Different versions of the same thing

We saw the Boston skyline many times during our week vacation there. The first time was a dark cloudy day. We went out on a half day whale watching trip so I stood in the back of the boat taking pictures of the skyline.

The next day we had booked a 90 minute sightseeing boat tour around the harbor and it was sunny. So again I was on the back of the boat taking pictures of the same skyline with blue sky.

Far out in the harbor, the skyline was a just a blur.

Where the fishing boats come in.

On our third boat trip, the ferry to Salem, it was partly cloudy in the morning.  The funny thing is that I live in a city that is right on the water but I never really think of going out in the bay to get pictures of the skyline. The Tampa skyline is much smaller than Boston’s.

Wildlife in “The Burg”

There’s always lots of fun critters at Crescent Lake park near downtown St. Pete.

I caught this ibis trying to eat a frog in the middle of the road.

The fungus on this old tree looks like icing on a cake.

I found a few white pelicans floating around the downtown St. Pete sea wall.

Things at the small beach area on the bay side of St. Petersburg (know as The Burg) in late December.

A walk around Davis Islands yacht basin

So many different things to see around the tip of Davis Islands where the small airport and yacht basin ends the island.  From tiny boats, really big boats and tug boats the variety can keep you busy watching the sights all morning.

In one corner of the island, there’s a small dog beach next to the private airport. There wasn’t many dogs on the beach early one recent Saturday morning. I think it was just too hot. Even the water was warm.

I think this is my favorite. This sailboat had a handmade boat lift for it’s own rowboat.

A hot Saturday morning in late July.

Being a tourist on the beach

Clearwater Beach sure has changed since we moved down to the area almost 15 years ago. The beach was still mostly Mom & Pop motels and now it’s all high-rise hotels and condos. Traffic and parking are insane so we rarely go over there.  On Christmas afternoon we wanted to get out for a walk so we went to Sand Key beach which is just across the bridge from Clearwater beach. It was such a beautiful day that all of the beaches were crowded. All of the above were taken from Sand Key Park looking across at Clearwater beach and downtown Clearwater.

A few of the fun finds at the beach.

Sunset at the fishing pier

This is a pano of north Tampa Bay taken with my phone at the Safety Harbor fishing Pier.

After an early dinner, we walked down to the fishing pier to watch the sunset.

The sun actually sets behind the trees but it was still a beautiful night out. These were taken from the end of the fishing pier looking towards the marina.

The sun was going down on the sailboats.

A walk around Davis Islands

A view of downtown Tampa from the small airport on Davis Islands.

A beautiful day to walk around and admire all of the yachts in the basin.

Things you see driving along the inside channel across from Harbour Island.

Above is the view from the yacht basin near Tampa General hospital.

Flowers along the channel.

I hadn’t been over to Davis Islands in downtown Tampa to walk around in a long time. I use to go over and walk around the yacht basin all the time. It is usually packed with joggers, dog walkers, bicycle riders and walkers. The morning I was there was very quiet. I guess because it was so hot outside that early.