Three More Days

We will be here at Mexico Beach for three more days. We called Sunset Isle RV Park on Cedar Key and they are full until the 20th when a waterfront site (#10) opens up. It is a little costlier at $250 for the week but it is a waterfront site so we can live a little! Sunset photos coming!

Making Plans

Now that the weather is getting a little bit nicer we are starting to look at where we would like to go next. Our neighbors here told us about Cedar Key, a funky little set of small islands further along the Gulf Coast (B on the map). This will of course depend on availability and weather.

This morning we got a call from our friends Paul and Dodi who we had met in Mexico several years ago and with whom we visited in 2011. They live in Lakeland, FL where the weather is much better. They also have an extra RV hookup on their large property. Dodi has been down with a bad back and Paul says he would enjoy the company so that is where we will head after Cedar Key.

The route will take us on secondary highways, just the way I like to travel!

Sochi Travel Alert for LGBT Travelers

http://www.dallasvoice.com/

State Department issues LGBT travel warning for Sochi Olympics

Posted on 13 Jan 2014 at 10:33am

Sochi bear

The U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory Saturday for citizens traveling to Russia for the Winter Olympics next month, including a specific warning that “vague guidance” from Russia about its new laws making “it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public” could be used to fine, deport, or jail foreign visitors.

The LGBT warning was part of a longer advisory alerting Americans traveling to Sochi, Russia, for the Olympics that such highly publicized global events are seen as an “attractive target” for terrorists and that several acts of terrorism have already been perpetrated in Russia in the past few weeks.

The advisory, issued January 10, urges American citizens to “avoid large crowds in areas that lack enhanced security measures” and to use caution “in any areas where protests, demonstrations, or other public disturbances are taking place.”

“Demonstrations intended to be peaceful can develop quickly and unpredictably, sometimes turning violent,” notes the advisory.

The possibility of LGBT-related protests in Russia has been a concern since last June, when the Russian government approved its anti-gay laws. Although the Russian government says the laws are just focused on protecting children from “non-traditional sexual relations,” the legislation goes much further. Signed by President Vladimir Putin in June and July, they also prohibit any public displays of affection by same-sex couples and any public events related to LGBT people.

Early talk by activists of staging protests or wearing rainbow pins or waving rainbow flags at the Olympics was met with promises by the Russian government of tough enforcement of its laws. Putin and Russian officials have softened their tone in recent weeks, and earlier this month and said they would provide a designated area in a nearby village for protests. Then earlier this month, Putin signed an executive order that will require protesters to secure approval in advance.

But tensions seemed to be ready to escalate again over the weekend, when the head of the Russian Orthodox Church suggested the Russian people vote on whether to re-criminalize homosexuality.

The State Department advisory notes that foreign citizens could be fined as much as $3,100, jailed for 14 days, and deported for violating the laws.

“The law makes it a crime to promote LGBT equality in public, but lacks concrete legal definitions for key terms,” notes the advisory. “Russian authorities have indicated a broad interpretation of what constitutes ‘LGBT propaganda,’ and provided vague guidance as to which actions will be interpreted by authorities as ‘LGBT propaganda.’

The State Department maintains an LGBT Travel Information page.

LISA KEEN  |  Keen News Service

— David Taffet

This is very troubling. The Russian government passed this homophobic hate law but then stated it would not be enforced for the period of the Olympics. They then said the law would be enforced but would not target travelers. Now they are saying it will be enforced against travelers engaging in "public displays of affection" or "displaying LGBT propaganda" whatever the hell that means. Hugging when meeting another man or to celebrate a goal? Two female gold and silver medal winners kissing on the podium? What is the Russian definition of a "public display of affection"? What is "displaying LGBT propaganda"? Wearing the "wrong" colored tie or scarf (putting a multi-colored scarf on the teddy bear above)? They have not defined it so that means it is open to interpretation by individual police officers (or religious inspired mobs as has already happened).

The Russian Church is calling for draconian laws against gay people similar to those recently passed in Uganda where gays face decades in prison just for being gay or straight people for "assisting" a gay person (like being a doctor, employer or landlord).

This is something we ALL should be deeply concerned with, not just those who are gay. Straight people must make their voice heard. We must speak loudly against hate legislation wherever it is threatened or passed.

I normally laugh off Travel Advisories by the US State Department because they usually center around the made up dangers of traveling in Mexico. This however is different. An easily identifiable class of people have been targeted.

A bit better bear:

Port St. Joe

Yesterday afternoon we made a short road trip to the neighboring town of Port St. Joe. There is a Piggly Wiggly there and we needed some groceries. We drove around the nice, clean little town and found the Sunset Grill where we decided to stop for an early dinner.

The place is aptly named because it looks out over the beach directly into the setting sun. One of their specials was grilled swordfish which I like but have not had the chance to eat for several years. I was set on grilled tuna before I was told of the specials but I am glad I switched. The tuna can wait. Norma ordered a half order of ribs. The swordfish was excellent and Norma claimed the ribs were truly falling off the bone. As usual she could only eat half of her half order and took the rest home.

This morning we woke to a sunny sky and low 60's temperatures. We were making plans to drive to the Panera Bread Bakery in Panama City but Norma saw figure skating on TV so we will put that trip off until tomorrow. I love retirement!

The Thunder Roared

We are sitting here in Mexico Beach, Florida. The temperatures have come up quite a bit and we are nit even using the electric heater. Last night there was a small group of musicians over in the common hall and they were selling beer for $3. We went over and ended up at a table with another Canadian couple from Nova Scotia who lived for several years in Puebla, Mexico where he worked for Magna Corporation. It was a fun night.

Not long after we went to bed the rain started, accompanied by cracking thunder and lightening! It lasted on and off all night, sometimes directly overhead and very close. It is continuing throughout the day today, blocking out the StarChoice much of the time.

We need a few groceries so we may venture out later to check out the town. There is a grocery store listed on Google maps but it has a name I do nor recognize.  The next closest grocery store is in Panama Beach, a few miles back on the highway. Just another day in Paradise.

Mexico Beach

We left Mobile by 9:30 which is unbelievably early for us and drove to Pensacola on I-10, turned off towards the beach and followed 98 along the Forgotten Coast to Mexico Beach. The Time Zone runs right through town so we got here at 3:00 or 4:00 depending which side of 15th Street we are on.

We checked into the Rustic Sands RV Park and paid $22 per night (Passport America rate) for the week, There is a light rain falling but it is supposed to be clear and 70F tomorrow (according to the guy who checked us in). There is cable here so I will not set up the Starchoice until tomorrow.

Thinking About Moving On

We got a call from the Honda dealer at about 11:00 telling us the car was ready. We returned the rental and they drove us to AutoNation Honda. I like Enterprise, they have nice vehicles for a reasonable price ($21 per day) and are happy to pick you up and deliver you. It helps that our BCAA Auto Club is picking up the tab for the car and our Gold Visa card covered the insurance.

The Honda was $375 for the new ignition switch and they had done a safety inspection on it as well. Everything passed. We drove downtown, had lunch and walked a bit but had to quit because it is just too bloody cold! We went into the historic Battle Hotel which Stonewall Jackson once made his headquarters. I think the hotel was rebuilt since then but it still looked very old but elegant with many of the original dishes and ornaments on display.

Photos from Google Images. It was too cold to take photos.

We are heading out on Thursday morning. It is just not that much fun when it is this cold. We have seen only about half of what we planned here.

20F, -7C

Norma called from the bathroom this morning, "There's no water"! We were frozen. She turned on the pump and it worked. Phew, dodged that bullet. The hose is frozen solid. My choices are, 1) go outside and freeze my hands while I undo the hose and try to stuff it in the cab to thaw and then clean up the mess after it does or, 2) pour another coffee and wait for the temperature to rise a bit. I am tending towards #2.

And we came south for the winter because.......?

I just called Honda and the part is not in yet. She is sure it will be on the truck this morning and will be installed by noon. We will see. The rental has to be returned by 1:00 or rented for another day.

Dauphin Island

Yesterday found us and our rented Ford Escape on a road trip to Dauphin Island at the entrance to Mobile Bay. This Island and it's fort played an important part in the Battle Of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. The Confederate held fort fell to Union forces allowing Union warships access to the important Southern shipping port. It was on Dauphin Island where Union Admiral David Farragut shouted the words, "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" during the attack. Well, he may or may not have shouted this. History is vague, it may have been a case of, "I wish I had said....".

There really is not much to see on the island. It is a seasonal destination and winter is not the preferred season so many things were closed. The shores on both sides of the island are dotted with houses, most on stilts to protect against Gulf storms and hurricanes. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan covered the island in two to four feet of water, destroying many ground level homes.

We stopped at a beachfront "Gourmet Restaurant, flip-flops allowed" for a late lunch / early dinner. Norma had spicy Asian shrimp (not too spicy) on a bed of cole slaw and I had seafood gumbo. Her shrimp were good (as usual, she could not finish them so I helped) but my gumbo was seriously lacking after tasting true Cajun gumbo as they tried to make up for the lack of flavor with spicy heat, not a normal ingredient for gumbo. Here are a couple of shots.

Dauphin Island is at the blue pin, not the red (which I can't get rid of)

Short Term Plans

We are in search of warmer weather! Another Blogger was on Florida's "Forgotten Coast" around Panama City and Mexico Beach and his description of the area sounded good. We called Rustic Sands RV Park in Mexico Beach and booked for a week starting on the 9th. We hate reservations but it is Florida and they are almost full. It is about a five hour drive (for us) which is more than we normally do. Stay tuned! Life Is Good and getting better!