Destin - 2016 Heading to the gulf

After a delicious (?) breakfast at the Hampton, we loaded up and headed to Pensacola.  We enjoyed the drive down or at least I did.  James did all the driving yesterday.  We arrived at the gate to the navy base about noon.  Naturally, the GPS had taken us to a restricted access entrance. Due to all the terrorist activity in the world, the base is on alert.  The soldier at the gate turned us around and sent us to the back gate which is near the aviation museum.  Signs everywhere not to use our cell phones while on base.  We just put ours in airplane mode so we could take photos.  I didn't take many as my phone seems to be acting up.  Time for a new one? :-) No. :-(  We'll see.  The Navy Aviation museum is unbelievable.  The way the planes, etc., are displayed is amazing.  We have been to the aviation museum in Topeka but it does not compare.  If you are ever in the Pensacola area, I would certainly recommend.

After we were finished, we headed to the Fish House for lunch. This had been recommended by both my son-in-law and his mother.  What better way to chose a place to eat.  We were late enough that it we given the dinner menu.  I did ask about sandwiches for my non-fishing loving husband, but he decided he wanted to try some shrimp.  He decided to have the Grits a Ya Ya.  The waitress offered to have chicken put on the grits instead of shrimp.  No, had to try the shrimp.  Well, guess what?  More left over shrimp for me. He did eat a few.

Grits a Ya Ya

I had blackened shrimp with smoked gouda grits (same as grits as above), and black-eyed peas.  I thought a very gulf and southern meal.  I do like cheese grits.

Blackened shrimp

We then headed to Destin and our condo.  It was probably 75 minutes.  Once again, very interesting drive.  Drove over the longest bridge.  We could see the gulf occasionally and the towns were interesting as well.  Arrived at our destination and checked in.  The condo is okay but I wanted to stay here because of the view from our balcony.  Definitely worth the view.  A group of pelicans just flew by and there is a fisherman standing down on the beach.  His bait is a rather large fish.

From our 11th floor condo

I am used to VRBO condos where there are some supplies in the kitchen, i.e. coffee, sugar, and a powdered creamer.  This is a condo hotel although some of the condos are privately owned.  No supplies of any kind but there is soap.  Oh well. We have discovered a Waffle House directly across from the complex.  Of course, it is across highway 98.  Quite a bit of traffic.  We are very careful running across. There is a grass median between the lanes so only need to accomplish a half at a time.  There is also a Shake's Custard.  Guess what we had for a bedtime snack.  That's right, chocolate concretes with Heath Bar crumbles.  Yummy.  One nice thing about this complex is that we are allowed to check out 2 DVDs at a time.  We picked up Hunger Games, Part 2 and Creed.  Last night we watched Hunger Games.  Glad we didn't pay for that but am glad to see the end of the series.  We also have Creed which we will watch this evening.  

All in all, another good day.