Thursday, January 28, 2010

Useppa Is to Sarasota, FL

Our most recent route and location:          Useppa to Venice and Sarasota

We had two great cruise days from Useppa to Sarasota with a stop in Venice.  Yesterday we had a really cool auto tour of Venice courtesy of Barbara Dien.  We've never been there before and found it to be a really neat place.  There are only 18,000 there year round and that triples in the winter--SNOWBIRDS!  Fantastic old spanish homes and tons of city parks--all part of a well-planned out city courtesy of John Nolen back in the early days.  Lots going on in Venice--concerts, symphony, and art galleries; and of course, all the water sports. 

After the tour, Bob joined us and we went out for "Tomato Pie:"  That's pizza to the folks in this town.  It was a wonderful, quiet evening with lots of laughs, good food and great company.  Thanks Barbara and Bob for being such great port captains and super friends.
Norm, Vicki, Bob and Barbara getting ready for "Tomato Pie".

Today, we cruised up to Sarasota.  We were originally going to anchor just off the Long Boat Key Inlet, but decided at the last minute to pull in here and check it out.  We took the dinghy down and went to town.  Sarasota's historic district, that is.  Again, lots of shops, sidewalk cafe's, and art galleries.  A bit bigger than Venice, of course.  Norm is a bit familiar with Sarasota because his parents retired here many years ago.  But, he says they did not spend much time in the city.  Anyway, just a short visit for us here because we'll be off to Apollo Beach tomorrow.  See ya later.

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