By: Marcia Abramson
On this trip my plans also included previewing Donald Trump's new venture in Sunny Isles. He joined with Michael and Gil Dezer, a New York father and son team engaged in developing properties. Together with Sonesta Hotels, Dezer and Trump will open the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort Hotel next month. Deborah Roker, the knowledgeable Sonesta representative, showed me around the 34- story building. It is unique in that it is a completely round structure, which makes the views of the Atlantic and the Intercostals even more spectacular. I believe that this will be another Trump Sonesta triumph. Since I did not choose to rent a car, I was advised to take the Tri Rail from Miami Airport to Delray Beach. I took a taxi to Miami and for $5 I boarded a comparatively new clean train heading North with stops at Fort Lauderdale Airport, Holiday, Pompano, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach Airport ending in Magnolia Park. A great feature of this service for a traveler with luggage is that all the stations are ground-level. Within an hour and a half I was at the Delray Beach Terminal on my way to Glen Eagles. Glen Eagles is an upscale condominium complex with beautifully landscaped tropical flora. The swaying palm trees, green lawns, colorful flowers and bright sun are a delight for a sun starved, flowerless and leafless tree Long Islander. The golf carts adorning the grounds of the clubhouse were also a welcome sight. The Loch Maree street signs brought back memories of the glens of Scotland. The two-bedroom, two-bath condo was more than ample to introduce me to condo living. My absent host, Ellen Martin, a friend of my daughter Jill, made certain that her mother Bernice Westin came to get the condo ready for me. That evening I went to the club for dinner. It was Italian buffet night. An all-I-could-eat from minestrone soup to veal parmigiana was very satisfying and inexpensive. The next morning the charming Bernice came with breakfast. I must confess that I could get used to condo and country club living. Shortly after breakfast, Dorothy Harvey, a former Five Towner, now living in a magnificent home in Boynton Beach, came to pick me up in her silver Jaguar to visit with my Woodmere snowbird friends Harris and Claire Newman in their winter abode in Boca Point. Boca Point is another upscale residential country club community with deluxe condos and homes. The talented Claire's condo is filled with her lovely paintings and handsome sculptures. Claire spends many an afternoon painting while Harris is either golfing or playing tennis. Incidentally, the young tennis pro, Andy Roddick, just established residency at Boca Point. After a delightful lunch at the club, I was on my way to Palm Beach Gardens. At Palm Beach Gardens, I was the houseguest of the gracious Jerry Berman and the charismatic Carol Berman who is the New York State Elections Chair and former State Senator. They have a winsome house within walking distance of the elegant Ballen Isles Club. Ballen Isles is also the venue of many million-dollar glorious homes. The world champions Serena and Venus Williams live in this heavenly area. They don't use any of the 23 tennis courts but can be found at the fitness center when they are not on the pro circuit. Ballen Isles also boasts of three PGA golf courses where you can find Jerry and Carol most sunny days. There is a plethora of activities and a myriad of excellent restaurants. I did get to the theater to see "Park Your Car in Harvard Yard" in Boca with the Bermans and above all got to my favorite club, Loehmann's in Palm Beach Gardens. After an 11-day whirlwind tour of South Florida, I arrived back in bleak cold New York with an appreciation and memories of the warmth of good friends.
© Copyright by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
