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Tallahassee

The vacation continues. Yesterday we went east, so today we went west to Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. I’d been to a few state capitals (I think) but not my own, so it was interesting.

The drive there was really long — apparently Tallahassee is farther away from here (“here” being a spot between Mikesville and High Springs) than St. Augustine. We refrained from taking Interstates, so that was probably the reason. Anyway, after sitting in the van for approximately forever, you can imagine my surprise as we turned and found ourselves on a very long, grand avenue sloping upward to the old state capitol (and the new one behind it). The view was magnificent.

Anyway, before we did that, we went to Florida State University and drove around and looked at the place. Those buildings were terrific. They looked exactly like the ones we saw at UF. Old-style brick buildings. The terrain was much hillier, though. Tallahassee is very hilly, unlike most of Florida. After eating a late lunch, we stopped by the capitol buildings. I took quite a few photos that I hope to make into panoramas with that autostitch program.

Apparently the old capitol is a now a museum. I was surprised to find it open on a holiday, but we just walked right in. The place was surprisingly small, and the view of the dome from inside wasn’t very impressive. But it was interesting to go into the rooms and see various artifacts belonging to governors and cabinet members. One of the larger rooms was where the state’s Supreme Court met for about ten years in the early 20th century, and it was restored to make it look as such. The 19th century classical-style building really contrasts with the tall, monolithic, ’70s-style capitol that is in use today. We didn’t go into the latter building, actually. It might have been more interesting, though, if you had gone into the present capitol and bumped into your representative.

When we arrived back here, my dad decided it would be good to take my sister and me out to an old road and have us try out that driving thing. We happened to be in a rented van, so it was particularly important that we didn’t screw up. My sister went first. She drove a little, and then I went. I spent a lot more time doing it. It seemed kind of easy. (We were driving slowly along a virtually abandoned dirt-type road, though.) I pretty much took it all the way out to the end of the road. I was sort of proud of myself. It’s about time that I started driving. I should have started driving illegally two years ago. Then I could have gotten my learner’s permit 22 or 23 months ago, and I could have been a licensed driver with official ID last summer. I’m going to have to get my permit next week, after I get home. After all, I also need to get a job, and who’s going to take me if I’m an almost-17-year-old who can’t drive and has no ID? That doesn’t exactly scream “responsible” to me.

Of course, we’re all familiar with the age-old question: “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?” Well, someone much nerdier than I decided to find out.

Have your portrait painted like a vintage Chinese propaganda poster!

Two years ago: “In the movie, global warming causes gigantic waves flood New York and then freeze, burying skyscrapers in ice.”