Tag: #USAroadtrip

St Augustine Florida

29 April 2018

St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European established settlement in the USA (1565) in Northern Florida.

This is the moat around the castello.

The Old Spanish Trail Zero Milestone

Flagler College

The oldest wooden schoolhouse in the USA.

Beautiful houses in the historic district.

Government House

Love treesare when two species of tree join or intertwine.

The oldest house in St Augustine

Obelisk Art 450

The Great Cross Mission and Shrine of our Lady de Leche

I needed the Fountain of Youth today but arrived too late to enter.

Some photos around town.

Churches of St Augustine

That is all for Florida this trip. I have enjoyed the wonderful weather, huge houses, did not enjoy the most aggressive drivers so far on USA roads. I could live in Northern Florida. Next stop Savannah Georgia.

Palm Coast Florida

28 April 2018

Yesterday afternoon I had booked an Airbnb in Ormond Beach only to arrive and find that my booking was cancelled by the host. When this happens Airbnb are quick to assist find an alternate property and, as was the case with me, it was difficult to find something last minute at the same price and Airbnb meet any additional cost for a property which might cost more than the original booking. I was so glad the Ormond Beach property cancelled as I would not have had the privilege of staying in the home of Lev and Galina. I have never met a Korean with a Russian accent before and I fell in love with Galina. Perhaps it is because she said my hair colour looked “flirty”.

Prior to my “Odyssey” I decided to stop colouring my hair as it is always difficult to manage when travelling and I also think it is time for me to accept my hair colour is “silvering”. Since this decision I have noticed how many women look beautiful, classy, sexy, quirky or all of this with going natural. I have found it very liberating.

After Galina and Lev gave me a wonderful breakfast of crepes and potato and bacon omelette I drove to the Bulow Plantation Ruins.

There wasn’t much of the ruins left as the plantion house was destroyed by fire.

The area is very pretty for hiking and swimming, although not sure I would go in for a swim.

Driving to my next Airbnb the at the Palm Coast I dropped into the Bulow Plantation RV Park. Similar concept to the Australian caravan park.

These quaint cabins are $US50 per night but they have no cooking facilities or bathroom.

I saw some of the 55+ communities I have been hearing about in my travels. I tried to get access to this one but no-one answered the access phone number.

There is a 55+ ( also known as “age-restricted”) community in Florida called “The Villages” and I would have liked to rent an Airbnb to experience this area which has a population of over 125,000. It is the fastest growing small city in the USA. One of the problems of these communities is if a grandparent becomes the carer of grandchildren there is 90 day time restriction. If a spouse under 55 is widowed, most often they are forced to sell the property. With 9 golf clubs, cinema, supermarkets and shops, the common mode of transport is golf buggies. I wouldn’t mind trying out this community for a few months each year.

This evening my host took me to the Moonrise Brewing Company for an amateur comedy night.

This is in the lovely European Village area.

Oviedo/Cassadaga Florida

27 April 2018

Oviedo is known for the downtown wild chickens roaming the streets. I had trouble working out where they might be and found the local library and thought they would be sure to have the information I was looking for. Just as I got out of the car I heard a rooster crowing. Couldn’t see him, nor the chickens but saw feed which is left out by the locals.

I do love the trees in these southern parts, with the hanging air moss.

I then drove to Cassadaga, a spiritual village of pyschics and mediums. Yes, I had my cards read and we will have to wait for the Fall or did she mean Australian Autumn to see if there is any credibility in what was read.

I will admit the village gave me a feeling of peace and serenity.

With street names of Spiritualist Street and Mediumship Way and Seance Crescent

Orlando via Oslo

26 April 2018

I am back in the USA so I can continue with my roadtrip.

I left my airbnb in Barcelona and took the Aerobus from the Placa Catalunya to the airport. This is such a convenient service. You can buy the 5.9EUR one way or 10.90EUR tickets online or at the vending machine at the bus stop and ou can use either cash or card. Or a taxi is around 30EUR.

The plane trip was uneventful except for being taken into a private room at the airport for a “random” security check at Oslo airport. I was half expecting to be asked to strip off. I can’t imagine what made me stand out but all of course was ok. Yes it was a curious route to take from Barcelona to Orlando. Flying into Oslo I almost hoped that I could miss my connecting flight to Orlando as the scenery from the plane was so pretty with a view of green pine trees and a frozen waterway with scattered snow in between the trees. I will put that on my list to visit one day.

I arrived in my Orlando air bnb at 11:00pm and will look at where my road trip takes me to tomorrow.

Barcelona

25 April 2018

In Australia this day is an important one of rememberance for all the ANZACS who served at Gallipoli in WWI and in all wars and peacekeeping services. I thank all who have fought to keep Australia a free nation.

On my last day in Barcelona I took it easy walking and taking in the city and surrounds.

Arc de Triomf (Arco de Truiunfo)

Parc d’lestació Del Nord

The flowers of this tree fly around like cotton wool. I don’t think it is very good for my allergy but pretty.

Bus terminal

Sheryl and I stumbled across the best place for lunch. Mónibèric is a cured ham bar.

4.5EUR gets you a baguette with Iberian ham (prosciutto) and a glass of beer or wine or soft drink. Orange juice is extra. I had the local Cava, Sheryl had a beer.

Tent city protesting against violation of constitutional rights. Derechosgarantizados.org

These caught my attention.

You can’t sell or buy marijuana legally but you can grow and smoke it.

Rubber duckies!!

Can anyone understand this sign?

La Boqueria Barcelona(Barcelona Market)

This is the end of my trip to Barcelona. Tomorrow I return to my USA (Odyssey) road trip. Gracias merci Barcelona and Catalonia. I had a ball. Until we meet again.

Cadiz Spain

17 April 2018

11am I disembarked to explore this island. The food is so cheap and the delicious smells drew me to the best paella I have ever had and the cost was 3EURO. I would love if I could find such fresh good food to takeaway in the USA. Of course it is available in little Havana in Miami.

I walked aound with Maf and Meredith trying to capture some of the beauty in photos.

Bollards everywhere.

Maf and I showed some children who were in the school playground how a couple of gringos move.

gringos dancing

Of course ended the night dancing.

Norwegian Epic

15 April 2018 Day 5 sea day Atlantic Ocean.
Since leaving Bermuda I have been enjoying days of lying in the sun at the Spice H2O pool area, meeting lots of people and discovering new cocktails (my keto diet prior to this trip long forgotten), dancing until 3am and meeting even more people.

This cruise has many time changes and this morning I went to bed at 4am. I got up three (3) hours later to watch my NRL team Wests Tigers play Manly Sea Eagles. I was so excited that it was televised live into my cabin. Although at half time I ran up to the Irish bar O’Sheehans, as it was televised there as well, because I was worried that my yelling and cheering would wake my cabin neighbours.

But as there was no sound at O’Sheehans I ran back to my cabin and cheered into my pillow for the second half. What a way to watch my team win at Brookvale while I am on a cruise crossing the Atlantic.
After recharging with a sleep, lunch and another nap by the pool I prepared myself for dinner and tonights show.

This ship has wonderful shows and there was no way I was going to miss Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The show was as spectacular as the musical in Sydney and the movie. The Aussie accents and the pictures of the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville and reminders of Les Girls in Kings Cross made me homesick. I was a rebellious 16 year old who frequented Les Girls in Kings Cross in the 1970s and then after my first divorce in the 1980s I again became a frequenter, especially as I was working in the Rural Bank in Kings Cross at the time.

After the show on the Epic I had a drink with a couple of the brilliantly cast Bernadette and Felicia.

I will approach the cruise director and inquire how I may get a front row seat for the show on 17 April. As one of the few Aussies on board I think it a reasonable request.

Funchal Madeira (Portugal)

15 April 2018

I did not know anything about this island and it is a lovely surprise. The NCL Epic has a wonderful group of solo travellers I consider friends. Denny has covered the transatlantic several times so he shares great ideas of what to do when in port. Seven (7) of us shared a taxi for 30 Euro each. The driver took us for a 3 hour tour starting with the togobban ride. I almost did not do this exciting ride down the steep winding mountain roads of Funchal in a basket. I thought it was your typical toboggan down a metal track. At 15Euro per person it was one of the most fun things I have done. It brought back childhood memories of billycart racing down the hill with only our feet as brakes. We destroyed many shoes with this dangerous but fun childhood pasttime but the baskets on the hill of Funchal are another level. you can take the cable car up to the top of the mountain or we had our taxi drop us off at the start.

You sit in a basket and are in the safe hands of two locals (and the universe) who use their well shod feet to control the basket around corners (I actually typed coroners originally lol) keeping you on track without tipping into the gutter. The locals I met said they won’t do the ride.

Many people were frightened by the ride but I loved it. I highly recommend to do this.

Then we went to the fishing village which was very picturesque and I had the local drink Ponchas which provided my first hangover for this cruise.

Winston Churchill spent a lot of time in this village painting.

A pretty spot with the NCL Epic in the background.

Some of the street art on doors.

The famous soccer player Ronaldo was born here. There is a museum in to honour his achievements.

Sail away view of Funchal

Norwegian Epic

7 April 2018
I am off to Barcelona on a Transatlantic cruise! This was not planned but I got such a great deal I could not go. I love the Norwegian Epic and this is the last cruise I could do on her from the USA as she repositions to Europe for their summer.

I have discovered I am a silver member of Norwegian Cruise Line Latitudes club. I got priority embarking no waiting in lines. A free bottle of champagne and some extra internet minutes.

This is only my 4th cruise with NCL and I get perks!!. I have been on 10 P&O cruises and get nothing. I am in the studio cabins and this cruise has only 80 children out of 4800 passengers. The majority are over 50 but the first night in the nightclub was amazing. I had 2 wonderful dance partners!! I don’t need anything else. The DJs on NCL could teach P&O cruise DJs how to keep the passengers happy. Every NCL cruise I have been on the DJs know or play what the passengers love.

The people I have met so far are wonderful interesting and all retired from USA, Canada,France, Britain, Spain and Aussies from Melbourne and Brisbane. Including investors, gold mining office manager, French professor, teacher, travel agents, accident investigator, army, emergency nurse and mission chaplain. Such diverse occupations.

I have learnt to play a gambling game left/right/centre. Lots of fun and a very social game with an investment of $3 and prize of $100. Day 3 tomorrow and with our first stop in Bermuda.

Orlando Florida

6 April 2018

Continuing with the paranormal theme I explored the phenomenon of “Spooky Hill“, a haunted hill defying gravity.

I decided to go at 4pm on a Friday afternoon and that was a bad decision. I hadn’t been feeling well as my hayfever hit me for the first time on this trip. I tried to get some pseudoephedrine at three (3) pharmacies but I have another thing to complain about the USA. As in Australia, you need to provide identification to purchase various medications. However, as I do not have a USA driver’s licence they requested my passport. However, the only passports accepted by the government program are USA and Canadian passports. I got very frustrated and they suggested a US friend could purchase the medication for me. I have to learn how a tourist would get certain medication if they don’t have a USA driver’s licence. If anyone can provide me some advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Any way, after all that I drove to Lake Wales, the site of Spook Hill. There was another family from Indiana at the spot who advised how I should proceed with the gravity exercise. You drive up to a line on the road half way up the hill, put your car in neutral, roll backwards while watching the road in front you get the sense you are driving up the hill.

I tried three (3) times but was terrified I would crash into the Indiana family or run up the gutter into the trees. It was hilarious that I drove 2 hours in Orlando traffic (who are now the top of my list for most aggressive drivers) to laugh my head off with a family from Indiana. We are sure there is a camera set up and someone is enjoying a great joke.

However, I did feel a bit woozy after it but that could just have been a bit of car sickness with my hayfever and staring at the road going backwards.

The local school is called “Spook Hill Elementary”.

I then drove back to Kissimmee to meet up with Lydia and Mario for dinner. They are from San Francisco and I met them in Panama three years(3) ago. After following each other on FB all this time it was lovely catching up with them and look forward to our next meeting.