Santa Maria Restaurant is in the heart of St. Augustine. Every time I have visited the downtown area, there it is perched right out over the water. For some reason I really wanted to eat there so after many hints,  Jenn and Roberto returned there for my benefit and I am so glad they did. We had such a good time. It was a friendly place, full of fun and ambiance. I figured being right on the water, we should get some seafood – that it was bound to be fresh.

Was it ever! Don’t know why but with all the varieties of seafood I sure do have a penchant for catfish. Especially that day! We were lucky enough to get a table by a big window. Not only did this give us a bird’s eye view of the bridge and boats passing by, but looking down we also could see the water lapping up against the pilings holding us up.

Right on the ledge of the window were these cute little trap doors. The mystery of these was solved when our server brought this big basket of odds and ends bread. I thought I’ve never seen bread served like this before, until we were told it wasn’t for us; it was for the FISH. So here we are tossing bread out the trap doors by our table and when we looked down we saw hundreds of  hungry open-mouthed catfish staring back up at us, eating the bread faster than we could drop it. I could hardly believe how abundant they were.

Right then and there, I knew it would be catfish for me – again! I got this enormous amount of fish with really good fries, hush puppies and coleslaw, enough to eat my fill and with leftovers for lunch the next day.  (What else could I get as sides right? ) I washed it all down with a never empty glass of raspberry iced tea. Even though our family is really health food conscious 99.9% of the time, there are times when you just have to go for it. I went into a fried food and carb coma for a short time, but it was so worth it.

I stepped into the rainforest. Eager, anticipating what lie ahead. A shaft of sunlight found its way through the dense foliage and my eyes followed it to where it lighted – playing and dancing on the undergrowth beneath the trees and I followed it. Standing in the midst of green, surrounded and engulfed by it on all sides, I felt as a speck amongst the massive trees and plants. Standing there, adjusting to the seeming stillness, my eyes scanned my surroundings - looking and listening. This place, outwardly calm and quiet, was alive, and so, I sensed that I was not alone, yet not frightened by it. I heard quiet murmurings, felt slight movements of things yet unseen and, without feeling it a choice, was pulled along the path of discovery.

A whirring overhead, I looked up to see tiny birds flashing past from tree to tree, singing their song in their flight. There were turtles, sunning and splashing in the small pool of water up ahead and as I got closer and stepped onto the bridge I saw that there were fish, plentiful and golden, swimming along with the water’s flow. The rushing water lured me on till I came upon a larger pool tracing its source to a majestic waterfall. There, nestled among the trees and flanking the waterfall were orchids and other tropical flowers, a rainbow of color among the green. It was enchanting.

Knowing this was not all, I continued further still and came upon a banquet laid ready on a broad banana leaf – pineapple, mango, papaya. Who put it there and for whom? Pondering this thought, I clearly heard another, more recognizable sound. Man. Too far as yet, but knowing the deep timber of a man’s voice, I moved toward it and in the distance saw him - gesturing in conversation with someone. He was standing in front of what seemed to be a mesh box, the contents of which was causing some excitement. Just as I approached, his hand went to the latch and he lifted it to an explosion of color and movement as hundreds and hundreds of butterflies of every size and color were released. They flew with abandon in every direction – swirling, flitting, coming to rest all around me and gorging on the set out fruits.

Okay, it does sound somewhat like a contrived, formula paperback doesn’t it? But hey, it is after all my flight of fancy.

What is this place, this place that excites my imagination and feels my senses with nature’s delights!!

I wish I could tell you that it was in some remote, tropical mountain rainforest in the South Pacific. In reality I was a visitor at the Butterfly Rainforest in the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville’s University of Florida.

If you ever thought you would like to commune with nature and walk on the “wild side” in a Rainforest, and can’t quite yet trek to the real thing, why not do as I did and head up to the Butterfly Rainforest. It was actually very lovely. Yep, somewhat like I described above. But being a part of UF there is also an awesome educational component with the multiple labs in full view through large plate glass windows. These could be viewed as I meandered down the long hallway papered with pictures and mounted butterflies of every size an hue.

There is an admission fee which varies for children adults, and seniors but not more than to just go to the movies. I really recommend taking a look. As a matter of fact, the complex that houses this exhibit also boasts other natural history exhibits which are actually free and that I will definitely return to see. For more information, hours and directions click here to take a closer look.

Over the last number of months I have noticed that for those who can travel at the drop of a hat, there have been many almost too good to be true travel opportunities both here and abroad. I have been drooling over the many times I have seen enticing cruises or plane-hotel combinations that make me almost weep with longing to get on the road to strike while the iron is hot, to be cliché.

But now with the holidays around the bend, the holiday traveler is likely to see an increase in fares across the board. Many, like the 65% off packages at Sandals, which ads say expire at the end of October, or the wonderful trips and fares on Travelocity will tighten up as hordes of would be travelers realize that it is time to book for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As is always the case for holiday travel, book early. If you have not already made your plans, do it now. Not only will the prices spike, but with cutbacks there are fewer flights and fewer seats available. It may still not be too late to cash in on some of the bargains out there with hotels. We all know that prices are higher on certain days like weekends or on the cusp of Thanksgiving or Christmas. One way to cut down on the cost and to assure a reservation is to travel a few days before and after the actual holiday if your vacation time permits. It will not only be less expensive, but will not be such a hassle as you stand in shorter lines at check in.

With airlines now limiting baggage and charging for it, the trend is to bring carry on bags. On the positive side, this will save you some money, avoid having to stand in line at the baggage claim, and eliminate the worry about lost baggage due to heavy travel volume. On the down side, everyone else is doing this too and the overhead storage is often bulging and overfull. Plus, if it is Christmas and you usually pack all of your gifts, this will make a difference on how and what you bring. Think about that when you are out shopping. Also, there is the no gift wrapping thing to consider. Nothing would say bah humbug more than having your gift wrap removed for inspection!! Maybe with the economy so bad right now, you might rethink your family’s gift strategy and plan some group activities in lieu of consumer items this year.

When you are ready to travel, make sure you have tagged all of your luggage. I like to put the address inside the bag too just in case. Double check before you leave to see if your flight is on schedule. Weather conditions or just the fact that more people are traveling could cause delays. And don’t forget your tickets and passports if you are going abroad.

Getting to the airport early is a must during the holiday, especially if you need to use satellite parking. If possible, get a ride to the airport with a friend or shuttle service so you can be dropped off right at the check in area. This will save you time and money that would have had to be spent on parking your car there. Bring your own snacks too. I hear that some airlines are even charging for beverages now. If you usually rely on grabbing a bite at the airport remember it will be crowded.

With all of this you may be asking yourself if it is really worth all this fuss. Of course it is. A little advance organizing will make all the difference when you are on your way to Grandma’s.

Happy Holidays everyone.

Okay. Maybe when I tell you that I had a most yummy lunch at a place called the SWAMP, you might think that doesn’t sound like the nicest place that YOU might want to eat.

My friend Margaret and I wanted to leave Ocala for just a little while to see some new scenery so we trekked up about an hour to Gator country. Yes, I know that Florida is gator country but I’m talkin’ about THE Gator country. Anyone in the area who is a football fan will know immediately that I am talking about Gainesville, home of the famous UF Gators. The town itself is centered around the university and college life. It was a beautiful, sunny day and we had fun just driving around looking at the campus while we searched for a place to have lunch.

We finally spotted a pretty restaurant on a corner right on University Boulevard that looked like “the place”. It had an enclosed outdoor garden with umbrella-ed tables bordered by hibiscus and trees. We could watch the people going by or watch football on the giant outdoor screen right outside the door leading to the inside. There was also this very large gator on the sidelines that I kept my wary eye on!!

Inside it reminded one of a sports bar and while this was jumping, we opted for the restful ambiance of the outdoor garden and settled for a casual dining experience. While the menu offered some nice salad options and some fresh fish dishes that we considered (both of which we should have gone for as we both claim to be on a diet) we both gravitated to the turkey panini with spinach, tomatoes and a gooey cheese along with a side of sweet potato fries. The serving was so plentiful that I brought half home to have for lunch the next day. All I can say, keeping in the vernacular of the Swamp, is CHOMP, CHOMP- good.

It is the middle of flu season and you want to go on a trip. What is a person to do? How can you risk travel when germs are running amok for the next few months? Or you have just won a trip to a remote international destination-what happens if you get sick when you’re there, or better yet, how can you prevent getting sick in the first place?

Travelers often find themselves worrying about heath issues surrounding travel. So, are there just some basic rules or tips to stay healthy during travel ?

 While this list seems long and maybe even a little daunting, you know what they say about an ounce of prevention. Here are some basic preventative things I have learned from experience or from other travelers that you most likely know but that bear repeating. Hopefully, some of these will remind you of a few things that may make sense for you to make your travel a little more comfortable and healthy.  I am not a medical person, so if you are geting ready to embark on a trip, I ask that you check in with your physician for medical advice.

Granted one of the biggest cesspools of germs would likely be in a contained place where the air isn’t exchanged –like an airplane. There you are seated next to a sneezy, coughy, drippy nosed passenger. How do you protect yourself?

When you know you are going on a trip, start preparing weeks-even a month in some cases- ahead of time. Plan on getting plenty of rest and make sure to take your vitamins, especially vitamin C. It might be worth a quick trip or call to your doctor if you have any conditions that need some special attention – if you are pregnant, elderly with blood clotting problems, heart or respiratory conditions, or have had a recent surgery - just to make sure you are cleared for travel. Ask if there are any other medications you might need for your particular destination. Most likely, there will be no issues, but the doctor might offer you some preventative measures that would be helpful.

During your flight stay hydrated with water. Believe it or not, it is said that staying hydrated will even help with jet lag. Better to skip the alcohol and watch the caffeine in coffee or sodas. Make sure to wash you hands often or use a hand sanitizer. This is good advice always, not just on planes. When you can, request an aisle seat so that you can stretch those legs and even get up to walk a bit when possible. If it is not possible to sit on an aisle, try not to cross your legs and try to do some stretches. Same goes for a bus or a train. This is especially important on long flights to keep your blood circulating.

If your ears seem to “pop” when you are taking off or landing due to changing altitudes, try to yawn or chew some gum.

Make sure your immunizations are current during the flu season especially. If you are seated in proximity to someone who is obviously or potentially infected with something contagious, request to be moved at least a few rows away to minimize your risk of contracting their illness.

For comforts sake wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes and use a nice lotion to keep your skin from getting too dry. Those who wear contact lens might want to pack them and use eyeglasses on the flight.

Some final thoughts. If you do take prescription medications, pack them in your carry on bag to insure that you would have them handy should your luggage be waylaid. Make sure you take enough to last for the whole trip. You might also want to take along a copy of the prescription just in case. Anyone with a condition that could flair up while away should think about including that information on you person should an emergency arise. If you have health insurance, check in with them to see if they will cover you abroad. If they don’t you may want to plan for how you would get some coverage while you are away. Lastly, if you are leaving the little ones behind, make sure you leave all of your contact information. On a trip I took when Jenn was just a toddler, I left a medical power of attorney with my parents just in case, along with the phone numbers and directions for the pediatrician and hospital.

I suggest that you check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention link before you travel to international places to get information of required vaccinations and other really useful and important information.  I just heard on ABC World News today that some highly populated places like Tokyo require travelers to bring with them a document proving they are in good health to enter as worries of the Swine Flu spread. 

Once you have thought through these precautionary tips, you can rest easy and travel knowing that you are well prepared to have a worry free and healthy trip!

Nestled along East Silver Springs Boulevard is The Ocala Civic Theatre. While, I have always enjoyed theatre up North in the DC area, I thought that was one bit of culture that I would have to forgo moving to Ocala, unless I wanted to travel to one of the other larger areas. To my surprise and delight, The Ocala Civic Theatre not only turns out polished, professional productions, it is the second largest in the state.

Recently, I was treated to a production of The Wizard of Oz and was curious as to how a small company could stage such an ambitious show. It was top notch. The sets and staging were imaginative, the special effects were outstanding and the cast blew me away. It was one of the best shows I have seen anywhere.

The theatre’s playbill offers drama, comedy and musicals for both the young and the old. If you have an interest in working behind the scenes, I would suggest linnking to their website for special events, audition information, and educational or volunteer opportunities.   I will definitely go back again and again.

For being a small town, Ocala has a rich, vibrant cultural tapestry. What a surprise I had when I first discovered the Appleton Museum of Art  just off East Silver Springs Boulevard.

As you approach the museum from the parking area, your sight follows the length of a long pool which leads to a bubbling fountain that becomes the focal point further drawing your eyes to the wall of glass that forms the gallery’s entrance. The openness of the space and light that pours in from the front make it quite a happy place to be and sets the mind to wondering what treasures lie ahead.

I have had the pleasure of visiting there 4 times and each time I felt enriched by the experience. The first time I went was to just look around. There was a featured exhibit of paintings that brought me there, but what I found were also sculptures and other exhibits of historical significance that delighted the senses and challenged the mind.

I have also visited on a Mother’s Day with my daughter Jenn for a High Tea in the solarium followed by our viewing an exquisite collection of Princess Diana’s gowns there for the benefit of Breast Cancer. And on another occasion a friend and I were entertained with Salsa music at the outdoor courtyard after dining on a themed dinner in the solarium. This was part of the always popular Appleton After Hours series. My last trip was to take my visiting cousin who has a background in art to show off the Appleton. After touring the galleries, we had hot chocolate at a quiet table for two in the front foyer that borders the Museum shop. Did you know that the Appleton boasts the one and only escalator in Ocala?

In addition to the art, the Appleton offers a wide array of services, ranging from special family events and exhibits, trips and tours to other notable museums and venues, volunteer opportunities, and even space for private parties or events.

We are lucky to have such a notable place in Ocala.

After my little introduction to Ocala last post, I decided to take you around town and spotlight some of the fun and diverse places of interest.

When I first moved here about three years ago, I found a lovely park not very far from my new home. One of my nieces was getting ready for marriage and was looking at some options for an outdoor wedding in a park or garden setting. She invited me to join her to take a look at Sholom Park where we are going to visit today.

This is a place unlike any parks I have visited because it is devoted and designed to be a place of peace. Winding through the maze of paths, there is nothing to disturb you but the trickle of fountains or the running water under foot bridges and the trill of birds. Even the people who frequent the park do so with a respect for the place and for other visitors. On my walk there this afternoon, I encountered a couple resting on a sunny spot of grass, a woman taking her leisure on one of the many benches under a tree reading a book, and a family with two small children tossing a ball. Sound idyllic? Well, it is. Ever time I visit there, no matter how harried I am on the way in, I always leave calmer than when I entered.

Among the pathways, you will see an abundance of flowers, trees and plants which seem to change color and shape from season to season and look as though they just grew there.

Come on, walk with me and as we take a pictorial stroll though the park.

This is a lovely, classically inspired shelter that serves as our starting point. Here we can have a cool drink of water or pick up a map of the grounds and gardens. When my niece thought of using Sholom Park as a wedding venue, we thought this might have been a great place to welcome guests with a prenuptial beverage.

If you want to feed the koi, step into this pavilion where you can look over the rail down into the pond and not only see the koi, but turtles! The fountain lends a lovely ambiance which is so calming.

Everything is natural and the planners certainly made use of plant materials in interesting ways. Look at the imprints of palm fronds and leaves on the trails.

Now, this is the place where the bride and groom could vow their undying love. It looks like a chapel, has lots of benches inside and has a tree and flower bordered “aisle” any bride would love to walk down.

After we pass an outdoor stage where I could just imagine music being played under the stars, we next pass through gates to a part of the park that I think is my favorite. The meditation garden, or The Labyrinth as it is called, is just ahead through this vine covered trellis. In the summer it is covered with roses. Here we can wind through the maze-like path, stopping at each of the 26 plackets that lead us through mindful meditations. Linger here awhile and see what you can learn about your inner self.

So, here we are, back where we started. I hope you enjoyed our walk. Whether you stay for a brief stroll through part of the 44 acres, stay for a picnic, come for a quiet place to read a book or do the meditation, I hope if you are nearby you will come again. Meanwhile, Sholom.

To a quick passerby traveling through, Ocala might look like a sleepy, little town. In fact, some even go so far as to call it Slowcala. That may be true if one compares it to a bustling, big city. But let’s take a closer look.

When I think back to the Washington DC area from where I moved almost 3 years ago and look at why I left, I find the quiet, small town feel just what I was looking for with its rolling green pastures, stately oak trees dripping Spanish moss combined with swaying palm trees, fragrant jasmine, colorful hibiscus, two lane roads with little traffic, and a temperate climate.

Maybe one could call a place like this sleepy. Yet, you might just be surprised at what Ocala offers. It is a satisfying blend of culture, dining, and recreational gems. But the one thing that Ocala is best known for is that it is horse country and that is what I will be focusing on for this look at Ocala.

My attention was first brought to Ocala, when my brother and his family moved here from Pennsylvania to a small horse farm, bringing along their horses. They had Appaloosas and my nieces used to train and compete in some of the biggest National Horse Shows. That was how I first heard about Ocala and began learning what a big industry horses is and particularly how well Ocala is regarded for it.

Called the Horse Capital of the world, you can hardly go anywhere without seeing horses from running or grazing on a pasture to leading a carriage ride through the country side. People fly in from all over the world to buy millions of dollars worth of horses at auction at the OBS (Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company). If you look at the Ocala Marion County Chamber of Commerce, it will tell you that there are over 200 farms and places to train and breed horses, that you could find over 50 different breeds of horses and that almost 29,000 are employed in some facet of the Thoroughbred industry in Marion County. Many Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders Cups winners hail from right here.

 I haven’t been to all of the horse related events yet, but I did go to the Florida Carriage Museum to watch my niece Kimberly compete in some Special Olympic Equine Events and we are really proud of her accomplishments. The facility was just beautiful. Besides a really cool carriage display in the museum, it has 10 barns that were spotless and are used as an Equine “Bed and Barn”.

There are some major horse events held annually right in Ocala. Whether you are a competitor, local or international or a spectator there are equine events to satisfy the most discriminating tastes from polo to rodeos to world class horse shows and competitions. Maybe instead of “Slowcala” we may want to call it “Whoacala” !!!! Happy trails.

Here are some links if you would like to learn more about the places and events they hold.

Florida Horse Park

HITS The Horse Show in the Sun

Florida Carriage Museum and Resort

Riding Trails

OBS

Horse and Carriage Tours

(Jenn on Black Mesa, ca. 1998)

November 21-28, 2009

Greetings from Black Mesa Indigenous Support,

We are excited to inform you that a caravan of work crews will once again be converging from across the country in support of residents of the Big Mountain regions of Black Mesa. On behalf of their peoples, their sacred ancestral lands and future generations, these communities continue to carry out a staunch resistance to the efforts of the US Government, which is acting in the interests of the Peabody Coal Company, to devastate whole communities and ecosystems and greatly de-stabilize our planet’s climate for the profit of an elite few.

By assisting with direct, on-land projects you are helping families stay on their ancestral homelands in resistance to an illegal occupation and working for climate justice. These communities serve as the very blockade to coal mining! More than 14,000 Dine’ people have been forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands due to spin created by the U.S government & Peabody Coal, under the guise of the so-called “Navajo-Hopi Land Dispute.” Families are now in their THIRD DECADE resisting this travesty and, as you can imagine, many residents are very elderly and winters can be rough. With their guidance, the aim of this caravan is to honor the elders and to generate support in the form of direct, on-land support: chopping and hauling firewood, doing minor repair work, offering holistic health care, and sheep-herding before the approaching cold winter months arrive.

“The Big Mountain matriarchal leaders always believed that resisting forced relocation will eventually benefit all ecological systems, including the human race,” says Bahe Keediniihii, Dineh organizer and translator. “Continued residency by families throughout the Big Mountain region has a significant role in the intervention of Peabody’s future plan for Black Mesa coal to be the major source of unsustainable energy, the growing dependency on fossil fuel, and escalating green house gas emissions. We will continue to fight to defend our homelands.”