Korean war memorial
Still apposite today
FDR...
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Monday, May 4, 2015
A weekend in Washington
We took the metro 3 stops into the city and walked the short distance to the Mall and all the Smithsonian museums. First stop was Air and Space. It seemed a lot bigger than on our last visit, with Imax theatre definitely a new attraction, but the space capsules still look small and flimsey.
We're suckers for Imax and saw a film about the International Space Station which we both enjoyed. The museum was absolutely heaving as we left and moved on to the Museum of the American Indians. This is housed in a new and beautiful building- perhaps more impressive than the exhibits. We thought the museum in Santa Fe had more to see.
We ended the day with a stop at the Botanic Gardens and greenhouses right next to the Capitol building. The latter is covered with scaffolding as the dome is disintegrating so not looking its best.
Saturday we decided the National Art Gallery might be a little less crowded, at least attracting fewer kids. We concentrated on the Impressionists and 19 th century and there are many famous paintings on show. As in NY photos are allowed so I snapped a couple as examples. We were also impressed by the new sparkley walkway between the 2 buildings and its wall of water.
We walked through the Sculpture Garden and up the Mall to the Washington Monument and then headed back to get changed and wait for Janice de Couto -as was- to arrive. This she did, very promptly having driven from the other side of the metropolitan area, and we went to Legal Seafood for supper.
3and a half hours passed by catching up with her news and gossip about her old school mates and their life-paths......all most enjoyable.
Sunday was pretty taxing-at least for me. By now the temperature was in the 80's. We started the day at the Natural History museum where we enjoyed another Imax film and were amazed at the miles of galleries of minerals and gems let alone the exhibits of animals, insects, birds etc etc. next we walked up the Mall to meet our guide for a 4 hour walking tour around the monuments of the Mall .......I was pretty tired by the end but we did see everything up close and learned a lot. At the end we still had a good walk to the metro stop.
Supper was in Bob and Edie's Diner as we wanted to end with an authentic American experience!
Today witll be the inevitable transition, packing, hanging about, hoping for no delayed flights, staggering through security ( twice) and a night on the redeye before normal life and responsibilities start on Tuesday.
We're suckers for Imax and saw a film about the International Space Station which we both enjoyed. The museum was absolutely heaving as we left and moved on to the Museum of the American Indians. This is housed in a new and beautiful building- perhaps more impressive than the exhibits. We thought the museum in Santa Fe had more to see.
We ended the day with a stop at the Botanic Gardens and greenhouses right next to the Capitol building. The latter is covered with scaffolding as the dome is disintegrating so not looking its best.
Saturday we decided the National Art Gallery might be a little less crowded, at least attracting fewer kids. We concentrated on the Impressionists and 19 th century and there are many famous paintings on show. As in NY photos are allowed so I snapped a couple as examples. We were also impressed by the new sparkley walkway between the 2 buildings and its wall of water.
We walked through the Sculpture Garden and up the Mall to the Washington Monument and then headed back to get changed and wait for Janice de Couto -as was- to arrive. This she did, very promptly having driven from the other side of the metropolitan area, and we went to Legal Seafood for supper.
3and a half hours passed by catching up with her news and gossip about her old school mates and their life-paths......all most enjoyable.
Sunday was pretty taxing-at least for me. By now the temperature was in the 80's. We started the day at the Natural History museum where we enjoyed another Imax film and were amazed at the miles of galleries of minerals and gems let alone the exhibits of animals, insects, birds etc etc. next we walked up the Mall to meet our guide for a 4 hour walking tour around the monuments of the Mall .......I was pretty tired by the end but we did see everything up close and learned a lot. At the end we still had a good walk to the metro stop.
Supper was in Bob and Edie's Diner as we wanted to end with an authentic American experience!
Today witll be the inevitable transition, packing, hanging about, hoping for no delayed flights, staggering through security ( twice) and a night on the redeye before normal life and responsibilities start on Tuesday.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Farewell to Florida
We had a lovely reunion with Heather, my sis, and Katy, my niece. They come every year to a very smart apartment on Sanibel harbour.
We met up for lunch at Doc Ford's waterside restaurant and the went back to see their place.
The weather has been a little unsettled this past week but we've swum most days. Yesterday we drove to an area closer to the coast. Rotunda is a " managed community" of 5,000 houses. They have been built over a long time and are in many different styles and size of lots. We had seen one on Airbnb which we fancied renting in the future and we found it easily. It's much smarter than our current rental, has a pool and is on a small lake. So, smarter, with the same facilities we like but also with lots of undeveloped land nearby and so, lots of wild life. This includes turtles, bobcats, eagles, armadillos, racoons and- possible- Florida panthers! We're hoping to have it for 6 weeks in winter 2017.
Now we're at Fort Myers airport awaiting a flight to Washington. We were here in about an hour so it's very convenient. An announcement has just been made: "Morning folks. My name is Frank. Your plane is almost here. We have plenty of empty seats so it will be a relaxing flight" ! Not quite Heathrow style- or even Bournemouth!
Later- landed at Reagan airport. As we taxied to the gate the chief stewardess said there were veterans on board and launched into a patriotic song. Everyone ( except B) sang and / or clapped. Now that's what you call a friendly airline! (South West- cheap too.....and free soft drinks, many as you want)
We met up for lunch at Doc Ford's waterside restaurant and the went back to see their place.
The weather has been a little unsettled this past week but we've swum most days. Yesterday we drove to an area closer to the coast. Rotunda is a " managed community" of 5,000 houses. They have been built over a long time and are in many different styles and size of lots. We had seen one on Airbnb which we fancied renting in the future and we found it easily. It's much smarter than our current rental, has a pool and is on a small lake. So, smarter, with the same facilities we like but also with lots of undeveloped land nearby and so, lots of wild life. This includes turtles, bobcats, eagles, armadillos, racoons and- possible- Florida panthers! We're hoping to have it for 6 weeks in winter 2017.
Now we're at Fort Myers airport awaiting a flight to Washington. We were here in about an hour so it's very convenient. An announcement has just been made: "Morning folks. My name is Frank. Your plane is almost here. We have plenty of empty seats so it will be a relaxing flight" ! Not quite Heathrow style- or even Bournemouth!
Later- landed at Reagan airport. As we taxied to the gate the chief stewardess said there were veterans on board and launched into a patriotic song. Everyone ( except B) sang and / or clapped. Now that's what you call a friendly airline! (South West- cheap too.....and free soft drinks, many as you want)
Thursday, April 16, 2015
.....and finally
...a vast art collection, housed in a Renaissance style palace. Many of the hundreds of paintings are by minor artists but there are works by Valesquez ( on loan to Paris exhib at the moment), Reynolds, Lawrence and the largest number of Reubens outside Europe.
Would it be completely philistine to say my favourite work of art was Joseph's Coat Sky Space-an inner courtyard with a rectangle open to the sky, the columns each planted with jasmine, so smelling divine?
We were also much taken with some striking works from recycled objects. No photography allowed in that gallery, unfortunately.
Would it be completely philistine to say my favourite work of art was Joseph's Coat Sky Space-an inner courtyard with a rectangle open to the sky, the columns each planted with jasmine, so smelling divine?
We were also much taken with some striking works from recycled objects. No photography allowed in that gallery, unfortunately.
Ringlings part 2
Next stop was the waterside mansion John built for Mable(sic) Cal'd'Zan.
This is a copy of a Venetian palace- opulent in the extreme.
Ringling museums
Yesterday we drove up to Sarasota to visit the Ringling estate. We were in the city some years back and couldn't think why we hadn't gone then. Wikiepedia provided the answew: the complex was rundown and falling apart by the mid 90's so we would not have been able to.
The estate was left to the people of Florida in 1936 by John Ringling, head of the circus family. He was, by then, almost bankrupt - not surprising when you visit the place- and left no money for upkeep. In the end a combination of public and private money has not only saved the buildings but also enlarged and modernised them.
We're not overly interested in circuses but the 2 museums are fascinating. We especially liked the vast model made of the Ringling circus in its heyday when 1400 people were employed in a self-sufficient canvas city which moved on EVERY day and travelled by train. The big top had 3 rings and 4 stages and seats for 1500.
As we were walking round we could hear an elderly lady, just behind us, with a group of relatives. It transpired that she had been a trapeze artist in the same circus and was pregnant with her daughter, also there, when she fell 40 ft, just breaking her ankle.
The estate was left to the people of Florida in 1936 by John Ringling, head of the circus family. He was, by then, almost bankrupt - not surprising when you visit the place- and left no money for upkeep. In the end a combination of public and private money has not only saved the buildings but also enlarged and modernised them.
We're not overly interested in circuses but the 2 museums are fascinating. We especially liked the vast model made of the Ringling circus in its heyday when 1400 people were employed in a self-sufficient canvas city which moved on EVERY day and travelled by train. The big top had 3 rings and 4 stages and seats for 1500.
As we were walking round we could hear an elderly lady, just behind us, with a group of relatives. It transpired that she had been a trapeze artist in the same circus and was pregnant with her daughter, also there, when she fell 40 ft, just breaking her ankle.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Mocking bird.....
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Peace River bird sanctuary.
We visited last year but thought it would be worth a 2 nd trip as the resue birds keep changing.
It's a small place but, even so, threatened with closure as the town of Punta Gorda wants to "improve facilities" at the nearby beach- it's the only beach in the area.
It was crowded with families whose kids are still on Spring Break and local elementary school groups. The lucky thing, however, for us was that a volunteer had a barred owl which, in fact, lives with her and about which she gave an informative talk. This one had been reared by humans and when first released it just hung around houses. They weigh 3 lbs but can take prey of 9. Lbs because their talons lock on so tightly. ( Funny how quickly I've relapsed into avoirdupois measurements here!)
We had a stroll through the mangroves on a boardwalk- seemed completely lifeless.
Next stop was a pottery place promising inspiring bamboo gardens. I've never seen so many pots in one place, must be millions of dollars worth, mostly imported from Mexico and points south. The gardens were not so great although there were some impressive stands of towering bamboo.
Back at the villa we saw our first turtle -just its head - and 2 pairs of cardinals. Must be nesting time I guess. What with the serenade from a mocking bird which, as its name implies, copies other birds' song, we felt we're pretty well served for natural entertainment without going anywhere.
It's a small place but, even so, threatened with closure as the town of Punta Gorda wants to "improve facilities" at the nearby beach- it's the only beach in the area.
It was crowded with families whose kids are still on Spring Break and local elementary school groups. The lucky thing, however, for us was that a volunteer had a barred owl which, in fact, lives with her and about which she gave an informative talk. This one had been reared by humans and when first released it just hung around houses. They weigh 3 lbs but can take prey of 9. Lbs because their talons lock on so tightly. ( Funny how quickly I've relapsed into avoirdupois measurements here!)
We had a stroll through the mangroves on a boardwalk- seemed completely lifeless.
Next stop was a pottery place promising inspiring bamboo gardens. I've never seen so many pots in one place, must be millions of dollars worth, mostly imported from Mexico and points south. The gardens were not so great although there were some impressive stands of towering bamboo.
Back at the villa we saw our first turtle -just its head - and 2 pairs of cardinals. Must be nesting time I guess. What with the serenade from a mocking bird which, as its name implies, copies other birds' song, we felt we're pretty well served for natural entertainment without going anywhere.
Heron by our lanai
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Venice
Well, Venice is very like the other "historic" towns of S.W. Florida, well- manicured, beautifully landscaped, well provided with independent eateries and shops.
Once again we chose a tapas place as we do like that style of eating. This one was more expensive than last weeks but more ambitious. All delicious!
As this is Easter holiday traffic is noticeably heavier on the main highways so we've decided to stay close to home, as we would do in Spain or England. Luckily the weather has been perfect, low 80's and low humidity. We've loved having the pool and are using it alot.
Once again we chose a tapas place as we do like that style of eating. This one was more expensive than last weeks but more ambitious. All delicious!
As this is Easter holiday traffic is noticeably heavier on the main highways so we've decided to stay close to home, as we would do in Spain or England. Luckily the weather has been perfect, low 80's and low humidity. We've loved having the pool and are using it alot.
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