Again we drive across the state working our way back to the Gulf from the Atlantic coast to
Sarasota. Humans have occupied this area for thousands of years even before the Pleistocene glaciers melted bringing the sea up to its current level. More recently in the early 1900's,
Bertha Honore, a local wealthy land owner, was responsible for attracting the wealthy to Sarasota for their winter residences.
Shortly before arriving in the Sarasota area we drive cross a spectacular bridge and causeway.
We arrive at our destination of Pete and Martha's home in the late afternoon. We were neighbors in Corralitos before they sold their home there, packed up and moved to Sarasota. They do have a beautiful home here and are able to enjoy the warm waters of the Gulf and milder climate. Yes - it's tempting do to the same, but something about California keeps calling us back.
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| Pete and Martha's lovely new home |
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| with a lake behind their house. |
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My favorite part of their home is a large screened in patio with a swimming pool and a wonderful view of the lake. Martha tells us certain times of the year 'gators live in this lake, but they're not around at the moment. Instead we enjoy watching a Great Blue Heron fishing along the shore. We also get a kick out of playing with their two dogs, Lacy and Macy.
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| Happy hour at the patio dinner table |
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| Peter with Lacy & Macy |
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| The heron catches a fish dinner |
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After breakfast the next day, Pete and Martha show us their favorite beach - Lido Beach, one of the first beaches in the nation to be integrated.
According to Yelp, this beach is "Breathtaking gorgeous." Gotta admit it is pretty nice.
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| Entrance to Lido Beach |
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| Peter cools his heels |
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| Snow birds are already arriving in mid October |
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| Lido Beach |
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Pete and Martha treat us to a boat tour with
Le Barge Tropical Cruises of Sarasota Bay. Close to the boat harbor is a large sculpture "
Unconditional Surrender" by
Steward Johnson commemorating
Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph of a sailor kissing a nurse on
V-J Day in Time Square.
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| Unconditional Surrender |
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| Le Barge tour boat |
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| Dive bar decor on restrooms |
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We select a table at the back of boat for better unobstructed panoramic views.
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| Pete & Martha |
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| Leaving Sarasota harbor and skyline |
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| This is going to be fun! |
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| Out into Sarasota Bay |
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Our tour begins along the shoreline to see the many interesting homes:
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| from the funky |
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| to the fabulous |
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| and artsy. |
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Other boats are out enjoying a beautiful day on Sarasota Bay as well.
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| Rental boat at a popular picnic island |
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| Party boat passes us |
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| Classic red sail boat |
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That evening we go to the
Linger Lodge, famous for being one of the "Most Unusual Restaurants in the World." With walls covered by mounted gators and venomous snakes, we can certainly see why. The
menu's also "unusual" offering Alligator and "road kill." Of course we have to order "Alligator Bites" with our drinks. Humm ... 'gator tastes just like chicken. Actually to be more precise, it tastes more like
calamari to me.
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| Entrance to Linger Lodge |
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| 'Gator comps a human leg is mounted on a wall |
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| Yum - my pina colada looks good. |
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The next morning we treat our friends to the
Ringling Museum complex in Sarasota. John and Charles Ringling of the Ringling Brothers Circus, used
Sarasota as their winter headquarters starting in 1927. With 15 circus companies now headquartered in Sarasota, it's the place in the world you can find the most living circus people, those active and those retired.
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| Entrance to Ringling Museum |
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The circus museum has a large collection of surprisingly detailed miniatures illustrating just how large these shows were.
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| Inside the Bigtop miniature |
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All kinds of circus art and equipment are on display.
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| Lavish orchestra wagon helped lead the big parade |
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| A flyer heralding the coming of the circus |
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Costumes and props are well represented.
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| Trapeze artist |
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Of course, there's lots of opportunities for just plain clowning around.
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Peter tries walking the high low wire |
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| A clown demos how he applies makeup in a video |
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| My reflection in a fun house mirror |
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One of five brothers who owned and operated the circus,
John Ringling's success with "The Greatest Show on Earth" made him one of the richest men in America during the 1920's. A few years after starting to buy property in and around Sarasota, he and his wife Mable began building their home "
Ca' d'Zan" (house of John in Venetian dialect). They hired architect
Dwight James Baum to design and build a Venetian Gothic style of the
palazzi in Venice, Italy. Construction of the 5 story, 36k square foot mansion began in 1924 and was completed two years later for $1.5 million. A million dollars went further in those days than now.
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| Caesar gets us |
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| Approaching Ca' d'Zan |
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| One of many towers |
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| Ca' d'Zan is situated on Sarasota Bay which serves as it's Grand Canal |
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Inside, it is just as opulent as
Hearst's Castle, which was started around the same time.
My favorite is the gigantic kitchen area with wonderful natural light streaming in the windows.
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| Work table with recipe book and apples |
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| tour guide answers a young girl's question |
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| Immense ice box used real ice |
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After a quick lunch at a museum cafe, we hit the road bound for Florida's Everglades.
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| Thank you Pete and Martha |
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| we had a great time clowning around with you. |
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Your blog posts are more interesting and informative.
ReplyDeleteBeside airboats and beside investigating the natural life, different things that you can do in Florida is heading off to the shoreline.
Best Airboat Tours in Central Florida