FRIDAY
TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
After watching the sun peek up over The Pier we dinked to shore and set out in search of a barber shop for Dan. Meandering around the city, we found just the right place for Dan. The barber lady had been cutting hair at this location for 31 years and did a real good job. Before Dan left she encouraged us to visit the Princess Martha just next door.
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| THE PRINCESS MARTHA |
The Princess Martha, once a grand hotel, has housed the likes of Babe Ruth and Al Capone. This redbrick, neo-classical structure on First Ave. North was constructed in 1924 during the Florida Boom Era. It is now a senior living community that has retained the grace and charm of the original grand hotel.
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| THE ELEGANT ENTRY HALL AT THE PRINCESS MARTHA |
Continuing on our walk we discovered the Mirror Lake Shuffle Board Club, purported to be the world’s largest. What do you think? Only in Florida!
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| WORLD'S LARGEST SHUFFLEBOARD CLUB |
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| JUST A FEW OF THE COURTS |
Next we hopped onto the St. Petersburg Trolley and took a quick tour of the town. We glimpsed the Florida Holocaust Museum, the beautiful round St. Mary’s Church, the Dali’ Museum (we explored this on a college visit a few years ago),
University of Southern Florida, the open air U.S. Post Office, darling little
Albert Whitted Airport with their new terminal,
Al Lang Stadium, the Museum of Fine Arts and ended up at the St. Petersburg Museum of History.
The Museum of History held a wealth of information. We were entertained by exhibits on the hurricanes, early settlers, baseball in St. Petersburg, the effects of the war and the first official airline flight.
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ST. PETERSBURG MUSEUM OF HISTORY
ONE OF THE SUNSHINE CITY'S FAMOUS GREEN BENCHES |
It seems that a Mr. Tony Jannus began the airline industry by flying the first passenger between St. Petersburg and Tampa on 1914 in a Benoist XVI flying boat. And the rest, folks, is history.
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| BENOIST XIV FLYING BOAT BETWEEN TAMPA AND ST. PETE |
The museum current featured collection is Jam Session, America’s Jazz Ambassadors Embrace the World. I had no idea how much influence these traveling musicians had on history and to what extent they helped bridge the gaps between agitated countries. Entertainers such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck paved the way for peaceful talks between music loving leaders. Though music trends have changed over the years, this practice still exists.
After returning to Quest we took the dingy out into the Bay and tootled around a bit. We struck out around The Pier, stuck our nose into other marina areas, passed by the U.S. Coast Guard facility, saw the nearly finished new Dali’ Museum and motored by the huge marine science and research facility.
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| THE PIER |
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| THE NEW DALI' MUSEUM, OPENING IN THE NEW YEAR |
Arriving back on Quest just before sunset, we scurried to get gussied up then made our way to the Vinoy’s beautiful veranda for a relaxed cocktail and some great people watching. I think I really like this life!
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| SUNSETTING OVER ST. PETE |
 Image by ZarrSadus via Flickr |
| VINOY'S VERANDA |
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
Image by wwwebber via Flickr
Image via Wikipedia
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