Sunday morning has always been pretty laid-back for us......and we made no changes. The Miami Herald appeared on our doorstep mysteriously.......and kept us occupied most of the morning. 'Enjoyed Tim Russart's interview with Joe Biden who just returned from Iraq. He has an interesting analysis of the current situation on both ends and some blunt/forthright observations as to what can/cannot work over there. Somebody (guess who) needs to listen!
Today we explored northward. Up the same A1A route we had used in the Jacksonville area. If it ran any closer to the water you would get wet! It doesn't take long to realize that highrise buildings.....hotels, timeshares, etc......have crammed on to every available parcel of oceanview and oceanfront land. I wonder how many actually see the water as the narrow end of the building faces the water. Another factoid......I don't think that they eat! We really had a hard time finding a place. Either they are internal (in these buildings) or cleverly disguised as in Hilton Head. "Naggie/Nellie" located a Red Lobster and that worked out just fine. My gills have JUST started to form!
Anyway, we chugged along through such places as Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Pompano Beach, etc. and decided to go to Palm Beach to visit the Flagler Museum. We first encountered the name in Key West......he was instrumental in getting the railroad down the Keys. Turns out that is only a part of his story. (Actually, the Keenan-Flagler Business School at UNC is named after he and his second wife who was a Keenan). Mr. Flagler was a partner with John D. Rockefeller in creating Standard Oil. Rockefeller credits him with many of the successful business strategies that made the company explode in the late 19th century. This self-made millionaire went to work in 1844 after finishing 8th grade. He clerked for $5 per month plus room and board....... ended up marrying the boss' daughter. He later created the concept of a multi-state corporation. He outlived his first wife and married again (her nurse!) He branched out to the hotel business (luxury of course) and then rail service to transport the rich and famous to the hotels.
The museum is in his mansion, "Whitehall". It is palatial in size, architecture and furnishings. That was the time of the "Gilded Age Society". Since it was built at the turn of the 20th century, it has been expanded somewhat. His granddaughter was the driving force behind the creation of the Musuem. Most recently, a fitting structure has been added specifically to display his personal railcar. All-in-all, the place is spectacular!
Time to go back to reality and our comfortable but much more modest accommodations. Storm clouds have hovered and threatened all afternoon. We will eat "in". 'Tried to watch the Spanish forum for Presidential candidates which was held at the University of Miami tonight......can't as the broadcast narration is all in Spanish (by interpreters .....in real time)........hopelessly confusing!
'Loved the "Happy Grandparents' Day" phone call from Savannah! She is getting so she can talk pretty well on the phone. They grow up so fast!!!!
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