit of a beach crazy person that way. Some sunshine, a beach, a beachside bar and the vast expanse of water to stare at – that is what cloud nine looks to me.

So, some more wine and a little arm twisting later… here we are… headed to Florida!!!

Hope to enjoy the waters and catch up with old friends I have there.

On an aside, these non stop beach vacationing during retirement is really exhausting. You folks might have to intervene and get me a job just so that I get some rest!!!