We are a little more than halfway through our vacation on Ocracoke and I can already tell it’s going to be too short.
I’m not blogging much due to a dicey internet connection. That also means I’m not really following the news….
It’s nice to take a bit of a break from it all and focus on simpler things that are more immediate and real…
We went for a walk on the beach yesterday. The beaches here are amazing. They are all protected National Seashore….No houses, condo’s, hotels, restaurants or bars are allowed. They are natural- just as they have always been.
I’m not much for actually sitting on the beach. That concept is, to me, much better than the reality. I hate sand getting into everything. I don’t like sticky smelly seawater and oily sunscreen makes my face break out…
When I first saw “From Here to Eternity” and the famous scene of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr kissing and embracing in the surf as the waves crashed over them, all I could think of was that they had to be getting sand all up their bathing suits and that they couldn’t possibly be comfortable. It seemed to me that they should have just checked into the Hilton like normal people in their, uh, situation…
But, still, I do love Ocracoke. I do enjoy these walks and being around such beautiful isolation.
It’s nice to be away from it all and I could definitely use another week. It’s been a stressful year and Ocracoke is the perfect place to de-stress and focus on the simple things in life. Like reading and deciding where to have dinner.
There are really some excellent restaurants on this island.
Our favorite restaurant is easily “The Flying Melon”. Imagine country French food made with local seafood only hours out of the water. And fabulous deserts. We eat there several times when we are here…
“Jason’s” is also a favorite. In this case, imagine a New York Italian Restaurant that does seafood. Great pizza’s and sandwiches and the best Pesto Pasta- with fresh shrimp or scallops- that I’ve ever had.
“The Back Porch is probably the most famous restaurant on the Island. We ate there last night. They are coasting on their reputation. We only go every few years to check it out and see if it’s improved. It hasn’t. It’s just okay. “The Flying Melon” has them beat in every conceivable way…
Tonight, it’s off to “Dajios.” This is a new restaurant in a very nice space that use to be
“The Pelican”. The food is much better than the former incarnation. It’s great place with an outdoor patio and live music. Tonight we are going to hear Katy Mitchell, a local artist who’s CD we bought a few years ago and greatly enjoyed. There are a lot of talented musicians on Ocracoke and good live music is often available here…
Tomorrow night is a wine tasting at “Zillies”. We always enjoy that, but usually end up too drunk to do anything but order pizza afterwards…
Our friend Michael, now from Portland, and his- now our-friend Jim were on Island Monday night. We celebrated Michael’s birthday with a very nice meal at “Cafe Atlantic” and stayed up til midnight having entirely too much wine.
Tonight and tomorrow, we’ll be enjoying the company of our friends Lee and Michael- fellow Greensboro residents and Ocracoke devotees who usually come the same week we do. It will be great, as always, to spend time with them here on the island.
The weather has been good, but questionable. Always seeming to be on the verge of rain…
As I said, it’s a great place to get away– but not from too much!
Lost in the 21st Century 