Another Successful Vacation Ends

My 2010 vacation to Sarasota has has ended, and I've just arrived back home. It was a great trip, and I'm glad I was able to see friends I hadn't seen in a long time. It was also very good to visit several of my favorite landmarks and attractions.

Many of the shots taken on this trip were 'remakes' of photos I'd made years ago on the film camera. Some of them, including the David photos, were deliberate, as I was attempting to get better quality images of the same subject matter. Others, though, were accidental, and I didn't notice how similar the shots were to previous photos until I was preparing them for posting to this blog.

At any rate, I was extremely pleased with how the photos turned out. The digital cameras I use allow me to photograph under conditions that would have been very difficult, if not impossible, using a film camera. Comparing these new photos to older ones will illustrate my point. The added benefit of not paying for film, processing and printing is also most welcome.

As a reminder, more information on places I've photographed can be found by following the links in the Landmarks I've Visited sections on the right-hand side of the blog.

Thanks for listening. And hey, why not take a vacation yourself?

Ringling Museum of Art

My last visit on this vacation is to the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, and it's another of those places I've been to many, many times.

The front of the Museum.

The main entrance.

The courtyard, taken from the west end facing east.

Facing west in the courtyard.

The famous bronze replica of the Statue of David.

Another view of the Statue.

Sculpture to the side of the statue.

A marble statue in the courtyard.

The following photos were taken inside the museum. They may be a bit grainy since they were taken with available light only.

Guptill House at Historic Spanish Point

The Guptill House at Historic Spanish Point is a destination in it's own right. More information can be found clicking the link to Historic Spanish Point in the Florida Landmarks I've Visited section.

The Guptill House with early morning sun in front of me.

The Guptill House.

Just inside the front door.

Fireplace and Piano in the front room.

Corner table in the front room.

Downstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom 2.

Upstairs bedroom 2.

Upstairs bedroom 2.

Historic Spanish Point

I have certainly revisited many of my favorite Florida places on this vacation, and this morning is no different. First thing today I headed just south of Sarasota to Osprey, Florida, to see Historic Spanish Point. HSP is another one of those places I've probably been to more than ten times.

Site map at the visitor's center.

The visitor's center at the old Osprey School.

Mary's Chapel and Pioneer Cemetery.

The White Cottage.

Duchene Lawn and Classic Portal.

A very tall Washingtonian Palm.

Looking toward the sunken garden from the White Cottage.

Bougainvillea on the pergola.

Top of a pergola column.

The pergola and sunken garden.

The sunken garden.

Sunken garden with the pergola in the background.

The pergola.

Another view of the pergola.

Ok, I like the pergola already!

This bougainvillea - certainly some of the brightest I've seen on this trip.

Back to Boca Grande

Another one of my favorite places to visit in Florida is the Boca Grande Lighthouse, so on a soggy Sunday morning, I hit the road and headed south.

Information board at the lighthouse. New since the last visit nine years ago.

The lighthouse, left, and the assistant lightkeeper's house, right.

The lighthouse.

Another view of the lighthouse.

Closer view of the light.

For the first time since my first visit over 20 years ago, park goers are able to access the lighthouse.

Beach driftwood.

Primitive sand sculpture (pun intended).

Natural beach art.

A pelican takes flight.

More beach art, this time featuring a coconut.

Foreboding skies just offshore.

Dunes and protective cover.

The old pier footings still stand, even after Charlie.

Another beach view.

Fellow visitors may notice a spot of sun in the background.

It pays to take heed.