Sunny Get-Away

I've got to say, I am loving the fact that my in-laws recently retired and moved to Florida. There is absolutely no hardship in leaving the freezing cold Washington, DC winter and spending a few days in the sun. It's just icing on the cake that Rose and Yakov watch Zahara while Dan and I get a few days to relax.

It was a short visit--only two full days--but it was just what I needed. While Zoey was off playing with her grandparents, Dan and I spent the day in South Beach. This is one of my favorite spots in the world. The beach is perfect white sand against the stunning turquoise blue ocean. It was a little too windy to lay out, but it was perfect weather for strolling and people watching.

As soon as we got out of the car, we stumbled upon the most ridiculous thing: a beach volley ball tournament sponsored by modeling agencies. That's right. tons of gorgeous models--both men and women--wearing next to nothing while running and jumping in the sand.

It was actually a fun event. There were a lot of booths giving various things away, including Jimmy Johns sandwiches, Evian water, and a protein shake company that let you blend your own shake with a bicycle. That was neat.

We ate delicious, but expensive sushi at Sushi Samba. If you go, I recommend the Ezo* roll and the Samba Juice. I loved the fresh watermelon pieces soaked in booze. Just a warning, the juice is stronger than it sounds.

That night we went to a fun cocktail party at my in-laws' condo. Sitting by the pool drinking free cocktails and eating free kosher food...does it get any better?? Zahara even made some friends. It's so fun to watch her play with other kids her age.

The next day we ate a big, delicious breakfast at Sage Bagel and Deli. The whitefish salad was amazing. The Challah French toast looks very unappealing, but don't let looks deceive you. The deep-fried outside is crunchy while the inside is nice and creamy.

We were lucky enough to spend some time with Dan's cousin Avi and his wonderful girlfriend Dina. We don't get to see them nearly often enough, so this was a real treat.

All-in-all, this was a fantastic trip. I can't wait to do it again soon!

* Ezo: soy-marinated salmon, asparagus, onion, chive, sesame, tempura flake, wasabi mayonnaise, soy paper.
Samba Juice: Bacardi Razz, melon and crème de banana shaken with açai, fresh watermelon, passion fruit purée and guava. Served long and topped with Prosecco.