Columbia, Tennessee

After nearly three months in Florida (loved the warm weather!), it was time to move on to Tennessee.  Our first stop was Columbia which is a charming area about 40 minutes south of Nashville. 

Maury County Courthouse, Columbia, Tennessee

We spent a lot of our time there completing routine maintenance type issues; most importantly, the truck.  Thankfully there was a Ford dealership nearby with Hertz next door so we were able to leave the truck for a few days.

We were surprised (and pleased) to learn that there was a historical point of interest - the home of President James K. Polk's parents.  

This is the only surviving residence of the president other than the White House.  James' father, Samuel Polk, a prosperous farmer and surveyor, built the house in 1816 while his oldest son, James, was attending the University of North Carolina.  While living in his family's Columbia home, James practiced law and began his political career by successfully running for the state legislature.

Since it is the only home of James K. Polk still existing, it is a depository for the Polk furnishings, artifacts, and memorabilia, not only from the period when he lived in Columbia but throughout his life and career.

One of the best examples of Federal-style architecture in Tennessee

The parlor features White House portraits, high-style Rococco furnishings from Polk Place (the home of James and Sarah which no longer exists)...... 

.....And an elaborate style Egyptian marble center table featuring the President's seal.

There are several theories as to why the eagle has no white feathers.  One theory is that there was no white marble available; the other is that they were depicting a young eagle who hadn't grown the white feathers yet.

"Hail to the Chief" was initially played to announce the arrival of the president during John Tyler's term as his wife, Julia, had it played as the president arrived for official events.  However, it became more ritualized during James Polk's presidency when Sarah had it played for his inauguration and formal events.  "Polk was not an over-the-top character; he wasn't larger than life," according to Thomas Price, curator of the Home and Museum.  "Sarah Polk mentioned that on occasion he would enter crowded rooms unnoticed."

But Sarah had an idea.  Thomas Price stated "Wanting to bring some fanfare to the presidency, she had 'The President's Own' Marine Band play the song so that people would know that the president had arrived."

Sarah Childress Polk played this piano.  Maybe she played Hail to the Chief.

The dining room is the site of some of the most beautiful presidential china ever made.  The Polks had the presidential seal embossed on all of the state china.  Mrs. Polk also had different flowers and fruits painted on each piece.

The portraits were beautiful.

James K. Polk by G.P.A. Healy, c. 1845

Polk called the fourteen hours he sat for the portrait "irksome and fatiguing"

Sarah Polk by G.P.A. Healy, c. 1845

James K. Polk once wrote "none but Sarah knew so intimately my private affairs."

The final portrait of James K. Polk shows the physical effects of the Presidency on Polk.  He died three months after leaving the White House.

James K. Polk by G.P.A. Healy, c. 1848

An interesting fact about these original portraits.  Yes, I said originals.  When the Polks left the White House, Sarah liked the portraits so much that she had them packed up and moved to Tennessee.  When the White House asked for them back, she replied no.  So she had copies made and had those returned to the White House.  You go, girl!

This was the bed in the room of Polk's parents, Jane Knox and Samuel Polk.

The fireplace was placed oddly.

Why is it so off-centered?  Maybe Samuel wasn't a great architect.  Or, there is speculation that the fireplace was positioned directly across from the entrance door to the bedroom in order to facilitate the warm air to circulate into the hallway.  The portrait above the fireplace is that of Jane Knox Polk, the President's mother.

A few interesting pieces throughout the house.

Sarah's rocking chair with her bag sitting on the floor.

This trunk was a wedding gift to James and Sarah.  At the time of their wedding their portraits were painted on the top but over time, the images are fading.  Can you imagine using this chamber pot?

James Polk often worked long into the night in his home office.  When he grew tired, he would rest his weary head on this couch.

We went outside to the kitchen which was also used as the slave quarters.

And behind the home was a restored 1882 Gothic Christian Church that is now used for the Polk Presidential Hall.

 

What a wonderful tour!  But we'd worked up an appetite so, of course, we had to find a place to have lunch.  The docent must have read our minds because without prompting, she asked us if we wanted some lunch recommendations.  And we took her recommendation and found ourselves here.

What a great recommendation!

They have several locations throughout Tennessee and one in Alabama but, of course, this one had a lot of Polk decor.

Ron had quite a childhood memory when he looked at the menu.

Smoked Bologna?  As a young boy in a single mother household, one of the only meals he could prepare for himself was fried bologna.  Of course it was Oscar Meyer and thin sandwich "meat" so he was surprised when he saw this.

No live music while we were there but they are permanently set up to welcome artists.

This was my kind of place but how many bottles of sauces can I have?

Answer:  A LOT!

We'd spent our two weeks in Columbia taking care of a few things (greatest Ford service department in the United States) so this was a welcome break.

Little Havana

After we left Key Largo and made our way north, there was one interesting place we wanted to visit - Little Havana.  We'd seen a special about it a few years ago and it was then that it made our "list".

This neighborhood in Miami is the home to many Cuban exiles, as well as many immigrants from Central and South America.  It is noted as a center of social, cultural, and political activity in Miami and its festivals have been televised to millions of people every year on different continents.  It is the best known Cuban exile neighborhood in the world and is characterized by its street life, restaurants, music and other cultural activities, small business enterprises, political passion, and great warmth among residents.

Little Havana was originally a lower-middle class Southern and thriving Jewish neighborhood in the 1930s.  "Little Havana" emerged in the 1960s as the concentration of Cubans in the area grew sharply.  Today "Little Havana" refers to the neighborhood lying immediately west of Downtown Miami, stretching west from the Miami River for roughly two and half miles.

These chickens were all over the neighborhood.  I love how bright and fun they are.

We made our way to "Domino Park" which we learned about in the special we'd seen.

Maximo Gomez Park, also known as Domino Park, is one of the central meeting places in the neighborhood.  As suggested by the unofficial name, the park is famous for the domino games played here by retirees, neighborhood people, and brave tourists (we weren't brave).  Benches are scattered throughout for non-domino players, and cafes, shops, and bars surround the park for those too intimidated to play dominos with feisty Cuban men and women.

They were serious!  They must be accustomed to spectators because they never looked up and played with a vengeance!  

Maximo Gomez, 1836-1905

We walked on and found ourselves here - one of the most famous cigar shops in the area.

The displays inside were beautiful.

A tour bus parked outside and a lot of people joined us inside.

We picked up a few things (happy early birthday, Daniel!) and on we went.

This fruit stand was beautiful.  I wish I'd seen someone buy some oranges so I could see how they reconstructed the display.

Of course we had to stop by a bakery.

So many delicious looking things to choose from.

We picked up a few things even though we weren't sure what they were :-)

Even McDonald's was brightly colored (no, we didn't go inside).

It was time to get on the road and we were too early for lunch so we decided to stop at a walk-up cafe and get some Cuban sandwiches to take with us.

These weren't our drinks but the people who ordered them were happy to let us take a photo.  You can't see it here but the drink on the right had smoke coming out of it.

We headed back to the truck and took in some more sights along the way.

See the parrot?

I'm glad we were able to make the stop and spend some time in Little Havana.