For several decades we do have special Friends in Lakeland, Florida.
They used to live right here in Dublin, Georgia...
But the distance never kept us away from each other!
This meant 691.4 km or 429.4 mi.
Putting the nose of our Infiniti QX50 Southbound and off we went.
Only 5 hours and 55 minutes later, we arrived at our Hyatt Place in Lakeland!
Next day on a Sunday, our Friends came to pick us up in the afternoon.
A little sight seeing and also a visit to the Polk Museum of Art; very interesting!
We were impressed by the life sized images by Peter Menzel, who visited various cultures around the world. Visiting thirty different countries and staying for one week with each family.
Menzel photographed these families outside of their homes, along with all of their possessions.
Also with the entire ingredients for the food they lived on for one week, with their families...
Quite an eye opener!
There also is a book: MATERIAL WORLD: A GLOBAL FAMILY PORTRAIT
We went to their home and there was supposed to be a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center, which is visible from their back yard.
But it never happened...
We went together to a Thai restaurant for a fun supper together as friends.
A very happy Sunday afternoon!
Previous post: {Dinner with Friends in Lakeland, Florida}
On February 22, 2017, we stayed at the Hyatt Place Fort Meyers, Florida and from there we visited our friends' Parents in Sebring.
We all met at their home, except for Roman's wife who had to work.
So glad we literally went the extra mile these two days, for driving from Dublin to Fort Meyers those 815 km or 506 mi. Just for staying three nights, to visit our dear friends.
Mother Yolanda was in hospice and she passed away on May 31, 2017.
E'bello incontrare gli amici che ti fanno conoscere posti nuovi.Ciao
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteSempre una sorpresa per scoprire cose nuove insieme a ottimi amici!
Abbracci,
Mariette
I just remembered an old poem. As T.S. Eliot says, you were in happiness of "mixing memory and desire": good memories of good friends and big desire to have hot and tasty tropical foods. Nice weekend to you and your friends.
ReplyDeleteDearest RTC,
DeleteGuess you're right in that of mixing memory and desire.
Both of us have had the best time of our life while living and working in Asia!
Experiencing this together with some special friends was wonderful.
Hugs,
Mariette
Amazing ... 429 miles in 6 hours. From London to Edinburgh is 402 miles and that can take 8 to 9 hours. Enjoy your holiday.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYes, that was a very smooth ride, almost all Interstate I must say though!
We sure did enjoy our time in Florida.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, How nice to visit close friends, although a five-hour drive might make me think about the advantages of a Zoom call! I looked up Mr. Menzel's photography. If he came to my place during a typical week, I think he would end up with a very boring photograph.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteWell, a Zoom call can never replace a good hug and a meal shared together!
Those photographs were quite interesting and for having to bring out your furniture into the outdoors and capturing it on photo would be quite something. We would not be able to handle all the heavy oak...đ
Hugs,
Mariette
Staying in touch, close and personal, is the antidote for Covid fatigue!!
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteAMEN to that and both of us are not the type for letting anyone dictate us how to LIVE, LOVE and SURVIVE!
Hugs,
Mariette
Wonderful to travel between somewhere.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, it sure is and even more so for meeting dear Friends.
Hugs,
Mariette
May You Two Hit The Open Road Again Sometime Soon - Enjoy Your Weekend My Friend
ReplyDeleteBig Hugs,
Cheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteYou bet we will! On two wheels also very soon...đ
Hugs,
Mariette
Un poco de turismo, es lo que quiero hacer ahora, llevo un poco tiempo sin viajar.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida AntĂłnia,
DeleteHasta ahora hemos tenido suerte dentro de los Estados Unidos. ¡Espero que pronto disfrutes de algunos viajes!
Abrazos,
Mariette
Okay that’s a fun app…and sounds like you had a nice visit !
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteLOVE this app as it makes your trips come so much more to life!
Oh, the visit was so very special.
Hugs,
Mariette
A trip that once would have taken a bloody lot longer
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteBefore the Interstate it would have been nearly impossible to travel that far south.
Hugs,
Mariette
It is very important to maintain friendships even when people distance themselves.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteYou are so right about that!
Already in January 2015 I wrote a post about that:h ttps://mariettesbacktobasics.blogspot.com/2015/01/make-friends-live-longer.html
Hugs,
Mariette