DECEMBER IN FLORIDA

Whoa, guess I'd better get caught up on my blog before the snow starts falling, I mean Christmas!  We've had an enjoyable couple of weeks even though the temperature has dipped below freezing for a couple of nights.  It still warms up during the day.  We've had a couple of days of wet weather (yep our leak is still there) and experienced a lunar eclipse.

Too cold to drive the Cobra but December 4th found us driving to a car show in Bradenton, Florida which is about an hour drive south from Riverview.  There were about 50 participants and some very nice cars.  Had a bite to eat and decided since we were in the area we would drive on over to Bradenton Beach and Anna Marie Island.

Anna Marie Key is a barrier island and is approximately seven miles long north to south.  Home to sugar white pristine beaches, lots and lots of birds - pelicans, cranes, herons, bottlenose dolphins and manatees are often seen, and the beach is home to nesting sea turtles.  In September of 2006, an earthquake occurred in the Gulf of Mexico which was felt on the beach but caused no damage.  Took a short walk on the beach and took pictures of the "sand castles."  We had Harley with us, so did not spend a lot of time nosing around but we will be back soon.

After returning from our drive, we dropped Harley off at home and headed out to watch our first Christmas Boat Parade on the Alafia River, which is just up the street from us.  Jackets were in order, as we followed the delicious smell of the chili cookoff that was in progress.  Set along the Alafia River at the Showman's Association building, holiday blow-ups dominated the grassy area, with the most popular being a large round pool, filled with about 2 feet of water containing extremely large, clear balls that kids could get in and try to stand up in.  The best I can describe it - a hamster rolling ball LOL.  They were having a ball tho.  Dick sat down to have a slice of pizza and I went in search of the good smelling chili - ummm, for five bucks you got a bowl and all the chili you could eat.  Some was a little too spicy for my taste but I did try them all.  Of course Santa was present with his elves.  We waited in anticipation for the boats to show up but were honestly a little disappointed - there were about five of them and it was not what we expected at all. 

My nephew Rick works for Garba Industrial, who provides electrical installation and services maritime and industrial customers.  They have customers all over the world and Rick is always off on some journey or another; he most recently returned from a three day jaunt to Come-By-Chance, Newfoundland.  No really, that's the name!

 

We were invited to his company Christmas party on Friday night (December 10th) and what a feast it was.  Held in their warehouse, it was decorated from head to toe in tinsel, lights and balloons.  We could smell it before we actually saw the building - they had been barbequeing since 4 AM and the smell was wonderful!  Along with pulled pork and smoked chicken, we had boiled prawns, several types of salads, beans and, of course, collard greens LOL.  The band was playing and the beer was flowing, and I had one girl hug me and tell me that she absolutely loved me.  Not sure what to think since we'd never met, it was in the bathroom, and I think she had a wee bit too much of the jolly in her!  We met Rick's boss Rafal (who immigrated from Poland in 1982) and his cute little wife Nicole.  It was truly a mismash of cultures - from Cuban to Chinese and beyond, and a lot of fun.

Click Here for Mermaids to Santa Claus

PEEK A BOO, I SEE YOU

On Friday the 17th, we headed back to Tampa for a day at the Florida Aquarium, followed by a drive to Ybor City.

The Florida Aquarium was absolutely wonderful showcasing some beautiful spoonbills, tarpon fish, lots of sea critters, and, of course, alligators.  Everything was up close and personal.  The bird and fish areas were open and the exhibits within touching distance - great for taking pics!  We spent about two hours investigating every exhibit and I still think that the SeaHorses are my favorite!  Who knew that there was such a thing as Potbelly Seahorses????

A short drive and we were in Ybor City (pronounced EE-borh) which is a historic neighborhood in Tampa. It was founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and was populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Spain, Cuba, and Italy. For the next 50 years, workers in Ybor City's cigar factories would roll millions of cigars annually.

The neighborhood had features unusual among contemporary immigrant communities in the southern U.S, most notably its multi-ethnic and multi-racial population and their many mutual aid societies. A slow exodus out of the area that began during the Great Depression accelerated after World War II, leading to a period of abandonment and decay. After decades of neglect, a portion of the original neighborhood was redeveloped into a  night club and entertainment district. The neighborhood has been designated as a  National Historic Landmark District.  My sister tells me though that you don't want to be in this neighborhood after dark!

Click Here for Florida Aquarium and Ybor City pics

Well, it took him a few weeks but Dick finally found a car show he wanted to attend, as a participant.  So, early on Saturday morning, December 11th, in the fog, we loaded the car with Christmas presents and headed to a Christmas Fundraiser car show put on by the local radio station Q105 and the Highrollers Car Club.  Rudolph would have definitely needed his red nose to find his way in the fog .... WOW - there were over 200 cars in attendance, everyone decked out for the holidays, and everyone from Santa to Elvis showed up.  All of the proceeds went to the Q105 Christmas Wish foundation.  At this car show I concentrated more on the "faces of cars" rather than the cars themselves.  See how many "faces" you can find ....

Click here for Mason Dixon Fundraiser pics

I know I'm trying to cram a lot into this blog but I really do want to get caught up before Christmas.  After the holidays, it's my intent to keep a daily diary and send out the blog once a week.

 

Have you ever seen a Golf Cart Parade?  Well, neither have we!  No really, we got up early on Saturday morning (Dec 18th) to attend the Sun City Golf Car Parade with my sister Patt.  The only thing she forgot to tell us - it was LAST WEEK!  So, no we've not seen a golf cart parade but can only imagine it.  It was funny cause I had read the article on the parade, noted the date was the 11th, and didn't think any more about it.  Something about being retired!

So, we opted to meet up later and check out the Apollo Beach Boat Parade, which Patt assured us was tonight and was usually really good.  We headed for a restaurant called Circles located on Apollo Beach on one of the canal waterways where we would have a great view of the boat parade.  We bellied up to the bar table - the place was packed - order and ate a great dinner and then headed outside to watch the parade.

The weather was glorious and the boat decorations were outstanding.  We found a seat on the dock and settled in to watch.  The houses on the bay were all in their holiday best and the boats were equally amazing.  The end boat set off fireworks.  I think this restaurant may become one of our favorites to watch sunsets - and they make good drinks!

Click here for Apollo Beach Boat Parade pics

Monday, Dec 20th

Today found us crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge from mainland Florida into St. Petersburg or St. Pete as it's called by the locals.  The bridge, an amazing feat in itself, is 5.5 miles long  spanning the emerald-green waters of the Gulf.  Construction began in 1981 and completed in 1987, at a cost of $244M dollars.  21 steel cables along the center line of the bridge support the structure.  It is truly a sight to behold.

Our destination today was Fort DeSoto Park.  I had read that it had one of the best dog beaches and thought it was time that Harley got to run free on the beach again.  He loves it so much - he runs and runs and runs, and waits for us to catch up to him.  It was a beautiful day for the drive and Fort DeSoto beach is as awesome as they say - voted America's Top Beach by TripAdvisor for the 2nd year in a row.  And just down the beach a bit you find St. Pete Beach white sand beach and park after park after park.  Unfortunately we did not get to tour Fort DeSoto itself as it is under repair at this time.

We ate lunch/dinner at a great restaurant called the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant.  The owner sat and talked with us for awhile, telling us about his time spent in Idaho with the National Guard.  Wonderful food and a walk to the rooftop of the restaurant to gaze at the view left us breathless - both from the view and the stairs LOL!  On the roof is a really cute little bar and several tables that just await the setting sun.  I wish we would have been there a little later and we would have stayed to watch the spectacular sunset.

The photos you see of The Pink Lady hotel are actually of the The Don CeSar Hotel which opened in 1928 and gained renown as the Gulf playground for America's pampered rich at the height of the Jazz Age and it still serves as a popular retreat for the rich and famous of today.  The cost to build 1.25 Million, 300% over it's projected budget and 110 more rooms.  The original owner died and left it to his wife.  When it fell into disrepair, The Pink Lady was sold for $450,000 to the U. S. Army and it was turned into an military hospital and reopened in 1942.  In 1944 the Don CeSar became a U. S. Air Force convalescent center. In June 1945 the Don CeSar was ordered closed and was vacant by September of that year. It was converted into a Veterans Administation Regional Office by the end of 1945.

DON CESAR HOTEL - REMINDS ME OF THE BROADMOOR HOTEL IN COLORADO SPRINGS

In November 1967 the Veterans Administration began moving out of the Don Ce-Sar. By spring 1969, the once grand hotel was vacant.The plan to raze the graffiti-covered hotel was met with fierce opposition from local residents. In March 1972 the Don CeSar was sold to C.L.Pyatt and William Bowman Jr., a Holiday Inn franchise owner. The Don CeSar  reopened on November 23, 1973.  The Don CeSar was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Click here for St. Petersburg pictures.

The beaches on St. Pete were also our most lucrative for shell capturing .... check out the photos by clicking here (Simply Shells).

Whooooooo, I think I'm done!  I hope everyone set their alarms and got up to view the lunar eclipse of the Winter Solstice.  Dick got me up and I'm glad he did - it was simply spectacular and the stars were so bright!

BEFORE THE ECLIPSE

DURING THE ECLIPSE

As I was finishing up the blog, there was a knock at the door, followed by several park members singing Christmas carols.  I think maybe that was a first for me and very enjoyable.

One more thing to share before I go ...

Are you willing...

To stoop down and consider the needs

and desires of little children;

To remember the weakness and loneliness

of people who are growing old;

To stop asking how much your friends love you,

and ask yourself whether you love them enough;

To bear in mind the things that other people

have to bear in their hearts;

To trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke,

and carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;

To make a grave for your ugly thoughts

and a garden for your kindly feeling,

with the gate open?

Are you willing to do these things for a day?

Then you can keep Christmas...

After all, Christmas - living is the best kind of Christmas - giving.

Henry Van Dyke