August 3: hot cars, sunken gardens in St. Petersburg

Dear Friends and Relatives, 

This morning, Nancy had prepared a wonderful quiche with ham, scallions, and cheese, as well as great rolls, coffee, and juice.  Following the cleanup after breakfast, we were off to the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum in Pinellas Park.  The museum features a unique collection of vintage vehicles, including pioneering front wheel drive and rear engine cars from the 1920s and 1930s.  Each vehicle was chosen based on engineering achievements that made it an important part of the evolution of the automobile, setting the standards for the engineering of automobiles today.  The space is 14,000 sq. ft.--room enough for over 60 rare and unusual cars.  

Housed in the museum galleries are many of the finest early approaches to aerodynamic shapes and packaging, front wheel drive, rear engine-rear drive, unibody construction, and pioneering uses of materials like cast aluminum and pressed steel.  Featured cars include Amilcar, Citroen, Delahaye, Hotchkiss, Mathis, Panhard, Peugeot, Salmson, Talbot Lago, Tracta and Voisin from France; Aero and Tatra from Czechoslovakia; Adler, Audi, DKW, Mercedes, and Stoewer from Germany; Alvis, Allard, and BSA from England; DeLorean from Ireland; and Cord, Ford, Milburn, Willys Knight and Ruxton from the USA.

A special feature in the museum is the world's only faithful replica of the French 1770 Fardier de Cugnot, the world's first self-propelled vehicle.  Incredible collection, and I photographed so many cars, including some amazing English sports cars!  Interiors were fun to photograph as well.  A real treat!  

By the time we had finished it was noon, ad we were hungry.  We found a Wendy's, and I had an excellent salad with chicken, mango, strawberries, lettuce, arugula, and sunflowers and a very fine vinaigrette dressing on the top, accompanied by raspberry tea.  From there we returned home, and then Nancy and I took her car to the Sunken Gardens to do a long garden walk.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so my readers will have to rely on my verbal explanation of this lovely place.  

Sunken Gardens has been a landmark in SP since 1935, when it officially opened as Turner's Sunken Gardens.  In 1993, the 4-acre property was purchased by George Turner, a plumber, who drained a shallow lake and dropped it 15 ft. below street level to provide a rich soil to grow fruits and exotic plants from all over the world.  By 1924, his garden was attracting visitors, who paid 25 cents for a stroll through the lush gardens.  The garden became world-renowned for its unique collection of plants and colorful blooms.  

In 1999, the garden was purchased by the city of SP.  After several years of restoration, the gardens are once again open to the public and for the celebration of weddings and other festive occasions.  It was very pleasant to stroll the 20+ stations of the garden, as at every turn there were exotic flowers, amazingly large ferns, giant palms, and parrots and flamingos.  Beautiful place!

Nancy and I, parched after our walk, had a root beer float at home.  She is now getting ready to leave for an HSN shoot, and so Jim and I will be manning the fort this evening.  I will read and have some yogurt and honey for dinner.  Tomorrow is the last full day in SP before I leave on Saturday for Dallas.  What a fun stay I have had here!  Thanks, Nancy and Jim!  As ever, Sylvia