Continued....

Here is where I stayed. Just kidding. My hotel was the little one with the red roof, just to the right of the huge, rather posh hotel.
If you look closely, you can see that on the left side of the red-roofed hotel is an open-air restaurant.
This is a closer pic. You can't see the restaurant, but the dolphin statue is directly over the front door.



The first morning, I went to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. The service was great. I did not want hash brown potatoes with my scrambled eggs and bacon, so the waiter suggested sliced tomato instead. Perfect! I was pleased. He seemed to know what I'd like. We chatted a bit about Fort Lauderdale and then I went to the beach.

One evening I had supper there. I ordered mahi-mahi served with veggies on a bed of rice. Ummmm - it was good. There was a man at the next table who struck up a conversation. He seemed friendly enough. We chatted about his internet business and his family.

"So what are you doing tomorrow? Not that I'm trying to ask you out!"
I didn't know whether to be insulted or to laugh.
I chose to laugh.
"I know you weren't."

Yikes - why did he have to justify a perfectly innocent question? I know he was just curious, or trying to make light conversation.

Then an older couple sat at the next table. I don't remember how they got involved in the conversation, but it was funny to be having a conversation with all these people as if we were at a dinner party. Except that we were seated at different tables, and had to shout a little to be heard over the noise of the other diners.

Breakfast time, on my last day of vacation. I wanted something simple and quick. There was a young lady sitting alone at the next table, eating blueberry pancakes. They looked yummy, so I ordered some. While waiting for my order, I started a conversation with the lady. We talked for a bit and then she left.

I was still waiting for breakfast and I was hungry. And getting crabby. I looked around and saw that other people (who had walked in after me) were already happily munching toast and bagels.

Now I was really getting annoyed. Where was my waitress? I hadn't seen her in a while. Did she go for coffee? Or home? To the beach?

I stopped a waiter "Is there a problem with my order? I haven't been served yet and they have." I made a sweeping motion with my arm to include the tables around me. And I didn't care if I sounded like a school kid.

"I'll go and check." he said amicably.

I waited a few minutes. My waitress still had not come back. Then I saw the waiter come back from the kitchen (where I presume he was checking on my order) and start clearing tables at the far end of the restaurant.

What the heck? Did he check for me or not? Well how about coming over to me and saying "your order's coming right up." Or "it will be just a few more minutes". Or... anything!

Now I was really mad. So up I got, once again, and angrily flounced away, down the sidewalk intending to pick up a ready-made sandwich at a convenience store.

I had gone about 2 blocks when I came across a familiar hotel. Wait a minute, didn't I stay here 4 or 5 years ago? With my Dolphin group? I'm sure of it! We stayed one night and the next day, departed for the Bahamas for a Swim with the Dolphins program. I remembered (back then) that breakfast had been included. Hmmmm. I wonder......

I walked right in. Said good-morning to the few people milling around. Popped a bagel into the toaster. Spread it with cream cheese. Poured a cup of coffee and took breakfast out on the terrace. Ahhhh this is more like it! My crabby self faded away. And Mrs. Crabby turned into Mrs. Full-stomach-satisfied. And Mrs. Satisfied turned into Mrs. Oh-no-did-I-really-do- that?

Walking back to my hotel, my conscience was prickling me. Maybe I should walk back and put a couple of dollars ..... where? It was a self-serve kitchen. There was no where to put any tips or money. Should I leave it at the front desk? The desk clerk would pocket it. Well so what? It would ease my conscience. But then I would have to explain....

Too late now anyway. I had to get packing. So I left a few dollars for the maid who cleaned my room.

I know. She had nothing to do with it. And it was a totally different hotel. But I felt better. And made blueberry pancakes for Hubby and me when I got home.