Tampa/St Petersburg

Post date: Feb 13, 2015 12:27:39 AM

From Gainesville, we traveled South to Tampa area.  We stayed outside of the city in Zepherhills, one of many small towns outside of Tampa.  We're learning what hotels not to stay in.  On-line the photos of Microtel looked fine, but when we entered the room - what a surprise. I think the stateroom we had on the River Cruise was bigger!  Thank goodness we don't watch much TV.  One would have to lay flat on the bed & look up to the corner of the ceiling, in order to watch.

OK, enough venting.  

We drove to St. Petersburg (having to drive freeways under construction) for a day.  There is a Salvador Dali Art Museum across from the Marina.  The City has done a very nice job - there is a performing arts theater (think Davies Hall) the Museum, an open plaza and a professional soccer field.  The Museum is new, (2011) and very modern. The Museum was founded with the works donated by a private collector. During the month of February, a number of Picasso paintings & drawings were also displayed.  After viewing 100s of paintings & drawings of these two artists, I have to admit I do not appreciate Surrealism.  I know both of these men changed the ways that art is understood, but it doesn't work for me.  We finished the tour with a great, reasonably priced lunch (with Spanish wine that Renee loves) in the Museum's cafe.

We decided before coming to Florida, that we would bypass Disney World,  (been there 4 times) so our next day's journey was to Busch Gardens.  However at breakfast, we saw an ad for the Florida State Fair - State Fair in February?  Well, considering the weather, I can't imagine a fair during the summer! So off we went to the fair & so glad we did.  The weather was perfect.  There was a "living-working village" on the grounds.  People dressed for the period, making soap, wood carvers & blacksmiths.  Originals homes, built during the 1800s were brought to the location, with furniture, quilts, & working fireplaces. A school house as well as a church were also available to walk through.   The area was grassy & shaded by Oak trees.

Of course there was the usual food, exhibition halls, rabbits, chickens & calves, carnival rides, games, pig races, a wonderful model train layout and a couple of guys with an alligator. Great fun - great day.  So glad we went to the Fair!

Off to Jacksonville......we treated ourselves to a Suite this time!