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We left Key
West with no idea what was in store for us. As we approached Key Biscayne
(about 20 miles south of Miami), we hit a wall of water. We made a quick
180 degree turn and studied our options. The decision was to land at
Homestead, Florida. Barely made it. Visibility was 3/4 of a
mile. Landed on a runway flooded with rain. What made it worse was
that there was no food at the airport. Called all the pizza delivery
companies, but nobody would deliver to the airport (it was 7 miles from
town). Finally called a Chinese restaurant which would deliver. The
food was great.
| The rain was
finally starting to let up.
It was time to head to
Kendall airport, which was located in Miami, only 15 miles to the north. |
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| We rented a car
and drove around the Miami area to get acquainted.
This lighthouse is located
on Key Biscayne. |
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| Julie wanted to
visit the "Parrot Jungle and Gardens".
This bird reminded Sandy
and I of our trip to Costa Rica.
In Costa Rica, a bird similar
to this attack and ate my fathers breakfast in a open air restaurant. |
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| This alligator
did move, so I assumed that it was real. |
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The skyline of
Miami is very scenic. This airplane would taxi into the bay, than takeoff along
side the cruise ships which were docked in the harbor.
| In the evening
we went for a walk and ran into this large sand castle. |
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"Fairchild
Gardens"
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Our next stop was the
Fairchild Gardens.
This is the largest
collection of palms any where on the globe.
This was another destination
which I have wanted to see for over 15 years. |
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| Heliconia.
They look a lot like
lobster claws. |
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| Sandy could not
figure out why Julie was so willing to get close to the water, which had
the potential of generating an alligator. |
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| All she could
find was this rather large turtle. |
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| The hot and
steamy green house. |
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This
is where we found the extremely rare....
"Cyrtostachys
Renda",
or
better known as the "Sealing Wax Palm".
This
is the only known "red" palm tree.
I must be leading the good
life, as I am now 53 years old and have had the good fortune of having
found this palm "Twice".
Here and in Cost Rice's
"Wilson Gardens". |
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The expansive views
were excellent. This garden was started during the 1930's.
| We woke up one
morning in Miami, to find this damage to the rental car. It was
caused by a component of the air conditioning system on top of the
hotel, blowing of the roof during a storm which had gone through during
the night. |
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It was now time to
head for the Art Deco areas of Miami.
Again, hit the next
button.
  
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