I recently moved into a full time position at the pharmacy, the timing of which has prompted me to reflect on my priorities at the start of a new year. Despite the increase in working hours, my goal is to continue to maintain a work-life balance. With this in mind, I want to go out more this year, and make friends.
I missed my family at Christmas, but we kicked off the new year with a reunion at my sister's new house in Tampa. I left after work on the Thursday before MLK weekend. It is a bear to lose 3 hours flying to the east coast, but I did not encounter any flight issues with the quick layover in Dallas. Anna flew in from Denver, and also arrived at midnight. Rita picked us up at the airport and brought us back to check out the new digs.
We slept in on Friday, enjoying a lazy morning together. Later that afternoon, we drove 40 minutes west to Clearwater Beach. Tampa is a city on Tampa Bay, along Florida’s Gulf Coast. A major business center, it’s also known for its museums and other cultural offerings. We grabbed food and drinks at beachside Palm Pavillion, and watched a beautiful sunset. Our parents arrived from Pittsburgh that evening.
Saturday was a highlight of the trip. Located an hour north of Tampa, Weeki Wachee is an enchanted state park and spring where you can see live mermaids, take a river boat cruise, learn about Florida wildlife, and swim in the pristine waters at Buccaneer Bay. We began our visit by paddling a 3-mile section of the Weeki Wachee River. The waterway winds gently underneath a mix of cypress, oak, and palm trees. Along the way, we found ourselves floating alongside a variety of fish, birds, turtles, and even the endangered West Indian manatees.
Afterwards, we watched the mermaid show, which shares their version of The Little Mermaid. From a submerged auditorium, visitors have watched the famous mermaids perform for 60 years. It is a very unique and charming experience.
Before leaving, we took a dip in the bay and again came face to face with manatees!
That evening, my parents prepared a delicious family dinner at home.
I was surprised to see it rain on Sunday, but Rita explained that Tampa gets well above the US average rainfall. Tampa's historic Ybor City neighborhood was developed by Cuban and Spanish cigar-factory workers at the turn of the 20th century. It is now a dining and nightlife destination. We dined at iconic Spanish restaurant, Columbia, owned and operated by 5 generations over 115 years.
On Monday, we explored the Tampa Riverwalk, which links downtown’s favorite attractions via a 2.6-mile path along the Hillsborough River. Located in Tampa Heights neighborhood, Armature Works is a historic structure reinvented as a community destination with innovative eateries and Heights Public Market. After lunch, I said goodbye to my family and travelled back to my boys. Until the next reunion!
