Well, back from 10 days in Florida, and what a great time I had: 5 days in Miami and 5 days in Orlando. I only had one spare day, in Miami, and I did indeed make the most of it. Here are a few pics as promised.
Above: Arriving into LAX at 0630 in the morning.
Below: Flying over Texas a few hours later.
Above: Leaving Texas and starting to fly over the Gulf of Mexico.
Below: Flying over the everglades of western Florida.
Below: Arriving in Miami at Sunset...
Above: We flew over the Villa Vizcaya.
Above and Below: The Miami Intercontinental where we stayed.
A tower block near the hotel at dusk...
Having checked into the hotel we had an early night, before spending the next few days visiting hospitals and their staff. Then Saturday arrived and it was go time. I got up at 0600 and went for a run, then wolfed down a quick breakfast before setting off site seeing. I wandered up Biscayne Blvd...
Above: Museum.
Below: The JFK Memorial.
along the waterfront
Above: Apartments on a quay.
Below: A pelican on the quay.
Below: Super yachts moored in the quay.
I then headed across the bay of Biscayne to Miami Beach. I found myself in a district called 'South of 5th' which had a lot of palm trees...
making lovely shadows...
I then wandered through the shopping district of Lincoln street, which was fairly manicured..
I then walked around the Marina...
After coveting boat after boat I started to notice a surprising amount of fauna:
A stork at the marina...
and an iguana...
and a manatee...
I first mistook the manatee for an oddly shaped buoy, as it wasn't moving at all and looked like a weather warn plastic inflatable 'thing'. Then I noticed a few patches of flesh coloured skin, and then found in profile it had a face! It must have been sleeping. Evidently they sleep submerged, dormant for about 20 minutes at a time before surfacing for air.
Above: Super yacht entering bay from ocean.
Below: View towards Miami beach from the end of South Point pier.
In the distance somewhere lie the Bahamas.
I then went for a swim and walked from South Beach to North Beach.
I don't know why but I quite like this photo of the surf, sand, seaweed and seagull...
Similarly I like this photo I took of writing on a pavement, which I thought was touching...
One of the Deco towers on South Beach...
After a seafood lunch I went shopping at a large mall called Aventura Mall, where I bought some clothes in the sales, and then returned to the hotel to flop for a while. Once recovered I headed back to Ocean Drive for some cocktails.
I went to Mangos Tropical Bar, which had some interesting live entertainment...
After a few cocktails I decided to head across town to Little Havana to dance the night away at a salsa bar I had heard of, called the Ball and Chain...
The Ball and Chain was famous as a jazz club in the 40s and 50s, hosting the likes of Chet Baker, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Count Basie...
It is now famous as a latin lounge bar with live musicians and salsa dancing...
Above and Below: A couple teaching salsa classes.
That night I struck it lucky, as it was a night for a performance from Pepe Montes and his orchestra.
Inside the dance instructors had now turned to performance dancing on the bar top...
At 03:30 I decided to call it a night, and after some early morning latin food headed back to the hotel, to get up at 0800 for the bus to Orlando for the conference. I slept on the bus and woke feeling happy I had made the most of my 24 hours off. Not bad thought the boy from down under. I doubt I will ever go back to Florida again, so no regrets!
I head back to Willowbrook Park tomorrow to help Peter on the home stretch to our first function this coming weekend. I very much look forward to sharing photos for the first time of the house finally finished (in time for the happy couple).