Florida: Part Tres

So, in my efforts to not get skin cancer before I'm 40, I decided to forgo the pool and go in search of that elusive zoo that the GPS didn't want me to find on Sunday. I think the GPS had good intentions and was trying to save me a trip. But we'll get to that in a second.

First, I went in search of "Shell World".



I remember going to a shell-only store when we came to Florida for vacation in 1988. It was a magical place for a child who had until that point lived in a land-locked situation. I still have shells from that trip. So I was thrilled to find a Shell World just a couple of miles from the hotel, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.



Just out of the frame is an old man sitting in a rocking chair waiting for his wife who is inside. There are lots of rocking chairs. You can bet Todd would have been occupying one of them had he been there. He would probably rate shells just above linens and ladies shoes on his scale of awesome shopping. Now, if Costco sold shells he might think differently.



I want to cover EVERYTHING with shells.



Isn't that beautiful? Not very practical, but so beautiful!

I bought more than I needed with the thought of creating one of those flower collages made from shells. Or something like that. I'm sure I paid way too much for my shells, but there was something fun and mindless about searching through bins of shells to find just the right size and color... I promise that IF I ever actually do this craft I will blog about it!


I had looked the zoo up on Google Maps that morning, and all I saw was thick forest with a dirt road dead ending in the middle of nowhere. I took a chance and drove there anyway. There was a very nice sign indicating that there was a zoo, but for about a 1/2 mile this is all I saw.



Central Florida is very vertiginous... thickly so. I was on the phone with Suzie at the time and was a little grateful just in case I needed to say "I am being kidnapped! Call the police!" Even as I parked and walked in a "civilized" looking direction I said to her, "I'm not sure that this is a zoo." But I found a little kiosk that confirmed to me that this was INDEED a zoo by charging me ELEVEN dollars.

I agree with one of the reviews I read online: this was more of a nature walk with some animals sprinkled about. One review said that this zoo was stared when a circus pulled out of the near-by town of Sanford in 1939 and left behind a monkey and a goat. The monkey rode the goat. Thus, a zoo was born.

Right inside the "gate" was a little water park which seemed to be the main attraction. It just had fountains squirting up from the pavement and some sprinklers overhead, but it was crawling with kids of all ages and some nice Adirondack chairs placed in the shade. I was careful not to take too many pictures. A solitary visitor to the zoo is met with some suspicion, especially when they take photos of little children, so I abstained.

The "petting zoo" consisted of exactly 5 types of animals:

Turkeys (Would you pet this thing? People were actually trying to feed them. Their mouths are covered with multicolored hangy-downy things... *shudder*)



Horned sheep



Mini cows with long horns



Greedy, pushy goats



That guy was really uncomfortable with me taking his picture. He almost said something to me. He kept saying "Uhhh... Uhh."

And a llama standing in a bucket. We all know not to get to close to llamas.



This bird is going to run up my credit card. Just kidding, this bird said "hello". It had one foot.



I stood by the spider monkey cage for a while and couldn't see anything of the sort. And then he just came by and posed for me for, like, five minutes.



I was so close to a monkey! I looked really hard. I examined that monkey.



His tongue was out because he was hot. I was hot, but I have better manners.



Stupid glare.

The elephants looked SO bored, and they were stinky. Maybe they felt self-conscious.



That elephant looks like it's smiling. It was probably only doing that because I was taking a picture.

The jaguar was restless.



The Spanish moss was dangling.



The jungle was smelling of warm pine needles (there are pines interspersed with the palms).



The brontosaurus was too hot to move.



The random dinosaur in the woods did it for me. I felt that I had seen enough. I drove home hoping for something scenic, but ended up back at the hotel in time for Todd's team to finish up and we headed off to Vito's again (this time I had lamb). Vacation is fun. I am learning to enjoy the slowness of it all.

Florida: Part Deux

So on Saturday, I decided to go to the Orlando Temple... just to see if they do everything right down here. They do.



I am becoming less shy of asking strangers to take photos of me. I just wish I had a stylist to tell me when my sweater is over only one b**b.

I am grateful to have the freedom of a rental call while I am here. Todd chose this one because it smelled good inside.



It's a Pontiac. The first Pontiac I've been in since our neighbors bought a fancy new Pontiac Sunbird in 1980. No I take that back... my college roommate bought a Pontiac Grand Am. It was like sitting on your grandparents comfy couch. Anyway, the car gets me around.

The rest of Todd's co-workers arrived and we HAD to eat at their favorite spot: Vito's. I have been hearing about Vito's since Todd came here last year.



This is a meat place, but a very fancy meat place. Our server, Abdul, brought out the meat platter. It was presented as if it were dessert, but it was raw meat. He used his little flashlight to show us the different cuts and to explain where they come from on the cow. He also detailed the cow's diet, lineage, and hobbies.



Sorry, that's as good as I could get. Vito's is very atmospheric.

When Todd's company dines together, they don't skimp. I am trying to remember to follow the Japanese tradition and take photos of my food, because on this trip, it has been wonderful! At Vito's we started with stone crab:



So yummy. Todd and I shared the T-bone which has a New York strip on one side of the bone and a fillet mignon on the other side. He let me have the fillet. The side and the desserts were OK, but our steak was amazing... and the bill was over $700. Apparently the economy has not hit the dining expenses yet.

Back at our lovely and HUGE hotel...



(It looks like a small city...) Celebration high school was having its Prom. It was interesting.



SUNDAY:

I looked up church times and got ready and went in search of an LDS chapel. The GPS led me to a liquor store, so I high tailed it back to the temple because there are always chapels near temples right? Not in Orlando. So I thought I'd try the zoo. GPS said no. I tried "Flea World". The GPS just wanted me to go back to the hotel. So I did. Is sitting reverently by the pool considered an appropriate Sabbath activity?

That night we were taken out again by Todd's company, this time to a charming section of Orlando called Winter Park (amazingly cute older houses). The restaurant was Houstons, a BBQ place. The napkins had button holes so you could just button them right on.



I was trying to go a little light, so I had the sashimi tuna salad (with HUGE chunks of perfect mango and avocado).



I shared Todd's amazing ribs, asparagus, and delicious braised red cabbage.



MONDAY:

I was off on an adventure and needed some special breakfast fuel.


I drove over to the west side of Florida, past Tampa, down to St. Petersburg to attend the Salvadore Dali museum.



It was well worth it. Here is a huge banner on the outside of the museum showing Salvadore and the museum's main benefactress, Mrs. Morse. Salvadore's in a cape, that crazy guy. His crazy mustache and a lot of his visual symbolism came from the artist, Vasquez. He paid homage, repeatedly, to his favorite artists, scientists, and philosophies in his art.



It was really cool to see so much of his work, from the very early years (one painting done when he was 14!) to his huge 20' masterpieces. I went on a tour and learned a lot about the background to many of his paintings. My very favorite on of the collection was not available in any prints or postcards or anything! But it was nice to go around at my own pace and read every placard if I wanted and I didn't have to worry about anyone but me.

The marina is just outside and it was getting me in the mood to find some ocean! But first I had to ask a stranger a favor.



How could I resist?

St. Petersburg is an interesting little town. There was a cute main street but 80% of the stores are boarded up I couldn't tell if it was on its way up or out, but here was somewhere I wanted to stop:



And here's somewhere I wanted Todd to see:



Here's the GPS telling me I am getting close to water!



The beach road was very retro with cool old hotels and souvenir shops.



You KNOW the Thunderbird was the place to stay in its prime!

I found a nice little parking lot with a changing room and made myself at home on teh beach.





I had such a nice time being perfectly warm and cooled by a breeze. I felt lucky.

Then I had to drive home. On the way was this huge RV sales place that had more Airstreams than I had ever seen before. They had so many they could afford to bury a few to make RV art.



Ahhh... home sweet home, and my husband waiting for me!



More adventures to come...

I'm tagging along in Florida...

So, Todd had to go to Orlando to run a conference for 9 days, and I thought I would tag along. Now that we know that Emily, Clark, and the girls won't be joining me, I am left to my own devices.

Orlando is a lot like Texas: it's flat, it's a little humid (but not very this time of year!), there are lots of pine trees, there are lots of nicely landscaped things, there are lakes with fountains, and bayous... only the bayous here probably have alligators.

Our hotel is nice, and the convention is happening right downstairs so Todd and I will be close. There is a pool downstairs and a workout room, and the parking garage is only a HALF MILE away. Seriously.

I have looked up some attractions (live mermaid show!)and I am trying to put together a few things to do while I am here (on the cheap). I might try to go to Disney World, we'll see (that's not cheap).

This is what I did today:

I forgot to bring a tank top with me, which was key to several outfits I was planning to wear, so I headed to the fancy-pants outlets down the road. (Here is my testimonial for GPS units. We brought ours with us and it is indispensable!) I only bought a tank top (and one cute green shirt... very Kelly Wearstler, so if you see me wearing it and I am standing next to Todd, don't ask me where I got it!).

Last night as we were driving to dinner we saw a huge complex called "Mary, Queen of the Universe." We had a wee chuckle. That's a big name. Since it was right next to the outlets I drove on over today to check it out.



It's a huge Catholic church. I was in time to catch Mass. It was very touching. They hold weekday mass in a small chapel and it was totally full with people kneeling in the doorways. Some of these people were obviously tourists, and I was struck by their faithfulness at attending mass on vacation.



There were people in the main chapel (there is a name for this area, but my art history is failing me because I am also watching Seinfeld right now); people were quietly praying there. I asked ahead of time if I could take photos, but it felt strange to take photos in a place where people were praying.


All along the walls there were beautiful stained glass windows and paintings. Here are a couple of my favorites:

The resurrection.



Moses.



Mary, who was described in the placard as the "new Eve." I'm not sure what that meant, doctrinally speaking, but the window shows paradise on the left and the fallen state on the right, and the Mary is really beautiful.



These windows were so beautiful, and what a perfect vehicle for telling stories (way to go medieval churches of Europe!). It made me wish, just a little, that our churches were a little more... decorative. But then we've got the temple, and the restored Gospel... OK. We win. But again, I was touched to be in this beautiful space. It is dedicated to God, and the people there were earnest seekers.

This was a cool alcove. It depicts Joseph listening to a young Jesus. I liked the look on Joseph's face. He's really listening. I also liked the little hatchet on the wall behind them. Joseph was obviously teaching Jesus, too, but something Jesus is saying took precedence.





The main chapel was huge and quiet.



The crucifix above the alter was interesting. The cross is implied. But with all respect, the sight of the crucified Savior is not inspiring for me. I much preferred the stained glass windows and the hope of the resurrection.

Outside on the doors were other scenes from the Bible. This is the one I liked best: it is of the prophet Jacob.



You can see angels ascending and descending the ladder as he dreams, his receiving the birthright from his father, Esau asking for porridge, and Jacob wresting with the angel. It's cool, huh!?

There was an outside chapel called "The Mother and Child Chapel". It was lovely. All around this alcove were the names of people and families who have donated to this complex. They were from all over! Imagine trying to do that on a temple! I'm kind of proud that our temples are anonymous, they belong to everyone who paid tithing.



I appreciate how Catholics revere motherhood.



Motherhood and families are sacred institutions. I can get behind that.

I LOVED the gift shop. It was like the BYU bookstore for Catholics. I wanted to buy LOTS of things. I might go back and get more Virgin of Guadeloupe stuff, I just got a magnetic bookmark. I love that image, it is so iconic... and rainbow-y! With stars and clouds and angels! Yay! I also like that she is the patron of lost souls and the unborn. I also want a little St. Martha, patron of cooks, statue for my kitchen. I think I could get into making shrines. In fact, I would have been a really good Catholic. I like all the prayers for specific things and all the saints over specific categories. I like categories. But I can understand the frustration of feeling like you are getting the run-around. I like being able to pray directly to my Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus. Prayer! Done! How comforting!

Outside there were fountains and ponds with lily pads and beautiful blooming magnolia trees. I like the sturdiness of magnolias. Sturdy and delicate at the same time.



I really enjoyed Mary, Queen of the Universe. I will probably go back. If you have any requests for Catholic paraphernalia, please make your requests in the comments.

After church, I went to Costco: my other religion.



I worshiped at the big-box warehouse store for food I can eat while I'm here. I got bread, cheese, fruit, and candy to see me through the week so I don't have to eat out all the time. I have been to Costco in some pretty exotic places: Honolulu, Cancun, & Juneau to name a few. It's like a tradition now. A ritual: seek out the Costco and try to not buy onions or potstickers just because you know you are out of them at home.

Then it was pool time. I am not an advocate of "laying out" or "tanning" but I do like the look of my legs are greased up and tan-like. I'll take some (tasteful) photos tomorrow. Stay tuned... more Florida adventures to come.

P.S. There are two confirmed cases of swine flu in Florida. Neither were in Orlando county (is that a real place?... I just made that up. Neither county were where I am.). I am selfishly hoping that people don't go to Disney so much. There are at least two schools that have shut down in the country because students who had attended a band competition here fell ill (not with confirmed cases), but as Todd's co-worker pointed out: "Duh... wouldn't you fake sick with swine flu to get out of school, too?" Yeah... but just in case, wash your hands. Right now.