This is the main road in New Smyrna Beach and the café on the corner is where we have breakfast.

We are on the mainland here in New Smyrna Beach and what celebrations there were for New Year’s Eve took place over the causeway and on Flagler Beach itself (about 1.5 – 2 miles away) and so we only caught sight of the fireworks in the distance.  However on New Year’s Day we decided to walk over there with the intention of hiring bicycles, only to find they were closed for the weekend and so we walked along the beach (a continuation of Daytona Beach) and then back to the marina….but at least it was warm!

I was surprised to see they allowed vehicles to drive onto the beach, although I could immediately see the benefits of not having to struggle from some far distant car park with all the accoutrements necessary for a day on the beach only to find you’d forgotten the bottle opener.  Coincidentally the local Sunday paper today reviewed their readers’ letters during the past year and the subject of allowing cars on the beach featured, primarily because (one might say, inevitably) a child was killed last year.

Along with the newspaper I picked up the free Homes & Land brochure.  It’s always interesting to see how the property prices compare.  How about: ‘Spacious 3 Bed, 2 Bathroom, Split Plan home with vaulted ceiling, 2 Car Garage, walk in closet, eat in kitchen, breakfast bar, dining area, open living room, fireplace, irrigation system, corner lot.  Walking distance to school, park and shopping $109,900.’  The cheapest I found: ‘Bank Owned.  New in 08.  3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, 1 Car Garage.  Bring all offers.  Being sold in As Is condition.  $54,900.’  Properties described as “Direct Intracoastal” can set you back a couple of million.  You remember the unusual “dome” house we photographed back in Carolina….?  There is one advertised here: ‘the unique dome shape home was designed to withstand the powerful forces of lightning strikes, tornadoes and hurricanes’.  So that’s what it was all about.

We are sat on the patio outside the marina office with the laptop having just finished listening to The Archers live over the Internet.  Back in St Augustine there were four or five of us women sat in the Marina lounge waiting for our laundry to finish and watching The Joan Rivers’ Style Show on the TV.  The subject of how old Joan Rivers came up and we all chipped in our best guess.  One of the women said she would find out, dialled a number on her i-phone, in a very clear voice asked “How old is Joan Rivers?” and almost immediately the answer came back (77).  The wonder of technology!