Indy Stretching

Cmon! Could you have resisted this shot? It's so... American. Check out my sneakers. And shorts. Even if it is summer. Even if I did walk around for four or so hours. Maybe I'm just about ready to lean in and leap over some obstacle. A gate. A hurdle. I'm so, casual. Against bricks and bars. I'm so, optimistic.

Good Morning Indianapolis!

There are so many benefits to rising early in the city. I spent an entire morning roaming the streets of downtown Indianapolis on foot. I got to watch the city wake up. People trickling in to work. Sleepy, empty streets. Lots of hands holding coffee cups. But the best sights are the shadows. And the sun filtering through all kinds of obstacles, creating all kinds of distracting light and color combinations.

Early morning is distrustful too. If you are not obviously heading to work, and are equally obviously not loitering, then you are out of place. And I was. What tourist meanders at 7:30am? Me. It keeps me alert.

Up for sake anyone?

We had the distinct pleasure of checking out Sushi Shoya, a restaurant in Madeira Beach. Guess what I drank with my sushi dinner? Sake. Not the traditional kind, but the popular kind. The kind that populates the windowsill so very cleverly and colorfully. Yum! Yum! I truly believe we will find ourselves there again. The food was delicious and the service ever so helpful and polite. So right.

Palm Tree Perceptions

As if it wasn't already fun enough to view cartoon-like building reflections, Florida goes on and throws in colorful facades and perky palms!

Historic Rain

Florida rain is dramatic and unapologetic. It comes down so hard, it's practically like driving through a car wash, which is convenient during love bug season. But when you have visitors from out of town, rain becomes a thankless inconvenience. Yet, with a little planning and a bit of luck, it can become a beautiful diversion - especially if you encourage your guests to indulge in some Tampa Bay history and traipse through the Tampa Bay History Center during the downpour.

I love, love, love the way they create exhibits at museums these days. Things to do, fun ways of looking at things and life-size replicas all make it so entertaining that one forgets there is learning happening. Having been through the museum before, we sat at the cafe and watched the rain over coffee and cappuccino. As the sun began peeking, the colors began singing and we put our feet to work once more.

Picnic Perfection

What should you do when your family comes for a visit and the Indianapolis sun decides to join in? If you are the consummate host, you have a picnic! We lounged around, talking, eating yummy food from the grille and luxuriating in the backyard tropical oasis. Ahhh.

Flight Risk

I enjoy stairs. And stairwells. Our condo building was having the elevator repaired. It took days. Some in our building are less able than others to climb up and down stairs. So they put chairs on each landing. The chairs lingered. I lingered. Now you can linger.