Sunday at JB's - University of Tampa tour

 Sunday, May 29 - Today we did a little sightseeing.  Bridgette showed off the beautiful campus of the University of Tampa, where she has been working part-time the past year, and where she starts her full time job as a biology instructor.  It's a beautiful, old campus, and the main building, Plant Hall, the main academic and administrative building for the University, already had an extraordinary history. 

Bridgette taught microbiology and intro biology classes to pre-nurse students in this building this spring.  Formerly the Tampa Bay Hotel, the building represented, and still remains, a symbol of the city and its history.  Built between 1888 and 1891, the hotel was designed to surpass all other grand winter resorts. At a cost of $3 million, the 511-room giant rose to a flamboyant height of five stories, surrounded by ornate Victorian gingerbread and topped by Moorish minarets (defined as "tall spires with onion-shaped or conical crowns, domes and cupolas).  The campus adds a distinctive view to Tampa's skyline.

 
The position that Bridgette has here was created for her, after she proved herself invaluable to the university, with her capability of teaching microbiology and statistics and biology, as well as setting up and coordinating the biology labs. Her diverse background was both recognized and appreciated.  Her office is currently being set up for her in this building.

She begins her full-time job on June 1, so we'll have to go back in to visit her new digs once she gets situated in her new office. 

The campus is right in downtown Tampa, and is very beautiful. It is a private, comprehensive university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.  6,500 students attend here from all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries.  90% of the full-time professors have doctorates or the terminal degree in their field, and average class size is 21.  Amazing!  Tyler is definitely interested in going to college here in a few years (he's a high school sophomore).

We passed the Lightning Bolts Hockey Stadium as we headed toward Tampa Bay, which is only a few blocks from the school.  We drove through an old, stately, million-dollar subdivision right on the bay, where Bridgette intends to live one day.

Our last sightseeing stop was for lunch, at Hooter's.  That's all I'll say about that.  But we saw a few of her sandhill cranes scattered throughout our drive.  They are very stately-looking birds, always in pairs, like they were out for a Sunday stroll. 

After a (very) brief rest for us old folks, John barbequed steak for dinner.  Doug and Barbara came over, Bridgette fixed desserts and prepped the rest of the meal for the barbeque (corn on the cob and roasted potatoes).  Then we watched the NASCAR race, but Bridgette wasn't done for the day.  She got in a little more boxing.

Then she decided she had too much adrenaline going, so she took Tyler out for a 30-minute run, followed by Wii bowling again (I let them win the first game, but I smoked them all the second game).  Another restful day at JB's bed and breakfast. As soon as the race was over, we all headed to bed.

Monday morning as we are discussing our options for the day, John mentioned something about an interactive alligator tour!  Not sure what he has in mind, but I'm thinking it involves feeding us to the gators.