What to Do When It's Cold Outside?

Mid-February our weather turned colder and picnic days on the beach were no longer an option. We spent a few of the colder days exploring some of the interesting museums of Pensacola. Historic Pensacola Village consists of twenty-seven properties in the Pensacola National Register Historic District. Eleven of these properties are interpreted facilities that are open to the public. The T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Florida State Museum, originally the 1908 City Hall building, is a virtual treasure trove of historic artifacts, Americana, and West Florida history. The T.T. Wentworth, Jr. Museum houses three floors of permanent and traveling exhibits. That was probably our favorite of all the historic buildings and museums we visited.

Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesdays, to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Epiphany or King's Day and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday." reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

We decided we’d take in the local Mardi Gras parade. When we asked at the visitor’s center how early we needed to come downtown to be able to park. We were assured 3 hours early was more than enough. NOT!  We ended up having to hoof it over a mile which ordinarily would not be a big deal, however, that is farther than I have been walking, in one stretch, since my knee surgery.  Wasn’t sure I’d make it, but I  did. Yay!  Norm retrieved the car afterward though and picked me up. What a gentleman. J

It was one wild-n-crazy afternoon celebrating with the island folks of Santa Rosa and catching strings of beads flung at the crowd.  Notice in the pictures how close the people were to the parade!  It was, as I said….one wild-n-crazy afternoon…..And, we caught quite a few beads!

Living the moment

Norm & Nancy

The National Naval Aviation Museum

What a surprise! I knew about aircraft carriers, but thought that was something the Air Force was in charge of. I didn’t realize that the Navy had their own airplanes, or aviators either for that matter, so I you can imagine how I was blown away by the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola -  the world’s largest Naval Aviation museum and one of the most-visited museums in the state of Florida.

 Naval Aviation’s rich history is on display and we saw more than 150 beautifully restored aircraft representing Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aviation. Well, I say we saw that many because that is how many the brochure says they have and we saw them all – give or take a few. It is an amazing show of aviation throughout history.

These historic and one-of-a-kind aircraft are displayed both inside the Museum’s nearly 350,000 square feet of exhibit space and outside on its 37-acre grounds. Norm was especially delighted when he saw a model of the kind of ship he served on, The USS Estes and even more excited when he saw a mortar exactly like the one’s he, and other Pipe Fitter/Sheet Metal workers, turned into flashlights for a lighting display when some dignitaries came aboard in Singapore. Way cool!

We’ve spent two full days , so far, touring the museum and will probably go back one more time to catch the little parts we missed. If you’re ever in the Pensacola area this museum is a “must see.”

Living the dream!

Norm & Nancy

Because We Long to be Birds

When did you last fly a kite?  I highly reccomend it for everyone - of all ages!

We brought down a couple with us to Pensacola because we knew the beach is usually perfect wind for flying and there's no telephone wires around to worry about. And, lucky that we did as we've spent several wonderful afternoon on the beach flying our butterflies and birds. There is truly nothing quite as freeing as kite flying. Leonard Cohan says it well in his book, Spice Box of Earth....

“A kite is a victim you are sure of.

You love it because it pulls

gentle enough to call you master,

strong enough to call you fool;

because it lives

like a desperate trained falcon

in the high sweet air,

and you can always haul it down

to tame it in your drawer.

A kite is a fish you have already caught

in a pool where no fish come,

so you play him carefully and long,

and hope he won't give up,

or the wind die down.

A kite is the last poem you've written

so you give it to the wind,

but you don't let it go

until someone finds you

something else to do.” 

― Leonard Cohen, The Spice Box of Earth

And so, we will continue to fly kites every chance possibly. In fact, just today Norm placed an order for a HUGE one. It should be here by Friday!

Because We long to Be Birds,

Norm & Nancy

GOLF at A C READ

Norm played nine holes of golf and I got to be driver. Routed on two salt water Bayous, the ninth hole is the most scenic of the three 9s at the  A C Read, 27 hole course. Although the course was originally built for the Navy they opened it up to the public just a few years ago. What a privilege to golf here!   

This is the dry season, so the grass had a somewhat “scorched earth” appearance, but it was beautiful just the same.  It’s old growth oak draped in Spanish Moss, and not only one of the most beautiful courses in the Navy, but in the entire Pensacola region. It was a perfect 73 degree, sunny day that could not have been better.

The only glitch was when I ran over Norm’s foot with the golf cart, or, as my version goes – Norm got his foot under my cart.  No serious harm, but he doesn’t want to let me forget it!  I told him it was his “best drive of the day.”

Dinner followed golf at The Oar House which has a real "Jimmy Buffet" sort of feel. Delicious fish n chips  for me and Paella for Norm. We sipped down a few suds then drove back to our winter home tired but content.  It was a very good day.

Living the Moment in Florida,

Nancy & Nancy

The Pride and the Shame of Fort Pickens

We took a little trip to the western end of the island and visited Fort Pickens, a place where time tiptoes past with the story, both impressive, and shameful, of America’s past.

Begun in 1829 and completed in 1934, Fort Pickens was the largest of four forts built by a work force of skilled slave laborers to defend Pensacola Bay. Construction was difficult. Workers were exposed to an unfriendly climate, yellow Fever and experienced severe heat exhaustion.Their owners collected their wages. Shameful.

In October 1886 a train carrying 16 Apache families pulled in to Pensacola. Under guard the men were separated from the women and children and taken by steamer across to Santa Rosa Island where they were imprisoned at Fort Pickens. Among the prisoners was the great Apache chief, Geronimo and also Naiche, the youngest son of Cochise, and hereditary chief of the Chiricahuas.The editor of The Pensacolian wrote that “Geronimo would be an attraction which will bring here a great many visitors.” President Cleveland approved the idea. The men were held prisoner until 1888 and treated as a “human freak show.” Like I said, shameful. 

Ironically, the only real action this fort endured happened when America was at war with itself. It was one of the few seacoast forts that remained in Union control in the civil War and several major battles were fought from it.

The Fort Pickens gunnery was updated during World War I, and again in World War II. Then it was closed in 1947. Now gulls and children play where powerful weapons once shook the earth and stood ready to defend our country.

WELCOME to HAKUNA MATATA

Our first impression when we arrived on Rosarita Island Saturday evening was ....BRRRRR!  The air so crisp you could snap it with your fingers had sent everyone indoors - very few cars on the road, nobody out walking. It was like a tourist ghost town!

When I stood on the balcony of the condo that is to be our nest for the next two months I saw nothing but a beautiful white sand beach stretching as far as I could see in both directions. It was empty, exceopt for one long legged bird. Waves of shades of green and blue crashed the beach fiercely. The red flag (hazard for swimming) whipped about in the wind. Beautiful, to be sure, but not quite the tropical paradise I had been imagining for months and months. No fear though, the cold snap should be over by Monday.

Welcome to Hakuna Matata!

Norm & Nancy