Here are a few pics from the Garden Rocks show on April 2nd, 2019
Why Planning For a Trip is Overrated
I like to have a list of things i want to see, a few restaurants to try, but basically play it by ear. Too much over planning can lead to a stressful vacation which defeats the whole purpose. Check out this article from Conde Nast Travel
2019 Epcot® International Flower & Garden Festival – Garden Rocks Concert Lineup
Here is the announced lineup for the 2019 Epcot International Flower and Garden Show Possibly more to come.
2019 Lineup
Concerts take place at the America Gardens Theatre in the American Adventure Pavilion and are included in Epcot admission. Shows are 7 nights a week during the festival at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8 PM.
Check back for schedule updates as additional performers are added.
- Journey former lead vocalist STEVE AUGERI – NEW!
March 6 through 8 - Glass Tiger – NEW to Garden Rocks!
March 9 through 10 - Jon Anderson of Yes – NEW!
March 11 through 12 - Tony Orlando
March 13 through 14 - Wang Chung – NEW to Garden Rocks!
March 15 through 16 - Simple Plan
March 17 through 20 - Ambrosia – NEW!
March 21 through 22 - Magic Giant – NEW!
March 23 through 24 - Air Supply – NEW to Garden Rocks!
March 25 through 27 - Berlin, featuring Terri Nunn
March 28 through 29 - The Smithereens – NEW to Garden Rocks!
March 30 through 31 - Rick Springfield
April 1 through 2 - Christopher Cross – NEW to Garden Rocks!
April 3 through 4 - The Spinners
April 5 through 7 - Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group Styx
April 8 through 9 - John Michael Montgomery – NEW!
April 10 through 11 - Sister Sledge – NEW to Garden Rocks!
April 12 through 13 - Night Ranger
April 14 through 16 - Sister Hazel – NEW to Garden Rocks!
April 17 through 19 - Steven Curtis Chapman – NEW!
April 20 through 21 - TobyMac – NEW!
April 22 through 23 - Lonestar
April 24 through 26 - The Orchestra, starring former members of ELO
April 27 through 30 - Herman’s Hermits, starring Peter Noone
May 1 through 4 - Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles
May 5 through 7 - A Flock of Seagulls – NEW!
May 8 through 9 - Marshall Tucker Band – NEW to Garden Rocks!
May 10 through 11 - Peabo Bryson – NEW!
May 12 through 13 - Richard Marx – NEW to Garden Rocks!
May 14 through 15 - Starship, starring Mickey Thomas
May 16 through 19 - Colin Hay of Men at Work – NEW!
May 20 through 21 - War – NEW!
May 22 through 23 - The Guess Who
May 24 through 27 - Jon Secada
May 28 through 29 - Blood, Sweat and Tears
May 30 through June 1 - Eddie Palmieri – NEW!
June 2 through June 3
All entertainment is subject to change without notice.
A Trip to Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
I finally got a chance to visit the Morikami in Delray Beach, Florida.
The gardens are named after Sukeji “George” Morikami a Japanese immigrant who arrived in the U.S. on May 3rd, 1906, to live in the Yamato Colony. It was called Yamato after the ancient name for Japan.
Immigrants were encouraged to come to the area by investors like Henry Flagler, with the help of The Florida Bureau of Immigration, to start farming the land and create economic activity. The farmers were primarily groeing pineapples but blight destroyed the crop in 1908 and they found it difficult to compete with Cuba’s cheaper pineapple imports. The community eventually failed and the land was seized by the U.S., during WW2, to create an Army Air Corps training base and is now home to Florida Atlantic University and the Boca Raton Airport. Morikami eventually purchased more land and farmed it for almost 30 years. In 1973 he donated his 200 acres of land to Palm Beach County to be used as a park. He died in 1976. A year before the Morikami opened.
The museum offers rotating exhibitions, on certain Saturdays there are tea ceremonies offered at the tea house, and the Food Network voted the Cornell Café one of the top three museum dining destinations. There are also lectures and annual festivals to enjoy.
But the main attraction is the gardens and the grounds.
The Museum is open Tuesday -Sunday 10am-5pm.
The Cornell Café Tuesday-Sun 11am-3pm
Closed on Mondays and major holidays.
Blood Orange Margaritas and Dog Friendly Dining
If you find yourself in Titusville, with a dog or two and feeling famished stop by Third Culture Kitchen for grinds and cocktails. It is an Asian-Mexican fusion restaurant serving tacos, tapas, curry and bao. Everything I have had there was delicious. Especially the tequila battered grouper tacos.
Best of all, they have outside covered dining, so if you want to take your dogs, they can come chow down with you. The only drawback is the location is directly on SR 50, so you are right by a busy road. But the food quality more than makes up for that.
Disney Has Another Festival
Disney has discovered that if you feed them, they will come. Especially if there is also booze involved. Their latest offering is the Epcot International Festival of the Arts. It runs from January 18-February 25th, 2019.
There are arts and crafts from around the world, Disney on Broadway Concert Series, a giant paint-by-number mural and other activities for kids.
Some of the goodies to check out are the lobster chips at The Showcase Plaza, near Canada.
The sushi donut in Japan.
Hopefully your visit won’t be as chilly as it was today.
Why Lakeland Should be Your Next Florida Day Trip.
Lakeland is just an exit off of I4 between Orlando and Tampa, to most people. The next time you are in the area, you should take a few hours and check this gem out.
You can start with a trip to The Polk Museum of Art, is a small, non-profit museum. There is always an exhibition worth checking out. They recently had Chagall and Degas on display.
If you are into architecture Lakeland is a dream come true. Florida Southern College is home to the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. The campus has twice been chosen Most Beautiful Campus in the Country, by The Princeton Review.
The group of buildings designed by Wright are called, Child of the Sun. On March 2, 2012 they were designated a National Historic Landmark. You can tour this collection, which Wright called one of his favorites, daily. Check the website for times.
You can also drive around and admire the many 1920’s Arts and Crafts Bungalows and Mediterranean Revival homes.
Lakeland is also unofficially known as, “Swan City”. Lake Morton is home to descendants of The Royal Flock of Swans on the Thames and were gifted to Lakeland in1957 by Queen Elizabeth II. Make sure to bring change so you can feed the many White Mute swans, Australian Black Swans, White Coscorba Swans, Black Neck Swans, pelicans, ducks, and geese.
There is also a fabulous farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, in their thriving downtown area. Pick up your veggies, cheese and kombucha then grab lunch and a drink at on of the many restaurants and bars.
If you are still around in the evening pull into one of the last drive in theatres in the U.S., Silver Moon. They have 2 screens and show first run movies. During the day on Saturday and Sunday, they also have a Flea Market.
As you can see there is plenty to do in this land of lakes.
Spring-To-Spring Bike Trail. Florida’s Lake Beresford Paved Trail
If you are looking for a trail with a good chance to see some Florida wildlife, then this is a great trail to try.
A new addition was just added so now the trail goes to Donald Smith Blvd. You can turn right and bike to Highbanks Road using the road or sidewalk, until the next leg of the trail is completed.
The Beresford trail is hilly (for Florida) and you will always see some form of wildlife. I have seen a bear, bobcat, deer, rattlesnake and various other less dangerous snakes, armadillos, baby pigs, rabbits and too many squirrels to count. It is a good workout and clocks in around 15.5, if you go all the way to Highbanks.
The newest extension does make you feel like you are escaping from prison, with the metal fencing and barbed wire top, but the rest of the trail more than makes up for it.
Park at 2100 Fatio Road. Deland, Fl.
My Airbnb Nightmare Trip in NYC
This past August my friend and I decided to fly to NYC to see Glenn Tillbrook of Squeeze at The City Winery and visit with friends. We decided to look for an Airbnb to have an authentic New York experience. We found a cute place in Chelsea with great reviews, so we booked it. My interactions with the host were fine until a couple of days prior to our artival when she sprung something weird on me. She said that on the first day “between 5:30 and 6:30 there will be a short visit like 1-2 minutes. If u are there just say you are a friend of ___ from Canada. Don’t mention Airbnb.” It sounded weird, but I let it go.
A complaint a lot of people have with AirBnbs is the check in process at some of them. We were not meeting the host to get the keys. Instead it was a lockbox attached to a fence. Since it was subjected to the elements it was a bitch to open. We drop off our bags and leave for several hours and come back to get ready for the concert. There is a knock at the door and it is three young women. One says that she is an “unlicensed realtor” who is there to show the apartment to the other two. We remember the handmade sign taped to the door downstairs announcing an open house and ask her about that. Yes, there will be showings for an hour. Our host did not tell us about multiple people wandering around the apartment when we were not there. The unlicensed realtor assured us that would be it and hopefully no one else would show up. I sent a message to the host and she denied knowing about an open house. We had no time to argue since we had plans, so we left.
The next morning, as we were leaving, I tried to lock the door. It would not lock. After trying it several times my friend goes inside to see if it will lock. Now the door will not unlock and she is trapped inside. I text the host multiple times. She does not respond. Bad move. I remember seeing yet another sign posted about the superintendent’s contact info and call him. I am so angry that I let it slip that we are using it as an Airbnb. He says that is illegal and the host will get in trouble. At this point I really don’t care. He says he is actually filling in for the regular super, but will be right there. When he finally arrives he tries to open the door and cannot get it unlocked either. I ask him to try his key. He replies that he didn’t bring a key. (WTF?! Dude, I explained the situation to you on the phone and asked about an extra key.) Substitute Super says he will try and get in touch with the regular guy and find out where he keeps the extra keys. A half an hour passes and no word. I call him and he still has no answer. We have wasted over an hour of vacation time, so I call Airbnb. They apologize and we get a partial refund. Substitute returns and gets the door open, but it still will not lock. Screw it. The building is safe. We leave.
The next day I am in the shower preparing for our final night out, when I hear my friend knocking on the door. I turn the shower off and she says that there are two men at the door. One is a realtor and is insisting on coming in to show the apartment. They are going to have to wait until I am done. The realtor gives me his card and apologizes. He tells us that he was in the apartment earlier that day. (That explains the curtains being opened, that I knew I had closed the night before.) I get Airbnb on the phone, while they are there, and we end up getting most of our money back and a free hotel that night. The Hilton we stayed at in Brooklyn was very nice.
Airbnb did work to resolve our problems and I did stay in another one, in Paris, a couple months later, that was problem free. It all depends on your host. This person was apparently subletting an apartment as an Airbnb. She ended up pulling her ad from the site after the lock issue.
Here is a link to other Airbnb nightmares.
Single Minded in Paris, France
Visiting Paris is on most people’s bucket list. I decided to mark it off mine for my birthday, this past October. Here is what I accomplished in 6 days.
I had read pros and cons of buying the Paris Pass. I decided to go for it. You don’t have to purchase it before your trip. You can purchase it at the Charles de Gaulle Airport. I found it to be more than worth the price. I went to several museums and used the Metro to get around. The mistake I made was to only buy a four day pass instead of six days.
Getting from the airport to my Airbnb was easy. Taxis charge a flat rate of 50 or 55 euros, depending on if it is the Left Bank or Right Bank. (Orly is slightly cheaper at 30 or 35 euros.)
I arrived a little early, so I explored the neighborhood in Bastille. I found a lovely farmer’s market and flea market, a few blocks away. Beautiful fruits and vegetables that looked so much more appetizing than what is available at home.
After checking in and unpacking it was time to begin my Parisian adventure.
The Picasso Museum. If you like Picasso it is well worth a visit. The entrance fee is also included with the Paris Pass.
The Centre Pompidou . If you like modern art you have to set aside plenty of time to explore this multi-level cultural center. It is included with the Paris Pass. Start at the top and work your way down to the weird, (in a good way) Avant-Garde stuff. I would say this is the second best museum in Paris. (Tip. It is free the first Sunday of every month.) There are also great views of Paris.
The Louve . Of course everyone has to visit the Louve and take a photo of the most over-rated painting ever. I would rate this as the third best museum in Paris. If you are a big fan of the Renaissance and headless Greek statues then by all means make time to visit, otherwise, there are other more interesting museums.
The Eiffel Tower entry is not included in the Paris Pass. I had to wait in line and purchase a ticket. I bought the ticket to visit the very top of the tower. By the time I got there it was dark and the nighttime view was spectacular. Keep in mind that there are lots of people looking to sell you flashing Eiffel towers and other souvenirs and there are others looking for an opportunity to rob you. Especially kids/teens/women, pretending to be deaf mutes and shoving clipboards at you. They are at every tourist spot. Do not acknowledge them. Do not look them in the eye. They are all pickpockets and they are out to ruin your vacation.
Day two.
Musée du quai Branly – Jacques Chirac Entrance is included with the Paris Pass. This museum celebrates the arts of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It is a very modern looking, beautiful museum.
Notre Dame Lovers of architecture must visit.
Day three.
Palais Garnier . The opera house is most famous as the setting for Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera. Architecturally it is beautiful inside and included with the Paris Pass.
Sacre-Coeur . This can be a sketchy area. There are warnings spray painted on the walls, as you walk up, warning of pickpockets and deaf mutes. You can get off at the Anvers metro stop. While there I also checked out the Musee Montmarte and the Dali museum. Both are small and privately owned, so they are not included with the Paris Pass.
Arc de Triomphe . A must see and it is included in the Paris Pass.
Day Four.
Musée d’Orsay . The museum is closed on Monday. I found that out the hard way by being surrounded and robbed by the aforementioned deaf mutes. But, on a positive note, they were terrible thieves and I grabbed my wallet back. Even after a bad first impression, I returned the following day. This is the best museum in Paris. If you are short on time and have a choice of this or the Louve, definitely go here. It is also included in the Paris Pass. When I visited they had a Picasso Bleu et Rose exhibition and also a curated show by Julian Schnabel.
Musee de Rodin. A short walk from the D’Orsay. The home of Rodin. His personal collection of other artists as well as his own, are on display. Lovely grounds too. Included with the Paris Pass.
Hotel des Invalides, The Musée de l’Armée and Napoleon’s Tomb, are all located together . This is also included in the Paris Pass. The Sun King ordered the construction of Les Invalides as a retirement home for France’s disabled and impoverished veterans. This is a must see for history lovers and military history. Napoleon is buried directly under the golden dome.
Day Five.
Versailles. You can take the Metro to the RER C train. This is included with the Paris Pass. You will appreciate the skip-the-line since the lines here are horrendous. Set aside at least half a day to see the Palace and grounds.
Catacombs Of Paris
. If you like the unusual and morbid, this is for you. Not included with the Paris Pass.
Day Six.
The Louis Vuitton Foundation . I found out about this place because of advertisements in the Metro. What piqued my attention was the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition. I love his art and had to go. It overlooks the Jardin d’ Acclimation. The building was designed by Frank Gehry and opened in October of 2014. You can take the Metro line 1 to Les Sablons and walk to the museum. The wait was about an hour and a half, so I recommend buying the tickets online. It is also the only place I had an issue with my credit card. It kept wanting me to enter a pin number. I had no idea what the number was, since I do not get cash advances. The ticket booth tried it several times and a young man who worked there overheard my problem and we tried it at a kiosk too. Same problem. He was very nice and gave me a comp journalist ticket, which I was very grateful for.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery . This may sound like an odd place to visit, but it is well worth it. Admission is free. I grabbed a map and started to look around on my own, but on the way to Jim Morrison’s grave a guide found me and showed me around. He made it much easier and showed me all of the famous graves and saved me a few hours. If you are not famous and are buried here, after 100 years you are sent to the “bbq”, as my guide put it, and your ashes are scattered in the Jardin du Souvenir. Look for Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Balzac and Proust, among many others. Make sure you have euros for a tip.
That is just an outline of places to go. As far as food, there are cafes literally on every corner. The food and coffee was delicious everywhere I tried it. Don’t forget to go to Shakespeare and Company for a book and a tote bag.
Trek with Kim 
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