Starbucks Surprise

Sitting at the Starbucks at the corner of Pine Forest and Nine Mile - yes, there actually is a Starbucks out here! - I just discovered it the other day!

Now this is why I fell in love with Starbucks to begin with! Man, I don't know what they do differently out here, but this is how an Iced Caffe Mocha is supposed to taste! - the perfect collision of warm espresso, with chocolate and cold milk - topped with fresh whipped, whipped cream.

And the outdoor patio space is amazing!

What's even better is, that there's a "Philly's" Cheesesteak joint across the way in the Publix plaza - so when that hunger pang sets in after a nice long lingering over coffee, you can head across the street for an amazing scrumptious big fat philly cheesesteak sandwich and fries.

I haven't actually been to the one across the street yet, but I have been to the one at 3900 Creighton Rd #4, and it is phenomenal! so, I'm guessing this Nine Mile one is too!

Very happy to have discovered this new side of town! :)

Pensacola Mornings

The other day, I took a drive out to the beach in the early morning.

It was absolutely incredibly peaceful and beautiful out there so early. Sitting there with a blanket draped over my shoulders and a nice hot cup of coffee in hand, it was hard to imagine that in just an hour or so I'd be across town in a whole different world, at work.

Up above on the fishing pier, anglers were already out and about getting their catch for the day. They must wake up really early!

I sat there and read a free, local paper that I had picked up with my coffee at the local Circle K.

Freedom. That's what the whole experience felt like, like I was on the awesomest of vacations without a care in the world.

It's amazing how an hour or two of time here in Pensacola could go so far. Heading out the door even 1 hour earlier before work, can give you such a whole new energy and outlook for your day!

Lions, and tigers, and poisonous snakes and alligators?!?! oh My!!

Ok. So no real lions, tigers or bears here, but poisonous snakes and alligators?! Well, maybe.

That is maybe if you happen to go for a seemingly benign nature stroll along University of West Florida's Edward Ball Nature Trail......

It was a leisurely Tuesday afternoon when I recently decided that I was in need of a great adventure.

It was time to head off to UWF in search of some nature trails that I had heard a few random students talking about a few months back.

After stopping at the UWF Visitor Center to inquire about where these nature trails were? How to get there? Where to park? etc. I was quite pleased to find the foretold parking lot and a nice big sign that said something along the lines of "Edward Ball Nature Trail. Take a walk right down the walkway, and go down the stairs to the left." All I know is that I saw the stairs, and I couldn't get to them fast enough. I was so ready for a nice long bout with nature.

However, just before bounding into the woods, my excitement quickly turned to a cautionary "I'm not too sure about this" feeling when I read the words "CAUTION You may encounter poisonous snakes and alligator in this area," on a sign posted near the entrance.

I was horrified. "What?" I thought to myself "Is this for real?"

I looked all around, somehow expecting someone, somewhere to call out "Hey, what are you doing over there?! Don't go in the woods!" But, I neither saw nor heard a soul.

I wasn't too sure what to think, or what to do next. I looked around again and saw some people milling about the building above the trail, but they seemed unconcerned with my presence on the trail.

It was nearing early evening and though my better instincts told me that this might not be the best idea, the disappearing path into the woods just seemed so enticing.

I was desperately longing for the soothing solace of a "nothing but God's green earth." I reasoned with myself that I had "driven all the way out here, and I didn't want the whole afternoon to be a waste." "I mean, certainly this trail wouldn't have been built here in the first place and opened it to the public if it weren't safe - It must be ok..."

So, I entered the woods.

When I encountered two bicyclists, at the first minute into my trek, I was encouraged that I wasn't the "only one" on the trail. They looked like they were just finishing up a long ride. They didn't really say anything, but I felt conspicuous for ambling about alone. They rode on.

It wasn't much further down the path, that I jumped and nearly froze when I heard a rustling in the bushes....It turned out to be a squirrel.

As I rounded another bend, I heard people talking and laughing ahead. It turned out to be a couple frolicking around a bridge with their dog. I was horrified to see the woman, traipsing off into the woods, off the path, stepping precariously over a fallen tree limb that hung over some water - her dog running all around her and finally making a big splash into the water.

"Are they crazy?" I wondered. "They're wandering off the path? Aren't there alligators and snakes around here?" In retrospect, I was the one venturing down this wild, green-wooded yonder, alone. So, I'm sure they were wondering the same about me.

At any rate, I wandered down the path that was supposed to be relaxing me, and all it was doing was freaking me out. It was intriguing me as well.

The narrow, wooden-bridged path seemed to circle around into oblivion with nothing but swampy waters, trees and all sorts of intriguing greenery draped in every which direction.

I was sorta, kinda, just starting to relax when the sudden sound of something trodding quickly and heavily down the path in front of me made my heart skip a beat. I jumped, froze and held my breath all at once, before realizing that the thumping sound was was nothing more than a loud, shaggy, enthusiastic dog accompanied by another quieter canine friend and two human running companions.

"I'm about done with this!" I thought to myself after being able to catch my breath again. All 10 to 15 minutes into the trail, I was nothing but jittery and nervous. "I can't take this," I concluded. "I came here to relax and I'm freaking myself out. This whole thing is not very smart at all."

At this conclusion, as well as the happening upon another "poisonous snakes and alligator" sign, I decided to "Get the hec out of Oz!" So, I turned around and headed back out toward the trail entrance.

Still, not quite ready to give up on my adventure, I stopped occasionally to take pictures of various plant species, trees and swamps along the way. I was just framing up for another shot of another swamp, when I saw that my Dad was calling me on my cell. - So I answered.

"Get out of there!" my Dad said instantly, when I told him where I was at and what I was up to.... So, I did. I hurried out of there as quickly as I should of been going in the first place. I wondered later if my Dad found it odd that he had to tell me the obvious.

....... Yes folks, that was my short and sweet adventure on the Edward Ball Nature Trail. No, I didn't encounter any snakes, alligator or any other fascinating creatures, but I am left in wonder and amazement that anyone would venture down that trail for leisurely purposes. I definitely DO NOT recommend going without a dog and a stick.

After a little further internet research on the place, I found an online guide, which I suppose I should have at least browsed through before going. I still have yet to really read it, but at least I now know it's there.

I was also quite aghast to come across a Trekaroo review of the trail, which features a picture of children leaning over the wooden rail - People actually take children down this trail? The reviewer also writes quite casually about the possibility of encountering a snake!

Maybe it's my northern upbringing, but this is all so fascinating and confusing to me at once. I think the Edward Ball Nature Trail is kind of cool, but also very precarious. - Is the possibility of encountering a snake or alligator so slim that people don't really worry about it? Is there an actual real an present possibility of encountering one of these slithering species on the trail? Is this kind of trail safe to walk on? If you encounter a snake or gator, should you pay them no mind? Is there some kind of Floridian knowledge I'm missing out on here?

I guess I'm not in Ohio anymore. The good news is, that besides a skipped heart beat or two, I did make it home alright!

Valentine's Day in Pensacola ...

Well here it is Valentine's Day again. It's so funny, I've never really gotten overly emotional about the day - whether I was in a relationship or not.

To me Valentine's Day is a day for chocolate. Just like one looks forward to their birthday in expectancy of cake and ice cream - Valentine's Day, for me, has always conjured up more images and expectancy of chocolate than outright romance (I never did mind a little jewelry either).

...Today, Valentine's Day 2012, i actually found myself quite happy that I had the day to my self. It felt nice to be outside of all of the hubub and hoopla that comes about with this day of love - girls freaking out and spending hours to get the perfect Valentine's Day look, guys freaking out over what kind of roses, gift or display of affection to dish out - so many decisions to make depending on what stage of relationship you happen to be in when the day of love arrives....

Guys are hoping for their own sorts of things i suppose, and girls are hoping, i guess, to get a rose, roses or some other outlandish display of affection, maybe an "i love you," - I've always been contended with CHOCOLATE!

So as it were this year, I found myself quite happily outside all of the concerns of the day, but I did decide ahead of time that I would celebrate in my own little way - I wore my favorite pink, corduroy pants in celebration of love, and..... of course, I made my own plans to head to the store for a special chocolate treat.

The day wore on quite quickly and I found myself preoccupied with rearranging my bedroom and office - Seemingly mundane activities, but I was actually enjoying myself quite well.

Not wanting to let the day slip away before celebrating with some sort of chocolate treat, I just now ran out to the local gas station - without even looking in the mirror....

There I am, alone on Valentine's Day evening, buying a Hershey's Dark Chocolate with Almonds candy bar, happy as can be - and blissfully unaware of the fact that in the process of cleaning, my eye makeup had smeared and apparantly run down my face.

I got home, looked in the mirror and exclaimed Omg! The eye makeup had run down my cheek in such a way that it looked like I had been crying quite hard. Omg! I exclaimed to my sister who I was on the phone with at the time...

I have to laugh thinking of it - here I was happier than I've ever been, even than on the V'ti days when I was with someone, but to the gas station clerk, I'm sure I appeared to be the stereotypical sad Valentine-less girl - alone, crying, eating a chocolate candy bar to console herself...

It's funny how looks can be deceiving - I look back at pictures of me when I was with various boyfriends - and in those pics I look so happy, but I remember how miserable I was inside.

This Valentine's Day, I am happy that I am really happy!

So here's to a celebrating Love and Chocolate - two of my favorite things in the world!!!

Happy Valentine's Day all!

A drive to ...

When I started out and about this morning, I never would have guessed that I would have ended up in Fort Walton Beach, FL or Destin, FL.

It started out as a usual Saturday morning for me - not quite sure what I was going to get into today, but was quite sure about my usual Saturday morning Starbucks in Gulf Breeze.

The weather here was quite beautiful today - even at this time of year! Today, I was able to traipse around in just a light jacket. I even took my jacket off for the sunniest part of the day, cruising around town in a summer tank top.

Anyway, back to the point of the post - So after grabbing my Starbucks, I on a whim, headed out to Pensacola Beach for a little drive. It was not warm enough to actually frolick around at the beach, but I thought a change of scenery would be quite perfect for today - and it was!

As I pulled over the $1 toll bridge and onto the main beach drag, I fell in love with Pensacola all over again - Even on a day like today, when I couldn't really think of a thing to do, there's always a drive out to the beach!

Even though it was a little windy and chilly with the ocean air blowing off the Gulf of Mexico, it was incredibly invigorating to just feel the fresh energy of being so close to the water. The beach drag was quite deserted as compared to how packed it is during the summer, but there were a few other people who had the same idea as me and were just walking around by the beach taking in the scenery and the refreshing gusts of salty ocean wind.

One dad walked around with his children who were all running about -

"Generally, when you're trying to get sand off of you, you don't run into the sand," I heard him tell his one child who was splashing through the sand. .....

... After taking in the refreshing scenery at Pensacola Beach, I decided on a whim to head out to Navarre - I had only been through Navarre once before briefly, but remembered it a a calm, peaceful, beachy, yet not touristy, type place.

It is about 20 minutes further away from Pensacola Beach and I was on empty, but I was feeling adventurous and thought it worth chancing the drive.

As I drove, I was just raptured by the beauty of the endless miles of white sugar sand beaches. The closer I got to Navarre, the water seemed more of an aqua blue and the commercial feel of Pensacola Beach faded into a distant memory.

Navarre Beach is known to be one of Florida's best kept secrets because of it's incredible beauty, but mostly because it has managed to avoid getting cluttered with condos and touristy restaurants and shops, etc.

I truly enjoyed my time there, just soaked it all in. I can write a whole post about Navarre and probably will one day!

But on to how I ended up in Destin.... Once I was in Navarre, I just was not ready to go home - I just felt a longing to keep driving and exploring - and so I did.

I have often heard of Fort Walton Beach and Destin, but really didn't realize I was headed in that direction, until I saw the signs informing of miles till their upcoming. - Fort Walton Beach and Destin are two of the most popular tourist places around - People pay thousands of dollars for vacations there, and here I was about to enjoy these places in one Saturday drive.

So, yes, to my pleasant surprise I found myself in Fort Walton Beach. After coming upon the most quaint strip of shops in Fort Walton, I pulled the car over and got out to explore on foot. - That is when I found the most engaging Coke/Antique shop. The owner was so friendly and informative about the history of his products. I just had to get a picture by this huge Coke Bottle that you see above. It was quite cool!

Then - things got even better - there was some sort of dog festival going on right across the way, so I shocked myself, made a donation, and entered the dog care festival. (I don't even have pets, not really into treating pets like little humans, and if I had to choose a charity to donate to, most likely would choose something else over pet care) - but, here I was making a donation and walking around enjoying the festivities.

After Fort Walton, I still wasn't ready to head home and that's how I ended up in Destin - At least an hour's drive from my original starting point of Pensacola/Gulf Breeze.

The beauty and variety of novelties and things to do seemed endless. It was almost surreal to encounter so much "paradise" all in one day. I didn't stop to eat anywhere, but there looked to be quite a few good restaurants in both Fort Walton and Destin - and Destin even has a Starbucks ... hmm.. most definitely will be returning!

Anyway, will be posting a video blog about this soon! So check out my "...In Pensacola" Video Blog within the next couple of days for more pics!