Feels so cool aboard the Carnival Cruiseliner, as the cool Atlantic breeze blows across warm and muggy Ft. Lauderdale, neae Miami. This is the kind of Sunday afternoon I don't mind looking forward to, as it doesn't remind me of the work week ahead.
Time to soak up some sun and fun, inhale some fresh,tropical air, conquest the Eastern Carribean aboard the aptly named Cruiseliner "Carnival Conquest". Time to shrug off some jaded nerves in the picturesque Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Grand Turk Islands.
The drive to destination was 600 odd miles from my place. We took a night halt at Stuart, Florida. I told the Gujju bhai at the motel desk, that in America so many motels are owned by Patels, they can very well renamed as Potels.
He smiled, trying his best to ape an American accent - "This MYOTHEL' s owner is a Shah". I replied "it's Shotel then. POTEL or SHOTEL, you have made India, Gujurati and India proud, strictly in that order". Impressed, our Gujju bhai (bro) offered us comimentaries. As it goes - BADI BADI KHUSIYAN HAI CHHOTI CHHOTI BATON MEIN, meaning, Small talks bring tons of happiness. Little sweet talk never hurts.
Once during one of my Florida halts, I checked into a motel one hot summer afternoon. While the receptionist handed over me the magnetic strip key to our room, feel the waves of wafting cool air from the AC caressing my cheeks. I saw a mosquito surreptitiously sitting on her cheek.
While handing over the key, she smiles at me "Do you have any questions ?" I said "May I slap you ?" "What ?" She retorted back. I pointed to the mosquito on her cheek. Bursting into laughter, she slapped herself to swat it away and said - "Welcome to Florida". We call Mosquito our National Bird.
She had a point, as we continued driving past numerous marshes and low lying swamps. I saw couple of Mango trees, with branches burdened with clusters of low hanging fruits. Weather was getting warmer and muggy.
Numerous palm trees swayed and waved at us as we went past towns, appropriately named as Palm Coast, Palm City, Palm Bay, West Palm Beach etc. Florida is unique it's way. The more South you travel, it gets flatter, surrounded by bodies of water, and to the chagrin of Republicans demography more Democratic. More later....
Time to soak up some sun and fun, inhale some fresh,tropical air, conquest the Eastern Carribean aboard the aptly named Cruiseliner "Carnival Conquest". Time to shrug off some jaded nerves in the picturesque Bahamas, Dominican Republic and Grand Turk Islands.
The drive to destination was 600 odd miles from my place. We took a night halt at Stuart, Florida. I told the Gujju bhai at the motel desk, that in America so many motels are owned by Patels, they can very well renamed as Potels.
He smiled, trying his best to ape an American accent - "This MYOTHEL' s owner is a Shah". I replied "it's Shotel then. POTEL or SHOTEL, you have made India, Gujurati and India proud, strictly in that order". Impressed, our Gujju bhai (bro) offered us comimentaries. As it goes - BADI BADI KHUSIYAN HAI CHHOTI CHHOTI BATON MEIN, meaning, Small talks bring tons of happiness. Little sweet talk never hurts.
Once during one of my Florida halts, I checked into a motel one hot summer afternoon. While the receptionist handed over me the magnetic strip key to our room, feel the waves of wafting cool air from the AC caressing my cheeks. I saw a mosquito surreptitiously sitting on her cheek.
While handing over the key, she smiles at me "Do you have any questions ?" I said "May I slap you ?" "What ?" She retorted back. I pointed to the mosquito on her cheek. Bursting into laughter, she slapped herself to swat it away and said - "Welcome to Florida". We call Mosquito our National Bird.
She had a point, as we continued driving past numerous marshes and low lying swamps. I saw couple of Mango trees, with branches burdened with clusters of low hanging fruits. Weather was getting warmer and muggy.
Numerous palm trees swayed and waved at us as we went past towns, appropriately named as Palm Coast, Palm City, Palm Bay, West Palm Beach etc. Florida is unique it's way. The more South you travel, it gets flatter, surrounded by bodies of water, and to the chagrin of Republicans demography more Democratic. More later....
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