Thursday, November 12, 2015
We flew from balmy Cleveland, OH (58 degrees) to warmer Tampa, FL (88 degrees). Rented a car and headed down I-275. Stopped for lunch in St Petersburg, at the brand new Stillwaters Tavern, located across the street from The Museum of Fine Arts.
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| Ceiba pentandra/Kapok Tree at the Museum of Fine Arts |
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| Closeup of the Kapok tree trunk |
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Ficus benghalensis/Banyan Tree
at the Museum of Fine Arts |
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| Tamiko in the Banyan tree (KSS) |
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| Kent dwarfed by a Banyan tree |
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| Kent noticed something under this information kiosk |
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| A tiny statue of a bird pulling a worm |
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| Crossing the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (1982-1987) |
We arrived at Siesta Key in Sarasota, and checked into the Sea Club II condos. Kent's brother, Mike, and his wife, Donna, were already there, and we visited with them and friends until dinner at S.K.O.B. (Siesta Key Oyster Bar). Very good, except that Art's order of oysters came with one basically empty shell. That got him three more (whole) oysters!
Friday, November 13, 2015
After going out for breakfast, we wasted a lot of time trying to get on the internet. Finally headed to the pool to read, but found the wedding BBQ party was already underway. Dan & Maggie were providing and cooking the food at a lunch the day before their wedding!
We had to drive to the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport to pick up Brynne.
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Circus Parade mosaic on a Wells Fargo bank
in Sarasota, FL, the winter home of the
Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus |
We returned to the BBQ party at the pool at the Sea Club II.
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Ardea alba/Great Egret crashing the party;
he did snatch a hot dog! |
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| A "kegstand" |
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| Crowded pool |
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Lawn games included cornhole,
the Swedish game of kubb, and giant Jenga |
Kent, Brynne, and I walked over to Siesta Beach, a white sand beach of 99% pure crystal quartz.
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| Siesta Beach |
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| Rynchops niger/Black Skimmer |
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| Thalasseus maximus/Royal Tern |
This weekend was the Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival. We saw the backs of the sculptures.
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Professional sand sculptors:
Greg Grady & Damon Langlois |
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Free Minded by Melineige Beauregard & Joris Kivits;
Second place and People's Choice winner |
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| We the People by Jan Zelinka & Radovan Zivny |
Headed back to Sea Club II.
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Aratinga nenday/Nanday or Black-hooded Parakeets;
they have become invasive |
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Signs everywhere made sure you knew
which was the #1 Beach USA! |
Next: Wedding in Florida 2.
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