Nashville this morning was cold, windy and rainy with dark ominous clouds. I find a very different scene upon my arrival here in West Palm Beach, FL - bright sunshine over clear skies and 88 degrees. I was not looking forward to the weather on my way here. I think of south Florida as being humid and hot. After leaving the terminal and heading outside, I find it surprisingly pleasant. It’s warm, but in a good way. There’s a breeze that is clean, ocean smelling and refreshing. It’s beautiful.
I’m here for a show at the Cruzan Amphitheater. The weather continues to be great. After a beautiful sunset, the evening stays very pleasant with that fresh breeze still blowing. I happen upon a new food item here for me. It’s an Arepas. It is two yellow sweet corn cakes, like thick cornbread or hoecakes, griddle fried with mozzarella in between them. The lady at the stand says it originates in Venezuela. They can be filled with various sweet or savory fillings. She says they also have them in Columbia where they are called Chapas and are made with white corn. Pretty tasty.
After the show, I head to the Hotel Biba, check in around 11:00 p.m., then head out to find dinner. I drive to Clematis Street. I’ve read that is a popular area in Palm Beach. It’s nice that it’s not crazy or feels unsafe here, just busy nightlife. There is a steady stream of traffic down Clematis Street past clubs booming dance music and people eating at sidewalk tables. Many people walking up and down the street are in their going out clothes. I see lots of “too” outfits: too tight and too short - not always flattering!
I’m on the search for food. I find Pizza Luna, a by-the-slice pizza place open to the street, joining in with their own booming dance music. I get a diet Coke and a slice of bacon pizza so big it hangs off both ends of the paper plate. Grabbing a table on the sidewalk, I sit down to enjoy some great pizza under a beautiful starlit night sky. The palm trees are swaying in the breeze. It’s 73 degrees. I now see why people come here for the winter. It’s like spring in the northern parts of the country.
The Hotel Biba is a boutique hotel that has all of the qualities you would expect in a hip hotel near the beach. It has a small number of rooms and has landscaped courtyards of palm trees and tropical plants with slate walks. The rooms appear to be from the forties with modern artistic furniture and retro colors – seafoam green walls with purple trim in the bedroom and salmon walls with yellow tile in the bathroom.
On Sunday morning, I get going early to have time to explore Palm Beach a little before heading to the airport. After enjoying the continental breakfast at Hotel Biba, with some nice touches like Cuban pastries and Tazo tea, I head north on Olive Street, then cut east on Okeechobee onto Palm Beach. The very large pristine white and sand colored buildings and immaculate palm tree lined streets leave no doubt that I have entered a different neighborhood. The beach is gorgeous. With cooler weather today, breezy and sixties, it’s refreshing and invigorating. The beach itself is a little more rustic feeling than I imagined. It's really nice. A family or two are out enjoying the beach or running their dog. I drive farther down Royal Palm Street to discover the villas, compounds, and mansions facing the Atlantic.
Hotel Biba:
It’s been a nice weekend here in West Palm Beach. It exceeded my expectations. I would definitely return again, especially this time of year.
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