Why I don't like Gasparrilla

The Gasparilla Pirate Fest Parade is the last Saturday of January. Apparently we celebrate that the pirate Jose Gaspar once assaulted this City. When I first moved to Tampa, I went to both the day and the night parades. I hated them, specially the night parade. Gasparilla is an event that you either love or hate. Most people in Tampa LOVE Gasparilla.

I didn't go back for 11 years, until this past Saturday. My sister bought a house near Bayshore Boulevard and it was convenient to park there and then walk to the parade. Andre also hates Gasparilla, but the promise of a BBQ before the parade sounded like a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. We were willing to give Gasparilla a second chance. 

We walked about one mile towards the beginning point of the parade. By the time we got there we  turned around and went back to my sister's house. It was nice to see several of the floats, but this is definitely not our thing. We saw all the floats lined up ready to meet the crowds. That was enough for 2 non Gasparilla lovers. I once heard someone saying that on this day South Tampa becomes Zoo Tampa. I don't think I could put it in better words. These are some of the reasons:

• People dress up as pirates. Seriously, this is not Halloween. I get the people IN the parade, but not every one else watching it. 
• People are drunk in the streets since early in the morning. I am not against drinking and having a good time, but they get completely out of control
• People go crazy trying to catch beads and they will hurt you if you are in the way. You get pushed many many times. This was the main reason for not going back for so many years. A plastic bead is not worth being pushed by ADULTS. Kids love beads, but I think the adults like them more
• Most men go for the real Gasparilla spectacle: women flashing in exchange for beads. I don't really care if they flash. The problem is that men think all women will do the same. Just think of the situation: drunk fools approaching you and offering beads for a peek. Not fun.
• I was not willing to pay up to $20 for parking. I have a place to park at  my sister's house now. I can't complain about this anymore
• I don't like parades. I don't think there is anything fun about it. Maybe I should have mentioned this first



Rivers of people before the parade started

Bayshore Boulevard

Downtown Tampa in the background

"Pirates" going to the parade

I had no idea Hillsborough County and Tampa had beauty queens

I don't understand all the craziness these plastic beads create

More floats

The best looking guy: 175 lbs!!

What it really looks like and the reason that we turned around. Photo Credit www.TBO.com

I'm sorry if I sound like a grump. I just don't like this day and wanted to share why. If you are ever in Tampa during Gasparilla weekend you might enjoy it. A lot of people like it including most of my friends and family. I am sure the City makes a lot of money out of this event and it will continue to happen every year. I do like the other events in town in honor of the pirates like the Gasparrilla Distance Classic, the Gasparrilla International Film Festival, and the Gasparrilla Festival of the Arts. The only thing that they have in common with the parade is the name and that they are scheduled around the same time of the year. I always forget to go to these events. This year I will definitely try to go to the film and art festivals. 

Visiting the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida

Last Sunday we went to the Salvador Dali Museum in Downtown St. Petersburg, Fl. The new building was completed in 2011. I saw the picture of the building in magazines but never made the short 30 minute trip to see it. It is always nice to visit Downtown St Pete since it is located next to the water. There are many coffee shops and restaurants along Beach Drive. 

St. Petersburg, Florida

This the largest Salvador Dali Museum outside of Europe. The third floor is the collection, the second floor is the library, and the first floor is the store and coffee shop. There are several of his most famous art works. I was really impressed by the size of the collection. I never expected to see 2 of my favorite Dali paintings: the "Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea which at 20 Meters Becomes the Portrait of Abraham Lincoln" and the "Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory". I wanted to take at least a cell phone picture, but we were not allowed to do it. My mom is a painter and I wanted to send her a picture of the paintings that I saw. I loved the museum and the building is the best part of it. The admission is $21 for adults and it includes and audio tour. We used it to learn more about to the history of the paintings and the life of Dali. We skipped the guided tour since we have no patience to wait for a big group. You can visit the coffee shop and the store in the first floor for free. 

Salvador Dali Museum

Salvador Dali Museum. St. Pete, Fl

"The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory". Photo Credit: http://thedali.org

After our visit to the museum we drove to our favorite Gelateria in St. Pete. We each had a huge gelato at Paciugo and headed back home. It was the end for a perfect lazy weekend.

Downtown Tampa

For Christmas, I got my first SLR camera. I usually buy clothes and shoes or more clothes. I'm not happy with my size these days, so it was time to get a decent camera. For the past month I have been using it with auto mode. I decided it was time to learn how to use it. I've always had a good eye, but I don't know anything about photography. I know some things about colors, composition, proportions... not enough. My mother is a painter and I used to draw. This is like learning a (fun) new language. I was lucky to see Kyle, an amazing photographer and friend, during Christmas. She gave me a lesson on aperture and camera settings. Also, my brother in law gave a photography basics book for Christmas that I've been reading. 

I worked half day last Friday and headed to Downtown to play with the camera. My favorite part of downtown is the new Waterfront Park and the Tampa Museum of Art overlooking the Hillsborough river and the University of Tampa (UT). The Museum and the park were renovated in 2010. I haven't been inside yet. I tried going on Friday, but it was closed due to the "Art after dark" event. Later I learned that it is free admission after 6:00 PM on the "Art after dark" days. I need to find out more about this. UT has always been one of my favorite sites in Tampa. I always take out of town visitors to see it. This was a beautiful warm winter day (around 25 C/80 F). I could see the UT students across the river laying in their bathing suits. It was the perfect day for that. 

University of Tampa in the background

Tampa Museum of Art

Tampa Museum of Art

Downtown Tampa

University of Tampa

Hillborough River and University of Tampa

One legged bird

University of Tampa

Skypoint and Element, the 2 high rise residential buildings in Downtown

Children's Mist Fountain

The birds like the view too

The Glazier Children's Museum is also located in this area. I love the mosaic that they have on the walls.

Someone taking a nap

After taking too many pictures in the park, I drove towards my favorite City mural. This is a few blocks away and I don't know how long it has been there. I saw it years ago because Fly Bar is next to it.

Later, I decided to drive around where we live now. We moved to our new place in September and there are several hotels around. This was the view from one of them. I drove to our apartment complex and headed towards the trail to watch the sunset while I read. I was supposed to go to spinning at 5:30 PM, but I was enjoying a slow Friday afternoon. 

My favorite reading spot

Sunset over Tampa Bay

If you want to see some pictures taken by a real photographer in downtown and UT you have to see this and this sessions from the talented Kyle Hepp.