As part of our discussion of cities and areas we've lived or worked in since August, 2004, let's take a look at Pensacola, Florida. Pensacola is the county seat of Escambia County. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255. Pensacola was the capital of Florida before Tallahassee became the capital.
The Naval Air Station Pensacola is located southwest of Pensacola in the community called Warrington, which is home to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team and the National Museum of Naval Aviation. (See http://naval.aviation.museum/intro.html )
Pensacola's location on the Florida Panhandle makes it vulnerable to hurricanes. Major hurricanes which have made landfall at or near Pensacola include Hurricane Juan (1985), Hurricane Opal (1995) [which Carol worked with our son, Maurice], and Hurricane Ivan (2004) [which is why we're still here].
The Pensacola area was devastated by Hurricane Ivan. The hurricane either damaged or destroyed a large number of homes and businesses. Particularly hard-hit were the areas around Perdido Key (see their website at http://perdidochamber.com/index.html) and Pensacola Beach (their website is at http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com.) Many of the area's bridges sustained structural damage and the hurricane disrupted public schools in Escambia County for nearly a month.
Pensacola is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags" due to the five flags that have flown over it at various times in its history: the flags of Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States.
Pensacola was the first settlement of Europeans in what is now the Unites States. It was founded in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna and his party of Spanish settlers. However, the settlement was destroyed by a major hurricane shortly afterwards, and was abandoned. For this reason, many people instead regard St. Augustine, Florida as the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States. The City of Pensacola, however, still occasionally refers to the area as "America's First Settlement" in advertisements and travel brochures.
The city and its bay were named after the Panzacola indians, a tribe that lived near the bay when the Spanish arrived. The name was changed to Pensacola to make it easier to pronounce for the Spanish. Despite the original settlement's destruction, the name was preserved and used when the area was re-settled during the 17th century.
The Pensacola area is home to three historic U.S. forts, Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas, and Fort McRee, as well as Barrancas National Cemetery (see http://www.cem.va.gov/nchp/barrancas.htm. For information on the forts see http://www.nps.gov/guis/extended/FLA/History/Forts.htm The city and Fort Barrancas were the site of the 1814 battle of Pensacola. Fort Pickens was completed in 1834. It holds the distinction of being the only Southern fort not to be captured by the Confederacy in the Civil War. When Florida seceded from the Union on January 10th, 1861, remaining Union forces in the city evacuated to Fort Pickens. The Confederacy then held Pensacola until abandoning the city in May of 1862.
From 1885 to 1887, the famous Apache Indian chief Geronimo was imprisoned in Fort Pickens, along with several of his warriors and their families. Fort Pickens is now a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore (see http://www.nps.gov/guis/extended/home.htm) and as such, is administered by the U.S. Park Service.
Final Note: To see more on what Hurricane Ivan did to this area, visit http://www.nps.gov/guis/FLA/Hurricane%20Ivan/Hurricane.html
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Mobile, AL - The "South's Easy Vacation Port"
It only seems fitting that we give a plug to the cities and communities we've either lived in or visited since last August. Since we're currently in Mobile, AL, we'll start here.
Mobile is a very nice city with canopies of majestic oak trees lining the streets. It's about the size of Omaha, NE, but with about half the population. Here's some comparisons of the two cities, according to http://www.idcide.com
Land Area: Omaha, 100.6 sq. mi.; Mobile, 118.0 sq. mi.
Population: Omaha, 390,007; Mobile, 198,915.
Medium household income: Omaha, $40,006; Mobile, $31,445.
Medium value of homes: Omaha, $93,300; Mobile, $80,400.
We've truly enjoyed our stay in Mobile. When we arrived we found a very nice one-bedroom furnished apartment in a gated complex. It's fairly easy to get around although major streets get clogged during rush hour, like any other city. One thing we've noticed about these southern cities is the lengthy traffic signals. When stopped at a red light you can be assured you'll be sitting there awhile. The good thing is if you're far back in a left-turn lane, chances are you'll make your turn in one light.
We'll let the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitor's Bureau do the commercial for the area. This is from their website at http://www.mobile.org
EXPERIENCE MOBILE BAY
Located on the sparkling shores of the magnificent Gulf Coast is exciting Mobile Bay, the South's Easy Vacation Port. Come enjoy a splash of Southern charm when you visit this historic and distinctive coastal city.
Mobile Bay is recognized worldwide for having many unique attractions. The legendary Bellingrath Gardens and Home and the USS ALABAMA Battleship, winner of nine World War II battle stars, are just waiting to be explored. Mobile Bay is also the birthplace of the nation's Mardi Gras, widely known as America's Family Mardi Gras.
Nestled along the banks of Mobile Bay's magnificent waterfront is America's newest cruise terminal. Book your voyage from Mobile Bay to the western Caribbean on a Carnival Cruise Line Fun Ship. Make it a true BAYcation® and combine your cruise with one of our exciting and affordable Pre and Post Cruise Packages.
Unique attractions, exciting outdoor adventures, fresh delicious seafood, Delta excursions, fascinating museums, twenty-one world-class golf courses, white sandy beaches, beautiful historic homes, the possibilities are endless. Plan the perfect Mobile BAYcation® and discover why Mobile Bay is the South's Easy Vacation Port.
Featured Events
Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition - Extended Dates
Jan 20, 2005-May 08, 2005
Delta Queen Sails Into Mobile
Feb 11, 2005-Dec 22, 2005
The Devonshire Inheritance: Five Centuries of Collecting at Chatsworth
Apr 09, 2005-Jun 19, 2005
FREE Night of Comedy sponsored by Christian Meetings and Conventions Association
Apr 23, 2005
9th Annual Mobile BayBears Celebrity Baseball Game and the Charity Beach Bowl V
Apr 29, 2005-Apr 30, 2005
56th Annual Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou La Batre
Apr 30, 2005-May 01, 2005
73rd Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo
Jul 09, 2005-Jul 17, 2005
National Senior Games Championship Festival
Oct 19, 2005-Oct 28, 2005
We're not sure if the azaleas are still in bloom at Bellingrath Gardens, but we heard they were just awesome. We drove by the Gardens one day on the way to a claim but didn't have time to stop. We wanted to go a couple of weeks ago, but Mobile got 10 inches of rain and the road to the Gardens was closed. We hope to make it there before we leave.
We also want to see the USS Alabama. We see it often in the distance when we go east on I-10 to Pensacola but again just haven't had time to stop. Guess it's time to stop and smell the roses . . . or azaleas.
Mobile is a very nice city with canopies of majestic oak trees lining the streets. It's about the size of Omaha, NE, but with about half the population. Here's some comparisons of the two cities, according to http://www.idcide.com
Land Area: Omaha, 100.6 sq. mi.; Mobile, 118.0 sq. mi.
Population: Omaha, 390,007; Mobile, 198,915.
Medium household income: Omaha, $40,006; Mobile, $31,445.
Medium value of homes: Omaha, $93,300; Mobile, $80,400.
We've truly enjoyed our stay in Mobile. When we arrived we found a very nice one-bedroom furnished apartment in a gated complex. It's fairly easy to get around although major streets get clogged during rush hour, like any other city. One thing we've noticed about these southern cities is the lengthy traffic signals. When stopped at a red light you can be assured you'll be sitting there awhile. The good thing is if you're far back in a left-turn lane, chances are you'll make your turn in one light.
We'll let the Mobile Bay Convention and Visitor's Bureau do the commercial for the area. This is from their website at http://www.mobile.org
EXPERIENCE MOBILE BAY
Located on the sparkling shores of the magnificent Gulf Coast is exciting Mobile Bay, the South's Easy Vacation Port. Come enjoy a splash of Southern charm when you visit this historic and distinctive coastal city.
Mobile Bay is recognized worldwide for having many unique attractions. The legendary Bellingrath Gardens and Home and the USS ALABAMA Battleship, winner of nine World War II battle stars, are just waiting to be explored. Mobile Bay is also the birthplace of the nation's Mardi Gras, widely known as America's Family Mardi Gras.
Nestled along the banks of Mobile Bay's magnificent waterfront is America's newest cruise terminal. Book your voyage from Mobile Bay to the western Caribbean on a Carnival Cruise Line Fun Ship. Make it a true BAYcation® and combine your cruise with one of our exciting and affordable Pre and Post Cruise Packages.
Unique attractions, exciting outdoor adventures, fresh delicious seafood, Delta excursions, fascinating museums, twenty-one world-class golf courses, white sandy beaches, beautiful historic homes, the possibilities are endless. Plan the perfect Mobile BAYcation® and discover why Mobile Bay is the South's Easy Vacation Port.
Featured Events
Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibition - Extended Dates
Jan 20, 2005-May 08, 2005
Delta Queen Sails Into Mobile
Feb 11, 2005-Dec 22, 2005
The Devonshire Inheritance: Five Centuries of Collecting at Chatsworth
Apr 09, 2005-Jun 19, 2005
FREE Night of Comedy sponsored by Christian Meetings and Conventions Association
Apr 23, 2005
9th Annual Mobile BayBears Celebrity Baseball Game and the Charity Beach Bowl V
Apr 29, 2005-Apr 30, 2005
56th Annual Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou La Batre
Apr 30, 2005-May 01, 2005
73rd Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo
Jul 09, 2005-Jul 17, 2005
National Senior Games Championship Festival
Oct 19, 2005-Oct 28, 2005
We're not sure if the azaleas are still in bloom at Bellingrath Gardens, but we heard they were just awesome. We drove by the Gardens one day on the way to a claim but didn't have time to stop. We wanted to go a couple of weeks ago, but Mobile got 10 inches of rain and the road to the Gardens was closed. We hope to make it there before we leave.
We also want to see the USS Alabama. We see it often in the distance when we go east on I-10 to Pensacola but again just haven't had time to stop. Guess it's time to stop and smell the roses . . . or azaleas.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Disney Builds Pirate Ship at Bayou La Batre
Although we were too busy to yesterday (16 April 2005), we wanted to return to Bayou La Batre, the little fishing village about 15 miles southwest of Mobile that we discovered a while back almost by accident. More on that in a minute. We learned last week that Disney crews had secretly built a pirate ship, The Black Pearl, at Steiner Shipyard in Bayou La Batre. The pitch-black ship is actually a huge wooden prop built on top of a modern 96-foot-long steel utility boat. Yesterday the crew was to sail it out of the Bayou and head for filming in the Caribbean. It will be seen in sequels to Disney's 2003 "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl."
We knew such a project was underway somewhere around here because when we were flying home for Christmas Carol sat next to a fellow on the plane who said he was heading home for Christmas but would be returning to build a ship for a Disney movie. He didn't say where but we thought maybe in Pascagoula, MS, which is a large ship-building area.
We had noticed a new exit off I-10 west of Mobile being constructed and when it finally opened a temporary sign pointed the way, "To Bayou La Batre." We kept wondering what it was, maybe a resort, or a hotel, or new housing area. So one day we decided to take the new exit and see where it went. The road eventually led us to the village of Bayou La Batre, the "Seafood Capital of Alabama." We drove through the village and had lunch there. Quite a quaint little place.
If you happen to be in the area and are looking for ways to celebrate the Year of Alabama Food, Bayou La Batre has a suggestion: the Blessing of the Fleet, April 30 through May 1. Marilyn Jones Stamps with the Alabama State Tourism Department wrote on their website that Bayou La Batre was founded by Frenchman Joseph Bosarge in the 1780s. She continues: The area flourished as a resort destination until 1906, when a category 4 hurricane almost wrecked the industry. Ten years later, what remained of the resort business was swept away when two category 3 hurricanes slammed into the area. Having experienced the worst the Gulf of Mexico could offer, the intervening years have brought the gulf’s bounty to this small, south Alabama town. The commercial seafood industry in and around Bayou La Batre brings $90 million into Alabama’s economy each year. Ninety percent of this comes from shrimp, but oysters, crab, and fish are also part of the catch, making Bayou La Batre a natural location for a seafood festival. For more than 50 years, with its livelihood linked so inextricably to the gulf, the town has blessed its fleet each spring and celebrated the occasion with a seafood festival. The next Blessing of the Fleet/Seafood Festival will be held the last Saturday in April and the first Sunday in May.
The festival began in 1949 when a local grocer revived the Old World custom of asking God to protect the fleet and provide a bountiful harvest. Food was donated for that event, and a local resident boiled shrimp in her kitchen to feed those attending the ceremony. This year, the event is expected to draw 10,000 people. They’ll dine on traditional seafood dishes as well as Vietnamese cuisine prepared by the local Asian community. Festivities include a gumbo cook-off, two parades (one on land, one on water), arts and crafts festival, crab race, and the crowning of the Fleet Queen.
The photos of and article about The Black Pearl below were published in and copyrighted by the Mobile Register on Tuesday, 12 April 2005. The article is by staff reporter Russ Henderson. Following the article are a few photos we took of the area.
We knew such a project was underway somewhere around here because when we were flying home for Christmas Carol sat next to a fellow on the plane who said he was heading home for Christmas but would be returning to build a ship for a Disney movie. He didn't say where but we thought maybe in Pascagoula, MS, which is a large ship-building area.
We had noticed a new exit off I-10 west of Mobile being constructed and when it finally opened a temporary sign pointed the way, "To Bayou La Batre." We kept wondering what it was, maybe a resort, or a hotel, or new housing area. So one day we decided to take the new exit and see where it went. The road eventually led us to the village of Bayou La Batre, the "Seafood Capital of Alabama." We drove through the village and had lunch there. Quite a quaint little place.
If you happen to be in the area and are looking for ways to celebrate the Year of Alabama Food, Bayou La Batre has a suggestion: the Blessing of the Fleet, April 30 through May 1. Marilyn Jones Stamps with the Alabama State Tourism Department wrote on their website that Bayou La Batre was founded by Frenchman Joseph Bosarge in the 1780s. She continues: The area flourished as a resort destination until 1906, when a category 4 hurricane almost wrecked the industry. Ten years later, what remained of the resort business was swept away when two category 3 hurricanes slammed into the area. Having experienced the worst the Gulf of Mexico could offer, the intervening years have brought the gulf’s bounty to this small, south Alabama town. The commercial seafood industry in and around Bayou La Batre brings $90 million into Alabama’s economy each year. Ninety percent of this comes from shrimp, but oysters, crab, and fish are also part of the catch, making Bayou La Batre a natural location for a seafood festival. For more than 50 years, with its livelihood linked so inextricably to the gulf, the town has blessed its fleet each spring and celebrated the occasion with a seafood festival. The next Blessing of the Fleet/Seafood Festival will be held the last Saturday in April and the first Sunday in May.
The festival began in 1949 when a local grocer revived the Old World custom of asking God to protect the fleet and provide a bountiful harvest. Food was donated for that event, and a local resident boiled shrimp in her kitchen to feed those attending the ceremony. This year, the event is expected to draw 10,000 people. They’ll dine on traditional seafood dishes as well as Vietnamese cuisine prepared by the local Asian community. Festivities include a gumbo cook-off, two parades (one on land, one on water), arts and crafts festival, crab race, and the crowning of the Fleet Queen.
The photos of and article about The Black Pearl below were published in and copyrighted by the Mobile Register on Tuesday, 12 April 2005. The article is by staff reporter Russ Henderson. Following the article are a few photos we took of the area.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Atlanta the Busy
We left Mobile around 2 p.m. (CDT) [Sunday, 3 April 2005] and arrived in Atlanta about 9 p.m. (EDT). We knew we were going to lose an hour in the time-zone but weren't sure where. (Coming back we found the time zone is right at the Alabama/Georgia border).
Atlanta traffic is just plain ridiculous, but since it was Sunday night it wasn't as bad as it could have been. The map we had printed for our hotel (Staybridge-North Perimeter) was wrong and it took us about an hour to find it. We finally had to call them to find out how to get there. Turns out we had driven by our turn three or four times. It was hard to see the street signs in the dark.
Our meeting wasn't until the next day at 1:30 so we had a nice breakfast Monday morning at the hotel and Carol worked on some of her files as there was only one internet connection in the room. Bob was nursing a bad sneezing, coughing, runny-nose situation anyway. We took the hotel shuttle to our meeting (Monday Atlanta traffic) and brought it back to the hotel around four. We then took the shuttle to Max & Erma's for an early dinner. Carol had some kind of chicken dish and Bob had barbeque ribs. Didn't realize Max & Erma's is a chain with over 150 locations, mostly in the South and East, although it was started in Ohio and has several locations there. Pretty good food for a chain.
Bob watched the NCAA Men's Championship game and was sorry to see Illinois lose. They just didn't look as good as they had in earlier games, but North Carolina defense may have had something to do with that.
Tuesday morning we shuttled to our meeting again. This was a presentation from an insurance company that we will work for in the future. We left Atlanta at 11:30 a.m. EDT and planned to stop in Auburn, AL, for gas and some food. We both really wanted a sandwich from Chick-Fil-A and thought for sure one would be in Auburn. Not so, and the best price we could find for gas was $2.29, so we decided to go on toward Montgomery. We did however drive through town and went past Auburn University. Really a nice campus with beautiful buildings, some of which have been there a long time.
On the way up we had seen a sign advertising a casino in Shorter, AL, about 18 miles east of Montgomery. We didn't want to stop on the way to Atlanta, but decided to stop on our way home. Should have gassed up in Auburn as the gas here was $2.31. We checked out the casino, VictoryLand, for a few hours. VictoryLand is located at Exit 22 off Interstate 85 between Montgomery and Tuskegee, Alabama. This is a greyhound racing facility and they simulcast greyhound and horse racing from all over the country. They also have bingo and have added hundreds of slot machines. Slot machines apparently are unlawful in Alabama, but somehow the law allows bingo and these machines are considered bingo machines. We're not sure how all of this shakes out, but we enjoyed our brief stay and left with more money than what we arrived with!!
Got back to Mobile about 10 p.m. It was a good trip.
Atlanta traffic is just plain ridiculous, but since it was Sunday night it wasn't as bad as it could have been. The map we had printed for our hotel (Staybridge-North Perimeter) was wrong and it took us about an hour to find it. We finally had to call them to find out how to get there. Turns out we had driven by our turn three or four times. It was hard to see the street signs in the dark.
Our meeting wasn't until the next day at 1:30 so we had a nice breakfast Monday morning at the hotel and Carol worked on some of her files as there was only one internet connection in the room. Bob was nursing a bad sneezing, coughing, runny-nose situation anyway. We took the hotel shuttle to our meeting (Monday Atlanta traffic) and brought it back to the hotel around four. We then took the shuttle to Max & Erma's for an early dinner. Carol had some kind of chicken dish and Bob had barbeque ribs. Didn't realize Max & Erma's is a chain with over 150 locations, mostly in the South and East, although it was started in Ohio and has several locations there. Pretty good food for a chain.
Bob watched the NCAA Men's Championship game and was sorry to see Illinois lose. They just didn't look as good as they had in earlier games, but North Carolina defense may have had something to do with that.
Tuesday morning we shuttled to our meeting again. This was a presentation from an insurance company that we will work for in the future. We left Atlanta at 11:30 a.m. EDT and planned to stop in Auburn, AL, for gas and some food. We both really wanted a sandwich from Chick-Fil-A and thought for sure one would be in Auburn. Not so, and the best price we could find for gas was $2.29, so we decided to go on toward Montgomery. We did however drive through town and went past Auburn University. Really a nice campus with beautiful buildings, some of which have been there a long time.
On the way up we had seen a sign advertising a casino in Shorter, AL, about 18 miles east of Montgomery. We didn't want to stop on the way to Atlanta, but decided to stop on our way home. Should have gassed up in Auburn as the gas here was $2.31. We checked out the casino, VictoryLand, for a few hours. VictoryLand is located at Exit 22 off Interstate 85 between Montgomery and Tuskegee, Alabama. This is a greyhound racing facility and they simulcast greyhound and horse racing from all over the country. They also have bingo and have added hundreds of slot machines. Slot machines apparently are unlawful in Alabama, but somehow the law allows bingo and these machines are considered bingo machines. We're not sure how all of this shakes out, but we enjoyed our brief stay and left with more money than what we arrived with!!
Got back to Mobile about 10 p.m. It was a good trip.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Off to Atlanta
We're heading to Atlanta from Moble, AL, today to attend a conference there Monday and Tuesday. We're driving up so we're looking at about 6-7 hours of windshield time. Looks like a great day, though. Rain here Friday and Saturday left about 10 inches in Mobile and 14 inches in Pensacola. Not sure if we'll be called to work on some floods or not. We're actually looking forward to finishing this gig and get back to Omaha for a while . . . probably just in time for hail season!!!
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