Hello my dear Blog readers! Unlike my other blogs this one is specifically created for travelers that are new to St. Petersburg, Florida; in particular guests that are coming to stay at our vacation rental:                                              https:/www.vrbo.com/3504544?unitID=4077690 Welcome to Casa Tropicana!  Our guests often ask us for food and activity suggestions during their visit in beautiful St. Petersburg. So we decided to put together this reference ..read more

S a n f o r d Joe and I like to explore our surroundings,  near and far. Just recently we decided to do a little weekend getaway to Sanford,  Florida. Sanford sits on the northern tip of the greater Orlando, Florida area. From there its a decent drive to more central Orlando themeparks etc. But unlike Orlando with its stop and go traffic the traffic in Sanford is within "normal range".  So we booked house sitters for our boys as usual and were ready to go! Now, we've never heard of Sanford before. But that just happened to be the location of an Eagles cover band concert we w ..read more

A few months have passed. I am contemplating what to write this time. What is the message I want to share by doing this?  Sure a blog can be used as a platform for so many reasons. It's tempting to get sucked into ones ego taking over and making it a "look what I can do" - platform.  For me I realize, it is a way to express myself, to bring a smile to your face and ultimately your day. But to also bring a smile to my face, because while my life journey contains struggles and hick-ups, at the end of the day its full of gratitude. In a post "pandemic" time, inspiration is certainly s ..read more

As we are approaching the sizzling Florida summer season, I realize this is our second summer here already.  I remember visiting my girlfriend in Tampa years ago and going for a morning walk. I remember looking over at her, walking leisurely next to me. Her face is  glistening. I said: "Are you wearing a shiny lotion or are you sweating"?  She replied with: "I am sweating". It's what you do here.  Surprised I said that I assumed one would get used to this climate after some time. When it's hot and humid you kinda melt.  Welcome to SOUTHERN FLORIDA.   O ..read more

 My suggestion is: If you don't love water,  don't come here! This beautiful park is mostly used by locals.  So consider yourself lucky that I am sharing the top notch goods with you. Just kidding. http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/camping.htm  This affordable jungle-like campground is literally surrounded by water on all sides. It has approximately 236 sites and books often months in advance. There are many water sites to choose from, many of them very spacious.  You'll be by mangroves on some sites.  This is literally a Florida experience at its best.  ..read more

Has it really been 6 months of jungle life? Uuuhuuuh! The palm trees, wild and ungroomed, have done me in. Love grew in record speed. Yes I love this place.  Fort Desoto.    https://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_ft_desoto.htm The trails, the beautiful beaches, the abundance of birds. I can honestly say that I don't recall seeing such a crazy variety of large birds anywhere before.   While the actual Fort leaves alot to be desired  (at least in my book) the rest of this luscious southern tip of the peninsula screams paradise.  We've encountered one man ..read more

  I go about my daily tasks to include the workamper duties, managing and selling my things on "Ulrike's Shop " and starting a new job as an Executive Personal Assistant to a lovely couple in St. Pete, when life decides to off-rail things a whole bunch.   Yep here we were, Joe spending an x-amount of hours applying for upper management positions and doing his handyman gig on the side when his body put a break on! The signal was: You're done dude.  Fast forward THREE awful weeks of pain.  Pain management,  doctors visits, MRI's. Dealing with the medical non-cari ..read more

         Fort Desoto PAW PARK This large grassy dog park can be found inside the Fort Desoto (Pinellas County) Park in the greater Tampa Bay area of Florida.   If you happen to visit the nearby Fort Desoto campground or are just visiting the county park, it is very dog friendly. Adjacent to the dog park is the dog beach that attracts dog owners who want to treat their dogs ( and often themselves) to a day at the beach and a dip in the beautiful turquois Golf of Mexico.  The PAW Park is separated by  small and large dogs areas. Both have a ..read more

  It's the middle of July. 9 months ago we arrived in Florida.  Time flies when you're having fun, right!?  One that does not live a full time RV life could assume that we're just kicking back every day, sipping on our margaritas.  One couldn't be farther from reality!  Reality check: Since our move to our current location at Fort Desoto campground we spend 3 half days working in order to receive a free stay at said location.  We switch duties weekly: One week we clean camp sites.   Where we get to cruise around in a non-shock absorbent golf cart and pre ..read more

Welcome back!   So here I am,  gathering my thoughts once again.  This time I am en-route back to Tampa, Florida.  Having left Orange County, California behind me. It was 22 days ago that you heard from me last when I was flying TO California.  These 22 days have been the longest Joe and I have been apart in the past 7 and a half years. And to be honest, I didn't care much for it, nor did he! You may ask: Then why did you do it? That's a valid question I shall say! Exactly 6 months ago I decided it was time to handle an overdue dental problem. I had the cho ..read more