New Year's Eve 2014

We took a ride to Sarasota to see Lido Beach today.  It was cold & windy yet so beautiful.  The beach has beautiful soft white sand with more sea shells than we found on Sanibel Island. We found these three shells that we still in tact & they look like butterflies. 

We saw two dolphins who were swimming in unison with each other & popping out of the water.  There were also jumping fish coming up out of the water. Unfortunately I was not able to catch them in the act, but I tried. 

Carpie was brave & tested the waters;  I on the other hand, was chicken!  

Someone wrote "2015" in the sand.  It is a reminder to us all that another year has ended & a new year is beginning with much hope for a happy & successful year. 

As it says on this church sign below: 

Sorrow looks back; 

Worry looks around; 

Faith looks up.

Down the road from Lido Beach is St.  Armand's Circle.  Circus magnate John Ringling purchased the property that is St.0 Armand's Key in 1917.  His vision for this unique planned development included a shopping area laid out in a circle.  European-style, in addition to residential homes.  Ringling Circus elephants were used to haul in the timbers to build the bridge that would connect the area to the mainland. 

We walked around St. Armand's Circle & enjoyed the shops & stopped to have some lunch in an outdoor cafe & sit & watch the excitement of all the other folks  who were doing the same. 

There was a little clowning around in the Circle as well.  This clown was great with getting the children involved in his act.

While on our way to head home, we came across this magnificent statue of the "Unconditional Surrender".

Just as a point of comparison & to show how large this statue is, that is me standing at the bottom of the nurse's leg.

The sculpturer actually put seams in her stockings.  Awesome.  

 

We had to park a little distance away & walk back to capture pictures of this wonderful statue then when we were heading back to the car we heard load music & lots of lights.  So we went to investigate & found a block party going in for New Years Eve. They had carnival equipment set up & food vendors. They had a stage set up with a tv broadcaster playing music & getting the crowd all excited. Up above the stage there was a crane with a lighted pineapple attached, much like the lighted ball in Times Square. This pineapple was going to be lowered for the new year. 

Rock claiming tower!  No, we were not brave enough to give it a try. 

Pineapple ball hanging from the crane! 

Last but not least, Carp bought a T shirt that has texting for seniors. Funny!

We had a very full day & enjoyed every bit of it. Sadly, we were too tired to stay for the pineapple drop. 

Happy New Year!  🎉🎊