After a glorious sunrise at the campground, we take the Vespa into Seaside to visit the little town. We park behind the post office in the main square and stroll around for a few hours. Everything is quiet, people in stores smile at you, there are no cars and the only people around are landscapers and contractors working on the houses around. They all have the classic white picket fence and all carry a nameplate on the gate with the family name and the state of origin.
I did my homework and found out that they shot the "The Truman Show" movie here (with Jim Carrey, an actor I dislike, but the movie is a gem). Seaside is perfect for the movie plot, it truly looks like a Hollywood movie set. Entirely developed by an architect as an example of New Urbanism, it separates residential area from communal areas (gym, pool, tennis courts, business district, post office and offices) and sets strict limitations on the external aesthetics of the houses (including the façade colors). The result is conformity of style rather than creativity, a sort of "manufactured fantasy". The town is incredibly neat and architecturally uniform. Even street names have been aptly chosen: Cinderella Circle, Emerald Cove, Seabreeze Circle... It's attractive and somewhat disturbing at the same time.
It's very cold today, I think this must easily be one of Florida's coldest days in 100 years. After a couple of hours, we head back to camp to warm up and have lunch. We are driving east this afternoon, through Tallahasse towards Lake City where state parks abound and we shouldn't have a problem finding where to sleep.
Sunrise at the campground.
Business district in Seaside, seen from the bookstore balcony. The small temple in front is the post office. The pyramid in the back is a gazebo on the beach.
Bike rental shop. Judging from the amount of bikes, this must be a little busy resort town during the summer...
Laura strolling around town.
A street in Seaside.
Post office, decorated for the festivities.
Business district: offices and banks.
The bookstore.