Florida & New Orleans 2016

Florida & Louisiana 2016

Coxen Travel Ink Florida & Louisiana 2016

Florida

February 2 - 6 - Orlando
     We took the red-eye out of Edmonton and spent several hours in Pearson Int'l Airport in Toronto before flying into Orlando about 2 pm.  The sun was shining in Florida with a temperature of 80F.  What a great start to our winter getaway!
     Universal Studios was our theme park of choice for this visit.  We wandered in Harry Potter's world, stopping in Diagon Alley

and took the Hogwarts Express

to Hogsmeade.  Both places had great rides that tipped, twirled and toppled us. We felt a little left out because almost every kid there had purchased a wand, but lived with the guilt.  The Hogwart's robes looked very cool, but since we no longer teach, felt we would have no use for them.  (Can you imagine subbing in a class, and arriving dressed in the robes?)  We also wandered into Jurassic Park

and did the water ride there with a cute couple from Alaska.  The ride is similar to Splash Mountain, except the drop is steeper.  I think the photos from that ride have water drops on them!
     The temperature dropped and the wind picked up for us on Thursday.  Out came the coats and sweaters again.
     Friday morning found us up at 5 am to drive out to Cape Canaveral to see the rocket launch.  We arrived at the Kennedy Space Centre

Rocket farm at the Kennedy Space Center

about 7:30 and went on sight to sit in the stands.  We were about 8 miles from the launch site, but could still feel the rumble at ignition. 

It was very cool to actually see the launch for real, rather than on a tv.  The Centre has changed a lot since we were there in 1998.  The original museum is being demolished to build a new exhibit.  Instead, we watched 2 videos on the history of the shuttle program before entering the display area to see the space shuttle Atlantis. 

What a beautiful glider she is, with the 2 Canadarms waving proudly on top.

February 6 - 8- Daytona Beach
     The drive out to Daytona was sunny, but quickly changed to cold rain.  We checked into our hotel on the beach, and watched the waves come crashing in. 

The gulls and plovers sat on the edge of the water as the waves crashed in.  The gulls didn't mind getting their feet wet. 

The plovers would quickly move out of the way and stayed dry.
     We spent Sunday at the end of the spit visiting the Marine Rescue Centre and the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.   The Rescue Centre takes in injured turtles and birds, nurses them back to health, and then returns them to where they originally were found.
     They also had a touch pool with several manta rays, a dog shark, and a horseshoe crab swimming about.  People could put in their fingers and touch the animals as they swam by.  However, fingers were removed from the pool when it was feeding time for the rays.  They glide around the pool, flapping their wings as if they were flying in the air.  They really are very graceful.
     Outside, there were several cages where birds were recovering from injuries.  Two bald eagles spent time together, while owls and pelicans looked on from their cages.
     The lighthouse had been originally set up as a place to mark the entrance to a river, and as a place where people could be rescued when their ships crashed on the rocks. 

It was amazing to wander the various buildings and see the history of the lighthouse, and to see the amazing collection of lights and lenses that allowed the sailors to be warned from further and further out from land.  It was amazing to realize that the original lighthouse keepers had to maintain a light at the top of the tower every evening after walking up the 203 steps.

I know they were very happy when gas and electricity made it possible to run the light without close attention.  However, that freedom for the lighthouse keeper also made them redundant and no longer needed.  I wonder who did the rescuing after the lighthouse keeper was gone?

February 8 - 10 - Fort Lauderdale
     We headed down the coast to south Florida to visit the Everglades National Park and old friends.  It was great to reconnect with Adrian and Carmel after 18 years.
     The Everglades Park is located close to Miami, so took us over an hour to drive to.  Once there, we chose to visit the glades through the Everglades Safari Park.  The first activity at the Safari Park was a ride on an airboat through the saw grass and water. 

We always thought, because we watched CSI Miami that the Everglades were full of tropical plants, trees and gators.  Instead, it is only that way on the edges.  The landscape quickly changes to grasses growing in the shallow water.  Gators swim in the water, or hang out near the brush.  It was a cool day, so they were hiding to keep warm.  We were able to find a few in the canal area near the boat docks where the wind was blocked out.
     After the ride, we watched a conservation officer try to feed 3 alligators, but they were too busy trying to keep warm to be interested in food.  However, a walk in the pool area was interesting because we saw several swimming in the Safari Park pool or in their pens. 

This one was not in a pen it was simply on the side of the water with no fence between him and us ... we stayed well back!

We also saw a beautiful green heron on the edge of the water.  They are so cute - just the opposite of their blue cousin - they are short and pudgy.  There was also a gorgeous snowy egret showing of his plumage.

Purple Gollinule

February 10 - 16 - Destin
     It took us 8 hours to drive from Fort Lauderdale to Destin on the panhandle in the north of Florida.  The vegetation changed from palm trees to pines after we left the Orlando area, and there were hills and fields of oranges, cattle and grapefruit.  We arrived back on the coast in time to see the most beautiful sunset.  With no camera handy, we are unable to share it with you, but hope to see one later in the week with camera in hand.
     One of the reasons we came to this area was to visit the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensicola.   Filled with aircraft from WWI, WWII, Korean war, Vietnam and current aircraft, Kerry had a great time wandering in the two hangars.  The museum also includes the first lunar module and the command module because many astronauts have also trained there.  Interspersed throughout are interesting displays from the wars, like a shower hut from the Pacific theatre in WWII,

F4U Corsair

and an aerodrome command center from WWI.  Because Pensacola is the home of the Blue Angels, an aerobatic team, similar to the Snowbirds, there were several aircraft on the floor and suspended in the air.  Too bad we are not here in March.  The Blue Angels start practicing then for their heavy schedule of airshows.  The boys did do a flypast for the Superbowl, but we weren't here then.
     The Air Force is also represented in the area at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base.  Like many small museums we have visited, it had many aircraft around the outside of the hangar, with examples of the armament used over the years inside. 

F15 Eagle

The museum also had a history of flight at the base and with/for the US Air Force that was very interesting.
     Both museums had an interesting display about POWs and MIAs in the VietNam War, with memorabilia like clothing and books of poetry, drawings, etc prisoners used to keep themselves entertained in their solitary confinement.
     Interestingly, the Air Force started out as a part of the Army Corps, so women who became part of the Air Force joined as WACs (Women's Army Corps) and later as WAACs (Women's Army Air Corps).  Over the years, women have gone from being secretaries to pilots, etc.
     Destin is an amazing beach area.  The sand is fine and white and feels like you are walking on talcum powder.  The water in the Gulf of Mexico is a beautiful green colour close to the beach.  Down the coast from Destin is an area of several planned beach communities that are now vibrant areas filled with cottages, condos, boutiques and eateries.  The original streets were planned to hold small cottages.  The symmetry of grids is a beautiful sight for those of us who love order, with a charm from the past. We spent the afternoon at Seaside, enjoying the Center Square (a circular road with food trailers on the street side and a band shell inside the curve.  When you go down to the beach, there are many steps that take people over the dunes.  At the top of the stairs of Seaside Beach, they have gazebos of different shapes that allow people to stop, rest, and enjoy the view.  Each one is distinct in shape and build, so it was interesting to walk the beach and find each of them.

     We experienced our second storm on Monday night.  High winds and heavy rain was our experience at Miramar Beach, but just west and north of us, a tornado touched down in several spots, causing damage.  The next morning, though, the sun was shining, the wind had stopped blowing and the day was beautiful.

New Orleans

February 17 - 23 - New Orleans
     After a four hour drive across the south end of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, we arrived in New Orleans about 3pm.  We checked into our timeshare, La Belle Maison on Magazine Street, just off Canal Street.  Our first surprise was the way we were treated in the parking garage - the boys were friendly and helpful.  They were happy to meet us and couldn't do enough for us.  We entered our suite and found another surprise.  We are in the warehouse area, so the building is old and full of exposed brick.  Our suite is very elegant and comfortable.
     We couldn't wait to get out and start experiencing the city.  We headed out and across Canal Street into the French Quarter.  It didn't take us long to reach Jackson Square

Basilica of Saint Louis King of France

where we  listened to a group of young men playing electronic music.  Beside them were several palm readers and tarot card readers sitting at portable tables, mixed with henna technicians and artists, displaying their work on the fence surrounding the Square.
  We continued to wander down streets, admiring the iron lace balconies along the second story  of the buildings, the bright colours of the flags and beads decorating some of the balconies, and the art, souvenirs, and crowds of people.  We enjoyed the smell of the sausage and, chicken and alligator, frying for dinner entrees at the myriad of bars and restaurants before selecting "The Coronet", a restaurant on the corner of Bourbon Street and St. Peters Street. 

We found a table on the balcony outside, so we could hear the music coming out the doors of several other restaurants.  Kerry had the Jambalaya and a local beer, while Pat had a gingersnap cocktail and creole shrimp.  Pecan Pie finished the meal. 

The 'Cornette' where we had supper.

We encourage all of you to google the recipe for the gingersnap cocktail to serve at your next soiree.
     We were up and out the next day to take a bus tour.  We love to use the
"Hop On Hop Off Bus" in many of the cities we have visited.  The bus is a red double-decker that stops at all of the major interesting stops in a city.  You get off at any of the stops, visit, and then get back on to ride to the next stop.  While riding, commentary gives the riders information and history of the area.  Anyway, we took the bus and did the complete route, getting the skinny on the city.  We sat on the top in the sunshine and thoroughly enjoyed Charles' comments, jokes and information.  Mardi Gras finished a week ago, but the city has not completely cleaned up yet.  We went by cemeteries, here they bury people above ground. 

Another part of the tour showed us the Mississippi River.

We were driving down St. Charles Avenue, the route of the Mardi Gras parades.  Beads decorated all of the trees and lamps.  We were able to collect some of the beads off of the trees, so have real Mardi Gras souvenirs.
     We ended the tour at the French Market where we munched on alligator sausage on a stick while inspecting the wares in the market.  We sipped cafe au lait and ate beignets at Cafe du Monde. 

What a treat!
     More people are arriving in the city for the weekend, so the street bands are more prevalent.  On a walk down Royal Street, we encountered dixieland bands on every block.  What a treat!  Each one was excellent.
     We walked the levee down in front of the Hilton Hotel.  The Creole Queen and The Natchez dock there, and are perfect to take a cruise upriver for an hour or two.  We did not have time, but hope to take the trip next time.
     The Mississippi River is busy.  There are large tankers filled with sea-cans heading up and down river.  There are also lots of tugboats pushing barges of sugar from the local sugarcane plantations.  The water is muddy and that is a good thing for the city.  All of that silt is how the delta was created.  Today, the city has built levees and drainage canals to help keep the water at bay.  The land around the river sits at about 3 feet above sea level.  Other areas, like the lake side or the north side are below sea level.  Hence, when the dikes at the lake end broke open during Hurricane Katrina, the area flooded quickly.  That is why the French Quarter was not damaged at all.
  The weekend is busy in NO, and a sunny day at the end of winter is no exception.  We wandered the Garden District and Magazine Street, stopping at Parasol's for a po' boy sandwich and then The Bull Dog to wet our whistle.  We also toured another above-ground cemetery in this district (Lafayette Cemetery).

The Garden District was named for the look of the area.  In NO history, New Orleans was originally settled by the French Catholics.  Then the Spanish took over for a while, and then the French got it back.  One had to be French speaking and catholic to live in the city.  When the Americans moved into the area because of their business connection to the Mississippi River, they had to sign a treaty with the Spanish and created the Garden District.  Here, the lots are bigger, with a house on half of the lot and a garden on the other.  The houses range from shotgun houses to mansions.

Shotgun house so named because you can shoot a shotgun in the front door and it will go out the back door without hitting anything.

     Saturday evening was crazy here.  The average age went down considerably.  We had dinner at Oceana's and sat at a table that looked out on the street.  There was every kind of dress from formal to grunge, all moving to the music on the streets and enjoying the lovely evening.  We had barbecued shrimp (the barbecue comes form the sauce the giant shrimp was cooked in) and the crab cakes.  For dessert, we shared the best bread pudding and rum praline sauce we have ever had.  The pudding was moist and the sauce was sugary.  Yum!!
     We spent Sunday out on River Road touring two plantations.  The first was a Creole plantation started in 1805 called Laura Plantation.  The house was not what we think of as being a plantation house - it was not an antebellum house, but a two-story house with a big veranda and painted with lots of colours. 

The bottom floor was really for storage and to keep the house dry in case of flooding because the levee was not there when the house was first built.  The rooms were large and airy with each one having doors onto the veranda.  As the guide said - there was no electricity and air conditioning, so the houses were built to catch any breeze they could.  The Creole felt that the plantation houses were farm houses, so they were kept fairly plain while the town house was where they displayed their wealth.
     The grounds housed a variety of small buildings for chickens, cows and horses, machine storage, and slave quarters. 

This is a slave duplex.  There was a family housed on each side.

The house is no longer the hub of a working plantation so the buildings are all display, but close to original. 

Apparently if you dig down bellow this mound you would find a crawfish.

     Surrounding the property are, of course, fields of sugarcane.  They were planted in December, and will grow for almost one year before they are harvested and the juice boiled down to make molasses and sugar.
     We then drove down the road to Oak Alley. Built in 1830, it is famous for it 28 live oak trees that form an alley in the front of the house that leads down to the Mississippi River. 

It is an antebellum house where the house was built more as a home and so was built to display family wealth.  The original owner, Jacques Roman built the house to entice his young bride out of the French Quarter.  For its size, it does not have many rooms inside, however, the rooms are richly appointed and decorated.  This house features a large fan that is housed above the dining room table.  The fan was operated by a young slave whose job was keep the fan moving fast enough to keep the air moving, but slow enough to keep the candles glowing.  Quite the task.
     This plantation also has the slave quarters,

Each of these duplexes would house a slave family.

and also included a civil war general's tent.  The generals lived well in the field.
     We arrived back in time to eat at a different Oceana's restaurant.  This time we had Charbroiled oysters, gumbo and catfish la Fouche, or blackened catfish with a wine sauce that included battered shrimp and fresh crawfish over a bed of jambalaya.  It was all delicious so we walked a bit of the Quarter before heading back to our hotel.
     Monday mornings are slow in New Orleans, but were up early to meet a gentleman from Wyndham for breakfast before walking the river again to enjoy the water traffic.  Today was foggy, so the boats seemed to float up the river.  We drive back to Orlando tomorrow before flying home early on the 24th.  Our time here is over for now, but we will be back.  The friendly people, the safe streets, the music and the great food are already calling us back.

Mexico & San Diego 2015

Coxen Travel Ink Mexico/Southern California 2015

Mexico

November 24 to 28 - The adventure began well before we left home as a blizzard, the first of the year, blew in about 12 hours before we were due to leave.  We decided that we did not want to take a chance, so we drove out to the airport the evening before our flight was to leave.  The flight down to Cabo san Lucas was uneventful until we arrived in Cabo and Pat's luggage did not arrive with us.  Try dealing with that when you have no Spanish and the airport baggage people have no English.  Eventually, we arrived at our accommodation at the Villa del Palmar. We were treated very well and the hotel staff took a real interest in helping us find our missing luggage.  We went for dinner on the patio and enjoyed the 'Broadway Showtunes' show the hotel was putting on.
     We were up the next morning and off to the required time share presentation.  The view of Land's End and the Sea of Cortez was perfect from the offices at the top of the resort. 

Lands End

After finally escaping from it and NOT buying more time share weeks, we had lunch and then took the local bus, called "Transporte Collectivo" to Walmart to get Pat some stuff.  Walmart was everything you would expect and we were able to find all the necessities.  Once back at the hotel, we checked into the luggage and guess what .... it was there! Thank you to Cynthia and Ariana for all of their phone calls and checking.  We went down and hung out at the pool, but the sun was going down by 16:30 hrs.  For dinner we again went to the theater and this time saw the 'Mamma Mia' show.

     Thursday morning we were up and off to another presentation at a different time share Solmar Hotels and Resorts.  Wow!  If we were only rich!  This hotel was absolutely decadent.  We would have loved to buy a week there, but it was just the cost that was in our way.  One of the interesting things about this resort is that it is one the Pacific Ocean side of the peninsula.  The waves come crashing in so you cannot swim here, but the fishing and surfing are great.  The area has lots of whales starting in December.  Rocks separate this area from downtown Cabo.

Infinity pool at the Solmar Resort

Looking south from the Solmar Resort

     After the presentation we decided to take a walk around the marina in Cabo.  We bought a boat ride that would tour us around Land"s End to see the Arco (rock arch), the pelicans and the sea lions before dropping us on Lover's Beach.  All was well until it was time to get off the boat.  The waves were pounding the beach and we needed to get off.  Fortunately, there were some enterprising young Mexican men who were there to help.   You just had to give them a tip.  We wandered around the tiny beach.  One of the sights was a gentleman with 4 iguanas on his shirt.  He offered one up to Pat to touch and hold.  She looked to good with one in her hands, so he put another on her shoulder.  Their skin feels like thin, dry leather, and their tails have small spikes.  Their feet have small fingers with class on the tips so they can climb on anything.  We then watched the show as other people were trying to get back onto their boats.  We watched one boat try to load up a large group of people.  The boat was pushed in to shore and got caught behind a rock that caused the stern to go down.  The waves started crashing over into the boat's stern.  The young Mexican entrepreneurs rushed over and rescued all the passengers, including a small child.  With the boat empty of people the crew, with some help from shore and a boat waiting to come in, was able to get off the beach.  The crew started bailing out water before they were able to come in again and pick up their passengers.  Now it was our turn to get on our boat.  Pat went first.   On her first try, the boat tipped and she fell off the boat ladder and went under.  I dragged her out and then she tried again with the help of a young Mexican entrepreneur.   Success!  After Pat sat on the far side of the boat, I was able to get on got on and we headed back to the marina.

Pat with 2 iguanas

Lovers Beach

     The Cabo Marina is a lot of fun with a souvenir flee market and lots of restaurants and bars.  We walked back on the beach to our resort and were thoroughly exhausted.  Hurricane Sandra arrived about 16:30 so we just made it back in time.  All of the dinner and show venues moved indoors, so we had dinner at the Sports Bar with a couple from Surrey, and an early night after our adventures.
     Friday, Hurricane Sandra hung around for most of the day.   By this time, it had blown itself down to a tropical storm.  It was still warm, so we sat under the roof of the beach buffet area and watched the waves come crashing in.  One can really appreciate the power of water when you see it in motion!  We knew the rain was almost over when we watched a beautiful double rainbow.  Dinner was set back up on the patio, so we had a wonderful latin meal and enjoyed the "Michael Jackson Experience" with a Jackson look-a-like.  He was amazing!!

Double rainbow at the end of the storm

Hurricane Sandra

     Saturday started with clouds and a little rain, but that was alright because we were flying to San Diego today.  The trip back to the airport was seamless and so was checking in.  While we were in line for security, we met a couple Kerry had known 40 years ago.  What are the odds?  Anyway, Kerry and Larry got caught up on the gossip, and we shared contact information.  We shall reconnect at home.

San Diego

 November 28 to December 12 - After a two hour flight, we were in San Diego, had our rental car, and were driving up the coast to Solana Beach and our home for the next week at The Sand Pebbles.  Kerry's Aunt Lois called us while Kerry was driving, so we had a good chat.  She was excited about her copy of our first book, "Counting on the Canal".  She never knows where we will be when she calls, so finds us in lots of different places around the world.  She is almost disappointed when we are actually at home.
     After a slow start, we walked over to the Solana Beach Farmer's Market for 1 pm, and wandered the shops on Cedros Avenue.  The remainder of the afternoon was spent watching the Grey Cup football game. (Thank you to ESPN for showing it).
     Tomorrow we are off to Palm Desert to see our good friends Lynne and Doug.
     We took the back way into Palm Desert over the San Jacinta Mountains.  What a trip.  The road down into the Cochella Valley was switchback after switchback.

Switchbacks coming down into Palm Desert

     Our friends Lynne and Doug are such excellent hosts.  Lynne had lunch ready, and then we moved into cocktails and an excellent dinner.  Breakfast the next morning was at the Country Club before we hit the stores for some shopping.  We returned via the freeway and arrived back in San Diego at dinner time.
     Wednesday was shopping day.  We headed up the coast to Carlsbad and the Outlet Mall.  Only a few shoppers were there, and the sales were amazing!!  Unfortunately, we arrived back to our apartment to see the news about the mass killing in San Bernadino.

     We decided we needed to enjoy the pool and the beach at our apartment today.  The sun was shining and we had to cool off in the pool.  That would not be happening in St. Albert!  Anyway, we wandered to the beach to enjoy the sunset.  It was not as clear as yesterday, but the clouds made it far more interesting.

Sunset on Solana Beach

     Saturday was very exciting.  We had to be out of our apartment by 10, so we headed south to La Jolle.  We were heading south when we saw a sign indicating a scenic drive.  We headed down the road and quickly came to the glider port and a big parking lot on the top edge of the cliffs above the beach. 

Torry Pines Beach from above.

We wandered the area, and stopped to enjoy the waves, the sun, the birds, and the people walking below.  Flocks of pelicans were flying past us before they headed down to skim the edges of the waves for fish. 

Too cool as we look down on Pelicans going by!

Hang Gliders also quickly filled the sky around us as they floated in the breeze. 

There were lots of hang gliders up that day.

We then drove into downtown San Diego and settled into our new digs.  The building has a rooftop patio area, so we will enjoy that.

Bright and early on Sunday, we drove again to Palm Desert to visit our dear friends Lynne and Doug.  They are always so much fun.  Lynne and Pat can gossip non-stop for days.  We toured the booths at the Monterey Street market, while Lynne finished her Christmas shopping.  She introduced us to the American doll industry.  We capped the visit with a Dole pineapple whip ice cream, and ran into friends from Morinville.

Tuesday we drove south to Yuma, just over the California border into Arizona, and a very lose to the Mexican border.  On the way down we passed fields of vegetables and dates being grown.  Once in Yuma, we visited Our daughter in law's grandparents Richard and Irene.  They introduced us to a cotton field with the balls ready to be picked.  We also drove passed lettuce fields where the heads were being picked and packed in bags in the fields and then picked up at the warehouse that night for shipment to stores all over North America within a day or so.  Richard also drove us passed the old territory prison where horrendous criminals were sent to live in adobe cells.  We ended the tour with a stop at Lutes Bar, a very old building with a history as a pool hall for a very long time.  Filled with signs and memorabilia from all over the south, it is a feast for the ears, eyes and stomach.  We ended the evening with a delicious dinner before driving back to San Diego.

Cotton crop in Yuma.

Wednesday we headed to Old Town and the fun and history of San Diego at its beginnings.  Thursday we headed to one of our favourite places - the San Diego Zoo.  We were able to see all of the animals - the pandas, gorillas, giraffes, hippo mother and her baby, a sea eagle, tigers, lions, a grizzly bear, and so on.  This is an amazing place.

Colobus Monkey

Flamingos

Tiger

Giraffes

Panda

Wildsbok

Gorilla

Toucan

Hippo

Friday we spent the day in Balboa Park at four of the museums.  The first was the Air and Space Museum to see their airplanes and the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit.  Leonardo was an amazing, creative, curious man who drew up plans for all kinds of machines that remain in use today, or were used as the starting point for - parachutes, life-saving bouys, water screws to name a few still in use.  He had a rudimentary tank, helicopter, hang gliders, submarine.  He was a master at gears, levers, screws and circular motion!!!  The second museum was the Photography Museum to see an exhibit of photos taken by students, before heading to the History Museum to see the Dr. Seuss exhibit.  Theodore Seuss Geisler was an amazing painter as well as an illustrator and write of children's books. We finished the day at the Museum of Natural History at the Cactus to Coast exhibit.  A great day!

Our time is over.  Tomorrow we fly home.