Florida: A Winter Getaway

Unknown “Snowbirds” on beach with heron.

This time of year, when the temperature hits the teens, it’s time to reconnect with your friends who live a few latitudes south. I know several people who live in Florida year round. One was recovering from surgery and another was on a boat trip.

But as it turned out, my old friends from New England just happened to be lounging at the seashore last week and happily offered to take me in. I packed lickity-split! As did Robin.

Weather or Not

Now when I travel in the winter, I always look to see how the weather at home compares to my travel destination. I checked and there was a 50-60 degrees difference in temperature! Whoopee! What fortuitous timing— bleak and blustery in St. Louis, but balmy and blissful in the Sunshine State.

A Palate Journey

On the Gulf shores I always go for the seafood. Our host/hostess saw to it that we enjoyed a range of cuisine. I felt like Wonder Woman donning a cape for a grand gastronomique adventure.

A Potpourri of Temptation

Parmesan Beignets with honey, pears, and thyme

Miracle Max (Princess Bride) said, “The only thing better than true love is a nice MLT” (mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich). Max would swap out that mutton burger if he had a grouper sandwich at The Cottage on Siesta Key.

This wickedly delicious Peruvian poke with plantain chips was a sample of the sorcery going on in the kitchen.

Tuna Tartare, little bites of happiness

The sauce made these scallops sing!

Oysters on the half shell—little cradles of lusciousness.

The Octopus Salad cooked with a Sous Vide appliance and served with baked cherry tomatoes and radicchio was as tender as I’ve ever tasted.

Crab Fritters, a real flavor bomb!

Ahh, such delicious memories.

Fun in the Sun

In between meals, there was plenty to see and do on the beach and in town.

I love this photo of an egret, who appears to be walking on the water.

Fishing partners. This frustrated fisherman was catching nothing while the bird was plucking fish from the water one after another.

Following the footprints.

Kayaking in a mangrove tunnel. (That’s Robin’s earlobe in the lower left corner.)

Under the Big Top

The circus is able to bring out the child in us no matter how old we are, even if it’s just the Ringling Bros. museum in Sarasota.

The Ringling family left their mark on the area with two grand legacies: the family art collection and a circus museum. The history of the “Greatest Show on Earth” is a step back in time with stories of Jumbo, the seven-ton elephant (who I learned was killed when he was hit by a train), raucous circus parades, daredevil aerial performers, and wild animal acts.