My First Road Scholar (Prev. Elder Hostel) Trip

"Signature City: St. Petersburg, FL March 19-24, 2023

My dear friend, Deb, had told me for years how much she loves St. Pete for its art: ceramics and glass. She spent 4 months there for several consecutive years. I was longing to go myself, but didn't plan ahead a year in advance to go this February. Then, along came the Road Scholar (formerly "Elder Hostel") catalog loaded with options.

Arrival in St. Pete was uneventful and I had most of the day to walk around, explore and get lunch before we could register at 4 PM. I got a little turned around, but people I asked on the street were friendly and helpful. I started to understand the unusual grid of streets there!

I opted to book a "solo" room at the Hyatt Place Downtown; our designated hotel which is included in the trip total. Many women with us were traveling solo too; and I felt very comfortable in our friendly group.

I had a flash of wisdom before leaving and pinned my "crochet" brooch on my name badge as a conversation starter.

At 5PM when I registered, our leader, Carolyn, was the first to notice it, and happened to be an enthusiastic crocheter! I was soon referenced as the "crochet lady" after wearing the only crocheted shawl that I brought.!

At six pm, the whole group met and we began to know each other with introductions. At our welcome dinner, I randomly sat with 3 others and it became obvious very quickly that this is a group of savvy travelers. The record of number of trips taken was an amazing 26 by one lady!

I highly recommend this tour group for anyone over 55. The days were full of interesting things to see with adequate time to catch your breath in-between and at lunch. I plan on booking another trip with them sometime soon!

Our days were packed with bus and boat tours; museums and galleries with reasonable breaks; breakfast, lunch and dinner provided most days. Midweek we had the afternoon and evening free to re-group as we wished. Anyone can walk through a museum or gallery and enjoy what is there; but on this tour I learned the value of expert speakers and docents who thoroughly understand each piece on display. I would not have chosen to go to the historic Albert Whitted Airport for lunch or on a tour of St Pete murals with an actual mural artist! Speakers at both places had valuable historic information that added so much to what I actually saw and understood.

Day 1:

Eco-Tour Vessel: Specimen collecting in Tampa Bay

Many dolphins played near our boat!

St. Pete Museum of History

A collection of hundreds of baseballs donated to the museum

Day 2:

Our brilliant sky!

Muralist Tour

St Pete plans for murals and pays the artists who are chosen

Albert Whitted Airport-First commercial airport

View from Hangar Lounge where we had lunch

View from the Dali museum

I quickly learned the value of docents in a museum dedicated to such a complicated artist!

Salvadore Dali' Museum

James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art

Collection of Raymond James

Florida Craftsmen House

On our free afternoon, new friend Margarete and I took a trolly to the Florida Artisan House, which is also a fantastic historic bungalow. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the art and found treasures to buy!

St. Pete Pier

Later, Margarete and I continued to the St. Pete Pier where we had dinner and enjoyed the 360 degree views!

Pelicans patiently waiting for a fisherwoman's catch!

Weddings are held here

Sunken Gardens

Formerly owned & created by a private family; now owned by the city of St. Pete

Imagine Museum of Glass

"Don't touch anything but the floor" said the docent!

Glass-Blowing Demo

Chihuly Collection

At an early morning gathering on the 6th day, we said goodbye to many new friends, hoping to see each other again on another Roads Scholar tour!

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