Italy pictures

Famous original Ponte Vecchio Bridge over the Arno river in Florence (only one that wasn't bombed in WWII)

Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna (1579) made out of one block of marble - he wanted to one up Michelangelo's David

Famous church in Orievto (the Pope's summer getaway church)

The ancient Rome Forum in Rome

One happy couple in the gondola in Venice - I actually cried on it...was so in awe that I finally made it to Italy
and got to ride in a gondola!

The Duomo Church in Florence - where Michelangelo is buried

One happy tourist on her first day in Venice...right off the plane.

Tuscany landscape....I want to move there!!!

The Coliseum in all it's ancient glory

I finally get to see the naked man, David....but geese George...a penis on my head?

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

“Houston we have a problem” or “One giant step for mankind…” or “We have lift-off…” these quotes are reminders from the USA space race.

Well you don't need to be a space junkie to enjoy NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This is the only spot in the United States from which humans were launched into space. The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the United States launch site and has been used for every NASA human space flight since December 1968. Located on Merritt Island, Florida, the center is northwest of Cape Canaveral on the Atlantic Ocean, midway between Miami and Jacksonville on Florida’s coast.  

  

Manned flights are now on hiatus but KSC is still in full operation. It continues to manage and run unmanned rocket launch facilities for the U.S. government's civilian space program. The operation staff has been reduced, as new and old contractors continue to prepare for new advancements into other space programs. Its Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) is the fourth largest building in the world by volume, and was the largest when completed in 1965. It too sets empty waiting for the new rockets and equipment for the Mars journey.

Standing in the center of the vehicle assembly building we were dwarfed by its mammoth height. This is where rockets, capsules or shuttles were last assembled before being driven to the LC39 launch site on the enormous crawler. The crawler moves at less than 5 mph with hundreds of tons of precious cargo. Large pictures show the launching to outer space for the US space program.

Smoke bellows and engines growl as these enormous rockets lift their cargo out of the bounds of earth.

Starting December 1968, the launch operations were conducted from Pads A and B at Launch Complex 39. Both pads are on the ocean, 3 miles east of the VAB. From 1969–1972, LC-39 was the departure point for the six Apollo manned Moon landing missions. They used the Saturn V the largest and most powerful operational launch vehicle in history. It was used from 1981–2011 for the Space Shuttle launches.  

We traveled to the LC-39 press viewing site 5 miles from the lunching site where, the press, astronaut wives and company presidents viewed these liftoffs. 

  

It was an emotional moment as they opened the doors from the waiting room into the Space Shuttle Exhibit. 

This national treasure, the Space Shuttle Atlantis was ready to embark on an exciting adventure once again.  

  

The angled display of the Shuttle made it look as if you were standing in front of this soaring ship.







                                                                           
I felt that we were following right along with the crew upon inspecting the open cargo bay. 

    
From the shuttle’s tail we observed it soaring by on mankind’s epic journey into space. Catching our breath we walked on to see the collection of space memorabilia from rocks to spacesuits in the museum. 

With many dynamic changes made in the spacesuits quality and comfort are the new standards . Neal Armstrong’s moon suit hangs in the Smithson Museum in Washington DC but several others hang here representing the glory of other moon walks.

Everyone wants in the space program even Snoopy, Charlie Brown’s famous dog.  Peggy couldn’t resist stopping to say hello.








As we left the parking lot after a full day of sightseeing (space programs) we viewed the sunset over the Florida coastline knowing there was yet more to come.

Happy Feet Great Travels

George (with Peggy & Coco)

Charleston, South Carolina

When George and I crossed over Rhett Butler Blvd just outside of Charleston we knew we were in the ‘deep south’.  Fried food of every shape, color and taste, humanity of every color and nationality surrounding us, ‘ya’all have a nice day’…was the greeting of the day, seagulls, plantations everywhere, horse and carriage rides, confederate army memorabilia and enough charm to win over this yankee girl!  I was so excited to get here because Charleston has been on my ‘bucket list’ forever. 

Outside view of French Marketplace

Birthday boy in front of stones from Giant Causeway in Ireland....been there done that!

Our first day of tourist things was on Halloween Day, which just so happens to be my wonderful husband’s birthday, so he got to pick wherever he wanted to go that day.  He picked going to the Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Museum.  https://www.patriotspoint.org/explore  It was the perfect day, no clouds, sunny, 80 degrees and a warm breeze off the ocean.  First we toured the USS Yorktown battleship. All I can say about it was it was BIG and it was in WWII and didn’t get to retire until 1986.  We walked, climbed, walked, and walked and then climbed through more doorways all over that immense ship. 

Next it was off to the USS Clamagore submarine that was also dry docked there.  Walking through a submarine tour is tight, smelly, dark and I knew I could NEVER be in a submarine longer than 10 minutes…and I’m not even claustrophobic.

Inside view of submarine

Last, but not least, was the USS Laffey Destroyer.  I breezed through that ship because I just lost interest in ships at that point.  I saw too much military, stairs, navy, testosterone, etc. etc. for my liking.  After that exciting day of touring I took him out to an Irish Pub for dinner.  He was one happy camper…my birthday boy mission was accomplished!

The next day while we were in downtown Charleston going through all the stores, streets, etc. we walked our little legs off.  So much to see and do downtown that we decided to call it a day and come again another day. 

French Marketplace

Courthouse

 

  

The next day we took a carriage ride to see and hear all about Charleston. 

One of the fun things we saw while in the French Quarter was all these trucks, etc.  The tour guide said they were filming a TV series here.  Noticed on one of the trucks there was a sign that said CBS, asked him if he knew what series and he said he didn’t know…bummer.  Towards evening we took a walk in the French Quarter of the downtown area to see all the historic homes.  

 










 We learned why these homes were built with the side of the house facing the street with the house’s width facing the other home in front.  It was because when these were built in  the 1800's there was little land to put them on and the homes were taxed by the dimensions of the front facing the street.  Clever I may say, to build homes sideways as to not pay taxes.  Most plantation owners had a home in town to enjoy the breeze off the ocean during the summer months. 

I just had to go to a plantation while there, so we decided to go to the Middleton Plantation.  https://www.middletonplace.org/

The house was all brick and not like you imagine in the ‘Gone with the Wind’ movie. 

The gardens were what made this plantation famous.  He had over 100 slaves build a terrace that went from the front of the house down to the water’s edge, ponds, rose gardens, reflection pond, private lawn areas and the list just went on and on.  

He wanted this garden to be the best in all the 13 colonies.  I was thrilled to see my first swamp pond.  It even had its own alligator (didn’t get to see him though).  This plantation grew rice for their crop of choice.  Didn’t know how hard it was to grow rice…I’ll really appreciate eating it from now on. 

Terraced lawn that goes down to the rice field

Many hours of wading in knee deep water that had snakes and crocodiles was a present danger while working.

Adam and Eve would have loved these 'fig leaves'!

They even had a slave house and a list of all the slaves that worked on the plantation with a short history of the slaves’ lives.  Very different than what I have experienced in the west. 

Slave quarters

Our last day here we drove to Isle of Palm Beach.  All these summer cottages lining the beach were fabulous.  Of course, most were built with the garage on the bottom floor so that when hurricanes come and flood the bottom floor the living quarters are hopefully dry.  We walked on the long beach and picked up seashells and just enjoyed sand between our toes.

Don't you just love tee shirt shops

One of the things advertised in the tourist brochures was Moon Pies.  They had a general store that sold them with other memorabilia of the famous Moon Pies.  Since I have never had one, I proceeded to purchase three.  After eating one I quickly discovered that my high expectations were quickly crushed.  Not what I expected… round vanilla cookie with a marshmallow filling with chocolate coating on the outside.  George had his and felt the same.  I guess it’s a local thing from childhood that makes it special down here.  FYI: won’t be buying any in the near future.

Did I love Charleston…yes…would highly recommend it!  Would I like to live there…not so much. I can happily check off another city from my bucket list.

Would definitely come back for the southern food!!!

Happy Travels Ya’all,                                                                                                                           

Peggy (plus George and Coco)

Universal Studios - Orlando, Florida

What do you do on a coolish, cloudy, rainy day in Florida?  Why go to a fun place to hang out with 50,000 other strangers having a fun time in a fantasy world.  It sure worked for George and me.

Universal Studios in Orlando is NO Disney World but it fills a spot in the tourist world of lots of roller coasters, cartoon characters and movie memorabilia.   The park is separated into two separate parks.  First one we entered was Universal’s Island of Adventure.  While walking through we saw Doctor Seuss Land, The Lost Continent, Jurassic Park, Doctor, Marvel Super Hero Island, Lucille Ball memorabilia museum, Despicable Me parade, Sponge Bob parade and miles and miles of gift shops, restaurants and photo opportunities. 

My main goal was to get to Wizarding World of Harry Potter before all the crazy tourists got there first.  The most popular ride is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.  After loading onto little seats we were whisked off to see Harry Potter and friends in the castle while flying through the air, speeding after Harry and friends on broomsticks via modern 3D imagery.  Waiting 60 minutes for a four minute ride….will you question my sanity?

We passed this Butter Beer wagon and had to have some, of course.  Do you want to know what butter beer tastes like?  Of course you do, it actually is cream soda with whipped cream on the top…now you know.

 We also passed up going on the Jurassic Park River Adventure.  Can you figure out why?  The high for the day was only 67 degrees and the sign at the entrance said “YOU WILL GET WET”….no brainer in that quick decision after looking at the boat being totally drenched.

Then we were off to Universal Studios Florida side of the park.  If you like roller coasters, this is the place to throw up.  Everywhere we turned there was another one with lines of crazy people waiting to be tossed and turned upside down and sideways.  In my younger years I would have been one of those crazy people for sure…but my stomach just can’t take it anymore…darn.

Next it was off to the ride about how disaster movies are made with volunteers from the audience helping in the fun and then on to Transformers saving the day 3D adventure; we were experiencing all they could throw at us.  My favorite attraction on this side of the park was the Horror Make-up Show.  We sat watching old horror film clips of what horror was like starting in the 30’s to the present day.  Then they had performers come out and show us how they can cut a person’s arm off, including blood, without hurting her (volunteer out of the audience).  The performers were also comedians which made the show quite enjoyable and turned out to be my favorite in the whole park.

We ended the day with pouring rain (we had brought our raincoats and umbrellas, so we were doing great) so we decided to go to the Despicable Me Ride. 

Mercy, it took us 80 minutes to go through that line for a five minute ride.  The 3D ride was very charming while sitting in a car that giggled and rocked back and forth while watching a video in front of us.  It can’t get any cuter than three adorable little girls, bright yellow Minions with goggles entertaining us.

I am sure our children and grandchildren are totally embarrassed!

 

Stick a fork in me though….I was done for the day and it was getting dark.  Both of our spirits may be young but our bodies didn't get that memo.

Will we go back again…probably not.  It really is a place you want to experience with children or grandchildren but it was great to spend a day being a kid at heart. What a great place for us old folks to experience living one day without a care in the world except trying to decide what souvenir we wanted to buy, what rides to be thrilled on or how to stop the evil villains from destroying the world.

Happy travels,

Peggy (and George and Coco)