{Columbus Day and Saint Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida}

Columbus came to the New World on October 12, 1492

All over the beautiful State of Florida you find lots of historic markers about this early Spanish era.

As both of us LOVE HISTORY, it is always a treat to be in such places.

Our dear friends Jo and Dennis recommended all this to us, they've had their business right there.

These photos are all taken at Saint Armands Circle in Sarasota, Florida on June 30.

The only problem was that the sun was so bright; difficult for taking photos!
Here I am standing next to one of the 21 classically-themed white marble statues, inspired by the Italian Renaissance cities.

Haha, usually I don't leave the head off, but it was impossible to focus...

This is what you get!

At least, looking down proved to be without any problems and here you can see clearly the CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS QUINCENTENNIAL 1492 - 1992 marker

Lovely presence at this park.

So here it is:

Saint Armands Circle

Acknowledged as the Nation's Number One Tourist Destination...

St. Armands Cir.

Yes, it is an absolute beautiful place to stroll through the exotic park.

Have lunch or dinner  at one of the many restaurants, as we did have lunch at the famous and historic Columbia Restaurant since 1905, see link below post.

Or stroll and shop at the many shops...

Really, the SKY is the limit here and it is a blue sky almost year round!

Such an exotic, almost tropical looking place!

Husband Pieter is taking it all in...

What a beauty this GOLDEN SHOWER TREE or Cassia fistula a.k.a. Yellow Shower Tree, Indian Laburnum is!

Frankly, I just have to admit that it was HARD to leave this place behind...

Husband Pieter walking towards our Murano Platinum, kind of heavy hearted.

But we will be back!

Indeed, JOHN RINGLING (Yes, from the Ringling Brothers Circus!) had some vision and later St. Armands Key resident Edward Pinto.

We owe them a lot of gratitude for creating such incredible ambiance.

Yes, we also have to visit The Ringling Museum of Art one day...

Lots of reasons for being back here many more times!

Hope you enjoyed this mini introduction.

Thanks for your visit!

Related link:

{Columbia Restaurant since 1905 in Sarasota, Florida} | previous post by me about St. Armands Circle

{Award Nights at Hyatt Regency in Sarasota, Florida} | previous post by me where we stayed...

{Fond Memories of Mom with us in the Eifel, Germany}

Mom & Dad always have worked really hard together in their greenhouses.

Most crops needed harvesting during the peak of summer, so needless to say that they never could have a real VACATION...

Dad was even pulling back from his Sunday visits to his Mother's place, as all his brothers and sisters only talked about their recent vacation trips...

So during my 12.5 years of marriage to my late 1st husband, I've helped Mom & Dad out during my vacation weeks; harvesting gherkins or tomatoes in the greenhouses with them.

We also did plan every summer a day-trip to the beautiful Michelsberg area in the Eiffel, Germany.

Mom looking oh so happy here on October 2, 1976, together with Dad.

Having been just back to The Netherlands, for the 65th time, not having Mom around did feel a bit odd.

Also being once more in the beautiful Eifel, Germany area, did bring back lots of fond memories of time shared with Mom & Dad.

So happy for having still some photos, not good quality but they did capture the joy of the moment very well!

This is from the summer of 1975 near the Michelsberg (Eifel) and also called the Ahr Hills.

You can click on the hyperlinks in pink for finding out more about this beautiful low mountain range and volcanic plateau, where even Julias Cesar left his marks in 54 B.C.

Lots of Roman artifacts are still to be seen in the Bad Münstereifel area.

Well, my connection with this beautiful area is because my late husband's Mother came from there, so I've been visiting it now for almost half a century and still love it very much!

Hope you enjoyed my sentiments of going back into the footsteps of my dear Mom...

1060 times her footsteps have been viewed...

Thanks for your visit!

{Columbia Restaurant since 1905 in Sarasota, Florida}

Back to Florida again, to June 30, when we enjoyed a special lunch at the famous and historic Columbia Restaurant since 1905 in Sarasota, Florida.

Our dear friends Jo and Dennis did recommend this to us...

Alongside Beautiful St. Armands Circle in Sarasota you find this gem...

The setting is very tropical with a covered patio.

We both LOVE history and if you can experience such a historic gem of a Spanish Restaurant - we are game!

We're so fortunate for having dear friends that used to have their business at St. Armands Circle and they sure did tip us!

It seems that the Columbia Restaurant in Tampa's Ybor City is the oldest one of their chain.

In 1905, Casimiro Hernandez, Sr. the great-grandfather of this family business, immigrated to Tampa's Ybor City from Cuba and opened a small café called Columbia Café. 

You can read the history here above...

So I had to have the Ensalada, Columbia's Original '1905' Salad

As for me, I opted for the Columbia Original '1905' Salad with Shrimp 'Al Ajillo' (Cuban Garlic Shrimps) and Pieter had the one with Turkey.

There are now 7 locations all over Florida...

We did enjoy our lunch on the patio, partially in the sun.

For sure we will be back on a next trip as we loved this place!

Thanks for your visit!