We've got a Winner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last month, the PGA National Resort & Spa, held a promotion for their Ironwood Restaurant and I Bar Lounge.... Over a week period, daily patrons could enter a drawing for an Apple Computer I Pad....This promtion coincided with the much publicized global launch of  Apple's I Pad..... For PGA National it was an association with or a  play on words, i.e. I Bar and I Pad.... The PGA National campaign ran in the local newspapers and radio stations during the peak tourist season.

This week Connie received a phone call that she was one of the lucky winners. Last evening she was presented with her I Pad prize....

 

There was a Florida before Mickey, Mini and Goofy!

This week we had the pleasure to visit two of  Florida's classiest tourist attractions or points of interest, Bok Tower and Gardens near Lake Wales and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota. The origin of these central Florida venues dates back to the 1920's.








Bok Tower and Gardens were built by Edward Bok (1986-1930), who was born in Holland and immigrated to the US at the age of six. After going to night school, Bok worked in the publishing field rising through the ranks eventually becoming editor of The Ladies Home Journal, a post he held for thirty years.

Bok coined the term Living Room, such a room was previously called, The Parlor.

He  also said, "make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you live in it."

Edward Bok's winter residence was in exclusive Mountain Lakes, FL. where he got the idea of  the gardens and a "singing" tower.

Bok Tower and Gardens are on the highest point of land, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of  Mexico, on the peninsular of Florida.

The tower which rises 205 feet is constructed of a steel frame, brick walls, an outer facing of pink and gray Georgia marble and Florida limestone of shell and coral fragments. Construction started in 1927. Dedication by President of the United States Calvin Coolidge, took place on February 1, 1929.

The Carillon housed in the tower consists of 60 bronze bells manufactured in England. The bells weigh from 16 pounds to over 11 tons each, all making different sounds. They are played from a keyboard.

The bells strike on the hour,  every hour from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM, playing such tunes as Drink to me Only with Thine Eyes, How Great Thou Art and America, The Beautiful.

In addition, there are daily concerts at 1 and 3 PM. We were fortunate to hear a concert with selections from The Sound of Music.

Hearing the sounds of "The hills are alive" we expected to see Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp children come dancing out from behind the large oak tree that  surround the grounds....It wasn't the Swiss Apls but it was a high hill top with a view for miles around.

If you are going to the area, we recommend a visit..For details go to

http://www.boktowergardens.org/

The next day of our journey we found ourselves in the beautiful Gulf Coast community of Sarasota.

For decades, Sarasota has been the Winter Headquarters of the Ringling Bros. and  Barnum & Bailey Circus, aka The Greatest Show on Earth.

John Ringling (1866-1936) the circus entrepreneur, financier, collector of art and his wife Mable (1875-1929) made Sarasota their winter home.

Upon his death, Ringling left his art collection and his 66 acre estate to the State of Florida. In 2000, The State turned stewardship over to Florida State University.

The John & Mable Ringling Museum of  Art (http://www.ringling.org/) is located just north of Sarasota, west of Highway 41.

A general admission includes entry to Museum of  Art, the Circus Museum , Ca d'Zan the Ringling Mansion, the historic Asolo Theater, plus the grounds and gardens.

The museum contains masterpieces of Rubens, Titian, Valazquez, Hals, and Gainsborough. The total collection is valued among the top 20 museum collections in the USA.

After touring the Ringling Estate, we drove to Sarasota's St. Armand's Circle for lunch at the "Gem of Spanish Restaurants," the Columbia.

end 04/16/2010

It was the third Thursday of the month, so, it's the Lighthouse Center for the Arts in Tequesta!

We have a membership in this small intimate museum and school of art, located a short distance north of Palm Beach Gardens, in Tequesta!   Connie has attended art classses there.

  













The third Thursday of each month, we attend either an exhibition, a lecture, a music concert, or an art sale. With each event there is a reception that includes wine and savory hors de'oeuvers..... it makes for a very pleasant, interesting and social evening...   The Center has become part of our routine here.

Last evening, the Center held a reception opening a month long Member - Student Exhibition & Art Sale.  Over one hundred twenty artist/photographers/sculptors exhibited some 180 pieces of work. Connie entered two of her pieces, "Dylan" and "Pears and Grapes."

The place was packed with everyone having a most enjoyable evening! 

Our journey to Spain, February 11 - 26, 2010

The occasion of our February, 2010 trip to Spain was my 70th birthday.   Why Spain, you might ask.

From November 1966 - December 1978, while in the US Navy, I was stationed at the US Naval Communications Station at La Base Naval de Rota, a Spanish base in Cadiz Providence, on the Atlantic Coast, not distant from the Straits of Gibraltar....

While there,  43 years ago, I purchased an automobile ( a Fiat) and traveled some 17,000 miles exploring the Andalusia Region of southern Spain.  Although always wanting to, I have never been back to see what changes have taken place. Spain was a dictatorship 43 years ago.  It is now a democratic monarchy.  Spain is now a member of the European Union. Spanish tourism has blossomed!   The economy has florished.  There has been a housing boom.

I wanted to see this, plus, enjoy the hospitality, the culture, engage with the locals, once more enjoy the food and drink.  Connie had never been to Spain.  For centuries Spain has been a significant center of  art,  artist, and sculpture.  I wanted Connie to see and experience all Spain has to offer..... 

We had a direct American Airlines flight from Miami... Except a slightly delayed departure and some severe turbulance mid way, it was a good flight...  As soon as one walks into Madrid's airport  international arrivals terminal you see, in my opinion,  an architect's modern master piece.  It is very large, clean, attractive and we think efficient..... 

We took a taxi to our central Madrid hotel; and we checked in...  After freshening up, we were ready to hit the street and explore Madrid....  First on our agenda , was The Prado Museum which houses the works of Velazquez, Rubens, Rembrandt, el Greco, Murillo, Sorolla and many others. 

We spent several hours going from floor to floor, exhibit to exhibit..  We dropped into the museum cafeteria for our first snack and refreshments in Spain.  Then we went back to see what we missed during the initial walk through.

After The Prado, we set out for two of Madrid's pedestrian cross roads, Puerto Del Sol and Plaza Mayor, either could be called the "Times Square" of Madrid.

We were people watching, window shopping, listening to the street musicians and getting into the life of the locals.

The symbol of Madrid is a bear sniffing a tree.  Legend has it that centuries ago a dispute arose over hunting rights on land owned by the church.  It was agreed that, while the church owned the soil citizens of

Madrid had the right to what as above it, namely the game.  Thus, Madrid acquired a symbol.

Finally, we made our way back to our hotel to get some sleep and make ready for our first full day in the Spanish capital.  

Panoramic tour of Madrid, tour of the Royal Palace and dinner at Cafe de La Opera

February 13, 2010 - A day of special significance !!!!

In the morning we boarded a Trapsatur luxury tour coach for a panoramic tour of Madrid...

  Today, eight gates from the old walled city of Madrid stand as monuments to the past.

Madrid,  Spain's capital city, seat of the countries monarchs and governement is home to 3.3 million people. It is a city of palaces, monuments, parks, churches, museums, universities, entertainment and commerce.

After the morning tour, we had lunch at a nearby restaurant, freshened up and met up with our tour guide for  a tour of Spain's Royal Palace.  We would only get to see 28 of the 2,800 rooms.

 

Photography was not allowed in the Royal Palace......the tour was impressive, the Palace is vast and lavish.  It is located on a bluff looking north toward a mountain range...The present King and Queen of Spain live in a more modest palace outside of Madrid. The Royal Palace is used for state occasions.

When asked why he does not live in this huge palace, the king was reported to have replied, "I don't want my eggs to get cold between the kitchen and dining room."   

We were fortunate that we booked the tour through a tour company. They seem to get preference over the general public which stand in very long lines to get in.

After the palace, our day wasn't done...it was just starting as far as I was concerned...because today was my 70th birthday and Connie had planned a special evening.

First, the Madrid Carnival celebration was about to start with parade passing under our Gran Via hotel room balcony......  How convenient !!!!

The birthday celebration was underway.... well wishing telephones calls from our children and my siblings back home, added to the day!  But wait !!! Connie had made plans for dinner for both of us at the 9:30 seating at Madrid's El Cafe de La Opera, a most unique and excellent restaurant....  We ate a sumptuous dinner while listening to operatic performances by five young and talented stars.  

                

This most enjoyable occasion was topped off by a "cumpleanos felices" wish along with champaign toast sang in spanish by the opera singers....What an evening... We left the restaurnat at 12:45 AM. Thank you Connie!

p.s. It is a small world! The opera singer Anna, behind my left shoulder, was born in the Bronx,  raised in Flushing and her family now lives in Babylon, LI. Anna  won a fellowship to study opera in Spain.  She  has sung in St. Agnes Cathedral,  Rockville Centre, LI, NY; and that day, she sang happy birthday to me in spanish!