If the picture below looks somewhat familiar, like you think you've seen it on this blog before, you're almost right. Last week, once again, Dan and I were in Tampa, Florida, visiting our son, DIL, and grandson. We were there in February/March and returned to celebrate Austin's first birthday.
Except for one day, we walked to his daycare at noon to bring him home to spend the afternoon with us. Don't you love his safari hat? That Tampa sun can be brutal. And how cute are those chubby little legs?
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| Austin - clapping! - and his mom |
Because our kids live almost in downtown Tampa while walking we saw this...
... and this graphic spiral and reflecting pool outside the Bank of America building.
We also toured the Museum of Photographic Arts, having the unexpected treat of seeing a display of nearly 60 original Ansel Adams photos. Every one of them was developed by Mr. Adams himself! The curator told us each photo is valued at $40,000 to $60,000. Of course, no photography was permitted.
Continuing our walk, we went to The University of Tampa campus. The school is the site of the former Tampa Bay Hotel build by railway tycoon Henry B. Plant in 1891 at the cost of $2.5 million. If the hotel was still in operation, this skyline view is what a hotel visitor would see today.
The hotel architecture is of Moorish design.
Ah, you know you're in the south when you see Spanish moss.
As always, I appreciate the variety of beautiful palm trees.
This is the hotel entrance that now leads to the Henry B. Plant Museum, housing a collection of Victorian age furnishings that reflect the splendor of the hotel.
The 511-room hotel must have been posh for it's day - the first hotel to have electricity, and railway cars delivered guests right to the doors.
Our two-day drive back to Iowa was uneventful. So uneventful that the best I could do at 7:15 a.m. on a Tuesday morning in Paducah, Kentucky, is take pictures of Hancock Fabrics. Poor me, huh?
Whew. Thankfully I made it to a quilt shop while in Florida. It wouldn't have been right not to at least do that! Linda
What a cute, cute baby! How wonderful that you can spend time with him. :)
ReplyDeleteLovely that you cot to spend some time with your gorgeous grandson again. They grow so quickly.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't you have filled in some time in Paducah? Breakfast? Early Lunch? until Hancocks opened, LOL. You were very strong.
What lovely pictorial evidence of your recent trip. Austin is growing up so very fast. Such a sad sight, Hancocks and not being able to go inside!!
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