Category Archives: Travel

Windy Woes…..

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Not having much experience with sailing, I don’t know the parameters for what size sailboats are impacted by small craft warnings. From a diving perspective here though (and probably sport fishing as well), most charter boats can’t go out. November and December have both been tough months for trying to dive and on a number of occasions, people who have gone out when conditions were on the edge haven’t had the kind of underwater visibility and pleasant boat trips Key Largo is known for. It’s inconvenient for locals, but we can reschedule without much difficulty. I always feel badly for tourists who have planned a trip for maybe months, come a fair distance, and are “blown out” for diving. If they’re here for a week which is kind of a standard time, there will usually be at least a couple of days they can salvage. Fortunately, if the issue with being on the water is wind and not rain along with high wind, there are quite a few outdoor activities that aren’t affected, so it isn’t as if the vacation will be a total waste. When you’re looking forward to spending time underwater though, and you travel to a dive destination, that’s pretty much what you really want to do.

There was hope for today and there are no doubt a few people who decided to brave the water, but most will have to keep their fingers crossed for some calm to settle in. When the wind is whipping above 20 knots, that just doesn’t tend to be much fun. On the other hand, I guess if you have a kite to fly, it works out well.

 

A Range of Artistic Choices……

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A small sampling of art at The Children's Art Gallery at Cauley Square

A small sampling of art at The Children’s Art Gallery at Cauley Square

All of us who knew the Children’s Art Gallery were sad to see them leave Homestead, but it was an issue of timing that couldn’t be avoided. I’ve posted before about Cauley Square, the pleasant 10-acre parcel between Homestead and Cutler Bay with cute shops and a couple of restaurants. They were happy to provide a location for the Children’s Art Gallery and if you haven’t visited Natalie and Carlos there, you are missing a treat. If you aren’t familiar with the Gallery, the name can be misleading. They do indeed provide a wonderful environment for children (to include special needs) to express themselves artistically and to learn, but their love of art extends well beyond that. Aside from their own considerable talent, they nurture artists as often and in every way they can. (http://www.childrensgalleryartscenter.org)

The gallery has a range of mediums to select from and if you need a beautiful scarf, I would look there first. Some handcrafted jewelry is almost always available and there are other small gift items if that’s what you are looking for. The array of classes in different mediums is impressive and their Art and Wine Parties can provide something new to try. Have a piece of art to restore? That is yet another service to talk to them about. Their passion for art shows through in everything they do and if you want to help support the arts, spend some time on their website or make some time to visit them. At a minimum, you will feel uplifted being in the presence of a couple whose lives are devoted to sharing their love of art.

Beautiful scarves and other wearable art

Beautiful scarves and other wearable art

Opening Night at the Seminole……

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The crowd coming in for opening night of the Seminole Theater Dec 12, 2015

The crowd coming in for opening night of the Seminole Theater Dec 12, 2015

In 2013 voters in Homestead sent the message that they were willing to share in bringing the Seminole Theater out of the state of unfinished renovation. Efforts to restore the theater had been an on-and-off undertaking for more than twenty years or longer depending on whom you talk to. These situations are never easy and the cost in money, time, and resources is usually greater than anticipated. Despite all that, Saturday night, December 12, 2015 was the date when work and hope came together for a packed house to see the curtain rise for the first time in almost forty years.

The City of Homestead and the new theater management company can be proud of the event. The City held a festival in adjoining Losner Park with a wonderful array of activities such as an interactive art project for children and they brought in the outdoor screen so individuals who did not have tickets could watch a broadcast of the musical performance. Mother Nature got in on the act and provided a perfect night with no threat of the rain we’ve been having. Broadway tunes were the bill with a company of talented vocalists and a terrific trio of pianist, bass player, and drummer. The songs ranged from classics like, “The Impossible Dream” to the comical, “I Want to Be a Producer”. In keeping with the understanding that it will take some time for the theater to be in full operation, the twelve other performances scheduled between Jan 15th and June 4th are a diverse mix. Rather than a movie theater, the Seminole is now for the performing arts and at the moment, the focus is primarily music. Ticket prices are also mixed and some are as low as $15 for certain performances. You can see the line-up and order tickets from http://seminoletheater.org or call (786) 650-2073.

It will be important for those of us who have pushed for this to be supportive and I foresee a number of “girls night out” events as well as a few performances that hubby wants to go to.

 

Hey, About Turning 62…..

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Well, yes, the main thing most people think of when approaching 62 is the social security aspect, but that’s far too complicated to get into in this blog. And while many readers may already be aware of this benefit, others might not, Whether you’re getting to close to the age or you know someone who is, the National Parks Senior Pass is a great benefit to know about. From their website: “A $10.00 lifetime pass that provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies, with up to 100% of the proceeds being used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.” (http://store.usgs.gov/pass/senior.html)

You can also apply on-line for an extra $10 in processing fee, but even with that, you’re talking $20 for a lifetime pass and that’s still a good deal. If you’re like many of us, you have these travel lists and while not all the National Parks charge a fee, most do these days. Although the fees aren’t very much in most cases, why not take advantage of this? For us, with the Everglades practically in our backyard, it comes out to be a small annual savings.

Back when Daddy and my mother, then step-mother were traveling, they made a point to go to a lot of the national parks, some more than once. Then a couple of years ago at the Homestead Book Fair, there was a lovely couple who had retired and set out to visit a large number of the parks and chronicle their experiences. I can’t for the life of me recall if they had actually written a book or they intended to and since I was part of the fair, I didn’t have too long to chat with them. I heard several people mention how much they enjoyed their lecture. So, if you didn’t know about this, now you do. If you did know, make sure you spread the word.

When Mother Nature Is In Charge…..

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Ah dear, we will have to see what happens today. For those who are not NASCAR fans, this will seem to be utterly unimportant. Those who are fans are already anxiously checking weather reports if they’re awake (a little after 6:00 a.m. East Coast). This weekend, and especially today, is the time of the year when the most visitors flock to Homestead and the surrounding area. When I say “most”, that is most by a factor of  thousands. It is NASCAR Cup Weekend – the Superbowl of NASCAR. The difference is there are three separate racing series – truck and two different types of cars, so the champion in each series is determined and “crowned” on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday consecutively. Unlike football where rain and snow bring misery, but can be played in, NASCAR vehicles are not designed to run in the rain. That doesn’t include the fact there is very much the tailgating and party atmosphere at the Speedway like you have at all major sporting championships, so the trackside events of music, etc., are difficult to manage with rain.

The weather started turning yesterday, although the Saturday race was completed. The rain moved in last night and has been pretty heavy. Even though the race isn’t scheduled until 3:00, the track has to be dry. They actually have an impressively engineered track-drying mechanism, but it has to first stop raining and then it takes a certain number of hours for the drying to be effective. So, the duration of the current front is what is in question. Drier and cooler weather is supposed to be behind it and of course everyone involved is pleading with Mother Nature to scoot that this way quickly. They can, and have, moved the race to Monday and for us, it isn’t an issue of timing. We live within sound of the Speedway. Most people can make arrangements to stay over an extra day, but others won’t be able to. The problem with outdoor events is always this – Mother Nature is in charge and there just isn’t much you can do to in situations where you can’t “get under cover”.

Another Veteran’s Day Celebration……

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Veteran's Day Ceremony Homestead, FL Nov 2015

Veteran’s Day Ceremony Homestead, FL Nov 2015

Serious and poignant content alert! Not that all Veteran’s Day Celebrations don’t have good things about them. They do, and it’s always heart-warming to see people out for more than just the cookouts and sales. The small town celebrations though have such a personal feel to them and Homestead is no exception. Part of the reason I think is that like here, as the names of those who have been lost in time of war are read, you are in the crowd with a relative or descendent in many cases. They are more than names – they are a part of the town that the crowd knows. You can often find some of the same names on streets, roads, or buildings within a few blocks of the Veteran’s Memorial. Granted, the fact that Homestead’s municipal history doesn’t date back before the late 1880s means the memorial begins at WW I. To towns where they possibly have a few of the French Indian War and certainly of the Revolutionary War veterans, they have more extensive memories to capture. It is the sentiment, however, of the recognition of these men and increasingly women who perished in time of war that is identical. It is a stirring tribute and a joined hope that perhaps one day we will cease to turn to armed conflict to resolve our differences.

I have written in Facebook posts and perhaps on the blog that few people desire peace more than members of the military. No, not the ones who embrace a culture of death, but the nations who understand, sadly,the expression, “if you want peace, prepare for war” comes from “Epitoma Rei Militaris,” by Vegetius (Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus). The Latin is: “Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum.” (I found this on http://ancienthistory.about.com)

Although war and armed conflict does not come as quickly or as often as in the days when the words were committed to paper, it is still prevalent. Too many billions have been devastated throughout history, and I hope that somewhere in our future, our descendants will find a way to “beat swords into plowshares” in a meaningful way.

Liking Lafayette’s……

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Lafayette's at Pointe Orlando

Lafayette’s at Pointe Orlando

Our delightful dilemma of having too many good restaurants to choose from didn’t get resolved when we decided to give Lafayette’s a try. (http://lafayettes.com/orlando) It isn’t straight out of New Orleans, however, it has the right mix of signature Cajun dishes and some slight variations. I’m not trying to whet your appetite, but the fried green tomato sliders done with bacon and Remoulade sauce were excellent. For hubby, the food could have taken lesser place to the fact they had Abita Turbo Dog beer on tap. That is very difficult to find when you venture far from South Louisiana. Fortunately, there were no trade-offs when it came to food. He had salmon with a BBQ glaze atop corn chowder and shrimp. I went with the chicken in a lemon caper sauce. We thoroughly enjoyed both meals.

The décor can be seen a bit in the photo and they strike a nice balance with the somewhat rustic look and brushed metal. The largest dining room is where the stage is and while hubby would have been quite happy to be one table back from the band, he acquiesced to my preference to be in the bar instead. We could easily hear the music which was good. I suspect that had the place been full, the sound might not have carried quite as well.

We also had the chance to meet up with some acquaintances at different points during the day and thanks to Richie Kohler (the man who drew me into the Mystery of the Last Olympian project), I was introduced to another couple of people whose names are pretty well-known in diving circles. Today will be busy of course and I think we’ll go to the Everglades Restaurant here in the hotel tonight. We’ll see.

Back to the Funky Monkey……

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Bar at Funky Monkey in Orlando

Bar at Funky Monkey in Orlando

Pointe Orlando is a large dining, entertainment, and retail area not quite a mile from the Convention Center where the dive show is held. We usually go there for dinner except for the last night when we often dine at the hotel. It is another of those areas where you have so many choices of restaurants, it can be difficult to decide. The wine bistro Funky Monkey is a regular for us though. Like many bistros, they have a limited menu and they focus on fresh and creative. In reality the chef can be a bit too creative for me, but hubby thoroughly enjoys it and I can find delicious dishes as well. I had perfectly roasted chicken last night with a lovely lemon flavor and hubby did the seafood diablo pasta.

In our stroll back (makes for a pleasant walk) we paused at Marlow’s Tavern and asked a quartet of outside diners their opinion. With a response of “excellent”, we might give that a try tonight. However, there is also a New Orleans-themed place – Lafayette’s – and their menu is appealing. An array of two many restaurants is certainly a nice problem to have.

Strolling Around…..

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Dragon Atop Building in Diagon Alley, Universal Studios Park

Dragon Atop Building in Diagon Alley, Universal Studios Park

I think I’ve previously explained that hubby is the big Harry Potter fan. The major international dive trade show (DEMA) is held in Orlando every other year. In general, we come up one day early and do either Disney or Universal. Since we visited Harry Potter Wizarding World (Hogsmeade) before, this year it was to see the addition of Diagon Alley. It’s over in Universal while Hogsmeade is in the Islands of Adventure Park. I’m not sure if the two places are the same size, but they are both well done. We didn’t wait in line for the two rides, but chose instead to stroll around. We did catch a couple of the street performances – one singing and one story-telling. We were a little surprised at the crowds on a Tuesday afternoon not during a holiday time, but I suppose it’s always pretty busy. We took our time wandering back out of the park and stopped to see a great Transformer (don’t know which character it was) having photo ops with children. Popeye and Olive Oil were in another spot and we did linger for a bit at the classic cars as part of the movie American Graffiti section.

We’ll be having dinner tonight at the newer Emeril’s restaurant, Tchoup Chop (pronounced chop-chop and I have no idea why). It’s fusion with a definite Asian flair and is right here in the hotel. Oh, not surprisingly, we had lunch at Margaritaville Café which is what we usually do. We have an early start and busy day tomorrow, so we’ll see how things go.

 

A Great Find for Local Crafts……

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Cindy Johnson with Homemade Gourmet Jellies

Cindy Johnson with Homemade Gourmet Jellies

(A quick note. I thought I posted this two weeks ago and finally realized it was still in my draft folder)

Whenever possible, I arrange my trip to Louisiana to include seeing old friends in Natchitoches. For those who follow the blog, you know that’s where I lived from fourth grade through college and it is one of four towns I used to create the fictional town of Wallington, Georgia for Small Town Lies and the series. For others who might be new to the post, notwithstanding the significance as the oldest town in the Louisiana Purchase (1714, two years before N.O.), it is also the hometown of Robert Hartling who wrote Steel Magnolias and is where the movie was filmed. The Christmas festival shown in the movie is very much for real and several other festivals have been added to the annual calendar. When tourists come, they like to wander among kiosks or shops.

A brand new, wonderful little shop, the Lagniappe Craft Market, at 124 St Denis St, is now open although I’m not sure they have a website yet. (318 521-8101). The store is devoted to local crafts, and my dear friends, Cindy and Burley Johnson, are each enjoying their “craft” side. Cindy has developed a line of homemade jellies – Carrot Cake and Blueberry Pineapple Pepper being two of them. Burley has this amazing collection of hand-crafted fishing ties. Jelly, I can taste, and it’s terrific. Not being an angler, I can only say the ties look as good as any that I have seen on television. Burley also has them mounted on little plaques for the perfect touch for décor that is fishing or outdoor themed. The shop of course has jewelry and other items that again, are all locally made. It is a delight to browse in and if you’re shopping for a gift (or for yourself), the odds are you’ll find something you like.

Burley Johnson with Decorative and Useful Handcrafted Fishing Flies

Burley Johnson with Decorative and Useful Handcrafted Fishing Flies