Halloween

Paintball

Fall Fun

Chateau on the Lake

Zipline

Honeymoon Island - Dunedin, FL

Capture the Moment

The Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa was a very contemporary hotel in Celebration, FL. The pool is definitely impressive. It is a circular infinity pool with the hot tub in the middle. John and I only got a few minutes of down-time to relax by the pool, but it was wonderful!

Celebration, Florida

We had a great time walking around this adorable town near Orlando. There was plenty to photograph. Plus, there was a farmer’s market to stroll through. We ended up stopping at a small wine bar to enjoy some sangria while watching everyone stroll through the town.

Sunrise Sunset

John's sunrise photo of the Gulf from his fishing boat. My sunset photo of the Gulf from my favorite restaurant, The Hurricane.

The Don CeSar Hotel

Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete's Beach in Florida is a pink beachfront icon with a romantic history. Don CeSar was built by an enterprising man. Rowe was young man when he studied in Europe and romanced young lady named Lucinda. The couple would meet by a beautiful courtyard fountain. Lucinda's parents did not approve of Rowe and put an end to the relationship. Brokenhearted, Rowe returned to America. Rowe sent love letters to Lucinda, which were returned, unopened. Sadly, Lucinda died young. She wrote Rowe a note on her deathbed: "Time is infinite. I wait for you by our fountain...to share our timeless love, our destiny is time. When Rowe built the Don CeSar in 1924, he included a fountain that was a replica of their rendezvous. Employees at the Don CeSar tell tales of seeing a couple who appear walking hand-in-hand. The gentleman is a dapper man in a white suit and Panama hat. The young lady is a dark haired beauty. matching the descriptions of Thomas Rowe and his beloved Lucinda. The attractive couple walk through the hotel and disappear.

The Don CeSar was Thomas Rowe's dream. Rowe's health was failing when he migrated to Florida and began building a "pink castle". Rowe purchased 80 acres on a narrow strip of land known as St. Pete Beach. Rowe transported building materials on a barge.

The Don Cesar was designed to emulate the pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel on Waikiki Beach.Hawaii. Thomas Rowe, had made a fortune and spared no expense creating this cotton candy pink vision with Mediterranean and Moorish architectural motifs. .Inside were ornate marble fountains, lofty ceilings and rich furnishings. Most guest rooms enjoyed views of the Gulf of Mexico or Boca Ciega Bay. Don CeSar, named for a character in a light opera named Maritiana, was a landmark that became a maritime navigational aid.

During the Roaring 20's, high society, flocked to the pink beachfront tropical getaway. Rich and famous guests. included: FDR, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Clarence Darrow, Lou Gehrig and Al Capone.


According to Rowe's employees, he considered Don CeSar his home. Rowe would sit at the top of the lobby stairs surveying each guest as they registered. Guests who did not meet his standards, would be asked to leave.

I felt very fortunate to stay in this hotel. It was absolutely stunning inside. John and I explored as much as we could and got so many amazing photographs of the grounds. We lounged on the beach looking at stars. We sat across from a very historical looking bar and had a few drinks while a piano player played Billy Joel tunes. Several times I would shake my head in disbelief. I felt like a fairy tale princess in a pink castle. What an amazing place with an incredible history.