It surprises me even though we drove this same route south. Tennessee and Kentucky are beautiful states. I'm sure there are cultural issues for northerners who move down here, but the beauty of the land and the much more moderate climate are very attractive to a native Michiganian. I know my commie, pinko, liberal heart would quail at some of the cultural issues, but I have to consider ways to spend more time in more moderate climates. The question is: how do we do that without going broke?
Dennis and I were discussing some of our favorite moments as we were driving today (9 hours of driving). We started laughing about the "silver alert" in Florida. Come on all my friends - do you know what a silver alert is? If you do, or think you do, post it on facebook or send an email to one of us.
We will be stopping to visit Emily tomorrow. I'm looking forward to that - I do not see her nearly often enough to suit a mother's heart.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Heading North
We had such a lovely time in Florida that it was hard to leave this morning. You know I love food and we had some exceptional meals here. My favorites: our grouper and shrimp dinner at the condo after buying fresh-caught fish at the Rusty Anchor; breakfast sandwiches and bloody marys at the Schooner Wharf Bar on Nancy's birthday; grilled steak salad at Clayton's Siesta Grille, and fried oysters with an ice cold beer at Captain Curt's.
We walked for miles around Key West and along the white sand beaches of Siesta Key. We saw (and photographed) many sunsets. The tropical nature of southern Florida is vastly different from the forest and water beauty of Michigan and it was great to experience that difference. We feel positively rejuvenated and are looking forward to Holy Week at St. MM in our hometown.
We left Siesta Key around 8:00 a.m. and headed north. We took turns driving and the trip is really straightforward and all on I-75. Our destination was Macon GA. Of course, I had a stop in mind. I watched the roadside signs and picked a likely one - Ellis Brothers nut distributors. They are located around Perry GA about two miles off I-75. They sell an incredible variety of pecans and peanuts in a variety of sizes and types. They also sell yummy treats such as spiced pecans, cinnamon pecans, pecan logs, peanut butter cookies - you get the idea. I wanted shelled pecans at a lower price than I pay at Meijer and I found a lovely three pound bag - yay!
We are recovering from the road and looking for a place to eat. Tomorrow we will go to Lexington KY.
Here is our morning picture of the entrance to the condo where we stayed in Siesta Key.
We walked for miles around Key West and along the white sand beaches of Siesta Key. We saw (and photographed) many sunsets. The tropical nature of southern Florida is vastly different from the forest and water beauty of Michigan and it was great to experience that difference. We feel positively rejuvenated and are looking forward to Holy Week at St. MM in our hometown.
We left Siesta Key around 8:00 a.m. and headed north. We took turns driving and the trip is really straightforward and all on I-75. Our destination was Macon GA. Of course, I had a stop in mind. I watched the roadside signs and picked a likely one - Ellis Brothers nut distributors. They are located around Perry GA about two miles off I-75. They sell an incredible variety of pecans and peanuts in a variety of sizes and types. They also sell yummy treats such as spiced pecans, cinnamon pecans, pecan logs, peanut butter cookies - you get the idea. I wanted shelled pecans at a lower price than I pay at Meijer and I found a lovely three pound bag - yay!
We are recovering from the road and looking for a place to eat. Tomorrow we will go to Lexington KY.
Here is our morning picture of the entrance to the condo where we stayed in Siesta Key.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Birthday on the Road
We got up at the same early time as usual and had coffee. Then we went down to work out in the exercise room in the hotel in Ft. Myers. I don’t really feel any older, but I’m 64 today. I have so much to appreciate and be thankful for. It’s great to celebrate another year.
I can’t recall the last time I was away from home on my birthday, so this feels exotic and special. We drove up from Ft. Myers to Sarasota after breakfast. Dennis and I like to drive the back roads when we are not in a hurry, so we stuck with highway 41 instead of I-75. We drove through lots of towns along the way: Cape Coral, Venice, Osprey. It is interesting to see the towns and what is happening to them. There were many stretches of road that had seen better days. I told Dennis that the buildings and deserted strip malls look sunburned and tired. It seems like the population and money have left them behind. The wealthy communities all look sparkling and green and lush, but the not-so-wealthy communities just look old and sad. The other thing that occurs to me time and time again is how homogenized our lives are getting. All of the malls have the same stores. All of the restaurants are chains. We are eating the same food and buying the same clothes and losing our regionality. It makes me want to learn to cook older regional specialties and to look for unique and different clothes and eschew the sameness.
Once we arrived in Siesta Key, we realized exactly how spring break affects Florida – traffic is awful and the place is crawling with people! However, this condo has the most awesome view of the ocean! Gary and Nancy stayed here earlier this month and invited us to stay a few more days before we head back north. The condo overlooks a beautiful white sand beach on the ocean. You can see this fabulous view from every window in the condo! We have already toasted with champagne and will be walking out to dinner later. This is a very nice vacation.
We went to dinner at Clayton's Siesta Grille. It was awesome! The food was both delicious and beautiful. The best part was that we could walk there and back. We had a ferocious thunder storm at night and the power blinked off several times, but everything cleared up by 11:00 a.m. Here are some pictures.
Friday, March 23, 2012
How to celebrate a birthday
Wednesday we had a pretty quiet day. We hung around the condo, walked to the cuban sandwich shop, hung around the pool, and walked to the Irish pub for dinner. We had to rest up so we could celebrate Nancy's birthday with energy.
We decided that the best way to start a birthday celebration was with breakfast and bloody marys at the Schooner Wharf Bar at sunrise. We were the first customers and had a great time. Nancy walked around the boats taking pictures and meeting various people. After breakfast we walked around the wharf and stopped in to the Key Lime Pie shop. Then we came back to the condo to rest up for awhile.
After lounging around the pool and reading in the afternoon, we headed back to Schooner Wharf for dinner. We all had different fish dishes for dinner and every single one was awesome. Then we wandered around the wharf area until after sunset and headed back to the condo.
One of the interesting things about going out and about in Key West in the early morning is that we were able to see the town that is behind the "tourist face." Key West is very diverse - both the residents and the visitors - and we were able to see the people who work every day in "paradise" - not just the other vacationers. Lots of people work in the tourist industry, serving the public, cleaning up, entertaining, etc. There are also lots of folks who rely on the fishing industry for a living. One of the things we couldn't help noticing was the relaxed, casual, nonjudgmental attitude of so many folks. For the Key West residents who are poor and/or homeless, this is not an easy life - but, unlike life in Michigan, they will not freeze to death if they are living on the streets (or beaches).
The island has many natural beauties - beaches, waterways, gardens - but it is reliant on fresh water being shipped from the mainland. That fresh water also enables the beautiful gardens to grow. We loved our time in Key West. We are headed to Siesta Key in the Sarasota area on Saturday to spend a few more days with Gary and Nancy before we head back to Michigan.
Headed North on US 1 on Friday morning.
We decided that the best way to start a birthday celebration was with breakfast and bloody marys at the Schooner Wharf Bar at sunrise. We were the first customers and had a great time. Nancy walked around the boats taking pictures and meeting various people. After breakfast we walked around the wharf and stopped in to the Key Lime Pie shop. Then we came back to the condo to rest up for awhile.
After lounging around the pool and reading in the afternoon, we headed back to Schooner Wharf for dinner. We all had different fish dishes for dinner and every single one was awesome. Then we wandered around the wharf area until after sunset and headed back to the condo.
One of the interesting things about going out and about in Key West in the early morning is that we were able to see the town that is behind the "tourist face." Key West is very diverse - both the residents and the visitors - and we were able to see the people who work every day in "paradise" - not just the other vacationers. Lots of people work in the tourist industry, serving the public, cleaning up, entertaining, etc. There are also lots of folks who rely on the fishing industry for a living. One of the things we couldn't help noticing was the relaxed, casual, nonjudgmental attitude of so many folks. For the Key West residents who are poor and/or homeless, this is not an easy life - but, unlike life in Michigan, they will not freeze to death if they are living on the streets (or beaches).
The island has many natural beauties - beaches, waterways, gardens - but it is reliant on fresh water being shipped from the mainland. That fresh water also enables the beautiful gardens to grow. We loved our time in Key West. We are headed to Siesta Key in the Sarasota area on Saturday to spend a few more days with Gary and Nancy before we head back to Michigan.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Real Tourists in Key West, March 20th
We thought we'd celebrate the first day of spring with a trolley tour around the island. We were able to pick up the CityView Trolley about a half mile away from the condo. You can get on or off at any of the eight stops and the trolleys run every 15 minutes. We made a list of potential places to visit, a list of the prices for museums, and set off for the trolley stop before 9:00 a.m.
The first stop was by the Butterfly Conservancy, so we hopped off and went in to look at butterflies. It was a very humid start to the day, so now I have curly hair. We didn't want to take the camera bag (too heavy), but we wound up using our phones to take pictures. There were many beautiful butterflies and the pictures were pretty good (especially with a little cropping), but I'm just posting my two favorites here.
I couldn't believe how close I could get to some of the butterflies. I love the shot of the butterfly on Nancy's hat. Dennis took a nice video that shows how active the butterflies were. I don't know if we can post that here. Maybe he'll post it on facebook.
After the Butterfly house, we hopped back on the Trolley and rode all the way to stop number one at Clinton Square. We got off there, bought tickets (they let you ride until you can buy tickets at a stop), and headed to Margaritaville for a munchie and some margaritas. The food is good but a little overpriced, but the maragaritas were really good. We headed to the Audubon House next. The gardens were nice and the Audobon originals were awesome. The house gives you a look into housing in the 1800s for well-to-do families - no indoor plumbing or running water and the kitchen is in a separate cook house. Really, we live like kings and queens today in even the most modest homes.
We wandered back to Clinton Square and hopped back on the trolley heading for our home stop, but we got off at stop three to see the Florida Keys Eco-discovery center. It was free admission and was really cool. There were many displays about the ecology of the Keys and of Florida. We hopped back on the trolley and went back to the stop on White St. where we had started. The four tour guides we heard were all very entertaining (one was a former fourth grade teacher - a job that requires the skill to hold an audience's attention) and we learned several interesting things from them including the origin of all the roosters and hens and the origin of the Conch Republic. This was a good way to get the lay of the land and to see places that we might want to come back to visit.
The first stop was by the Butterfly Conservancy, so we hopped off and went in to look at butterflies. It was a very humid start to the day, so now I have curly hair. We didn't want to take the camera bag (too heavy), but we wound up using our phones to take pictures. There were many beautiful butterflies and the pictures were pretty good (especially with a little cropping), but I'm just posting my two favorites here.
After the Butterfly house, we hopped back on the Trolley and rode all the way to stop number one at Clinton Square. We got off there, bought tickets (they let you ride until you can buy tickets at a stop), and headed to Margaritaville for a munchie and some margaritas. The food is good but a little overpriced, but the maragaritas were really good. We headed to the Audubon House next. The gardens were nice and the Audobon originals were awesome. The house gives you a look into housing in the 1800s for well-to-do families - no indoor plumbing or running water and the kitchen is in a separate cook house. Really, we live like kings and queens today in even the most modest homes.
We wandered back to Clinton Square and hopped back on the trolley heading for our home stop, but we got off at stop three to see the Florida Keys Eco-discovery center. It was free admission and was really cool. There were many displays about the ecology of the Keys and of Florida. We hopped back on the trolley and went back to the stop on White St. where we had started. The four tour guides we heard were all very entertaining (one was a former fourth grade teacher - a job that requires the skill to hold an audience's attention) and we learned several interesting things from them including the origin of all the roosters and hens and the origin of the Conch Republic. This was a good way to get the lay of the land and to see places that we might want to come back to visit.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Things to do in Key West
We have spent time walking around the island and admiring the sunset. We have lounged poolside and walked the beaches. We have admired the houses - both cottages and larger homes. There are still parts of Key West that are quaint, but the city is very built up and some of the shops on Duval St. are shops you would find anywhere - not exactly a taste of island flavor or the Conch Republic.
We have seen a community of homeless people who overnight on the beach about a half mile from the condo in which we are staying. We saw them when we went out walking in the morning, before the town got busy. It gives me a different perspective on life in "paradise." I love the climate here - it is sunny and warm most of the time. The overnight temperature falls to the mid seventies and the daytime temp rises to the mid eighties (just about perfect).
Today we got up early and I talked Dennis into going for a walk with me. I had to promise that it was not a four-mile power walk. We walked to White Street where the homeless people overnight on the beach. Then we turned toward town and walked past Flagler and turned right down a small street. We loved many of the houses we saw. We walked back toward the condo and completed the circle in about one hour. It was a good walk.
When Gary and Nancy got back from their walk we discussed the activities we wanted to do today and tomorrow. Gary had asked a local man about purchasing fresh fish and the local (Clem) directed us to Stock Island (5 miles from Key West central) to a place called the Rusty Anchor. We found it with after a few mis-steps. It is obviously a place that sells fish wholesale to restaurants. When we pulled in, one of the fish mongers was delivering a load. A man who reminded us of Popeye came up and asked what we wanted. We told him that Clem had recommended his place (he seemed unimpressed) and asked what he had. After he described what was available, I asked him for two pounds of shrimp and 1- 1 1/2 pounds of grouper. We brought it back and stopped at the grocery store for beer, wine, and the ingredients for tartar sauce and cocktail sauce.
After we got back from our trip to the fish market, we all put on swimsuits and headed for the pool to lounge in the sun and shade. I worked on my music for the Livingston County Chorale Spring Concert. (I will send emails out about tickets because it is a really great concert with awesome big-band music.) I sang silently so as not to disturb people in the pool.
When we came back to the condo, we decided on a dinner time and made a fabulous dinner of pan-fried grouper, beer steamed shrimp, roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts, and bread. It was a wonderful meal and fairly colorful (see the photo). Fresh caught fish has no equivalent. We decided that a similar meal in a restaurant would cost at least twice as much - and that's if you cold get grouper at all!
Tomorrow we will do a walking tour of Key West and visit many places we want to see. We'll post pictures.
Dinner tonight. The grouper is in the center of the table and the awesome Florida shrimp in in the background.
Sunset from White Street Pier last night. Very beautiful.
We have seen a community of homeless people who overnight on the beach about a half mile from the condo in which we are staying. We saw them when we went out walking in the morning, before the town got busy. It gives me a different perspective on life in "paradise." I love the climate here - it is sunny and warm most of the time. The overnight temperature falls to the mid seventies and the daytime temp rises to the mid eighties (just about perfect).
Today we got up early and I talked Dennis into going for a walk with me. I had to promise that it was not a four-mile power walk. We walked to White Street where the homeless people overnight on the beach. Then we turned toward town and walked past Flagler and turned right down a small street. We loved many of the houses we saw. We walked back toward the condo and completed the circle in about one hour. It was a good walk.
When Gary and Nancy got back from their walk we discussed the activities we wanted to do today and tomorrow. Gary had asked a local man about purchasing fresh fish and the local (Clem) directed us to Stock Island (5 miles from Key West central) to a place called the Rusty Anchor. We found it with after a few mis-steps. It is obviously a place that sells fish wholesale to restaurants. When we pulled in, one of the fish mongers was delivering a load. A man who reminded us of Popeye came up and asked what we wanted. We told him that Clem had recommended his place (he seemed unimpressed) and asked what he had. After he described what was available, I asked him for two pounds of shrimp and 1- 1 1/2 pounds of grouper. We brought it back and stopped at the grocery store for beer, wine, and the ingredients for tartar sauce and cocktail sauce.
After we got back from our trip to the fish market, we all put on swimsuits and headed for the pool to lounge in the sun and shade. I worked on my music for the Livingston County Chorale Spring Concert. (I will send emails out about tickets because it is a really great concert with awesome big-band music.) I sang silently so as not to disturb people in the pool.
When we came back to the condo, we decided on a dinner time and made a fabulous dinner of pan-fried grouper, beer steamed shrimp, roasted potatoes and brussels sprouts, and bread. It was a wonderful meal and fairly colorful (see the photo). Fresh caught fish has no equivalent. We decided that a similar meal in a restaurant would cost at least twice as much - and that's if you cold get grouper at all!
Tomorrow we will do a walking tour of Key West and visit many places we want to see. We'll post pictures.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
In Key West
I did not blog yesterday because it took so long to get here! My advice to fellow adventure seekers is to avoid driving to Key West on a Friday! Once we were on U.S. 1 - the only road in, traffic was very slow. Gary and Nancy were ahead of us and they got stuck at a solid speed of zero for 45 minutes because there was an accident. By the time we got to the same spot traffic was moving but only about 5 mph. The highway is a beautiful drive across the ocean from island to island.
Yesterday we decided to take US 27 down through the middle of the state. We stayed off the tollroad for the most part and drove through Florida's orange groves and cattle country. Orange trees were everywhere. Some in neatly tended rows and others just growing wild. I really wanted to pull over and grab a few. It seems so odd to have a crop being harvested in March. We drove past the Florida Natural plant - it smelled like fresh squeezed orange juice for a few miles! We also noticed the smell of orange blossoms for miles along the road.
We did wash the car, so I don't feel so bad about the way it looks. And we took a detour out of our way looking for a gas station or rest area where we could change drivers. Those two activities set us back about one hour! Oh well - we are on vacation after all. When we arrived in Key West we used the locator on our phones to find the condo. The traffic was jammed and confusing and the roads are under construction near the condo, so it was very confusing. The locator on the phone really saved us!
Today it is sunny and warm - no surprise - and it rains a bit each day. When we went out for a walk this morning, we walked on the beach and felt a few rain drops as we were finishing our walk. Since it is St. Paddy's Day we walked to the local Irish bar a couple of blocks from the condo (it was called Shanna Key) and had a couple of beers and split a corned beef sandwich (excellent). Then we walked back to the condo, stopping at the local market for a small bag of charcoal to cook some steak. The market was hilarious. Someone called the owner and then hung up! He said that he hated "drive by phoning." I teased the person ahead of me in line about the beer being mine and he volunteered to buy me a beer. Great attitude.
We are headed out to the pool for some lounge time. Time has a whole different meaning here and I'm not quite with the program yet. Everyone else seems to be with it, so I'll get there eventually.
U.S. 1 South - we were there for a looonngg time!
Coming into Key West. Traffic was still heavy (but moving) and there were crowds of people everywhere. This seems to be a very festive place!
Yesterday we decided to take US 27 down through the middle of the state. We stayed off the tollroad for the most part and drove through Florida's orange groves and cattle country. Orange trees were everywhere. Some in neatly tended rows and others just growing wild. I really wanted to pull over and grab a few. It seems so odd to have a crop being harvested in March. We drove past the Florida Natural plant - it smelled like fresh squeezed orange juice for a few miles! We also noticed the smell of orange blossoms for miles along the road.
We did wash the car, so I don't feel so bad about the way it looks. And we took a detour out of our way looking for a gas station or rest area where we could change drivers. Those two activities set us back about one hour! Oh well - we are on vacation after all. When we arrived in Key West we used the locator on our phones to find the condo. The traffic was jammed and confusing and the roads are under construction near the condo, so it was very confusing. The locator on the phone really saved us!
Today it is sunny and warm - no surprise - and it rains a bit each day. When we went out for a walk this morning, we walked on the beach and felt a few rain drops as we were finishing our walk. Since it is St. Paddy's Day we walked to the local Irish bar a couple of blocks from the condo (it was called Shanna Key) and had a couple of beers and split a corned beef sandwich (excellent). Then we walked back to the condo, stopping at the local market for a small bag of charcoal to cook some steak. The market was hilarious. Someone called the owner and then hung up! He said that he hated "drive by phoning." I teased the person ahead of me in line about the beer being mine and he volunteered to buy me a beer. Great attitude.
We are headed out to the pool for some lounge time. Time has a whole different meaning here and I'm not quite with the program yet. Everyone else seems to be with it, so I'll get there eventually.
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