Dean Hannas: February 2008

It’s been a odd trip so far

Florida.

This morning after having a picnic breakfast on the beach, I stood fifteen feet away from dolphins as they played in the shallow shore break in the Gulf of Mexico. The other night I watched the full moon set over the Atlantic Ocean as I ate my moosetracks ice cream. That didn’t settle too well with my raw Ahi tuna appetizer and the barely cooked chicken wings. The next day I had to make a few emergency pit-stops along the highway. Some close calls there. You didn’t need to know that.

Work was really busy at the start and now I’ve had six rest days and one travel day in less than two weeks. It’s a strange change of pace. I’m grateful to see blue sky, palm trees and SUN!

Today I’m in Okeechobee, Florida. I’m not kidding. I’m surrounded by trailer parks and pick-up trucks. But as in most small towns, the people are very easygoing if not a little suspicious.

What is that smell? My socks? No. I turned around and saw it on the night-table. I didn’t even see it at first. Earlier in the trip while I was shooting a Hyatt, I must of been doing a good job because a delightful cheese plate was waiting for me in my hotel room after my first day of shooting.

My contact told me that all my meals would be taken care of and insisted that I go to their steakhouse which is quite expensive. “Yeah?” I asked. The shoot was going perfectly and he insisted. Well, if you insist. I didn’t mean to get carried away, and I didn’t really. It could of been worse. I never even ordered a scotch. I had an appetizer of foi grois, and an amazing aged angus rib-eye steak. They served it with your choice of four different types of salt, one from the Himalayas. “Come on?” I said to the bartender. It was a la carte and I only had bread with it. With two glasses of red, a mini chocolate lava cake (with a decaf cappuccino of course) and a tip and it was $140.

The next night I was in a ghetto Travelodge in West Palm Beach. Don’t let the name fool you. As I was walking back from Quizno’s with my dinner a hooker with glassy drug crazed eyes was making strange cat like noises as I approached my hotel room. That’s attractive. Seconds later she was knocking on my door faster than Domino’s.

I didn’t know I’d be in a holding pattern so long. The good news is that I did manage to find a Jamaican restaurant and had my one of my favourites, curried goat. No sour sop to drink though. Damn. I spent two of my rest days surfing for a few hours at Cocoa Beach. That was really great as I did not expect to get any waves in during this trip. The water was quite chilly and I managed to get one really long ride in the two days. I’m still not a great surfer but I keep at it and it sure has it’s moments of fun. It’s a great feeling to be on the water and to be comfortable with it. Even just paddling around is enjoyable.

It's great to be here yet Florida is strangely artificial. I don’t think palm trees are native here but they are strategically planted everywhere. Maybe farther south they are indigenous? Never mind the flora, the fauna don't mix well either. It seems like you either live in a white gated community or you are dirt poor. One street was empty of parked cars but on the corner was a restaurant with valet parking for your convenience. I went a few doors down and went into a small counter of a restaurant without even a sign outside. I was looking for yet another Jamaican restaurant and my Hertz JPS lead me to this place. I asked if I could look at a menu and they tried to steer me away. It turns out the place is Haitian and the woman in the kitchen had intense eyes. After I heard Haitian I thought Voodoo. Right. I’m leaving before there’s a doll with my name on it.

In Clearwater they have a restaurant called Mugs’n’Jugs. In Cocoa Beach they have a restaurant called Coconuts on the Beach. I’m sure you’ve all heard of the breastaurant, Hooter’s? According to these establishments, they are family restaurants that are “tacky yet delightfully refined”. I’ll admit they have mesmerizing marketing. What next? Peelers? A restaurant where strippers spin around a pole and feed you potato skins?

???

Fairmont Turnberry Isle Miami

The second photo was taken from my balcony this morning at the Fairmont Turnbery Isle in northern Miami.

There are two golf courses complete with water falls. They just finished a $30 million dollar reno on the course. And LPGA event will be here soon. They even have caddies that go around with some of the foursomes. I've been to lots of resorts and lots of golf courses and never seen this before. Seems strange as the golf carts have a GPS with the yardage.

The shoot is going well and I'm busier than usual which explains the grumpy photo of me. Not much free time. Managed to crash for an hour in the sun by the waterfall of one of the pools. Room service is comped so last night I had roasted lamb with buffalo mozzerla and a seared ahi tuna salad with a glass of pino noir. Today I had an angus beef burger, a side of brocolli with a mini fondue and yet another glass of pino noir.

Don't worry. I went for a run in the fitness center and had a late night dip in the outdoor heated pool complete with palm trees and stars. I've been here three days and I've already seen more silicon than Microsoft. With luck I'll find time to go to the driving range.

I've never seen a hotel room with so many ammenities in it yet I had to ask housekeeping for a robe. I have a kettle, bodum, tea infuser, and all the goodies to go into it. The bed is so comfortable as soon as I lie down I cannot move.

There's a nice couch in my living area if someone feels like crashing here.