post by Becky
I have to admit that when we first walked up to the large brick building surrounded by barbed wire and sided with corrugated metal, I was a little intimidated. Then I saw the big yellow bus and had to laugh. It was so cute! Once we walked through the door I couldn't see anything at all - but I could hear, from somewhere in the distance, cheering. Brenda and I grinned at each other. We knew what that meant - go Team USA!!! Slowly our eyes adjusted to the dark. We were at the Duce for a quick bite to eat and a look at the World Cup game that was on - USA versus Slovenia. (This was my first experience with vuvuzelas!!) The Duce itself is a very large, old building that sells tons of really cute items plus has an outdoor restaurant and an indoor coffee-spot. In it's middle is a huge skylight with two citrus trees reaching up towards the light. Surrounding this are different "areas" - one a little farm stand, one an exercise room, one an area full of army surplus clothing (mostly for men), one a dressing table area with vintage toiletries. There's even a "cell phone booth"! It's easier to show you photos than to describe them, so I have posted those here below. I asked one of the wait-staff if they ever rent the place out for weddings. He said probably, but he didn't know, he'd have to ask his boss. Oh it would be such a pretty place for a wedding!!! Oh how I'd love to photograph a wedding there (*wink wink*)!!
WATCHING THE GAME
INSIDE
UNDER THE SKYLIGHT, WHERE THE TREES GROW
YUMMY GOOEY PECAN FRENCH TOAST
THE MOST DELICIOUS EGG SCRAMBLE.
ONE OF SEVERAL EATING AREAS
BRENDA VISITED THE DUCE BEFORE, AND THESE ARE SOME PHOTOS SHE TOOK FROM THAT EVENING: