Farmers Market and St Armands Circle

Farmers Market Every Saturday

Wow! What a difference a week makes.  Last Saturday there were two blocks of vendors on the street.  This time, the farmers market was quadrupled due to sunshine and warmer temperatures.

Saint Armands Circle is a one-of-a-kind place for shopping and dining.There are more than 140 boutiques, restaurants, galleries and speciality shops.

World Renowned Sangria and 1905 Salad

John Ringling

Circus Ring of Fame

There are 33 statues throughout St Armands, 16 of which were purchased by John Ringling in the 1920s.  It was his desire to bring culture and art to the city of Sarasota. While this area is already usually bustling, the day we went there was an art show underway.  Parking was at a premium and there were people everywhere! Three hour parking and they were issuing parking tickets. Sorry John!

Classically Designed Statues

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!

Respect, Love and Sanctuary

The buildings look like they need a fresh coat of paint. And it's not a flashy attraction.  In fact, they have porta-pots for the visitors.  But hey, where else can you hand feed a tiger?

Kay Rosaire began rescuing big cats in 1987. She founded the Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary to educate the public by fostering an appreciation for these animals.

Lions

And Tigers

Buck, The Grizzly Bear, from Dr. Doolittle

I Hand Fed a Tiger

Athena and Kay Rosaire

Kay Rosaire's family and volunteers are dedicated to these beautiful animals. Although Kay is trying to retire from the ring, she was called on to perform with the cats as her son was ill.  She has worked with exotic animals for over 30 years. Her educational demonstration proved she is extremely knowledgable about each animal.

Banana Tree

They also have lemurs, primates, birds, camels, zebra, llamas and a petting area for children.

Wombat

It appears all of the animals are very well taken care of and, most of all, they seem happy and healthy. The Rosaire family devotes their lives to caring for these beautiful animals.

Spiny Turtle from South Africa

Also Fed the Grizzly Bear

We had a "lupper" (lunch/supper combination) at Der Dutchman for Amish kitchen cooking. It's a huge gathering place that offers dining, a bakery, and gift shop.

A Delicious Taste of Amish Country

Following our dining experience, we headed to Lido Beach for a romantic sunset walk.  While we were excited to find some sand dollars on the beach, it was rather chilly and breezy for our sunset walk.

Sand dollars live on sandy or muddy flat areas of the ocean floor in shallow water near land. They often live in colonies.

The spine of a live sand dollar is covered with small hairs called cilla. By moving the cilla and spine, sand dollars are able to move across the sea beds in which they live.  As sand dollars have few predators, they can live up to ten years. 

If you find a sand dollar that is brownish and covered with short, dark, fur-like spines, the animal is alive and should not be removed from the beach. Please only remove sun-bleached skeletons.

Lido Beach Friends

Mote Research Laboratory and Aquarium

The Mote Aquarium opened in 1980 to showcase its marine research in Sarasota, FL. The Mote Marine Laboratory is an independent, nonprofit organization with its research funded through grants, foundations and public donations. It's vastly different from other aquariums we have visited in the past. There are many docents who have a wealth of information and explanations about the marine life.

The aquarium has many fish, seahorse, manatees, jellyfish, sharks, turtles, etc.as well as sensory areas to touch things like sea cucumbers, tiny sharks, starfish and stingrays. They currently don't have a dolphins exhibit as one died suddenly in 2015.  However, they will soon be opening an otter exhibit. 

Coral, the Rain Forest of the Ocean

Nurse Sharks

There is a 135,000 gallon shark tank where nurse sharks, sand sharks, tarpon, rays, two gigantic groupers, sardines, and a variety of fish all co-exist together.

Manatee Eating Romaine Lettuce

Hugh and Buffet are the resident manatees.

Stingray

You can be intimate with sting rays in a hands on touch pool.

Plenty to "Sea"

The lionfish is a popular aquarium fish that was accidentally introduced to the Caribbean and eastern seaboard in the 1990s. This beautiful non-native fish has no known natural predators and ecologists are concerned the lionfish could have an impact on native reef fish and the natural balance of the reef ecosystem.

A Lionfish Invasion

While there, I stepped into the Hurricane Simulator to experience the high winds of a hurricane. The wind only got up to 78 mph and my breath was not taken away and I was not swaying.  Wow, imagine the winds sustained when professional weathermen do live broadcasts in a hurricane.

Need More Wind

The Wind Machine

There is also a 25' giant squid specimen named Molly Mollusk and
a sea turtle exhibit.

Enjoying Nilla Killas At Dry Dock Grill on Longboat Key

Guess We'll Leave It Here

Palmetto to Long Boat Key

Spent an Afternoon with Cindy and Dan 

We planned a visit to see Cindy and Dan in Palmetto.  They gave us the grand tour and lots of information about the area. We drove out to Anna Maria Island, a quaint Barrier Island that is seven miles long in the Gulf of Mexico.  The beautiful turquoise water and the white sandy beaches are the main attraction.There are no high rise buildings or chain hotels or restaurants   It's a place where "old" Florida charm can still be found. The speed limit never exceeds 35 mph and flip flops are a way of  life here.

Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant and Pub has Old Florida Feel

The theme and style of the restaurant where we had lunch was an old fish camp. We chose to dine al fresco under the trees and canopy overlooking the Gulf of Mexico despite the persistent rain.

Long Boat Key / Gulf of Mexico

Residents of Long Boat Key are crying fowl about the number of peacocks on the north end of the Key.  They're pretty to look at but they have become quite a nuisance. They are loud and messy and there are too many, probably more than 100 peacocks and peahens.  The plan is to reduce their numbers by entrapment and removal but since Longboat Key is a sanctuary and they are protected, they will multiply again over time.

The Big Smooch

We drove by the 27 foot statue commemorating a famous World War II photo of a sailor and nurse kissing in Times Square at the end of the war. The original statue, named "Unconditional Surrender, was first installed in Sarasota, FL,then moved to San Diego, CA and New York City, NY.

Just a few years ago, some lady in a Mercedes crashed into the statue and it cost $125K to ship it to New Jersey for repairs, return it and reassemble it here in Sarasota.

Siesta Key Beach

Flour-Soft Sand on the Warm Gulf Waters

Siesta Key Beach is ranked the No.1 beach in America. The sand on Siesta Key Public Beach is 99% quartz, so soft and pure it squeaks when you walk on it.

Another Day Shelling

Siesta Key's beach is getting a facelift.  The County is spending $21.4 million on expanding the parking lot, restoring its historic pavilion, and building a two-story concession stand.

LeRoy Said FRENCH Beach, not AMISH Beach!

Once the Clouds Moved Out, It Was A Beautiful Day on the Beach

Livin' On Tiki Time

Siesta Key is so laid back it could be the setting for a Jimmy Buffett song.

Ringling Brothers Circus

The Ringling Museum of the American Circus was established in 1948, the first to document the history of the circus.

Ca'd'Zan Mansion - Winter Residence of John and Mabel Ringling

John and Mable Ringling decided to build a new home in the Sarasota area. They wanted their mansion in the Venetian Gothic style.  It was begun in 1924 and completed in 1925 at a cos of $1.5 million.  Today the construction would cos $20,9 million.  While the mansion was named Ca' d'Zan which means House of John, only Mrs. Ringling's name was on the blueprints. Mable supervised every aspect of the building down to the mixing of the terra cotta and glazing of tiles.

Looking Toward the Entrance Foyer

The Court Room held countess social events that included movie starts politicians circus impresarios, and friends and family. Much of the furniture was purchased at auction houses in New York. The crystal chandelier originally hung in the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

House Bell in Valet Room

The Ringlings had a staff of seven who all lived and worked onsite when they were in residence at
Ca' d'Zan. With 32 rooms in this mansion it was like being in the American version of Downton Abbey.

Historic Banyan Tree

John's Passion was Circus,
Mable's Passion was Roses

"The Wisconsin" Railroad Car

John and Mable Ringling travelled around the country in their own private luxurious railroad car looking for feature acts to keep filling the audience seats under the big top.  This was their first private car built in 1905 by the Pullman Company. It was named the Wisconsin to honor the state where the family lived and the circus was quartered. Built during the Golden Age of Rail Travel, it provides insight into the splendid accommodations enjoyed by the Ringlings and their guests.

The Greatest Show on Earth Mural

The Greatest Show on Earth mural depicts the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Show acts of the 1970s and 80s. It is a 924 sq. ft. mural that salutes acts including 45 performers and 45 animals.

Miniature Circus

Howard Tibbals fell in love with the circus as a boy and devoted his life to creating the miniature circus that is on display in the Tibbals Learning Canter. This miniature circus showcase was financed with $10.5 million of his own money.

Under the Miniature Big Top

Human Cannon Shooter

There is also a Ringling Museum of Art that features European, American and Asian art.