(Re)Introduction

For the vast majority of my life, I had been able to tell people that, yes, I've been to Florida.  But if asked to share about what it was like to be there, I would respond that I had no idea.  I imagine few, if any, of us, myself included, remember anything about what happened in our lives when we were 1 year old, and that's when I made my first trip to Florida, where my family took in the major Orlando attractions like Disney World and Seaworld.  Fortunately, there are plenty of photos available to document all the fun I had with my family, as you can see below in the pictures, most likely taken by my parents.

Here I am with my Dad and older brother Eric, who appears to the far left, meeting Mickey. Mouse  I was clearly too young to understand that I was meeting one of the most famous figures in the entertainment industry.

My Mom and I are posing with Pluto.

Mom and I are posing with Shamu, the Seaworld orca killer whale mascot.  How interesting that like in the other two pictures above this one, I, surely typical of a 1-year-old, am reaching out to touch all these figures.

So while I had been to Florida, it largely remained a figment of my imagination--until recently.

My brother and sister-in-law, who married back in August, planned a celebration of their marriage in Ormond Beach, where some of her relatives live, a town just to the north of Daytona Beach.  A big occasion as this gave me the reason to travel to Florida, and come back with conscious memories of it.

I started this wonderful trip in fine style by heading to Chicago Union Station on the evening of Tuesday, January 10, 2017, to board Amtrak's Capitol Limited route to Washington, D.C., the 7th time I've ridden this route, more than any other Amtrak route, reinforcing a record I already set some time ago.  It was also the only time during my travels I boarded an Amtrak train at its route's origin station.  The following morning, I enjoyed lovely views of the Appalachian highlands.  That afternoon, upon arrival in Washington, D.C., I had a layover of a couple of hours before my next train, and I used the time to visit the National Archives to see the Charters of Freedom, as well as a 1297 copy of the Magna Carta.

I also visited the US Botanic Garden, which is a fabulous spot near the US Capitol, which I only learned about recently.

This view is from the canopy catwalk above the Tropics space at the U.S. Botanic Garden.
Please note that unless otherwise noted, all pictures that appear in this blog post are ones I took myself, in a collection of about 778 photos total, probably more than I've ever taken in a single trip.

Seeing all the lush tropical plants certainly geared me up for heading to Florida, as did the mild conditions while I was walking around.

While walking back to Washington, D.C., Union Station, I got pictures of the set-up for the Presidential Inauguration ceremony, which would occur the following week.

Then, for the first time ever, I boarded Amtrak's Silver Star route.  Adding to the excitement was looking around at the tags above other passengers' seats noting their destinations, which made me think about how delightful it was to be headed to Florida.

After emerging from a tunnel underneath the US Capitol Complex, there were fantastic views of the National Mall, and then a few-second glance of the Pentagon upon crossing to the other side of the Potomac, before heading through the Virginia W.D.C. suburbs.  There were some other nice places we passed through in Virginia, like Ashland, where the train passed through the town snugly next to the lanes of traffic in what appeared to be its main drag.  I also liked using Amtrak's Wifi service, with my brand new laptop computer that I received as a Nativity gift.  During the night, the train passed through the Carolinas, including the state capital cities of Raleigh and Columbia.

Early the next morning, on Thursday, January 12, I encountered my first conscious memory of Florida, as we passed through the northeastern part of the state, before reaching the first Florida station stop in Jacksonville, where I stepped off to stretch my legs, as the first light of day started to appear (please see picture below, with the incipient daylight appearing to the right).

We continued along past tall stands of trees, with commercial fern farms beyond the tracks around Pierson, as I read in the Amtrak Route Guide for the Silver Service.  In my seat by the window, I felt the sun shine on me so brilliantly and warmly.

This picture of me the Silver Star train, basking in the Florida sunshine, was taken by the woman sitting next to me, Nicki--sorry if I misspelled--and to the best of my memory, it was most likely when we were at the Winter Park stop, judging by the scene outside the window.

Indeed, the magical Florida effect started to work on me at that time, and it revved up when I stepped off at Orlando to stretch my legs, and felt the wonderful warmth of temperatures in the 70s, at which point I knew it was time to ditch my winter-style long-sleeve shirt for a short-sleeved shirt.  It was truly like being in summer--sentiments which I saw at least a couple of times on Florida license plates which read "Florida: Endless Summer".

It was nice seeing the sights of the rural areas, with many pleasant towns, as well as the bustling Orlando Metro area.  At Tampa, the train did a significant maneuver, pulling onto a set of tracks and then moving westward in reverse at what seemed like 20-30 mph for about a mile into the station, passing near Ybor City, which I found out is a historic Cuban district from a passenger who got on at Tampa and was seated next to me.  Heading east out of Lakeland, the train passed through wide swaths of citrus groves.

Citrus groves alongside the rail tracks between Orlando and Tampa

The entire train journey this day gave me the great opportunity to soak in character of the land of Florida as part of my reintroduction.

(I definitely had a nicer time getting to Florida than Lucy and Ethel, who dealt with a cramped car, sandwiches tasting like buttered grass, sleeping conditions sounding like feeding time in a pet store, and a misunderstanding about a hatchet murderess, all because they ended up without train tickets, in the episode "Off to Florida" of I Love Lucy Season 6, which I watched days before departing on this trip.)

I detrained at Okeechobee (see picture below), near the large lake of the same name, by which I attained a new record in the farthest south latitude I've ever been, about 28 degrees North.  There, I was picked up by Linda, someone I know from my home parish of Ascension, who moved to Florida a couple of years ago.

Linda captured this picture of me in my arrival state.

We drove through wide open agricultural fields, which I couldn't help but note seemed so much like the Midwest.

We ended up in Fellsmere, where Linda took me out to eat at a restaurant called Marsh Landing Restaurant, with lots of Southern food and interesting decor (see picture directly below).

My dinner: honey-lime grilled chicken, baked beans, corn bread, green beans, and hush puppies.

As a fitting way to conclude dinner, I had key lime pie for dessert--my favorite pie and the official state pie of Florida (see picture directly above), while listening to a live band play bluegrass music.

We then went to the Atlantic Ocean beach front in Vero Beach, near where she lives, and admired the full moon over the ocean, and the roar of the crashing waves (see picture below, courtesy of Linda).

This was my first time being at the Atlantic Ocean in nearly 13 1/2 years, which is about as long as my RE 8th grade students have been alive, come to think of it.

The next day, we went to Fort Pierce to visit the Manatee Observation and Education Center, which had all sorts of animals on display.

Above, I'm holding a corn snake.  Below, I'm holding a sea star.  Linda got both of these pictures of me.

We had lunch at Mulligan's Beach House in Vero Beach, sitting at a table within full view of the ocean, before a brief rain shower drove us to take cover.

The rain fortunately ceased in time for us to take an air boat ride out in a marshy lake in the Blue Cypress Conservation Area, where we saw lots of alligators and other birds.

One of the many alligators we saw on the ride.

The marsh/lake we rode out on.

What a feeling it was to take in the rush of air when the boat traveled at nearly 40 mph before settling back to a slower speed so we could admire the scenery.  Captain Bob did a wonderful job with his narration about the lake and the wildlife.

After the tour, we did some shopping, including at Peterson Groves (please see picture below), with a fantastic array of citrus products.

There were plenty of farm animals at Peterson Groves, including these chickens wandering around the citrus tree groves.  They moved toward me as I took pictures of them.

We enjoyed a delightful Southern-style setting for dinner at Cracker Barrel.

The next day, Saturday, January 14, we attended Mass at St. John of the Cross Parish, a church close to Linda's home.  We had lunch at Waldo's, with a table looking right out on the Atlantic Ocean.  We also spent time at various beaches, putting our feet into the water--only feet, as it was a bit cold, in the 60's (please see the two pictures directly below, which Linda took)--and spent time chatting as we admired the sight and sound of the ocean waves.

Then, I met up with my parents and Abuela, my Grandma Vel, who flew in to the Orlando International Airport.  We headed to our hotel accommodations in Daytona Beach, which was a much more happening and commercial place than Vero Beach, especially with all the cheerleaders milling about, in town for a cheerleading and dance competition at a venue near our hotel.

A welcome to Daytona Beach as we arrived in the city.

Abuela took this picture of the Daytona Beach sign at a later date.

Here's out front of the Ocean Walk Resort hotel, where we stayed.  Below is a picture of the hotel, in the center of the photo, showing the side facing the Atlantic beach, which I took from the Daytona Beach pier out in the ocean, a little ways to the south of the hotel.

After getting checked-in and settled into our swell accommodations, we headed to dinner with my brother's parents-in-law, who graciously invited us.  We had a fine time breaking bread together, and even marking my Abuela's milestone birthday.

The next day, Sunday, January 15, was the principle day of our stay in Florida.  I started the day on a splendid note by watching the sunrise over the Atlantic (please see picture below).

Later in the morning, we went to the Basilica of St. Paul for Mass, followed by breakfast at the Cracked Egg Diner, which won some kind of award.  I also went out into the outdoor pools and the Atlantic Ocean.

In the afternoon, we went to the fine home of my sister-in-law's grandparents for a celebration for Eric and Naomi, joining with some of their relatives and friends.  We enjoyed spending time with my brother's in-laws and their friends, and soaking in the beautiful outdoors of Florida in the spacious backyard.

The following day, Monday, I got up early again to watch the sunrise, and then later enjoyed the outdoor lazy river at the hotel (please see the picture below that Mom took) and putting my feet into the Atlantic Ocean once again.

Then, Mom, Dad, Abuela, and I four went on a day outing to the historic city of St. Augustine.  We drove State Road A1A north to get there, and once we passed the northern edge of Daytona Beach, we soon had a very scenic drive, with the road going right along the oceanfront (please see the picture below that I took from the car as we drove along).  It is noted as the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway.

Upon reaching St. Augustine, we first visited the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a fort built by the Spanish, who controlled the area for over two centuries.  We looked around in the various rooms that had exhibits telling about the history of the fort, and daily life there.  I also enjoyed the views on the upper level of the surrounding area.

Leading to the fort

The fort's entrance, the Sally Port

The courtyard inside the fort's walls

This space was the fort's chapel.

Here I am ducking in a crawl space leading to the original gunpowder magazine.  This picture was most likely taken by Dad.

This view is from the upper level of the fort, looking toward where the Matanzas River flows through the St. Augustine Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean.

Cannons perched on the upper level of the fort

Dad got this picture of me on the upper level.

Best of all, admission was free for the occasion of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (please see picture in sign above, which Abuela took).  (And may I add that the National Park Service is looking pretty good at 100.)

We then wandered into the historic district to find lunch, and we stumbled upon the delightful St. George's Street pedestrian mall, lined with shops and restaurants, as you can see in the two pictures directly below.

Above is inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, and below is the outside of the Cathedral.

Above is a statue of Juan Ponce de Leon, near the south end of the Plaza de la Constitución, and below is the north end of the Plaza.

Here I am at the St. Augustine City Gate, a picture most likely taken by Dad.

After lunch, we walked down to the Plaza de Constitucion, where the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is located, the oldest parish in the country, with parish records dating back to the 1580's.  Its history goes all the way back to the first Mass celebrated in what is now the United States of America, which is marked by a giant cross at the Mission Nombre de Dios a short distance away, where we stopped before leaving St. Augustine so I could get a couple of pictures.

A kindly woman enjoying the day out on the grass took this picture of me.

While my time there was brief, it was nonetheless an extraordinary experience to see the spot where Mass was first celebrated in the United States of America.  For a moment, I didn't feel myself to be in St. Augustine, FL.  I felt myself in the presence of God and His Kingdom, connected through the mystical Body of Christ to those who, upon arriving on these shores, gathered to give thanks and praise to God, like those who did for centuries before since Christ came to Earth, and as many did following them through nearly 4 1/2 centuries, just as I do week after week, for the same reason they did centuries ago.  Rendering praise and thanks to God is so important, it has persisted for so long.

I was very impressed by St. Augustine, in a similar way that Santa Fe, NM, impressed me as a fabulous spot, among my favorites in the USA.

After driving back along the same scenic route to Daytona Beach, Dad and I played mini-golf at the hotel, and then we all went to the Daytona Beach Pier for dinner at Joe's Crab Shack, enjoying a nice walk in the night, and the servers who put on a good bit of entertainment.

Abuela took this picture of me enjoying Key Lime pie for dessert.

I also stayed up a bit to watch the moon rise over the Atlantic Ocean.

The next day, Tuesday, we took a drive down to the southern end of the barrier island to the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse (please see picture below).

I climbed all 203 steps to the top of Florida's tallest lighthouse, at 175 feet, the second tallest masonry lighthouse after Cape Hatteras Light in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which had some incredible views at the top of the surrounding area.

A fellow tourist got this picture of me at the top of the lighthouse.

Dad took this picture of me at the top from down below.  You can see me standing at the railing.

After errands and lunch, Dad drove me to the Amtrak station in Deland, with Abuela accompanying, so that I could start my journey home.  It's always kind of wistful when it comes time to end a trip, but I was able to make it a special experience by riding the rails of Amtrak back.

Just after 2:30 PM, I boarded Amtrak train #98, the Silver Meteor, my third time riding this route, see the picture above, which Abuela took.  It took a slightly different route than the Silver Star, for after stopping in Savannah, the train stopped in North Charleston and Florence, South Carolina, before rejoining the Silver Star route's path at Rocky Mount, North Carolina.  We passed by the Ringling Brothers Circus train before reaching Jacksonville, and then it passed us while we were stopped there.  I enjoyed a nice dinner in the dining car with some fellows passengers.  I emerged from the dining car to see a burst of young energy on the train after Jesup, with a group of nearly 50 students, who appeared to be a high school group.  I continued enjoying use of the Wifi, taking a break from it when it stopped working due to poor signal reception.  There was also a wonderful car attendant, Joseph, who added such a pleasant touch to the journey with his light-hearted personality.

The train arrived in Washington, D.C., the following morning--a very foggy one at that, obscuring views of the National Mall.  My layover was a reflective and spiritual time.  I headed to the National World War II Memorial to offer tribute to my Grandpa Martin, in the 75th year after the US entry into the conflict, and the day following his birthday.

Then, I went to the resplendent National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception to spend some time in Eucharistic adoration and stopped for more prayer at the Chapel for La Virgen de Guadalupe.

Then, my journey homeward continued, with more excitement as for the first time ever, I boarded Amtrak's Cardinal route.

A fellow passenger sitting in front of me took this picture of enjoying the ride on the Cardinal, closer to the end of the trip while we were in Indiana.

It traveled through some lovely and scenic areas of Virginia, passing through farmlands that rose steadily toward the Appalachians in the western part of the state and into West Virginia (please see the three pictures below).  We passed through cities like Charlottesville and Staunton (birthplace of Woodrow Wilson) in Virginia, and then along the New River Gorge in West Virginia to Charleston and then Huntington, and then along the Ohio River corridor in Kentucky to Cincinnati.

After twilight ended, I enjoyed another good dinner in the dining car.

The next day, Thursday, January 19, we reached Indianapolis before 5 AM.  When I stepped off the train to stretch my legs, two of the train's staff thought I looked like I was in the engine crew judging by the look of my two dark-colored jackets.  I then struck up a conversation with the conductor, who says his job is all about answering the same questions over and over again.  Continuing along, we passed through the farm fields of Indiana, which gave way to the southern suburbia of Chicago and then the South Side of Chicago before our final arrival back into Chicago Union Station.

As I think back on this trip, I feel this urge to declare that it was the best trip of my life.  Maybe the lovely, tropical-like Florida weather of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s played a large part, especially in the way it lifted my mood.  (This was my first trip to somewhere tropical during the winter.  While it wasn't hot there in terms of Florida, sun and 70s pretty much trumps anything that Chicagoland would experience during January.)

It was also so special engaging in relationships, especially with Linda, by spending time around her neck of the woods.  It was also meaningful for me to meet my brother's in-laws, as I'm sure it was for the rest of my family.  As we drove to dinner on Saturday night, I sensed that this trip was just like trips I've taken with my core family foursome in the past to visit with extended family--and this time, we had the added delight of visiting with a whole new set of family members.  I am grateful to the hospitality my brother's in-laws showed us, and for my brother and sister-in-law in giving us this opportunity to travel to Florida.  And I'm grateful to Linda, who eagerly invited me to visit her in Vero Beach, and took me around to see the sights in her area, and gave me the chance to engage in deep conversations.  (I am also so thankful for the staff at a Publix store, who let us come in and shop, even after closing time.  It was a great way to experience a Publix for the first time, a grocery store chain based in Florida that I never knew existed before this trip.)

It was also great connecting with the places of Florida that I visited, especially the Atlantic Ocean--beholding the beauty of this Earth, and taking stock of the cities and land, especially as the journey onboard Amtrak made possible.

As momentous as it was to reconnect with Florida, the relationships I engaged with and the places I went to during this trip added even more of a special touch.

So while I could say I had been to Florida before, I was invigorated by experiencing it in a whole new way through this trip.  It's always nice when you can experience something like new, even if it's something you're familiar with, like the grocery store you shop at all the time, or the church you attend.  And in terms of family, we got to celebrate the whole new life my brother and sister-in-law have as a married couple, and the joys we have of seeing them together and fostering new connections with each other's families.

Like with any trip, I look for some opportunity to experience something new, and even life-changing.  By reconnecting with a place that I once experienced long ago, I have been made anew.

A woman at the resort kindly took this picture of me soaking in the morning Florida sunshine, along the walk right by the Atlantic Ocean beachfront, wearing a shirt from the Manatee Observation and Education Center.  The seal of Daytona Beach is in the center of the bench's back.