Panama City - Florida - was named after Panama City - Panama - because a local fruit company wanted to developed a strong connection with the fruit trade through Panama. Unfortunately - Tampa took over that claim - but the name stuck here.
Lulu and her Flamingo Motel - 7 stories high - 7 apartments wide. Our place was in the exact center.
Sunset over the Panama City Beach Pier. This place has the most beautiful white sand beaches I have ever seen - like walking in powdered sugar - it even barks.
Lulu having dinner at Barack Obama's Firefly Restaurant
Harry had breakfast with Marilyn Monroe
Lulu was harmonizing a few bars with Elvis
Panama City and Panama City Beach - two separate political communities are on the Florida Panhandle about 100 miles west of Tallahassee. US 98 parallels the coast and forms the backbone of the local transportation system. On a busy day - not today - it is a difficult task getting across the road to the beachside.
Due to the oil spill - although the beach is spotless and the water warm - hotels are empty and support businesses are feeling the pinch. While we are here - the place is enjoying the afterglow of President Obama's visit last week. Also - on Monday - Tiger Wood and his wife Elin chose the local court house to finalize their divorce that supposedly gave her a $700 million settlement.
Lulu and I also got a chance to appear with two iconic celebrities after breakfast yesterday. For dinner - Lulu chose the Firefly - a really nice restaurant where the Obama Family dined last week. How many places can boast two presidents in two weeks?
After a few hours of beach this morning - we plan to visit the new Panama City Beach International Airport and then drive the two hours home. This airport is the first new international airport opened since the 9/11 disaster in NYC.
We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel - an old (translate cheap) 7 story tower motel directly on the sand. The place is directly out of the 50s and is decorated very similarly to the old Fountainhead Motel where Lulu and I spent our honeymoon on Miami Beach in 1971. Back then we spent $8 for a hotel right on the sand.
