Day tripping around Florida.............Dunedin.......for a very special occasion

 

Dunedin's Main Street ends at the marina.  We were happy not only because we were celebrating our 42 year anniversary, but also because the next stop was the ice cream shop!

A commonly used phrase is "time flies when you're having fun".  It certainly seems to ring true most of the time, and it certainly was true for us on July 17.  On that day we celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary..........."time flies when you're having fun".

To celebrate we planned a one-night getaway to Dunedin, which is just a little over an hour's drive from Bradenton.  We had made a brief stop in Dunedin a few years back on our way to Tarpon Springs and were really impressed.  It seems like we aren't the only ones impressed with this coastal town of 36,000 residents.  It is frequently listed as one of the best small towns, not only in Florida but in the United States.  After our one-night stay and exploring around a bit, we certainly are in agreement with the high praise that the city receives.

Dunedin Visitors Guide

We had a Marriott Rewards Certificate that was nearing its expiration date and were fortunate to find The Fenway Hotel had availability.  The Fenway is a historic hotel, located along the tree lined Edgewater Drive overlooking Clearwater Harbor and Caladesi Island State Park.  The hotel opened in 1927 and operated as a "seasonal hotel" until 1961 when it started welcoming guests year-round.  In addition to serving as a hotel, it also housed Pinellas Counties first radio station (WGHB).  The walls in the  public spaces are tastefully decorated with historic photographs and musical memorabilia as a tribute to its past.

The Fenway

The Fenway

Prior to our arrival I had called to let them know we were celebrating our anniversary.  Upon arrival the front desk attendant wished us a Happy Anniversary and informed us that our room had been upgraded to a harbor view room.  When we opened the door to the room, we were welcomed with a huge charcuterie board with assorted meats, cheeses and olives and a bottle of chilled champagne.  We had already started talking about where we were going to eat lunch, but the question was answered for us.

We really appreciated the surprise the hotel gave us for our anniversary!

After lunch and a little relaxation, it was time to head out and do a some exploring.  We had learned that the top ranked Florida State Park was located just a few miles north of Dunedin.  Ironically, the name of the park is Honeymoon Island State Park.  Naturally since we were celebrating 42 years of honeymooning, we had to go.

Honeymoon Island State Park

The park features over four miles of unspoiled beach front.  Because there had been some showers in the area earlier in the day, the park was relatively empty.  The clouds kept the temperature and the humidity fairly low, and we enjoyed a slow stroll for several miles up the beach before turning back.  We finished off the day with a casual dinner at Frenchy's Outpost which is located on the Dunedin Causeway, followed by a casual stroll along the very nice Main Street which was fairly busy with a mix of tourists and locals.

Frenchy's Outpost

We pretty much had the beach to ourselves...........

.......in both directions!

Downtown Dunedin is full of shops and restaurants…..and a few umbrellas!

Sunset across Clearwater Harbor (taken from the hotel)

The next morning, we were up and out of the hotel early.  First we enjoyed a walk along the waterfront path, enjoying views of the harbor as well as the well-maintained homes along Edgewater Drive.  I'm not sure how far the path goes, but before we turned around we were in Clearwater.  We then took advantage of the complimentary bikes offered by the hotel (one free hour, then $10/hour).  Just a few blocks behind the hotel is the Pinellas Trail.  This trail is over forty miles in length running from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs.  Of course we didn't ride the full trail, but we did enjoy several miles of it before turning back.

The Pinellas Trail runs through Dunedin.  It's a great biking, running and walking path!

It was getting close to check out time and we had worked up a decent appetite by then.  We enjoyed strolling through the downtown once again, spending some time in a really nice co-op art gallery that featured local artist and the Penny Lane Beatles Museum (currently located inside the art gallery).  The Beatles museum is a private collection of a local physician.  It had been recommended to us by one of Beth's cousins (Thanks Kristy, it was great).   On our way out of town we stopped at a small family operated restaurant (Delco's Original Steaks) that had received great reviews.  Their specialty was "authentic" Philly cheesesteaks. The restaurant was bustling even though it was still a little before noon.  In spite of being pretty busy they were amazingly efficient and in no time we were munching on a delicious cheesesteak sandwich that was every bit as good as ones we've gotten in Philly.  Based on the Phillies, Eagles and Flyers memorabilia covering the walls from floor to ceiling there's a strong Philidelphia connection.........

Delco's Original Steaks

We loved our one night stay in Dunedin and look forward to visiting again soon.  It's the perfect place for a weekend getaway or to celebrate a special occasion!   

Day tripping around Florida...........The Ringling Museum, Sarasota

The Ringling Museum.......a masterpiece just a few miles down the road!

I'll have to admit that I'm a little embarrassed to be posting this blog just now.  We've spent so much time out here on Anna Maria Island over the years and until last week we had never visited the Sarasota Ringling Museum, which is just eighteen miles down the road from us.  I'm not sure what took us so long to get there, but we're sure glad that we finally made it!

The Ringling Museum

John Ringling was one of five brothers who organized and took their first circus on the road in 1884.  The circus was an instant success and grew rapidly from its inception.  John was considered the most business savvy of the five brothers and diversified his portfolio beyond the circus to include railroads and real estate.  In 1905, at the age of 39 he married Mable Burton (age 30).  The Ringling's never had children but were passionate about entertaining family and friends as well as collecting top of the line furniture and artwork from around the world.

In 1911 they purchased 20 waterfront acres in Sarasota, which at the time was a small fishing village.  The Ringling's saw the potential for development of the area and soon built their large home on the property.  While building the house they also decided to build an art museum that they would leave behind as part of their legacy.  Additionally, they made the decision to move the winter home of the circus from Connecticut to Sarasota.  Both of these decisions were considered key in the early development and continued growth of Sarasota.

There's plenty to see and do on the grounds of the museum.  In fact, we found so much to do on the day of our first visit that we went back the next day.  Of course, there was a reason for the double visits and naturally it had to do with savings!

On Mondays there is free admission (called Legacy Day) to the large and very interesting art museum.  The collections on display include ancient Indian sculptures, masterpiece paintings, photography, modern art and much more.  We enjoyed spending a couple of hours roaming the 21 connected galleries as well as the glass pavilion showcase.  Access to the very impressive grounds is also included in the free admission.  We didn't spend too much time roaming the grounds which are covered with huge Banyon Trees because of the heat.  We've already made plans to return once cooler temperatures arrive and enjoy a picnic at one of the many tables scattered around the grounds. We had left our phones (cameras) in the car so there aren't any pictures from the art museum or grounds that we took.  There are plenty of photos of both in the link. 

What is not included in the Legacy Day is admission to the Ringling's Mansion (Ca'd'Zan Mansion), or the Circus Museums.  What caught our eye was the "Summer Circus Spectacular" which runs several days a week through mid-August.  This event is a one-hour circus which featured five traditional circus acts for $20 and admission to the Circus Museums for an additional $5.  We had so much fun in the Art Museum, we couldn't pass up the opportunity for more fun and adventure, so we purchased circus tickets for the next day............and we're sure glad we did.

The circus was very entertaining, but the star of the show was the two circus museums which were outstanding.  They featured interactive displays and memorabilia from Ringling Brothers and other circuses that traveled the country performing, first under the big top, and then in large arenas.  Most impressive was learning the logistics of setting up, tearing down and transporting the circus from town to town, especially when we learned that in most cases the typical length of time in any town was one day!  There is also a massive display of wooden figures that were carved and painted by hand showing how it all worked. There are over 42,000 pieces in the 3,800 square foot display. It's so large and detailed that pictures don't do it justice.

The circus is held in a small theater that seats approximately 200.  The majority of the audience at the performance we attended were day camp children.  They brought plenty of enthusiasm with them which made it even more fun. 

Just a very small part of the 42,000 piece model circus display.  It's the world's largest and it's amazing!

Maybe I missed my calling.............

Maybe Beth missed her calling as well.

Lou Jacobs was a famous clown in the Ringling Brothers Circus.  He could somehow fit himself into this car and drive it into the arena.

The traveling ticket office that was used when the circus was performing under the "big top"

John and Mable Ringling's private rail car that would travel with the circus from town to town.  There were two bedrooms, a parlor, two bathrooms (one with a bathtub), a kitchen and dining area.

One of several circus wagons that were used both during performances as well as for parades that were held to announce the circus had come to town.

It took us a long time to get to the Ringling Museum, rest assured it won't take us as long to get back!

      

Summertime Florida fun with family and friends.............

The time we have to all be together is rare, but it's always super special

 Since returning from Athens in early June we've been in Florida.  As is always the case at this time of year it's a bit on the hot and humid side, but it's also a special time of year for us because it means time with family and friends.

For two special weeks around the 4th of July the annual Beach House gathering of Beth's family takes place here on Anna Maria Island.  Her family has roots on the island that go back to at least 1911.  As I understand it, that's when a family member purchased a piece of property on the island.  Shortly thereafter the tradition of summertime on the island started, and it's been going strong now for close to a century.

Generations change over the years, but the legacy that was started, not only remains, but is going strong and really growing at a rapid rate.  This year at the peak of the two-week reunion there were well over 100 family members on the island enjoying the sand, surf and fellowship. When I say the numbers are growing at a rapid rate, I'm not kidding.  This year we made an attempt to get a head count on the number of kiddo's thirteen and under and as best as we could determine there were about 30, and the majority of those were under five years of age!  It's nice to know that the legacy and tradition of Beach House is being passed on to the younger generation, just as it has been passed down through the years.

This is about 2/3's of the Beach House group.........an amazing tradition!

Beth and I felt exceptionally fortunate because for a few glorious days we had Ben, Sarah, James and Emma with us (we missed you, Joey!).  Ben's time was limited to just two days, since it's one of the busiest times of the year at the campground.  We're grateful for those two days and the fact that they overlapped with the six days that Sarah, James and Emma were with us.  James and Emma loved spending time with their cousins (no matter how distant the relationship is, everybody at Beach House is an aunt, uncle or cousin).  They also had a blast eating popsicles in the pool, waging nerf gun battles and visiting with NaNa.

A pose that's been recreated many times through the years!

In addition to Beach House, I had the opportunity to get together with my brother Gerald for a couple of meals, one of which Beth joined us.  Unlike Beth's family, my family is small, but the love for each other is the same.  We get to see each other a few times a year and just like Beach House, the time together is always fantastic.

It's always fun to get together with Gerald, especially when there is fresh seafood.  This is at the Tide Table in Cortez.  Our favorites are Tide Table (Cortez), Star Fish Company (Cortez), Anna Maria Oyster Bar (Bridge Street Location) and Woody's River Roo (Ellenton).  

We'll be leaving the island in a few days and heading out to California.  We have an Airbnb rented for the month in the small. eclectic town of Monte Rio.  We're looking forward to the cooler temperatures near the Pacific coast and under the redwoods, and of course spending time with Sarah, Joey, James and Emma.  

Before leaving there was one final big event.  This one is a little hard to believe.  Next year will mark the 50th year since I graduated from that academic powerhouse known as Mulberry High School.  The class ahead of mine (Class of 74) held their 50th class reunion last night.  Mulberry was a wonderful place to grow up and the high school, like the town itself is rather small. Everybody pretty much knew each other, not only at school but around the town.   It was kind of the Class of 74 to open up their reunion to the other MHS alumni to attend.  It was a blast getting to see so many friends from the past, many that I haven't seen in 50 years.  One strange thing about it..............they all look older now!

MHS Class of 74.........we appreciated their hospitality!

MHS Class of 72

A few of us were there from the classes of 75 & 76

Still Standing after all these years!

It's been a wonderful six weeks here...............the adventure continues!

Mykonos, Greece

Along the Mykonos waterfront

Mykonos is slightly larger in size and a little smaller in population when compared to Santorini.  There are similarities and there are differences.  Mykonos has multiple large, white sand beaches while the beaches of Santorini are smaller and rocky.  The Mykonos beaches are lined with bars and restaurants that are lively during the day. While we've never been there to confirm it, they have a reputation of being even more lively after the sun goes down.  This has helped Mykonos earn the reputation of "the party island".  

Mykonos Town on Mykonos Island

We arrived at Mykonos around 7:00 AM.  Like Santorini, Mykonos is a tender port.  Also similar to our previous day in Santorini, there were several other ships with us.  Mykonos is able to handle the large number of "day trippers" better than Santorini for a couple of reasons.  First, they have a larger docking area for the ship tenders.  The town (Mykonos Town) is just a short, flat walk from the dock, instead of up a steep hill.  Additionally, with the option of nice beaches around the island, the crowds disperse out  more so than on Santorini.

We could have probably swam from ship to shore, but that would be showing off!

While we didn't rush off the ship immediately, we were in town as many of the shops and restaurants were starting to open.  We had been out to one of the Mykonos beaches (Paradise Beach) on a previous visit.  It was "off season" and there weren't too many people there that day, which was perfect for us.  We chose not to make the trek to one of the beaches on this visit and simply enjoyed walking around the town for a while before returning to the ship for a relaxing final day.

There is a small, sandy beach in town.  The larger, more popular beaches are a few miles out of town.  The link below is to a TripAdvisor list of the islands 10 best beaches.

10 Best Beaches on Mykonos

Typical narrow passage in the town

There are still sixteen windmills scattered around the island.  They were built by the Venetians in the 16th century for grinding agricultural products that were then transported off the island.

Even with four ships docked offshore the crowds were more dispersed with many people heading for the beaches. 

The captain pulled up the anchor a little after 5:00 PM and we started making our way towards Athens, where this adventure would end, and we'd start the journey back to Florida.  I'm pleased to report that we made it!  I'm writing this final blog from Florida.  It was a long travel day that included an hour and a half ride to the Athens Airport, a ten-hour flight from Athens to JFK, followed by a three hour flight to Miami and an hour flight to Tampa.  We arrived back on Anna Maria Island about 26 hours after disembarking the ship.    

We've already had two nice visits with Beth's mom (NaNa), who is recovering from a recent fall that could have been worse.  We're also looking forward to the upcoming annual Beach House gathering that will commence here on the island in a couple of weeks.  There will be upwards of 100 of Beth's extended family here on the island, an amazing tradition that is over 100 years old!

Beth and I are looking forward to having Sarah, James, Emma and Ben with us for a few days. It will also be extra special for our niece Kimberly to come for several of the same days which will make Beach House 2024 even more special (Joey, we'll miss you)!

Santorini, Greece….

 

Small church in Oia

Santorini is known for its white homes, businesses and churches, many with blue roofs.  Several of the iconic pictures of Greece are taken on the island of Santorini.  It’s a favorite destination for travelers from around the globe.   Many arrive by plane or ferries and enjoy time at the numerous boutique hotels around the 29 square mile island (by comparison, Manhattan in New York City is 22 square miles in size).  Many day trippers arrive by cruise ship.

The island came into existence in the mid-1600’s BC as a result of a massive volcanic eruption.   The island has around 18,000 residents, and often plays host to that many visitors on a daily basis.

We had been to Santorini a couple of times in the past and enjoyed our visits. It had been a number of years since our last visit, and quite honestly we saw that Santorini is facing some challenges.  The biggest challenge is its beauty has made it popular to the point that the rocky islands infrastructure can’t keep up with the demand.  It’s really putting strain on the island’s resources.  

There are two main towns, Fira and Oia that are about 6 miles apart.  There is one connecting road between the two towns.  Public transportation is available, but limited.  Parking is also limited.   

There are no docking facilities for cruise ships and only one small docking space for tender boats to bring passengers ashore.  Once passengers arrive at the dock, they face another challenge.  The city of Fira is on a hillside 588 slippery, steep steps up!  Oh by the way, if you choose to walk up the steps, you’ll be sharing the path with a number of donkeys that for a fee will transport you up and/or down.  The donkeys have been around for a long time, but their use has been questioned in recent years.  Another way to get to the top is by cable car, but this is a very slow process that moves less than forty people each way every four to five minutes.  The line for the cable car reminded us of the lines at some of the most popular Disney attractions (over two hours).

Approaching Fira on the ship tender.  The zig zag path is the path to the city.  588 slippery steps and dodging donkeys!

If you don’t want to go to Fira, there are options to take a ferry to the town of Oia, but that’s not an easy process either.  The fee is around $30 per person for a one way ferry ride with bus transportation back to Fira every hour.  For some reason, it didn’t seem like return options by ferry were offered.   

On the ferry to Oia

Approaching Oia, which also sets high above the water.  There is a walk up required from this dock as well.  It’s steep but not as steep….. and no donkeys to deal with!

Docking in Oia.  The water around Santorini is amazing!

Not wanting to stand in line for hours, climb 588 steps or ride a donkey, we took the ferry to Oia.   We enjoyed looking around a bit although it was hot and crowded.  The “below normal” temperatures we enjoyed for much of the past two months had given way to “above average” temperatures.  The day was starting to pass by quickly so we caught the bus back after a couple of hours of strolling around and stopping for a cool drink in the shade.  We headed for the cable car with hopes that the lines going down would now be shorter……they weren’t!   After standing in the slow moving line for a bit we accessed our options.  588 steps down wasn’t a great option, but it was the best option we and many others had available.  

We made it down with just an occasional slip (but never falling) and without stepping in donkey poop!  Gravity was our friend but it was still a challenge.  

I hope that no one misunderstands this blog.  It’s not meant to be negative.  Santorini is a magical place that was thousands of years in the making.  Hopefully it’s around for future generations to enjoy.  The natural resources and infrastructure are being pushed to the limit and beyond.   It’s going to probably involve some tough choices.  Venice, Italy has made them and it appears to be working!

Corfu, Greece

We’re early risers!    The sunrise sail in’s never get old!

 We really enjoyed our first visit to Corfu on the previous cruise and were excited to have the opportunity to see a bit more.  The island and the largest city are both known as Corfu.  Our first visit was limited to “Corfu Town”.   For this visit we used some of our on board credit and purchased a tour that would give us the opportunity to see more of this lush, green, Greek island.  

After a brief tour around the town, we made our way out of the city following a route that took us across the island. Our first stop was both beautiful and a bit of a challenge to pronounce, Paleokastitsa.  We saw it first from sea level, and then again from a lookout high above the clear, blue water.   Getting up to the overlook was an adventure in and of itself.  The roads were so narrow that at times it seemed like we needed grease on the sides of the bus to continue.  There were times when our driver would have to inch forward, slowly back up a few feet, turn the wheel slightly and inch forward again. He would repeat this several times until we made it through without a scratch on the bus or knocking down a wall.  It was quite entertaining.  

Corfu, Paleokastitsa, Sidari, Kassiopi and back to Corfu City…..we covered a lot of the island!

Paleokastitsa cove is popular for all types of water sports.

 

The view from above was also great…..

….and getting there was very entertaining!

 There were several stops along the way as we followed the coastline past several beaches and small towns.  Our tour guide was outstanding, sharing in our opinion, just the right amount of information on the history, geography, culture and demographics of the island.   He was really proud of the green forests on the island and joked that the tallest vegetation on the popular islands of Santorini and Mykonos were parsley stalks.  

We had spent several hours touring and it was now time for lunch (which was included).   The restaurant was an outdoor, waterfront restaurant named “The Old School” in the the town of Kassiopi. The menu was a combination of Greek and Italian and was outstanding!

One of several stops along the way!

Lunch was amazing!  The Greek salad was just the beginning.  Our guide told us that in Corfu it’s referred to as a village salad.  

Roaming around Kassiopi 

After lunch and a bit of free time in Kassiopi was boarded the bus for the drive back to “Corfu Town”.   Once we were back on board, we looked at a map of the island and realized that we had seen a significant amount of Corfu.  It’s an amazing and beautiful island and definitely one that we would enjoy seeing more of somewhere down the line if possible. 

Dubrovnik. Croatia….

Dubrovnik…..between the port and “old town”

The official first day of summer is still a few weeks away.    However, the temperature and the crowds are rising steadily as we start to wind down this adventure, and what an adventure it’s been!

We had an early start and a full day to explore Dubrovnik.  By 9:00 AM we were out wandering around, and for a few minutes we were truly wandering around.   We had been here a couple of times before and were confident in our ability to navigate to the historic old town without the use of google maps.  While we would have certainly found our way there eventually, it became apparent that we weren’t taking the shortest, most direct route.  It didn’t take long before we were back on track and arrived at the massive walls of the old town with a few “bonus steps”already under our belt. 

The settlement of Dubrovnik dates back to the seventh century.  The walls surrounding what is now referred to as the “old city” were built in the 1600’s.  They’re an impressive site to see from outside the walls, as well as from the maze full of shops, restaurants and even small accommodations on the inside.  The old city and much of Dubrovnik was heavily bombed in 1991 by Yugoslavian forces during an intense battle over independence.   Croatia has rebuilt and is now a stable democracy.  The country is a member of NATO and the European Union.

Outside the walls of the old town….it’s quite a fortress!

Size wise Dubrovnik is a relatively small city with a population of around 50,000.  Its economy is driven by tourism.  However, I would imagine that most local residents choose to avoid the crowded old city, especially at this time of year when the number of tourists increases dramatically.  I even read somewhere that Dubrovnik currently has the highest ratio of tourists to residents of any European city.  

On a Saturday morning, that ratio seemed to be playing out…..it was crowded.  To complicate matters a little more, there was a parade being held on the narrow main passageway of the old city.  The parade consisted of a small marching band and about 200 majorettes ranging in age from elementary school to college age.  The parade could have moved swiftly, but it didn’t.  About every ten steps the band would strike up a tune and the majorettes would twirl away their full routine.  This created a gridlock of tourists, marching band members and twirling girls that they’re probably still trying to sort out.  

A few of the twirling majorettes at the start of the parade.

Once the parade and crowd mixed, we had a little gridlock!

We did manage to make our way through eventually and used a smaller side passageway to return to the gate that we had entered.  On our way back to the ship we were able to take our time and enjoy the rocky coastline and marina, far from the crowds and flying batons!

We enjoyed the “old town” a bit, but this scene is more to our liking!