CULTURAL MAGAZINE

Travel between the Moon and the Sun: Orlando, the Kennedy Space Center, Key Largo, Key West and Miami

Introduction - the Moon and the Sun

It is 16thJuly, 1969, five months before the end of the decade. Apollo 11 blasts off from the Kennedy Space Centre near Orlando, Florida. On board are three brave men making the journey into the unknown to fulfillesaudire Kennedy’s dream:  Mission Commander Neil Alden Armstrong; Command Module Pilot Michael Collins; and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jr. Four Earth-days after take-offdecollo, lancio, on 20th July, the Lunar Module touches downatterra on the dustypolverosa surface of the Moon. Astronaut Neil Armstrong carefully negotiates the nine rungs of the Module’s ladderscala, before stepping onto the surface. Echoingripetendo the belief that the lunar landing was the greatest technological achievement in human history, Armstrong uttersproferisce one of the most famous sentences in the English language: “That’s one small step for a man; one giant leap for Mankind.”

As the world celebrates the fortieth anniversary of the Moon landing this summer, we’re focusing on where that first journey to the Moon took off: The Kennedy Space Center, named after the US President whose challenge inspired the expedition; and the State of Florida, the “Sunshine State”. 

In the following articles we’ll explore what else the Sunshine State has to offer - from the lively, distinctive cities of Miami and Orlando, to the natural wonders of The Keys (Key Largo and Key West). Enjoy!

 

The Kennedy Space Centerwww.kennedyspacecenter.com

The Kennedy Space Center is situated in Central Florida, on Merritt Island wildlife reserve, some 60 minutes east of Orlando by car. The island is 34 miles (55 km) long and about 6 miles (10 km) wide. The Space Center is the centre of NASA’s launch operations and, because of the sensitive nature of its work, much of its property is restricted, and so only nine percent of the island is inhabited.

NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created on 29th July, 1958 at the heightculmine of the “space race”, almost one year after the Soviet Union launched the first ever human-made satellite, Sputnik 1. The Apollo program (1961-1975) was the third human space flight program started by NASA, and its goal was to land a man on the Moon, and return to Earth.

Day tours to the Center celebrate the past achievementssuccessi of the space programs and guide visitors through its current programs and future ambitions. The tours take in museums, a simulation ride into space, two IMAX theatres, and a range of bus tours to various restricted areas.

 

Orlando

Once a major citrus-growing regionarea produttrice di agrumi, now Orlando is the capital city of family fun and
escapismevasione, American style. There’s Walt Disney World Resort to the southwest of the city; Universal Orlando Resort and Sea World Orlando in the city itself; and of course The Kennedy Space Center an hour’s drive to the east. In fact, the city boasts more theme parks and entertainment attractions than anywhere else in the world.

However the city wasn’t always so razzle-dazzlededita alla baldoria. Most of the early residents of Orlando in the 1850s made their living by cattle ranchingallevamento di bestiame. After the American Civil War and during the Reconstruction of the southern States, the population of Orlando increased tenfolddieci volte, and the settlement officially became a city in 1885. The period from 1875 to 1895 is remembered as Orlando's Golden Era, when it became the hubcentro, fulcro of Florida's citrus industry. During the “Great Freezegelo” of 1894-95, however, many owners had to sell upvendere and the few remaining “citrus barons” moved south to Polk County.

Although some citrus farmers remain in the area, these days the focus has moved from agriculture to tourism. The Walt Disney World resort is the area's largest attraction with its many
featuresattrazioni such as the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, and Downtown Disney. SeaWorld Orlando is a large park that features numerous zoological displays and marine animals alongsidelungo an amusement park with
roller coastersmontagne russe and water park. Universal Orlando, like Walt Disney World, is a multi-faceted resort comprising Universal Studios Florida, CityWalk, and the Islands of Adventure theme park.

Orlando has the second largest number of hotel rooms in the country (after Las Vegas, Nevada), and is one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions with the Orange County Convention Center, the country's second largest. It is also known for its wide array of golf courses, with numerous courses available for any level of golfer.

 

The Keys

The Keys are a chaincatena of about 1700 islands that stretch outsi estende from the southern tippunta of the peninsula of the State of Florida. They begin about 15 miles (24 km) south of Florida. Until the twentieth century the islands were only accessible by boat, then in the 1910s an overseas railway was constructed which reached all the way to Key West, the last of the inhabited islands. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the railway, and the Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1) replaced it as the main transportation route from Miami to Key West.

Key Largo
 [Text taken from www.fla-keys.com]
The most northern of the Florida Keys island chain, Key Largo is home to two state parks, a national park, a national marine sanctuary and some of the most fascinating botanical scenery in the state. It is situated between the Everglades National Park to the west and the only living
coral reefbarriera corallina in the US, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, to the east. It is for this reason that Key Largo styles itself as the Diving Capital of the World.

Apart from the thousands of scuba divers and snorkelers who visit the island every year, Key Largo's proximity to the Everglades makes it a popular destination for kayakers, birdwatchers and other eco-tourists. A vibrant community of artists, inspired by the beautiful settingambientazione, also shows their work at several local galleries. There is also a large choice of restaurants and bars to relax in after a long, rewardinggratificante day in the outdoors.

Key West 
[text taken from www.keywest.com]
This laidbackcalma, rilassata island, the very last inhabited island in the Keys chain, has many things to recommend it. Some unmissables include: salt water fishing; unforgettable sunsets; fine seafood restaurants; diving and snorkelling to the coral reefs and wrecksrelitti on the sea bed.

Scuba diving to explore wrecks is a particular favorite in Key West. One of the most popular underwater attractions is the warship The General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. On May 27th the ship was deliberately sunkaffondata to form an artificial reef in 140 feet of water seven miles off Key West. The Vandenberg is the second largest ship purposely sunk as an artificial reef.

Miami

Here we’ll take a look at some of Miami’s Top attractions, from the official Lonely Planet site.

Art Deco Welcome Center - 1001 Ocean Dr, South Beach
It's located in the old beach patrol headquarters, one of the best deco buildings out there, and you can book some excellent guided walking tours for around US$20, which are some of the best introductions to the layout and history of South Beach on offer.

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Park - 1200 S Crandon Blvd, Key Biscayne
Come here for a tasteassaggio of their unique island ecosystem. The 494-acre park is a tangled clotintricato grumo of tropical fauna and dark mangroves - look for the 'snorkel' roots that provide air for the often half-submerged mangrove trees - all interconnected by sandy trailssentieri sabbiosi and wooden boardwalks and surrounded by miles of pale ocean.

Holocaust Memorial - on the corner of Dade Blvd, Meridian Ave, South Beach
Holocaust memorials tend to be somber, but this one, dedicated to the six million Jews killed during the shoah, is particularly grimtorvo, triste, and doesn't seem to offer any sort of hopeful end note; the theme is one of relentless sadness, betrayaltradimento and loss. The memorial was created in 1984 through the efforts of Miami Beach Holocaust survivors and sculptor Kenneth Treister.
There are several key pieces, with the Sculpture of Love and Anguish the most visible to passersby. This enormous, oxidized bronze arm bears an Auschwitz tattooed number - chosen because it was never issued at the camp - and terrified camp prisoners who are scaling the sides of the arm.

Miami Metrozoo - 12400 SW 152nd St, Goulds
Miami boasts an excellent zoo, thanks in part to a subtropical climate that allows for large swathes of natural habitat. More than 200 species are represented, from elephants to koalas, colombus monkeys, black rhinoceros, a pair of Komodo dragons and Bengal tigers (including a gorgeous white tiger) prowlingche si aggirano around an evocative Hindu temple. For a quick overview (because the zoo is so big), hop on the Zoofari Monorail.

Miami Museum of Science & Planetarium - 3280 S Miami Ave, Coconut Grove
This recommended museum has great hands-on exhibits: from turbulent weather phenomena and the mysterious universe to creepy crawlersvermi and coral reef exhibits. Kids will love the outdoor Wildlife Center, which features dangerous animals of South Florida and birds of prey. Also attached is a popular planetarium.

Miami Seaquarium - 4400 Rickenbacker Causeway, Key Biscayne
This fine 15-hectare (38-acre) marine life park excels in preserving, protecting and educating us about aquatic creatures. Shows and exhibits include a tropical reef; the Shark Channel, with feeding presentations; and Discovery Bay, a natural mangrove habitat that serves as a refuge for rehabilitating rescued sea turtles.

Moca At Goldman Warehouse - 404 NW 26th St, Wynwood
Thank God the Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) expanded into this Wynwood satellite; the main exhibit, while worth the drive, is miles away. In the meantime, the MoCA at Goldman
has dibsha la precedenza on this space through 2009; pay a visit, as it's a good, Downtown-adjacent spot to see some of the highlights of the MoCA's excellent collection.

Rubell Family Art Collection - 95 NW 29th St, Wynwood
The Rubell family - specifically, the niece and nephew of the late Steve, better known as Ian Schrager's Studio 54 partner - operates some top-end hotels in Miami Beach, but they've also amassedaccumulato an impressive contemporary art compilation that spans the last 30 years. The most admirable quality of this collection is its commitment to not just display one or two of its artists' pieces; rather, the aim is to focus on a contributor's entire career.

Biltmore Hotel - 1200 Anastasia Ave, Coral Gables
In the most opulent neighborhood of one of the showiest cities in the world, the Biltmore peers down her nose and says, 'Hrmph.' It's one of the greatest of the grand hotels of the American Jazz Age, if this joint was a fictional character from a novel, it'd be, without question, Jay Gatsby. The history of this landmark reads like an Agatha Christie novel on speed. Al Capone had a speakeasy here, and the Capone Suite is still haunted by the spirit of Fats Walsh, murdered here.
Back in the day, imported gondolas transported celebrity guests like Judy Garland and the Vanderbilts. Because, of course, the Biltmore had its own canal system out the back.

Boardwalk
What's trendy in beachwear this season? Seventeenth-century Polish gabardine coats, apparently. There are plenty of skimpy hottiesragazze succinte on the Mid-Beach boardwalk, which runs from 21st to 46th Streets, but sometimes it feels like there are even more Orthodox Jews going about their business in the midst of gay joggers, strolling tourists and preeningagghindati sunbathers. Not too much preening though; Mid-Beach is more of a 'real' beach (i.e. people swim here).
Speaking of local Jews, this part of mid-Beach is within Miami Beach's Eruv ( eh -rev). The what? Well, during the Sabbath, Orthodox Jews cannot engage in a lot of normal activities (like carrying anything) outside their homes. The Eruv essentially expands the boundary of home to incorporate one of America's premier beaches; hence, all those Orthodox matrons going about their
errandscommissioni.

Freedom Tower - 600 Biscayne Blvd, Downtown

The 'Ellis Island of the South' served as an immigration processing center for almost half a million Cuban refugees in the 1960s. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, it was also home to the Miami Daily News for 32 years. The top facade is one of two surviving area towers modeled after the Giralda bell tower in Spain's Cathedral of Seville - the second is at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.