Our two months of indolence at our x-condo (sold) on Manasota Key (Englewood, Florida) is over and the work begins. We have rented a car which we will drive from Florida to our home in Madeira Park B.C. The plan is to get an early start and with a beautiful sunrise we are on our way by 6:30 …….smooth sailing and by mid afternoon we leave Florida…..
……and after an uneventful drive of 595 miles (958 kms) >>> 10.5 hours including all stops, we arrive under clear skies in Mobile, Alabama at 17:00. Our lodgings for the night are in the center of the old town, at the Malaga Inn:
……..check-in was smooth, as a gracious hostess clad in a red gown with multiple strands of beads welcomed us, our room was large furnished with antique furniture but rather stark……a few reproductions on the walls would have made it really nice! Following some light refreshments and starting on this post…
…..we are off to visit the downtown core. Mobile was founded as the capital of colonial French Louisiana in 1702 and remained a part of New France for over 60 years. … it then spent decades being French, then British, then Spanish, then American, spanning 160 years, up to the Civil War. Today it is a resilient city which has weathered several hurricanes numbering some 200m souls.
A beautiful balmy evening encouraged us to tour several streets which have been restored as part of the city’s fathers plan to revitalize the historic core, with an emphasis on the historical antecedents. A pleasant town center somewhat reminiscent of New Orleans, albeit on a smaller scale:
…some wall art:
…..we then passed a large Catholic Cathedral …..note its Quebecois roots, which unfortunately was closed:
…this being Memorial Day Weekend the streets were heavily decorated with American flags …
…..given the number of bars etc. it looks like there is some good partying that goes on in this town, but this being Sunday things were very quiet….oh well, next time….
…found this cool place….not ice cream but full on cocktail dispensers >> max size of 18 oz.
if you want to take them on the street !!!
…..few restos were open
…..but we found an interesting one: Wintzel’s Bar & Oyster House which is a local institution having been opened some 70 years ago……enjoyed a really nice oyster basket and a few brews..
…then back to the Inn …and lights out …a long day…
