I-75 from Naples to Miami just might be the longest straight-road I have every been on.
Over on the "East Coast" (Weston, Florida) at 11:
Getting the LAST parking spot at the Lowe Art Museum (Univ. of Miami):
I only took pictures of 3 pieces: Giovanni Paolo Panini - "A Capriccio of Classical Ruins with Christ Healing the Lame at the Pool of Bethesda", 18th century oil:
Dale Chihuly - "Yellow and Orange Persian Set with Cobalt Blue Lip Wrap", 1989 glass:
Dale Chihuly - "Mosaic Persian", 1998/2018 glass:
I was very disappointed with "the art on display". I realize that each institution can not possibly display Their Entire Collection, but pieces that are "Not on view' include
Albert Bierstadt ("Yosemite Valley, California", ca. 1863 and "Alpine Lake Vista with Figures", 1855)
William Bradford ("A Windy Day Off Newfoundland", ca. 1865)
Jasper Cropsey ("Spring Landscape", 1889)
Francesco Guardi ("The Church of Santa Maria della Salute", ca. 1750)
Claude Monet ("Waterloo Bridge", 1903)
Thomas Moran ("Grand Canal, Venice", 1900 oil - plus 3 etchings and 3 engravings)
I have been asked "Why don't you call ahead?" I think one reason is that I want to visit The Institution as an anonymous reviewer at a restaurant - let's see what they can do for an average visitor. Are they proud of their collection, and try to display as much as possible, or are they content to have blank walls while masterpieces lie dormant in their back closets. I love a picture I took at the New York Historical Society when Wendy and I visited in 2013:
I was looking for a painting by Thomas Hill - "View of the Yosemite Valley, in California", 1865 oil. Imagine my surprise when I saw it tucked away behind a bunch of furniture!!!
I realize that "my approach" sets me up for disappointment, but at this stage in my life I'm ok with that (maybe). Besides "seeing The Art", another objective is "just to get to The Museum" - can I drive there (are roads closed?)/what is parking like (in this case, I got the last open space)[I've had museums where I have had to park a few blocks away].
My December 2024 4-day trip to London was different - I knew that I would be drinking-in a tsunami of EXCELLENT art, and the only gallery that was in the least bit disappointing was The King's Gallery - I know it was "Drawing the Italian Renaissance" (drawings by The Masters), but I was hoping there might be some extras (a Canaletto or 2?). Before my trip, I had checked ALL the on-line resources, and I knew exacty what I was getting. From that point on, it was a matter of execution (I know I have to be careful using that term, given that English King Charles I was executed on January 30, 1649 in London).
Now is as good a time as any to discuss "driving in Florida" - it is awful. Because of their lack of topography, they do not have any over- or under-passes - all roads meet at intersections. In rural areas, planners deal with this by not doing anything (no signs or lights); in slightly denser areas, they put up Stop signs. In Metro Miami, they have traffic lights at EVERY BLOCK. There is no speeding, because the lights are SET AT RANDOM - if you speed through a Yellow light, you will have to stop at the next one - and the cars you left behind will catch-up with you. This means that the drive down Route 1 from the Lowe Art Museum to the Post Office in Key Largo (55 miles) took 2 hours 30 minutes instead of the 1 hour 15 minutes it is "supposed" to take.
Let's see - I've complained about The Museum, and about The Traffic - what else is there? Oh yeah - THE WEATHER!!! One reason you get Great Cloud Formations is that that is what happens after a torrential downpour (my fastest-wiper setting can BARELY keep up). With temps in the low 90s, storms happen each hour - the problem is that they DO NOT LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, they just momentarily reduce the humidity. And - it's THE HUMIDITY that is the worst part. For 90% of the day, if I roll down the window and put my hand out, it feels like I am putting my hand out "into something". This was true all the way down into Key West and all the way north until I left The State and crossed over into Georgia. It was very creepy. I had to drive with the windows rolled up, and although I had Great Music, I felt like I was in a video game, watching things change "outside" - not how I like to define "road trip". This is early-September, and I'm sure it is different in December/January/February (but I don't think I will be finding out anytime soon).
Which brings me to the rest of today. I was down on Key Largo at 2:40, and then just kept going down Route 1:
So, I'm starting to notice Highway Signs:
As if aware of my situation, the skies look "interesting":
Driving through Key West:
Getting a selfie at the 33040 - Key West, FL Post Office:
That was at 5:24, so I'm on-track. Rainstorms 10 minutes later means Cool Clouds and Rainbows:
I did want to make sure I was on the right road:
I made it up to Mile Marker 106 at 7:45 - Thank You God!
At 8:23 PM, I checked into the Travelodge, Florida City, Florida:
435 miles today (and 15 Post Offices) - This is what they looked like:
My favorite today is 33051 - Key Colony Beach, FL - I am a sucker for The Palm Trees:
Thank you God for another Great Day, with ALL its ADVENTURES!! I will not forget it anytime soon.
Music for today:
Gloria Estefan - The Very Best Of Gloria Estefan, 2006 compilation album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 7/16/2021 - Hey, I'm going to MIAMI!!!!
Jimmy Buffett - Banana Wind, 1996 album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 10/13/2023:
Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, 1995 double-album, last heard (on a Road Trip) 9/24/2023 - It sounds GREAT (plus, I don't have any "Miami Vice"):
Phil Collins - Face Value (cd1), 1981 debut solo album, last heard (on a Road Trip) never - 1st song - "In The Air Tonight" was on Miami Vice 1st episode Sept 16, 1984:
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