Halloween Day Trip (Party of One)
by Not Well Versed
10.31.10 On this lovely Sunday morning, it seemed everyone in the household had plans for the day, except for me. I soon got those old butterflies in my stomach that felt a lot like I’ve just hit the lottery! Could it be? Were all the stars and planets in perfect alignment that allowed me this rare opportunity to just do something for me? Well, it didn’t take long before I was digging through the file cabinet in my mind, looking for the big fat file folder way in the back of the drawer labeled “THINGS I WANT TO DO WHENEVER I HAVE TIME OR MONEY TO DO IT”. Aha! I blew the dust off of it, opened it up and landed on the things I could do for FREE or with Very little money. The Grand Bohemian Hotel, in downtown Orlando! 
Yes, this place I’ve planned to visit for a while after having seen pictures of the art displayed there in the gallery. I knew whenever I decided to visit this place I had to be alone (only because I don’t know many people that share my passion for the arts and when I plan to do something like this, the most important element is that I enjoy myself and relish in the activity- so I’d rather go alone than to compromise my experience accommodating or appeasing whomever tags along).
Arriving at the Grand Bohemian, I pulled up at valet grabbed my Canon Power Shot SX20 camera (my favorite thing to shoot with these days), exited the car and went right to the Art Gallery. I was so surprised by how teeny, tiny this hotel and it’s gallery were. It took me a minute to grasp that idea, because for some reason I had the impression there was more to this place. I asked a few people where the REST of it was, but they all replied… “This is pretty much it”. I was kind of bummed about this but I still made the best of it. I got some really neat shots and enjoyed some really nice art pieces both in the gallery and within the hallways. After browsing, I parked myself on a comfy leather chair at their Starbucks on the main floor with an iced mocha latte’ and reviewed some of my shots on the camera. In an effort to make the day last longer, I drove over to see what I’d see at Lake Eola, I parked my car and walked over to their Farmer’s Market. I love outdoor markets of all kinds! 
So I knew this would be fun. The setting here was Live Music playing in a small courtyard in the center of the market, many locals sitting at bistro tables with their mates and many of them with dogs enjoying a meal or a drink under the shade of the large trees overhead. After browsing around up and down the aisle of arts and craft booths, looking at art and jewelry and such, I found myself a nice shady, grassy spot under a tree. I flung open my blanket, pulled out my camera, magazine and net book and laid belly down swinging my feet back n forth just enjoying this very act of doing nothing and enjoying being with ME.
Sack toss at the Pumpkin patch
Mmmm… Warm weather… Mmmmm…. nice breeze blowing the the delicious aroma of barbecued food on the grill… and funnel cakes being fried up… yummm.. but OH it was masked every so often when I’d get a whiff of what smelled like horse manure or some kind of potent fertilizer… yeggghh! Had a feeling it may be coming from the hay stacks at the pumpkin patch display not too far from me.
Couples were passing by holding hands or holding dog leashes.
Many passersby are dressed in Halloween costumes, adults and kiddies alike. It was all such a colorful and happy site! I wasn’t sure which costumes were cuter, the kids or the pups. It was a lot of fun shooting more pictures. Shooting around, observing life around me, it’s definitely my favorite pastime. At one point, I turned over on my back and just watch the leaves from the trees above me just wave around playing with thin beams of sun light. I closed my eyes, took deep breaths of fresh air and just smiled… I felt at one point I was laying with my late friend Dina. (I lost this very dear and special girlfriend to cancer a couple of years ago). I rested my head on her lap, and she played with my hair, whispering to me, reminding me to REALLY appreciate and treasure moments like these.
This was a perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon…
