Sunday, March 4, 2012

EDEN CONDOMINIUM / OUR CONDO E603...

 
Perdido Key, also known as the “Lost Key”, is 16 miles of paradise along the Emerald Coast of Florida. Sixty (60%) percent of Perdido Key is located in federal or state parks, making it one of the last remaining stretches of untouched wilderness in the Florida panhandle. It is exceptionally easy to “get lost” on this stretch of untouched beauty.

The history of Perdido Key is rich with pirate history and lore.  After Pensacola was settled in 1559, there were rumors of a great mysterious body of water to the west of the settlement. When search party after search party sailed out in search of this tranquil body of water, they came up short. The entrance to Perdido’s bay was incredibly difficult for explorers to find so when Don Carlos Siguenza 
finally did find the entrance in 1693, he named it Perdido, meaning “lost” or “hidden”. This hidden entrance to Perdido Bay is what historians believe made the area so appealing to pirates.

It has long been speculated that pirates frequented the Gulf Coast for over 140 years, preying on Spanish galleons. Members of the Baldwin County Historical Society believe that Perdido Key was a special destinations for pirates because of its hidden entrance. Pirates were able to hide in Perdido Key, resupply, and sail out into the Gulf whenever they were ready. It can only be assumed that pirates would hide their treasure in the one place they felt safest.

Some of the most famous pirates in history were linked to Perdido Key. Legendary pirates such as Jean Lafitte, Billy Rogers, and Black Caesar, were all said to have been spotted near Perdido Key. If they did hide their treasure there, no one has found it yet. One legend has it that the treasure is buried close to the site of the somewhat mysterious, asymmetrical pyramid shaped Eden Condominium.  Legends aside, one thing is for certain: explorers’ young and old still travel to Perdido Key in search of its legendary buried treasure. Will YOU be the one to find it?


 
With it's lush tropical gardens, bubbling pools, cascading waterfalls and clear blue lagoon pool...Eden is truly a modern day 'Garden of Eden', set beside the sugar white sands that edge the aqua green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is here on Perdido Key, the most westerly of Florida's barrier islands, that we make our home, November - March, in our little piece of paradise, E603, at Eden Condominium.
We have enjoyed our E603 unit, identified by the red o dot in the top photo, since April 2004. The below photo, shows the fantastic views of the Eden gardens, pool, beach and Gulf from our spacious sixth floor balcony.
 
Apart from the natural beauty of the outdoors, Eden has many other wonderful amenities, including an indoor pool, spa, fitness center, whirlpools, saunas, steam rooms, and spectacular public spaces, to compliment it's magnificent architecture.

We chose Perdido Key, because of it's unspoiled natural beauty and by it's close proximity to Pensacola, where our son and three young grandsons live, just 16 miles away. So we get to see them on a regular basis when we are there.
We have just finished another busy 'winter break' working on a number of improvements to E603 along with making some significant upgrade purchases. We are no DIY experts, but we do enjoy 'change' and we are always willing to try to do it ourselves if we can. However, we will not compromise quality when a professional can do the work noticeably better, with our kitchen, master bathroom suite and new 2012 guest bathroom being good examples.
Family, friends, and many others are always interested  in seeing any changes to E603, along with plans for other updates that we might have - hence this photo blog. Interior design for a unit in a rental program is quite different from that for your own home. Before our purchase of E603, we had twenty years of visiting the Pensacola area, staying in condos 2-3 times a year, so we knew what we did not want in our beach home.
We did not want it to be dark fussy Florida formal nor did we want the loud colors that scream cheap not chic. As the main rental season is Spring-Summer, we designed it for the discriminating family, a stylish but comfortable and fun eclectic mix that we call Casual Beach Chic.
If you do like what you see, and your vacation times are not tied into school schedules, we recommend an early Fall visit to enjoy tranquil Perdido Key at it's finest.
We have a summer house on the beautiful Isle of Arran, Scotland. For an around-island photo tour, go to the (26) 2010 Arran blogs at bottom of archives on left column, and enjoy the 5000 year old history and stunning beauty of the magical Isle of Arran.
Please join us now, via our Eden photo blogs, in a photo tour of our beach condo home, Eden E603, and the fabulous Eden Condominium complex. Then continue on down, clicking on Older Posts, to view places and events of interest around Perdido Key. Thank you!
Alex & Carol
 
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                           INFO AND RESERVATIONS     
                     http://www.edencondominiums.com/
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                  EDEN E603...THE PLACE TO BE...AT PERDIDO KEY!
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......................... EDEN E603...THE PLACE TO BE...AT PERDIDO KEY!
                            www.edencondominiums.com
                                        1-800- 523-8141








..................Above: Looking east over Perdido Key, Florida, from Alabama. Eden Condominium is indicated, appropriately enough, by the 'Gold Star'.
Located on a narrow strip of snow white beaches and crystal blue waters, Perdido Key is located in the Northwest Panhandle of Florida, between Pensacola, Florida and Orange Beach, Alabama. No more than a few hundred yards wide in most places, Perdido Key stretches some 16 miles, with almost 60 percent of it located in federal or state parks – making it one of the last remaining unblemished stretches of wilderness in the Florida Panhandle.
Perdido Key’s literal translation means “Lost Key”, so named by the early Spanish who discovered it in 1693. Until then, the Key was the well-kept secret of gulf coast Native Americans – Perdido Key’s first inhabitants.
Bridges link Perdido Key to the Florida mainland, as well as neighboring Alabama. Those who make the short drive across the water will agree that this “Lost” island is definitely worth discovering.
With an average annual temperature of 75 degrees and 343 days of sunshine, it’s not surprising the Key is a long-hidden retreat that blends together both year-round outdoor activities and an authentic laid-back lifestyle uniquely its own.



















Above:  Perdido Key, Florida. Looking west towards Alabama at the top of the photo.  Eden is located at the upper left.





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Above photos taken from wall posters readily available from stores in area.
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Eden E603...the place to be...at Perdido Key!

Welcome to Eden - the Crown Jewel of the Gulf Coast!









               Beautifully landscaped entrance area...
                        We're here!!!
                        Fountain and sculpture...
Let's check into Eden E603 and then tour Eden's wonderful facilities.
 
Entrance lobby with friendly, helpful staff and 24/7 security.





Let's take the elevator up to the 6th. Floor

WOW! Amazing views meet you as you exit the elevator on the sixth floor...!







Here we are...Eden E603...the place to be...at Perdido Key! This exquisite, recently renovated unit features casual beach chic decor that provides the perfect balance of comfort and style to make your Eden vacation one to remember. Enjoy state-of-the-art-electronics and comfortable sleeping for six with king bed in the master bedroom, twin beds in the guest bedroom, and a queen size sofa sleeper in the living room. The euro-style kitchen has stainless appliances, granite counter tops and breakfast bar stools. The large dining room table seats six. The living area comfortably seats seven around a large distressed wood coffee table. There is 18" porcelain tile through out for that Florida feel underfoot. It's always Happy Hour at the whimsical wet bar with ice maker!  Enjoy DIRECT TV with FREE HBO & SHOWTIME Channels + pay per view options on new 50" SAMSUNG SMART 1080p 120Hz LED 3D & 2D HDTV + SAMSUNG 3D WiFi BLUE-RAY DISC PLAYER + BOSE RADIO CD PLAYER with iPOD DOCKING STATION + Remote Controls. E603 has WIRELESS INTERNET and FREE LONG DISTANCE PHONE CALLS! Each bedroom has ceiling fans and new TV / DVD players.    E603 has wireless internet and free long distance phone. Each bedroom has ceiling fans and new TV / DVD players. Wake up in the master bedroom's king size bed with the pretty flower filled balcony planter almost within touching distance! The luxurious master bathroom has travertine tile, walk-in-shower and designer fixtures. The second bedroom, designed for the young-at-heart, features new 2012 furnishings with twin beds. The 2012 remodeled guest bathroom features travertine tile and contemporary fittings. Step out to the spacious balcony from the living room or master bedroom for amazing, elevated views to the distant horizon of the Gulf of Mexico. Relax with a refreshment on the tall patio furniture and admire the fabulous Eden gardens, pools, and sugar white sands of the beach below. Spot dolphins bob along, close to the shore, just a stones throw away. Watch pelicans glide past, almost within touching distance. Enjoy spectacular sunsets, and for you early birds, dramatic dawns! Admire fabulous views of Old River, Ono Island and Perdido Bay from the kitchen and guest bedroom windows. The Eden East wing location offers superb uninterrupted views over pristine State and National Seashore Parks. There is a washer and dryer. All units at Eden are smoke free. E603 requires 7 nights, Saturday – Saturday, for the months of June and July.
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