Day 49 - Florida

Day 49

November 29

White Springs, FL

Dear Miss Smith,
          Today we spent a whole day at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park near the Suwannee River. We almost got lost trying to find our way there, we all tried to find where we were to go but soon we had to admit that we were lost, I will tell you this though, we really enjoyed trying to find our way there.

Suwannee River

 Anyway,  we did arrive and we rented some bikes and took the dogs with us down the trial. The trail is not more 70 miles, but as you can guess, we did not go all the way there and back. We enjoyed the splendor of it all, the trees full of chattering squirrels, and the birds calling to one another.   It actually wasn’t that cold and it wasn’t that hot, with a gentle breeze brushing our faces.


 We decided to go the Stephen C. Foster Museum hisorical place and see the desk where Stephen C. Foster finished writing the song, "Old Folks at Home." He actually never saw the Suwannee River, but he needed a two-syllable word, so a friend told him to use the Suwannee River.

Bell Tower

            We then listened to a concert of bells playing some of Stephen Foster's songs. It was actually quite lovely. 

            Also we went to a gift shop with one-of-a-kind things inside, like baskets, purses, children’s toys, jewelry, Leather works, and a few blacksmith stuff. Grace exclaimed that the purses were exquisite, Amy admired the artwork of the many workers, and I ought a beautiful woodwork with wolves. Personally, I like wolves, so it fit me. Grace bought a pink purse with a gold chain. Priscilla decided that she didn’t need any more hats so she didn’t buy anymore. I couldn’t believe that some many things were handmade, though, many of the workers there were experienced and stuff, so I guess, they could make such lovely things.

We are heading for home now, We have said goodbye to Amy and Priscilla, and they promised Grace that they would ship her six purses to her. The things I bought weren’t many so I just packed them into my bag. I can’t wait till I am home again!

Sincerely yours,

Mikayla

Day 48 - Florida

Day 48

Nov. 28

Orlando, Florida

Dear Miss Smith,

Today was an exciting day for me. We got to go to the Kennedy Space Center.

Priscilla, Amy, Mikayla and I went to see a film in the I-Max Theater. It was called Space Station 3D. It was a very interesting film. The narrator was Tom Cruise.

Amy and Priscilla took the Cape Canaveral: Then and Now Tour. They got to relive the launch at Air Force Space and Missile Museum. It was America's first satellite.

Mikayla and I couldn't go since we are both under 18. We were dissapointed but decided to take another tour in the meantime.

We took the Kennedy Space Center Up Close: The Launch Control Center Tour.

We got to tour the inside of the Firing Room 4. It is one of the four firing rooms and the one from which all 21 shuttle launches since the year of 2006 were controlled. Mikayla liked that you could see the computer console where the engineneers monitored computerized launch control system's that checks every mintue leading up to the launch. There are thousands. I enjoyed the bubble room where its walls of interior windows through which the KSC management team views all the proceedings below. I must say that I had a hard time convincing Mikayla but after she got there she had to agree that she liked it.

We then met Priscilla and Amy for lunch. I decided to eat lunch with an Astronuat. Priscilla joined me while Amy and Mikayla ate at the Kenneday Space Center Dining Room.

Later that afternoon we went to the Astronaut Memorial. It was designated by President George Bush in May 1991. It is made of Black granite that is 42 foot high by 50 foot wide. Names of astronauts that passed away was incarved in the granite surface. That was a sight to see.


We hung around looking for the rest of the afternoon. I just had to hit the gift shop before we left. I bought all four of us girls a tote bag that says "I need my SPACE". Priscilla still can't figure out why I love bags and purses so much. To me, I can't figure out why she loves hats so much. Hats seem like a waste to me.

Well I must end this. Take care of yourself and talk to you soon.

Love,

Grace Mae

Day 47 - Florida

Day 47

November 27

Miami, FL

Dear Miss Smith,
            Today we had the fun of our lives! First after we left the Everglades we went to the Miami Sea Aquarium.
            We all wanted to do the Sea Trek Reef Encounter. We were told we were not to wear jewelry if we were going to be going to participate in going into the water. I almost felt disappointment when they asked for glasses, I mean, who would want to miss out on all the fun and only get to see a blurry vision of every thing you wished to have seen. But then they told me I could have my glasses but every one wearing sunglasses were required to not wear them.

Another group in the water.

            All four of us gasped when we saw the helmets we were to use: They looked like an old-fashioned helmet they wear when they go into the ‘deep’, they were white, and suctioned to your shoulders, hooked to a blue hose, and looked like you had a alien antennae on the top of you head.  They had us wear diving suits.
            When we were ready, all of us tourists slid into the water where thousands of fish and rays, quietly and peacefully swam.

            The water was actually very pleasant to swim in. We all gasped as we slid farther into the cool water.  Other people were on the other side of a glass window, looking in on us. I started when a turtle of large size swam right up to where every one else was gathered.

            Amy, Priscilla, Grace and I enjoyed it all, the rays coming up real close and seem to look at you strangely then wander off, the fishes would just look then dart away with their mouths would open with supposed, huffing and puffing.

            After 20 minutes underwater we all had to climb out.

           We went over to a show where a Killer Whale and streaked white dolphins playing together and performing. The Killer Whales name was Lolita she was pretty magnificent. She and her trainer ‘walked’ on water, the dolphins did their own thing too.

We clapped at the end of the performance; delighted at the wonderful and amazing tricks they continued to do till they disappeared into their own little pool away from the people. Also we were given shirts from a friendly tourist who accidentally bought the wrong sizes for his four children. When he noticed that we were about the right size for the T-Shirts he asked us if we wanted them.

            We had lunch at one of the cafeteria’s restaurants, and then walked over to all sorts of different exhibits. We saw sharks and clownfish,

dolphins playing in the water, nosing the glass and ‘talking,' went to the Shark Channel and stared at the shark’s cold blue eyes,

saw manatees lazily float above the water, and visited Discovery Bay. Who knew there were such pretty and exotic things living in the water? God knew of course.

             We were going to spend sometime at Salty’s Pirate Grounds, where you could cool off but we didn’t have the time so we just went to the gift shop.

Priscilla bought a beautiful seaside hat, with a blue flower and blue ribbon. I bought a tote bag with red, white and blue pansy design. Grace got a sea star tan, purse with ‘Cs’ all around it, well they looked like Cs.  We even saw a lovely pen stand in the shape of a heart. I got it for my Mom; she would love it for her next anniversary.  I also bought a postcard to send to my family.

            We had a wonderful time at the Miami Sea Aquarium; I hope I get to see it again someday.

Till next time,

Mikayla