We're not in Florida anymore!

We arrived home in Overland Park after passing through two hours of fog and drizzle on the highway from St. Louis to Kansas City.  It was sooo worth it. When we walked in the door, Andy was busy doing the dishes he hadn't done for a whole month, Joey cried for thirty minutes trying to tell us all he had to endure in our absence!, Sheila came to see us expecting dinner, and later, Aimee and her 100 lbs of luggage arrived from New Zealand. Any bets on how long this joyful reunion will last?    

For our final day in the Tampa area, we went to the Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.  In a very simple and straightforward way, the horrors of that time are presented and put in context of our ever changing and ever the same world.  The most moving part for me was the section dedicated to the women who courageously helped each other in concentration camps.

Our last sunsets in Clearwater Beach.                        

Before we left the fog moved in and covered our beach making it easier to leave all the loveliness of our temporary home.

We decided to start our drive home by visiting Pensacola (an excellent suggestion made to us by Bill Dickerson, a Pensacola home-boy - for more about Bill see below as Bill imitates a waiter making sangria on the "OH, THINK TWICE" entry)  taking advantage of our free nights stay at the La Quinta there.  This was 'old school' motel at its worst - crying babies, constant flushing toilets, car doors slamming and late night yelling.  So much for free! BUT - when we were packing up to leave in the morning, I met a MOM from Virginia who was walking her grossly overweight miniature pincher in his Florida outfit.  She told us that tomorrow is her son's wedding on the beach.  The dog used to belong to her son but his fiance does not like him. So now the dog belongs to her.  As a surprise for the happy couple, the dog will wear the tuxedo his new mom bought him and attend the wedding .  I begged Larry to let me stay one more day. 



IF LARRY IS EVER MISSING, LOOK FOR HIM AT  THE NAVAL AIR MUSEUM IN PENSACOLA!

As anyone who had ever been to an airshow with Larry will attest, the man loves his jets. We toured the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola which had both an indoor and an outdoor tour.  Of course, we did both!
What can I say, I loved it.  There was so much to see and so reverently displayed.  It does the Navy fliers proud. 

The new Maverick, Goose and Ice Man......

   

Unidentified woman ruling the sky!

Rehearsing for his role as tour guide!

"I'm not leaving my wing man!!!!"

Since Mobile, Alabama is close and the Battleship Alabama is open for viewing, we stopped there in the afternoon.  Larry loves the B-52 and I still love Larry (I think).

After a full day of Navy museums, woman contemplates the pros and cons of jumping!

A time for every season

We are in the last week of our Florida trip, and reflecting on all that we have been privileged to experience.  Larry discovered that the best parts of his vacation were free!  He loves the shelling on the beach in the morning, the power walks to the park, laying by the pool reading a book, and most especially the sunsets on the beach.  I could not agree more.

After Carol and Bill left, we saw the arrival of the dreaded tourists!!!  We now think of ourselves as fourth week Floridians and have no tolerance for newbies. It was President's weekend. The traffic increased ten fold, and the beach filled up with noise. The picture above was taken from our car and behind us traffic stretched for about 4 miles. BUT  A beautiful sunset and a glass of wine with someone you love can put the world right again.

We decided to spend Sunday reading our books by the pool.  It turned out to be harder than we thought.  Getting used to laying still and reading is hard for us.  

Another spectacular sunset!

 

 Monday, and we are back to the planning Fogels we were when we arrived.  We decided what we want to do before we leave and we planned our departure.  Then we power walked.  I went to the top of the causeway and took these pictures.  

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 Larry went through his favorite park and I caught him coming out at the end of his walk. 

We usually stop for coffee and a paper across the street.  This morning I took photos of clothes that are in the window of what I call "The Second Wife's Shop".  These are expensive clothes that I would not buy for myself but the second wife will have no problem purchasing.  Before I leave I will have to buy something there, so she doesn't get everything!                                              

 We decided to spend the day in St. Petersburg visiting the Chihuly Exhibit.  A truly visual experience that leaves me with a renewed appreciation of art in all its forms.  PS  Dale Chihuly loved his mother. I also picked up some ideas for painting with my budding artists in Dallas.  We are going to need alot of music for this.

St. Petersburg is a cultural mecca.  The city is perfectly placed on the Gulf of Mexico and all the architecture flows around the bay.  We stopped for lunch at one of the many outdoor restaurants that border the water.  While I was people watching , I asked Larry to pick us out 20 years in the future.  He refused.  But I spied Aunt Jodie and I -  guess that's bad news for Uncle Bob and Larry!

SO TRUE! IT"S NOT WHERE YOU GO BUT WHO YOU ARE GOING WITH

The sunset pictures may look all the same to you, but each sunset here has its own expression. This is my favorite of Wednesday night                                    . 

We spent Wednesday afternoon wandering around the Tampa Zoo.  This made Larry very happy!  (And it made me hope that the experience would be enough to kill the idea of a similar trip to the KC zoo - not in the same league!)                                                           

In the background, 7 very large alligators completely uninterested in us.

Just not able to capture the magnificent color of this flamingo.  All of Florida is vivid.

Thursday, we took Carol and Bill to one of our favorite restaurants.  It's right across the street from a very busy beach, lots of tourists which we have come to look down on!

Who could turn down a trip to the Sponge Docks of Tarpon Springs!  It's a lovely little town that has grown from the plentiful natural sponges and the overbearing Greek community that is happy to beat you down while trying to sell you their wares.

Obviously, we can't pass a cheesy photo op.

A prime sponge example!

Every gift shop in Florida has these!  Something to bring the grandchildren that makes for pleasant dreams.  Or perhaps, you put it outside the door and you never have to worry about them going out.

Ah! Greek pastry - or any pastry for that matter.

Too late for this t-shirt.

Could be Chinatown except no purses!

Just had to take this bored biker.  I tried to act like I was taking the boat behind him, but you can tell from the look on his face that he's mentally cursing at me.   

Oh Boy!  We decided to take a sunset cruise and bought our tickets from Nick.  He had a little stand right beside his van, which automatically inspires confidence in your purchase.  But hey, we're on vacation!

In addition to sunset cruise tickets, he sells "hand-rolled" cigars.  If you want to support the troops overseas, they supposedly would like to receive cigars.  Not sure if they ever get there, but just wondering what the troops would think when they open a box of cigars hand-rolled in the back of that van?!?

This darling gentleman had the love of his life with him on the sunset cruise.  His wife is somewhere on the boat as well.                                                                                            

Carol and Bill adventurers extraordinare!!! 

This blissful couple was on the cruise with us ( photo by Carol).  I was trying not to stare and yet I truly enjoyed having them on the boat.  They were so much in love that they were thrilled by everything that happened in their world. They thanked the captain profusely for the lovely ride, thanked Carol for taking this picture of them, which they will never see, and  radiated happiness on all in their  world.  That's exactly what I want for all my children.  It reminded me so much of Larry and Jenny!

The sunset finally arrives!  and on the way back we caught the moon rise as well