Getting away
I love vacation. I know it seems silly that here I am, a retiree, and I love vacation. It is just the idea of being someplace else for a little while that doesn’t require you to clean or wash it. Some place where I ask for things and they appear. In other words, not home.
The hubby and I went to Diamond Beach below Wildwood for nine days as a Christmas gift from my son who is not a shopper but knows what we like. The hotel was called the Icona. We’d been past it many times in our forays to the island. The room was nicely appointed but the balcony view of the beach and sea was stunning. Dramatically colored sunrises and sunsets that change the ocean color from pink to gold to blue were visible from the comfort of our room. Dolphins popping out of the water for a breath of air only reinforced the idea that I was never leaving. Even the full moon put on a show by illuminating a path through the dark water. What the heck, they have the kid’s card on file!
Yeah, I do get spoiled quickly. I could’ve spent nine days on the balcony just gazing off into the surf but the husband had another agenda. He is one of those people who is up at 5am and is convinced that I also should be up. He frets about our activity of the day. Where to go?
Horror of horrors, I actually take my time getting ready. Why, we didn’t leave for breakfast until almost 8:30! Then we had to go do something…anything. I tried to convince him that nothing was open. But we still window shopped at closed stores and walked along the rolled down gates of the boardwalk stores. It did keep my spending under control and afforded a nice tan without the burning rays.
The zoo opened early. That was fun. It had been awhile since I had been. It is a long walk through the convoluting paths past critters. They rent scooters now, but I brought my own. My favorite stop was the lions. A beautiful male and female lounging in the morning sun. My least favorite was the monkeys. I’m not a fan of the vile, poop-flinging creatures.
The giraffes were cool, too. The most fun fact I know about giraffes is one I learned from an ex-keeper that I had the pleasure of working with. Did you know that a giraffe can kick the head off of a lion? That’s a heck of a defense if you ask me. And now you know…
Many of the creatures in this zoo are animals that were injured in the wild and healed but could not survive back in the wild. It’s nice to know someone has their backs.
Cape May also had some shops that opened early. We had to wait for them, but I found a shop that makes tote bags and other things out of recycled sails. My tote bag addiction forced my to unload some shillings there. I got some cool bags.
The farmer’s market on Saturday was good. I bought wine.
Back at the room, one of the amenities that I really enjoyed were the little bottles of stuff that they give you. The conditioner and lotion rocked. The lip balm with SPF was awesome! I never thought to pack that! And yes, there was a mint on the pillow.
While I would heartily recommend the Icona for lodging, eat elsewhere. The breakfast buffet was lukewarm scrambled eggs, cold pancakes but some excellent sausage. Bagel Time Café offers a great selection of breakfast fare with amazing specials that won’t break the bank. Dinners on site at the hotel are pricey but scant. Head for the Crest tavern, 2 Mile Landing or the Salty Mermaid for more affordable and delicious options.
I’m home now but miss the frolicking dolphins. I wonder if they would fit in my pool?
