Tag Archives: Travel Series

Our Trip to Spain-Part 11

8 Jun

A Slice of LIfe

Bill Lites

Day 9

DiVoran woke up this morning feeling sick to her stomach, and with a case of diarrhea, and didn’t want to get out of bed.  We couldn’t figure out if it was the water in Morocco or the water during the meal, we had enjoyed the night before, that was causing her problems, but she said she was staying close to our room all day.  That was a real shame, as this was the day scheduled for our group trip to tour Granada.  After breakfast I checked on DiVoran again, and she told me to go ahead with the trip.  She said she had a good book to read, and that she would be fine.  As our group boarded the bus for the 1½-hour trip, I was sad because I knew how much she would have loved to be going with us.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Our Program Director gave us a running monolog of the points of interest on our trip thru the Andalusia countryside and the Parque Natural Montes de Malaga National Park.    There were ranches, villas, and luxury hotel complexes, (each with a story of its own) as we passed the small towns of Puerto de la Torre, Las Escaraillas, and Castillo de Lachar, before arriving in Granada.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

As we arrived in Granada we were informed that the city is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and was founded by king Muhammad I in the early 13th century.  He ruled the Arabic Gharnata kingdom from 1232 to 1273. 

Photo Credit: https://www.guidigo.com/Tour/Spain/Granada/

The main attraction during our tour of Granada was a visit to the magnificent Alhambra Palace.  This sprawling hilltop fortress complex encompasses the royal palace from the Nasrid dynasty, and overlooks the Albaicín quarter of Granada’s old Moorish city. The Moorish portion of the Alhambra includes the Alcazaba (citadel) which is the oldest part of the fortress.  This brilliant jewel of Moorish architecture is a 13th century complex of palaces, fortifications, and gardens.  It reminded me of a fairy tale movie set, with its maze of quiet courtyards, serene pools, sparkling fountains, opulent harem rooms and lavish baths.  The Alhambra is considered the last remaining example of the Moorish kingdom in Spain.

Photo Credit: https://www.britannica.com/Alhambra-fortress-Granada-Spain

I was amazed at the intricate decorative inlaid tile work everywhere I looked.  It was some of the most beautiful and creative mosaic work I have ever seen.  I could understand why it took so many years to complete this grand palace.

Photo Credit: https://www.dosde.com/discover/en/tilework-in-the-alhambra/

The Patio de la Acequia at the Generalife and the Alameda de la Alhambra Park and its gardens were beyond description.  We were told to stay together as we ventured into the gardens.  A person could easily get lost in that garden maze.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

There are several beautiful and peaceful courtyards within the Alhambra’s vast grounds, whose pools are supplied by water from the Darro River via a cleverly engineered aqueduct system and the Torre del Agua (water tower).   It also supplied the necessary water pressure for the many beautiful pools and fountains throughout the Palace.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I had to stop and have my picture taken at one of the beautiful fountains, with the sound of water peacefully bubbling, to help soothe the tired soul.  The entire tour was breathtaking, and I was so sorry that DiVoran had not felt like coming on this tour as I know she, being the artist in the family, would have been enthralled by the amazing beauty and grandeur of the Alhambra, as I was.

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Our Trip to Spain-Part 10

1 Jun

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 8

Today DiVoran and I had a free day to relax and do anything we wanted.  As it happened, it was the time of the year for the local ‘Feria de San Miguel’ and Torremolinos was ready to celebrate.  So, after breakfast, we headed into town to join in the festivities.  We admired the decorative tiles as we strolled down San Miguel Street and enjoyed browsing the many small shops.

Photo Credit: https://www.gct.com/destinations/country/spain/

The streets were filled with people ready to have a good time.  Many of the locals were dressed in festive traditional costumes and didn’t mind having their picture taken with us tourists.  Many of the costumes related to the traditional Spanish Flamenco dancers for women and bullfighter paraphernalia for the men.

Photo Credit: DiVoran Lites

We had lunch at one of the local (approved) cafés, and then strolled back to the Bajondillo for a short rest.  In the afternoon we joined many of our group, in the park, to enjoy the celebration of the local festivities, as a musical team lead singing to honor ‘Feria de San Miguel’ from a bandstand.  As the excitement picked up, there were also several shikhat dancers in the troupe who performed flamingo dances for the enjoyment of us all.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After the performance was over, DiVoran and I took advantage of the tour’s ‘Dine- Around Program’ that set us up to visit a local family home and get to know them and some of their local culture.  Neither DiVoran nor I spoke Spanish, so we were very lucky that the two ladies we visited that afternoon spoke good English, so we could communicate freely.  The program had arranged for the host family to prepare a traditional Spanish dinner meal and to enjoy it with their guests.  I can’t remember what the meal they served was, but it was excellent.  What a wonderful time we had with those two ladies during that afternoon visit.  After that delightful experience, we had a leisurely stroll back to the Bajondillo for a good night’s rest.  It had been a wonderful day and we felt lucky to have been on this tour just when the ‘Feria de San Miguel’ celebration was taking place and to have been able to join in on the festivities.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites                 

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Our Trip to Spain-Part 9

25 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 7

The next morning after breakfast there at the hotel, a professor from the local Abdelmalek EssaâdiUniversity (ENSA) came and talked to us about the Islamic influence on Moroccan life.  He told us about his own modernized family, and how most of the Muslim world are not extremists.  He emphasized that most of them only want to live a trouble-free life, as we do.  I’m sure this presentation had been hurriedly arranged by the Moroccan government to give our tour group, and all Americans visiting their country, a feeling of security after the recent 9/11 attacks.

Photo credit: Bill Lites

After that informative presentation, we packed our bags so we would be ready to head back to Spain after our morning adventures. We were offered an opportunity to take a quick trip thru the bazaar again, and we jumped at the idea.  It was in the bazaar this time, as we finished our shopping at one of the small shops, that the owner approached us and said, “Please come back, we need you.”  I guess the working-class people were already beginning to feel the effects of the global shutdown of tourism.

Photo credit: Bill Lites

After the quick trip thru the bazaar, we were taken to a local café, there in Tangier for a wonderful lunch (with Moroccan rhythms playing in the background).  We were always so pleased to know our tour company had contracts with the local cafés and restaurants where we took any of our meals, assuring us that all food and water was safe for our consumption (no side effects).

Photo credit: DiVoran Lites
Photo credit: Bill Lites

After lunch we boarded our bus for the short trip from Tangier back to the ferry landing.  Our Program Director was pleased that we had all had a good time and again drew our attention to several points of interest, as we made our way north along the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.  A boy and his donkey was there to bid us ‘Fair Well’ and to ask us to come back soon.

Photo credit: Bill Lites

It was another beautiful clear day, and we enjoyed the 1½-hour ferry trip back to Gibraltar.  On this ferry trip from, Morocco back to Spain, DiVoran got really thirsty and purchased a bottle of water from the snack shop there on the ferry.  We didn’t think anything about the water not being pure since it was sealed but, upon later thinking, the safety procedures for that bottled water may not have been as stringent as those in the U.S.  

Photo credit: Bill Lites

Our bus was waiting for us at the ferry landing in Gibraltar.  On the ride back to Torremolinos our group was treated to another one of our Program Director’s discourses on the various points of interest we may have missed the day before.  We arrived at the Bajondillo in time for a short rest before dinner at the Cetus Restaurante’.  It was really good to be back at the Bajondillo where we could unpack our things and sleep in our own bed tonight.

Photo credit: DiVoran Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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 Our Trip to Spain-Part 8

11 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

 

Day 6 (Continued)

When we arrived back in Tangier, we were delivered at our hotel, where we had time for a short rest and a change of clothes before we headed for our next adventure.  We were taken to the palace (kasbah) of the local leader there in Tangier, where we admired the beautiful palace grounds, gardens, and kasbah guards.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Photo credit: Bill Lites

One of the horsemen guards even let me hold his gun (under his watchful eye) for a photo.  This didn’t give me a lot of confidence about the security of the kasbah.  I’m not sure when that gun was manufactured, but it sure wasn’t any time during the 20th century.

Photo Credit: DiVoran Lites

The guards were friendly (I think they were really mostly there for show) and our Moroccan tour guide talked them into allowing us to have our picture taken with them (They look pretty friendly don’t they, with their big smiles and all).

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Photo credit:Bill Lites

After our tour of the kasbah, and just before sunset, we were taken to an area where we were served a delicious traditional Moroccan dinner (the only course I can remember the name of was ‘couscous’) in an authentic Moroccan tent.  Before and after our meal we were entertained with a folkloric show, which included traditional Moroccan music, and of course, belly dancers (there  they were again).

Photo Credit: Bill Lites 

The food was excellent, and the show was wonderful.  There were also several specialty acts, as part of the show, such as a fire eater who entertained us with his fiery torches and feats of daring (didn’t seem very smart in a canvas tent, but hey, who was I to complain).  

Photo Credit: Bill Lites 

One of the performers (I called him the ‘Candle Man’) was a juggler of sorts, who spun plates on a stick, twirled steel hoops in all kinds of positions, and walked around the stage area, in various positions, balancing a tray of burning candles on his head.

Photo Credit: DiVoran Lites

Then there was this acrobat (who I called rubber girl) who could tie herself up in knots, you wouldn’t believe possible, while we watched.  She put herself into some of the most amazing poses, most of which were while she was balancing in some unimaginable position.  All of the acts were great, and we enjoyed the entire performance.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After the performance was over, we asked a couple of the performers if we could have our picture taken with them, and they were kind enough to do that for us.  We had our picture taken with one of the belly dancers that performed that night.

Photo Credit: Bill Lite

And of course, we had to have our picture taken with the ‘Candle Man’ as he was bobbing around the tent.  He would stop at each table, showing off his balancing act, while having his picture taken with many of the folks in our group.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After dinner, and the show was concluded, the ones of our group who wanted to, were invited outside to take a short camel ride.  DiVoran was a good sport and was elevated to new heights on her Berber camel.  She said, “Ahmed, the camel handler, was very polite and gently helped me on a stool and onto the camel, and we walked around for a little while.  Then after the camel had stopped and had kneeled down, Ahmed helped me down and said, ‘You pay me one dollar now please.’  I was glad to be off that camel and was happy to pay Ahmed his fee.” After that great meal, the exciting show, and the short camel ride, our group was bussed back to our hotel for the evening.  I, for one, was looking forward to my bed and a good night’s rest.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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  Our Trip to Spain Part 7B

4 May

A Slice of Life

Bill LItes

Day 6 (Continued)

We enjoyed an excellent lunch, while musicians played quiet Moroccan music in the background as we ate.  Everyone seemed to be excited and were all talking at the same time, about the things they were going to do and see while we were in Morocco.  It was a very relaxing time for all of us after the excitement of our tour thru the bazaar and the walking tour of Tangier.

Photo Credit:DiVoran Lites

As we were finishing our lunch, the musicians began to play rhythmic Moroccan music, and a dancer appeared on the small stage to perform for us.  We were to find that these shikhat dancers were a common entertainment for tourist no matter where or what the occasion; at lunch, dinner, or any other special event. After the performance was over, we went to our room and were given time to finish unpacking our things and have another short rest.

Photo Credit:Bill Lite

That afternoon, the ones of our group who wanted to, boarded a bus for a short trip thru some 25 miles of Morocco’s picturesque countryside, to visit the small town of Asilah located on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.  This old walled town (medina) was built by the colonial Portuguese in the 15thcentury.  The medina is an art center now, known for its many murals and the annual Moussem Culturel d’Asilah festival that takes place there. 

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

We toured the village with its narrow streets and its many small shops while our Program Director explained the many points of interest to us.  We walked along some the old walls of the city with many of its newer buildings located on, what seemed to be, the very foundations of the walls, which gave them a grand view of the ocean.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

On the way back to our hotel in Tangier, our Program Director pointed out several beautiful villas (Villa De Ojen) and luxury hotel complexes (La Mirage Hotel) along the Moroccan countryside, that cater to the rich and famous.  Everyone in the group was impressed, but I don’t think anyone was ready to shell-out the kind of dirhams (Moroccan dollars) it would take to stay in one of those establishments for any length of time.

Villa De Ojen Photo Credit:Bill Lites
Photo Credit Bill Lites La Mirage Hotel

                                               

We made a quick stop at a small fishing village, also situated on the Atlantic seashore.  DiVoran remembers that all the houses in the village were white, and we were told a person could tell who lived in the houses by the color of the doors.  Blue doors indicated a fisherman’s home, and a green door indicated a farmer’s home.  We weren’t really sure what significance, if any, there was to being able to identify who lives in the house, but that was the story we were told.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Our Trip to Spain-Part 4

8 Apr

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 4

This morning after breakfast our group boarded the bus for an all-day tour to Ronda.  On the way, our Program Director gave us a running account of the countryside we were traversing, with its history, culture, and points of interest.  Much of the scenery was picturesque as we passed thru some of the smaller towns such as Churriana, Alhaurina, Alozaina, and El Burgo, bordering the foothills of the Sierra de las Nieves. 

Photo Credit: https://www.hotels.com/churriana-de-la-vega-spain

Called ‘The most beautiful city on earth’ by Earnest Hemingway, Ronda is located on a high plateau, with the city’s ‘medieval’ part (El Ciudad) being separated from the ‘modern’ part (15th century) by a 300-foot plunging river gorge (El Tajo).  The ancient stone bridge (Puente Nuevo), which took 34 years to build, was complete in 1793, and links the two parts of the city.  The view from the bridge is amazing.

Photo Credit: https://handluggageonly.co.uk/

Ronda has archaeological roots dating back to the Neolithic Age.  Said to have been settled by early Celts somewhere around the 6th century BC, but most of the present-day city is of Roman origin from about the time of Julius Caesar.  Conquered and ruled by Islamic nations from roughly the 1st century BC to the 16th century AD, most of the city’s older edifices are mainly of Moorish architecture.   Located on the far side of the Puente Nuevo (new bridge), we visited the Convento de Santo Domingo.  Established in 1485, it was the seat of the Court of the Inquistion for many years.  Renovated several times over the years, it is said to be one of the oldest and most visited buildings in Spain.

Photo Credit: https://owaytours.com/en/ronda/convent-of-santo-domingo/

Then our group visited the ‘Plaza de Toros de Ronda’ which is advertised to be the oldest bullfighting ring in Spain.   Built in 1784 the bullring is host to the famous annual ‘Corrida Goyesce’ (bullfight) which draws thousands of bullfighting fans from the world over to the famous event.  There is also a bullfighting museum in the building.  The ‘Museo Taurino’ holds over two hundred years of famous bullfighting regalia and artifacts, including a collection of original weapons used by the Real Maestranza (circa 1686) in Spanish Wars. 

Photo Credit: https://barbaraathanassiadis.com/rondas-feria-goyesca-andalusia-spain

Our group stopped for lunch at an ‘Approved Restaurant’ there in Ronda, where we were served a delicious Spanish meal (I can’t remember what it was) as we were serenaded by musicians singing some of their favorite Spanish songs. 

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Our return trip was by a different route, and we again enjoyed the ‘Travel Log’ given to us by our Program Director.  We appreciated the knowledge he displayed while explaining points of interest, the local culture, and the people.  We passed thru the small towns of Casarabonela, El Chenil, Zalea, Cerralba, Casapalma, and Miralmonte, as we traveled thru a large portion of the Guakalhorce Valley.  Then I saw this huge bull standing on the top of a hill and thought, ‘I wonder why that bull is running free so close to the road’?  I took this photo and asked our Program Director about the bull.  He told us it wasn’t a real bull but was actually a 14-meter (45 feet) silhouette called Toro de Osborne (The Osborne bull).  The one we saw today was one of 90 bull silhouettes, placed in various outdoor locations throughout Spain.  The story we were told was that the silhouettes had started out as a ‘Brandy de Jerez’ advertisement in 1956, but over the years, has become the unofficial national symbol of Spain.

Photo Credit:Bill Lites

 We saw some people riding horses off in the distance, and it was just recently that my wife, DiVoran, informed me that some of the horses we saw on our travels that day may have been Pure Spanish Andalusian Horses (PRE) which have been bred, and shown throughout the Iberian Peninsula, for many centuries.  We arrived back in Torremolinos in time to wash up for our dinner at the Cetus Restaurante there at the Bajondillo that evening.

Photo Credit: https://www.cortijoelchenilcaballos.com/

After dinner DiVoran and I took another leisurely stroll thru the quiet streets of Torremolinos to walk off that great meal and to enjoy the wonderfully pleasant evening activities of the town as it settled in for the night.  It was a cool and very relaxing stroll, and just what we needed to end an exciting day on the Costa del Sol.

Photo Credit:Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Our Trip to Spain-Part 2

23 Mar

A Slice of Life

   Bill Lites

Day 2

When DiVoran and I arrived in Malaga, Spain there was some confusion at the airport, as people from many different airlines gathered to wait for transportation to our hotel, 30-minutes down the coast in Torremolinos.  To make matters worse, we couldn’t find our luggage.  We were finally told that our luggage had gone to Istanbul, Turkey by mistake.  That was a bummer, as we had wanted to ‘travel light’ on our flights, so we had put almost everything else in our suitcases.  It was two days before the airline delivered our bags to us.  Hey, no surprise there, right! 

Photo Credit: https://www.spanish-web.com/costa-del-sol/

Our tour group was bussed from the Malaga airport to the sea-side resort town of Torremolinos.  The Bajondillo Apartments on the shore promenade, overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, there in Torremolinos, was our base location from which, most of our meals were taken, and our daily adventures started each day.   It didn’t take long for us to get settled into our lovely fourth-floor apartment (nothing to unpack).  It actually turned out to be a one-bedroom kitchenette with a sea-view balcony.  By then, we were hungry, and were glad when they announced it was time for lunch.  After lunch, DiVoran and I went to our room and had a long rest, to help us recover from the long overnight flights from home.

 Photo Credit: https://www.hippostcard.com/listing/torremolinos-spain-bajondillo/

That afternoon we joined a group for a leisurely walking tour, with our Program Director, to get acquainted with the immediate vicinity around the Bajondillo Apartments, which included the seaside promenade, and the adjacent beach scene.  When the tour was over and we made it back to the Bajondillo, we had time for another quick nap, before we were called for an excellent ‘Welcome Aboard’ dinner at the Cetus Restaurante, there in the Bajondillo, hosted by our tour company.

Photo Credit: https://www.atrapalo.com/apartamentos-bajondillo/torremolinos/

After dinner DiVoran and I took a stroll along the beach promenade to check out the shops and beach cafés.  Then we sauntered down onto the beach to admire the many sand sculptures that were still standing after the tide had come in.  We stopped to get a photo of DiVoran in front of one of the symbols Torremolinos uses to advertise their many apartment complexes there on the Costa del Sol.  All that exercise (which we needed after those many hours flying from the U.S.), sun, and fresh sea breeze, was very relaxing and just what we needed to help put us in the mood for a long restful night’s sleep.

Photo Credit:Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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Our Trip to Spain-Part 1

16 Mar

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

That terrible 9/11/2001 attack had shaken our nation, and we started trying to look at how this event was going to affect our lives.  One of our immediate concerns was that six months earlier, DiVoran and I had signed up for (and paid for) a two-week all-inclusive trip to southern Spain; to begin on 9/19/2001.  We had been looking forward to and planning for that trip with anticipation for the past six months.  Now what were we going to do?  All the airlines were shut down, and who knew for how long!  Would our trip be cancelled?  Would we be able to go?  Should we go?  Question after question ran through our minds.  So, after much prayer and consideration, we received our assurance in the scriptures; ‘…He will order His angels to protect and guard you.’  Luke 4:10b (New Living Translation).

We decided right then and there, that IF our tour was still a go, and IF the airlines started flying again, and IF we could get seats, we wouldn’t let this terrible event ruin our plans.  WE WOULD GO!

Photo Credit: https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/cancellations/

Day 1

By some miracle, it wasn’t long before things began to calm down.  We contacted our tour company and were assured that our tour to Spain was still on, and that they were looking forward to seeing us there as scheduled.  The airlines started flying again, and since many people were “Never going to fly again!” we had no problem confirming our itinerary on the designated airlines, and even on the scheduled date.  Of course, the atmosphere at the airports in Orlando, Atlanta, Paris, and Malaga, as well as on all the airplanes was very tense, but everyone tried to force a smile and were very courteous to us.

Photo Credit: https://flyawaysimulation.com/delta-airlines-l1011-tristar/

Other than short layovers in Atlanta and Paris, we made all of our Delta and Air France connections, as scheduled, without any problems.  Looking back on those flights, I must admit the service was excellent.  The food on each of the flights was wonderful (no peanuts or pretzels), the flight attendants couldn’t do enough for us, and we had plenty of room to stretch out and sleep if we wanted to, as the flights were only about half-full (No they didn’t go so far as upgrading us to first class).

Photo Credit: https://www.inflightfeed.com/delta-airlines/

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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2021 Mid-Eastern Road Trip Part 15B

5 Jan

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 15 – 7/26/2021 (Continued)

Now I headed east 20 miles on US-82 to visit the Old Engine No. 100 Museum located at Jeffords Park in Sylvester, GA.  This small museum is situated in the old restored 1895 Georgia-Ashburn-Sylvester-Camilla (GASC) Railroad line depot that serviced Worth County from 1895 to 1972.  Old 100 is a 1930 Baldwin Mikado 2-8-2 Steam Locomotive that was one of the many that were used to service the GASC line, which included Sylvester (first called ‘Isabella Station’ in 1893), during that time period.

Photo Credit: https://hawkinsrails.net

Continuing another 20 miles southeast on US-82, I visited the Tifton Terminal Railway Museum located in Tifton, GA.  This museum is housed in the old 1910 Atlantic Coast Line station and displays railroad artifacts and other exhibits related to the history of the railroad’s influence on the city of Tifton and the surrounding Tift County area in the early 1900s.  The original depot served passengers on the CSX line from 1910 until 1986 when passenger service to this area was discontinued.

Photo credit: Bill Lites

Now I headed east on US-319 out of Tifton and traveled east 20 miles to Ocilla, where I picked up SR-32.  It was another 25 miles on SR-32 to where I visited the Heritage Station Museum located in Douglas, GA.  This small museum is situated in the old renovated 1905 Georgia and Florida Railroad Depot and has on display artifacts and memorabilia related to the history of Douglas and Coffee County dating from 1905.  The depot stopped serving passengers in 1949 and operated only as a freight office until 1985 when it was closed.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

It was just a few blocks to where I wanted to visit the WWII Flight Training Museum located adjacent to the Douglas Municipal Airport there in Douglas.  The museum was closed, but their website informs me that the Training Base was built in 1941 by the USAAF as a primary flight training school to teach young cadets how to fly.  Thirteen of the original buildings have been renovated to show visitors how cadets lived and worked during their basic flight training at the base.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

While I was in the vicinity of the Douglas Municipal Airport I stopped to visit my friend Tom Reilly at his restoration facility there at the airport.  Tom was good enough to take time from his busy schedule to give me a tour of his current projects.  Tom has restored many aircraft to flying condition over the years, but he is best known for recently finishing the 12-year restoration of the only flying XP-82 Twin Mustang in the world.  By the way, the airplane is For Sale, so if you are in the market for a superb one-of-a-kind warbird, give Tom a call and he will be glad to tell you all about the airplane.

Photo Credit: https://vintagev12s.com/

Tom and his crew are currently restoring a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress to flight configuration for one customer, while at the same time they are restoring the wings of another B-17 for another customer’s current restoration project.  Tom loves his work and gives his customers the very best product for their money.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

After that amazing tour with Tom, I told Greta (My Garmin) to take me to my motel for the night there in Douglas.  On the way to the motel, I noticed a sign for the ‘El 1800 Mexican Restaurant’ just across US-441 from the WWII Flight Training Base and decided to give them a try.  I ordered their Enchiladas Plate, which came with refried beans and yellow rice.  It was delicious and there was enough for two dinners, so I’ll get to enjoy it again tomorrow.

Photo Credit: https://www.facebook.com/El1800MexicanRestaurant/

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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2021 Mid-Eastern Road Trip Part 15A

29 Dec

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Day 15 – 7/26/2021

After a nice breakfast at the motel this morning, I headed southeast out of Columbus, 50 miles on US-280 to visit the Plains Train Depot Museum located in Plains, GA.  This small depot was built in 1888 and served the Plains, GA community from 1888 to 1951 when passenger service to the town was discontinued.  The depot was restored in 1975 and used as the headquarters for the 1976 Jimmy Carter Presidential Campaign there in Plains.  The museum displays photos and artifacts focusing on the activities held in the building during that time period.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

A few blocks down the road I stopped to take a photo of Billy Carter’s Service Station Museum.  I learned that Billy Carter gave up managing the family peanut business in 1972, and bought this service station, where many of the 1976 Jimmy Carter presidential campaign celebrations were held.  Billy continued to run the station until 2008, when the station was renovated for use as a museum.  The museum displays artifacts and family memorabilia covering mostly the life and times of Billy Carter.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now I continued east 10 miles on US-280 to visit the Windsor Hotel located in Americus, GA.  This hotel should be a museum, as it is one of the most lavish hotels I’ve seen.  Built in 1892, it was designed for many of the same reasons the Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine Florida, to attract rich northern winter visitors.  This 100-room Victorian masterpiece served the community until it closed in 1972.  It was renovated in 1991 and modernized in 2010 to its present grander when it became part of the Best Western Group.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

I drove over to the Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, there in Americus, Georga, to see where Charles Lindbergh made his first solo-flight in 1923, at age 21.  As the story goes, Lindbergh rode his blue Harley Davidson motorcycle to Southern Field in Americus to purchase a surplus WWI Curtis JN-4 ‘Jenny’ airplane for his barnstorming career.  He was able to purchase a new ‘Jenny’ (still crated in its shipping container), from a Mr. Wyche for $500.  

https://www.pinterest.com/0w593guxev5r4a9/curtiss-jn-4-jenny/

That price included the cost of mechanics time to assemble the plane there in one of the hangers at the field.  When the plane was ready to fly, and after several hours of instruction by Glenn Messer, Lindbergh took his first solo-flight in that airplane there at the field.  As you might remember, that young man went on to world fame, by being the first to fly non-stopped (solo) from New York to Paris in his ‘Spirit of St. Louis’ airplane and winning the coveted Orteig Prize ($25,000), in May of 1927.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Now I continued southeast 15 miles on US-280 to visit the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum located in Leslie, GA.  This museum is housed in an old 1920s cotton warehouse, across the street from the Citizen’s Telephone Company, and displays antique artifacts, photos, exhibits, and memorabilia explaining the history and advancement of telecommunications from 1878 thru the 19th and 20th centuries.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

Continuing south 30 miles on US-195 I visited the Thronateeska Heritage Center located at the Heritage Plaza in Albany, GA.  This center, situated in the old restored 1913 Union Station, is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Southwest Georgia, and displays photos, exhibits, and artifacts related to the development of the southwest Georgia area dating from the 16th century.

Photo Credit: Bill Lites

—–To Be Continued—–

Bill is a retired Mechanical engineer living with his wonderful artist/writer wife, DiVoran, of 64 years in Titusville, Florida. He was born and raised in the Southwest, did a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy, attended Northrop University in Southern California and ended up working on America’s Manned Space Program for 35 years. He currently is retired and spends most of his time building and flying R/C model airplanes, traveling, writing blogs about his travels for Word Press and supporting his wife’s hobbies with framing, editing and marketing.  He also volunteers with a local church Car Care Ministry and as a tour guide at the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum there in Titusville.  Bill has two wonderful children, two outstanding grandchildren, and a loving sister and her husband, all of whom also live in Central Florida, so he and DiVoran are rewarded by having family close to spend lots of quality time with.

One of Bill’s favorite Scriptures is:  John 10:10

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