A Slice of Life
Bill Lites
New Years Day (1/1/2024 Continued)
I was surprised at how quickly the passenger exchange took place at the West Palm Beach station. Within about two minutes the train was moving again. The train picked up speed, and before long we had passed thru Lake Worth Beach, Boynton Beach, and Delray Beach, before arriving at the Boca Raton station. Another quick passenger exchange took place, and we were off again. We quickly passed thru Deerfield Beach, Hillsboro Beach, and Pompano Beach, before arriving at the Fort Lauderdale station.
Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/fortlauderdale/brightline/station/
Since it was New Year’s Day, and most of the museums were closed, our plan had been to visit the Museum of Discovery and Science first, and then catch an Uber to a restaurant on Los Olas Street for lunch. Then after lunch we had planned to catch another Uber to the beach for a stroll in the sun, before returning to the Brightline Station for our 3:25 pm return train ride back to Orlando.
Photo Credit: https://onthegrid.city/museum-of-discovery-and-science
However, when we exited the Brightline Station, and were looking around for which way it was to the museum, a Brightline electric courtesy shuttle (Ridecircuit) driver across the street called us over. She explained that as Brightline ‘Premium’ passengers she was available to take us anywhere we wanted to go within a 5-mile radius, FREE! We were not aware of this amenity, and immediately took her up on the deal. Since it was getting close to lunch time anyway, and the Ridecircult shuttle was right there, ready to go, we decided to change our plans and have lunch first.
Photo Credit: https://www.ridecircuit.com/fortlauderdale
Our friendly Ridecircult shuttle driver took us to Los Olas Street and showed us the “Restaurant Row” area. We checked out the many great restaurants as we rode thru the area and asked her to drop us off at the Cuba Libre Cuben Restaurant.
Photo Credit: https://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/in/fortlauderdale/
She gave us a phone number to call for our next FREE Ridecircult shuttle ride to the beach and she was on her way. At the Cuba Libre Restaurant, we sat at an outdoor table where we could “people watch” and admire the many antique and luxury cars cruising up and down the crowded Los Olas Street.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
The Cuba Libre Restaurant doesn’t look all that big from the Los Olas Street entrance, but it is huge inside, because it is located on a corner lot that I didn’t notice when we exited the Ridecircult shuttle out front. I can just imagine what last night’s New Year’s Eve festive atmosphere must have been like, with a full crowd and all that great Cuban music and dancers. Just the place to be to celebrate the New Year in.
Photo Credit: https://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/in/fortlauderdale/
However, at 11:30 am on New Year’s Day, as you can see in the photo below, there were nothing but empty tables, set for the lunch crowd, for us to choose from. We ordered their Ropa Vieja plate (one of Billy’s favorites) served with plantains and black beans and rice. There was enough for two, so we split that delicious meal.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
After that delightful meal, we called for our next Brightline FREE Ridecircult shuttle pickup for a ride to the beach. This time the man who picked us up had a serious problem with his vehicle’s running gear (it was making a lot of noise) and said he hoped it would last until he got us to the beach. We made it to the beach, and he dropped us off at the Cortez Street entrance to the beach, just north and across A1A from the Elbow Room. Then he headed off to his repair station for a replacement vehicle.
Photo Credit: Bill Lites
The weather was warm by now, and the beach was crowded with sun-worshipers. We were both surprised at the sight, as it had been cold enough in Orlando (this morning) that we both had left our houses with jackets on. It is amazing how different the weather can be in just a short distance traveled south this time of year in Florida. We walked the beach for a while and then realized that the time for our 3:25 pm Brightline train back to Orlando was getting closer, and we needed to allow time for our Brightline FREE Ridecircult shuttle to pick us up and get us back to the station. We called for a pickup and watched for him, as the traffic up and down A1A was really heavy. Our shuttle finally arrived and the trip to the station was very interesting.
Photo Credit: https://www.ridecircuit.com/fortlauderdale
—–To Be Continued—–
Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 65 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing. He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville. Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.
One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is: John 10:10
Old Things R New 