Yacht House News Vol. 1 No. 1 December 2000
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From the Yacht House B&B Inn
& the
Writing Desk of Teresa Allen
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The Yacht House
Books by Teresa
Scenic Drive Pensacola
Uganda Orphanage
Renovation Update Next
Issues
Words from the Innkeeper
Welcome to the Yacht House B&B Inn, Pensacola, Florida
Edging historic downtown Pensacola, the Yacht House Bed and Breakfast Inn has nine guestrooms in three houses. We're located on an acre of land (half a city block), across from the Pensacola Yacht Club, Pensacola Bay and Bayou Chico. We are only twenty minutes from the finest white sand beaches in the world and from the Naval Aviation Museum, home of the Blue Angels. The Yacht House has been in business since 1996. The present owners, Teresa and Cecil, are from Arizona and have managed the Inn since May 1999.
A
two-minute walk from the Yacht House stretches Sander’s Beach, one of the many
beaches in and around Pensacola. Here you'll find fishing
docks, a boat launch, tennis courts, a large playground and views of Pensacola Bay
and Bayou Chico. When jets thunder above, the Blue Angels are practicing
sky loops. Tugboats, barges,
fishing boats, magnificent yachts and recreational boats enter or leave Bayou
Chico. On weekends, sail boats race
around the bay and on some mornings, you may spot the fin of a dolphin or several
dolphins swimming along the shore.
With
any visit to a beach in Pensacola, you'll see at least five
species of birds -- seagulls, coots, terns, sandpipers, pelicans, egrets,
cranes, ducks, herons and maybe a killdeer.
One evening I quietly watched two Great Blue Herons across the
bayou. They spread
their wings in a six foot span, screeched, jumped high, knocked into each other,
and then landed back in their nesting dance.
Pensacola offers adventures in
deep-sea fishing, parasailing, scuba diving, kayaking, jet skiing or canoeing.
A short drive from the Yacht House you’ll find top-notch seafood restaurants and New Orleans style
jazz clubs.
Joe Patti’s Fish Market and Delhi is a mere ten-minute walk from your
room. Visit the nearby historic downtown area with
its restored 19th century houses.
For day excursions, drive to Battle Ship Alabama, near Mobile, or explore
the exquisite national seashore, beginning at Ft. Pickins where Geronimo and
his wives were held captive, and ending at the outlet malls on the way to the Biloxi casinos.
Why
stay at the Yacht House?
If you're looking for a quaint Victorian B&B with laced canopy beds
and claw foot bathtubs, we are not your most suitable choice.
However, if you appreciate an eclectic “one of a kind” romantic
garden retreat in sunny Florida, try the Yacht House Bed and
Breakfast Inn. Our
rooms feature nautical and international décor from Asia, Africa, the Middle
East and Latin America (primarily from Teresa's world
travels and international
businesses).
Each room has cable television, a coffee maker, refrigerator, private
deck or patio, large bathroom and a comfortable bed.
Four of our guest rooms have private hot tubs.
Near your room you'll find a writing desk, filtered water cooler and microwave.
Our
grounds consist of green lawn with a variety of trees and flowers.
Before the Yacht House stands a century old Magnolia Tree bearing huge
lily-white flowers March through July.
Magnolia
trees adorn library lawns, Today
– I have read too much. I
could make a garland, But,
from
"By the Moongate: Poems from China," by Teresa Allen
Enjoy
your morning coffee at our garden pond where black,
gold, white and multicolor fish swim among lily pads, papyrus reeds, cattails and other
water plants. Three dolphin fountains spew water into the pond. A white Guan Yin sits in
meditation beside a flowering jasmine; jade frogs, iguanas and turtles climb the
rocks, a rose leans over a Chinese dragon and another Bodhisattva sits on her
lion near thriving dill, peppermint and nasturtiums.
Morass
of the Morning –
One
I
am a stranger at this pond from
"By the Moongate: Poems from China," by Teresa Allen
The
Yacht House is not just “any old place to stay” while passing through
Pensacola. We are a travel
destination, a part of your vacation, honeymoon, conference or getaway experience.
So whether you’re from nearby Tallahassee, Mobile or Shreveport or as
far away as England, Germany or Japan, come join us at the coffee bar for breakfast, or relax on the veranda in view of
the Magnolia, or enjoy a cool evening breeze at the pond.
Watch a dove, a blue jay or one of the Yacht House cats, take a drink.
If you’re lucky, you may even see a Little Green Heron land to eye a
fish.
Yacht House Renovation
and Business Plan Update Though we are presently remodeling and
expanding our business, we assure you that no heavy equipment obstructs the
Yacht House rooms or grounds. Our plans for the
Yacht House include opening the Gift Shop and Navigators House by this
January. Later next year, we plan to open the Cyber Cat Cafe in the Yacht
House and rent office space to a travel agency. Eventual plans include
expanding to 16 guest rooms, and having available conference, banquet
and wedding facilities. The Yacht House Gift Shop: www.yachthousegifts.com
See also www.world-products.com/nepal.
Merchandise will include: gifts reflecting Yacht House room themes
(maritime and international); Yacht House logo items (T-shirts, coffee
cups...), Teresa's signed books, framed poetry and photography and gifts
reflecting themes from her books (cats, dogs, astronomy, tarot, New Age
spirituality).
Opening in January 2001 The Cyber Cat Cafe: with coffees, teas, juices,
health snacks, Internet stations, fax and
copy machines. Opening sometime early
2001 Travel Agency: We
are looking for a travel agent interested in renting office space at the
main house. We would like to advertise through this agency our own
website clients who offer tours to Nepal, Tibet, East and West Africa and
Madagascar. See www.ecotravel.net/nepal Conference and Meeting, Group Gathering and Wedding
Facilities See, the Business
Plan for the Yacht House and Writings by Teresa
From the Writing Desk of
Teresa Allen
Since going to
Europe after high school in 1973 and then joining the Army
1974-5, I have spent 25 years
writing books. To date, I have 9 finished
novels ready for publication. I also have over ten nonfiction
books in various stages of completion -- many are my writing projects from past
years. I am editing these books online
at www.writtenweb.com. I would classify my novels
as mainstream (as opposed to a specific genre), possibly women's literature, New
Age because of the spiritual exploration in my stories (Egyptian, Maya, Inca,
Native American, Celtic, Asian, Reincarnation). My novels are also based
on my travels to the Middle East, Europe and Latin America; on my legal background (And
You Learn How to Kill); and on my stint in the military. Some novels
come from dreams (Dreams
Along the Upside Down River and The
Man from Saccaton). My nonfiction topics include personal experiences as a
writer; a law
student; as a business woman (Being the Innkeeper
Host, The Yacht House); my interests and involvement in amateur
astronomy, the tarot cards,
cats, dogs, language
and meditation/self-improvement. I've
also compiled two books entailing newspaper collections 1) since the JFK assassination and 2) covering the
Gulf
War. (Because I taught
English in Kuwait a few years before the war and was a soldier myself, I
felt a personal connection to the events of Desert Storm). The
above books, plus my books of poetry, journals
and short works are the main products I have to
sell. Within the next year or two I plan to have at least 25
complete books to sell through my web
sites and at the Yacht House Gift Shop.
Scenic Drive,
Pensacola: Explore the beauty of
Pensacola's waterfront along Bayou Texar and Escambia Bay.
With
Flowers big and white,
Like
lilies on a pond.
And
now I stand to gaze,
From
the third floor gallery.
I
think about white flowers.
And
wear it for you –
Evoking
sweet fragrances;
A
visual velvet
(and
you shall desire my love.)
where
are you – my love?
Who
shall you be?
I
have prepared a fresh garland for your hair.
Oh
when will you come for it to wear?
Echoes
on a Rippling Pond: Poems from Thailand," by Teresa Allen
Mynahs,
four, are calling --
Out
From
golden Nasturtiums:
Holding
together a rippling pond.
Has
a whistle,
An
echoing tune –
(Those
leaves of the Cassia,
are
green crescent moons.)
where
stranger sounds brought me,
to
sit and gaze and think upon,
the
wonders that I see.
(www.writtenweb.com/nonfiction/job/marketing.htm)
Bayou Texar and Scenic Boulevard
Along Escambia Bay
Return to Cypress Street and turn left. Cypress curves around and becomes "E" Street. The first intersection is Main Street and "E". On one corner is a CD store. Across the way is Shoreline Groceries whose owners are fittingly from Cyprus. They have a deli with excellent tuna fish sandwiches and a selection of Greek and Ethnic foods such as olive oils, spices and wines (Have you ever tried the Greek pine flavored wines?)
Otherwise, turn left (east) on Main Street toward downtown. Hungry? Sam's Seafood Restaurant, a few blocks away, offers a lunch of Gumbo and other sea foods. Across from Sam's is Joe Patti's Seafood and Deli. Stop to see their fleet of fishing boats and the amazing variety of fish in the market. Personally, I frequent Joe Patti's deli for their freshly baked sourdough bread, which I savor with rosemary olive oil and fresh ground pepper.
Continue east (left) on Main Street, passing the downtown area. On the right, just beyond Pensacola Port Authority, stop at the green lawns of William Bartram Memorial Park for another view of Pensacola Bay and the Bay Bridge. Or continue east on what becomes Bayfront Parkway, passing elegant condos and historic houses.
Not far from Bartram Park, get in the left lane of Bayfront and pull off at S. 9th Avenue before the Veterans Memorial Park -- the only memorial park to honor veterans of all the American wars. Here is a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC and an actual US Navy Seawolves helicopter.
Continue east on Bayfront Parkway, veer off into the left lane (passing Laundrys Restaurant). Before the Bay Bridge, turn left on 17th Avenue and take an immediate right to the Visitor's Center. From 9 am to 3:15 M-F, a Tram arrives at the center every 15 minutes. The cost is 25 cents for a 45 minute tour of Pensacola, well worth your time and money. But first, relax at Wayside Park by the center, and enjoy another spectacular view of Pensacola Bay and the mouth of Bayou Texar. Or, if you're ready to go fishing, head up the street along the park to the Pensacola Bay Fishing Bridge. At the bridge store you can rent and purchase all your fishing needs.
In our next issue, we'll continue our tour around Bayou Texar
Orphanage Uganda and the Nairobi Suite
Teresa is webmaster for the Molly and Paul Child Care Foundation Uganda, East Africa. The foundation formed in order to care for women and children left widowed and orphaned from the devastating AIDS epidemic sweeping through Africa.
The orphanage provides care for destitute children ages 3 to 20. Presently, classes range from nursery to P-7. There is also a Vocational High School badly in need of text books, teachers, salary for the present teachers, laboratory equipment for science studies, computers and so on.
Most orphans stay with their relatives (Uganda has a large extended family system). But the AIDS epidemic is so widespread that the foundation had to build a Free Orphanage School for the growing number of orphaned children.
See the web site at www.arastar.org/orphanageuganda. The school is always in need of donations and volunteers. Contact Teresa or Molly and Paul at their web site for details.
In December, the school's choir (see web site) is planning a tour in the USA. These children will be our special guests at the Yacht House, and their performance may even be held on our grounds, depending on the renovation progress. A CD of the Children's Choir is available. Contact Teresa if interested.
Part of our support for the orphanage is to sell products from East Africa and donate the proceeds to the school. These products will be on their web sites and in the Yacht House gift shop (see also www.yachthousegifts.com). One of our rooms, the Nairobi Suite, also features batiks and wood carvings from Africa and the orphanage.
The Nairobi Suite is my favorite room at the Yacht House, though it may not appeal to everyone. But I love the animal decor -- the giraffe and panther lamps, the African batiks, furnishings, wall murals and woodcarvings that whisper songs of the Serengeti. Off the bedroom is a private sun deck and hot tub with stairs leading to the back garden pond.
If you appreciate the beauty and mystique of Africa, consider reserving this room.
www.yachthousegifts.com and the Yacht House Gift Shop
More Scenic Drives in and around Pensacola
Featured writings by Teresa Allen www.writtenweb.com
Why Stay at a B&B Inn
Furniture Art by Teresa
CHARM: Cat Help and Rescue Movement
Calendar of Events: Pensacola's Southern Culture (vs. that of the SW)
The Medieval Innkeeper
Mai Tai's Fountain
The Mystery and Power of Tarot www.tarot-insight.com
Being a Webmaster
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Words
from the Innkeeper:
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Send your
suggestions or comments to: teresa@yachthouse.com
Reservations Call: 850 433-3634 or visit www.yachthouse.com
Articles for submission should concern Yacht House themes:
International, Maritime, Astronomy, Hospitality, Travel, Cats, Dogs, Charitable causes for
Women, Children
or Animals
Website by Teresa www.writtenweb.com E-mail: teresa@yachthouse.com