Cuban breakfast and a touch of Hemingway.

Tags

2008, Conch Chowder, Cuban, Cypress National Preserve, Everglades, Florida, Florida Keys, Hemmingway, Key West, Memorial Day, Road Trip, Travel, USA

Well, I was thankfully up in time, knowing it would be a long haul but not quite aware of what hand my driving fate would be playing me later. It was a wonderfully smooth three hours to end up at Key West around 9:15am, which was fifteen minutes earlier than expected (despite leaving the motel later).

I fell in love with the streets almost instantly, with the wonderful architecture reminiscent, of some of the buildings I saw in New Orleans. After getting my bearings, I was delighted to have completely accidentally, parked a couple of streets from my first stop at the 5 Brothers, Cuban store. Paralleling the old corner shops in England (and yes, it was also on a corner) it was compact, with the air of something older, yet still clean and organised, without suffering a clinical look. I ordered up a Cuban coffee (café con leche) and the signature sandwich. I didn’t want to insult with attempts, at my couple of words of Spanish and stuck with the not-so-broken English. The sandwich is made in the back amidst their own form of feng shui; the serving hatch is at chest height and so I was listening to conversation in Spanish, from a very full pair of breasts (not that I’m complaining in the slightest, you understand). While waiting to pay, I gleefully watched a couple of leather-skinned old Americans, strolling and swapping the day’s news about fishing, while they too, awaited some coffee; I’m just loving how stereotypical movie scenes are presented before me.

Pontiac, Illinois.

Tags

Capitol Building, Illinois, Lincoln Tomb, Memorial Day, Museum, Pontiac, Road Trip, Springfield, Supreme Court, Travel, USA

Well, Lincoln Tomb turned out to be open after all and it made the visit that extra bit special. Of course I ended up leaving town about thirty minutes later than I’d planned but I seem to have made that up now. Actually, I think by time I finish my rest stop and hit the road, I’ll be breaking even.

So Springfield turned out to be a little gem. The Capitol building was an incredible design, especially for such a young building. I mean it’s old, but nothing here is that old, right? The surrounding buildings which were more recent, were also wonderfully designed and included the museum, Supreme Court of Illinois and a few others. The city itself was completely empty, spare a couple of people going to Lincoln’s home (something I opted out of) and a handful of cars on the road.

Lincoln’s tomb itself is in the main cemetery and is my first visit inside a tomb, let alone such a famously named one. A few other members of the family are also laid to rest here but ‘Honest Abe’ has the main spotlight in the center-rear. As I headed out of the tomb, Memorial day proceedings were happening further down the road, just out of view at the bottom of the cemetery and I emerged, just in time to hear the remains of a gun salute and taps being played, followed by silence and names of the dead from the (current?) war. Perfect timing that really left its mark.

Not much changes in these parts by the looks of it and despite some of the houses being in need of repair, the scene is set not too far from what I’ve seen in the movies, with the whole picket fence and chirping birds aplenty. The people seem happy enough and that’s all that matters really, isn’t it.

Well, I’ll get a couple shots here of ‘historic’ (that tag is on every town) Pontiac, and get back on the last hour and a half of open road. I’m going to miss these long straight roads actually; they’ve done their job and my mind is a calmer place.

Motel6, Springfield, Illinois – Part deux.

Tags

Illinois, Memorial Day, Road Trip, Springfield, Travel, USA

It’s almost nice to have a little lie-in this morning but because of the weather I’m still a little drained, although I can’t keep still. The WiFi was worth the money, as I used it last night while sleeping, to download this week’s episode of Dr Who and watched it in bed upon waking.

A quick check on-line shows me that the Lincoln Tomb itself is closed on holidays and of course today being Memorial Day, means it’s not open. I’m still going down there to get some pics though but again turning a negative into a positive, it means I’ll get to Chicago earlier and be able to spend more active time there.

Right then, need to finish getting ready, then head out for food and fuel.