Traveling Lighthouses

I had shell picking and a lighthouse viewing. Sanibel Island Light or Point Ybel Light was one of the first lighthouses located on Florida's Gulf Coast. It is a top shelling destination. This iron skeleton tower which stands 98 feet above sea level has a central spiral staircase, with 127 steps.  It was first lit on August 20, 1884. The original keeper was Dudley Richardson. In 1946, a hurricane hit the island and caused a lot of erosion. So they decided to have the lighthouse automated. The lighthouse is still active and the tower is not open to public but it is open for viewing. The highlight of this trip was my visit at the Lighthouse Café.  Thanks to the taxi driver who told me about the Lighthouse Café.  My visit there had given a boost to my passion for lighthouse. The ambiance was great. It was a place filled with lots of lighthouse photos from visitors. I hope...

A lighthouse visit on a snowy winter? Yes!  The name of the lighthouse comes from Captain John Tibbetts of Troy, New York. History says that he gave three acres of his 600 acres to the Federal Government for the construction of this lighthouse.  The original lighthouse was constructed in 1827 and was rebuilt in 1852 due to the inefficient light.  It is one of the oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes. It is a circular tower and stands 69 feet. The Lightkeeper's quarters was converted to a hostel, with a museum next door. Tibbetts Lighthouse is located in Cape Vincent where Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence river meet. A blissful and cold place.  I visited the lighthouse with a friend from Syracuse on a winter time in March. The place was peaceful. The lake was frozen. The weather was cold. The view was gorgeous. And the lighthouse is absolutely a beautiful tower!     

  I call this a lighthouse and Ernest Hemingway trip.  History says that the original lighthouse which was built in 1825 was destroyed in 1846 by a big hurricane. During the hurricane, some local residents made a wrong decision, thought that the tower would protect them from the storm, so they took shelter in the lighthouse. Unfortunately, the tower collapsed and left 14 people dead. Among the dead were the 6 children of the keeper.  They restored the lighthouse in 1847.  It stands 86 feet, and has 88 steps to the top. I had a short hike to see the lens.   Record says that Key West Lighthouse guided ships through the waters of Florida for more than 100 years. The lighthouse and the Keeper's  Quarters Museum are open for public as historic landmark. Key West is not just about beautiful waterways and the lighthouse.  It is also a home to an American classic novelist, short story writer an...

I had this spontaneous trip to Santo Domingo to visit as much countries as I could in the Caribbean.  Seeing this lighthouse was the highlight of my trip in January 2016.  Lighthouse or Faro a Colon in Spanish, is a monument in tribute to Christopher Columbus. The construction began in 1986, it was inaugurated in 1992 and funded by the Latin American states.  The monument is 690 feet long. Its architecture is cross-shaped and represents the Christianization of America.  It serves as a Mausoleum and a Museum, where the remains of Columbus are buried. The place was huge and peaceful. One of the interesting and impressive characters of this lighthouse is that there are 157 beams of light and can bee seen for miles including the neighboring Puerto Rico. Santo Domingo is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is known as the Caribbean's first city.   I was glad to have explored this Colonial City and had the opportunity to visit   thi...

Ryan surprised me with a road trip to see this lighthouse on Tybee island.  Tybee Lighthouse is Georgia's oldest and tallest Lighthouse. It  was built in 1773 and has been rebuilt several times.  It is 145 feet tall, with 178 steps to the top.  History says that the steps were put in place one at a time and rotated into position.  I climbed the top one step at a time. We enjoyed the view of the calm Atlantic Ocean, the blue water of Savannah River and the peaceful Tybee island.  Seeing my first lighthouse in Georgia was a milestone for me.  Driving the road was another one. We visited Savannah then headed to Madison for Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful weekend.