Meandering Around Miami

RosalieAnn in Miamarina

March 24

After Bob did some shopping (he wanted to replace the spare filters that he used at Indian Key ) we had lunch at Denny's.

Dennys

Denny's has more that 1700 restaurants across the US. They made their name by never being closed, and allowing breakfast, lunch or dinner to be ordered at any time of the day or night. I think they are now closed on Christmas. The food is basically plain middle of the road food - nothing really fancy. They have good desserts. For lunch, I got broccoli cheese soup and Bob had a club sandwich. The bill came to $15.20 including FL's 7.5% tax without the tip for lunch.

We went to our daughters - she got me an appointment to get my hair cut. She took me and dropped me after she took our grandson to pitching practice, which I watched some of first.

Daughter watching pitching practice

Pitching

Bob meanwhile was taking all the construction debris

Bob cleaning

(our SIL and daughter knocked out the wall between the family room and our grandson's room)

Furniture huddled in the middle of the room

and loaded the skip with it. After we got back, I cut Bob's hair and then we left and had dinner at Lombardi's (one of the restaurants at Bayside)

Outside seating at Lombardi's

Lombardi's

They have plates with their name on them, and they also have a bar area. I had a seafood pasta and creme brulee. The creme brulee tasted burnt. Bob had carrot cake for dessert.

Bob's carrot cake

The bill with the included 15% tip was a bit over $45.00. There is also a gelato place associated with this restaurant.

Miami at night from the marina

March 25

We babysat while our daughter shopped for their camping trip tomorrow. Afterward we walked up to Bayside from the boat to get dinner - first we tried the Hard Rock, but they said there would be a 20 minute wait. So we walked around to the other side of the mall and went to Chili's which was new this year.

Chili's

It is really noisy in there, but we were seated quickly. The tables have Mexican tiles set in the middle.

Tiles on the tables in Chili's

There were TVs around, mostly set to ESPN stations, and for once, they had captions on them so you could read what was going on - you certainly couldn't HEAR it. Our dinners were a long time coming. First they brought us the wrong ones, and I noticed that they also brought the people at the next table the wrong one twice. It might have been because it was still a new place.

Bob got

full rack of ribs with cinnamon apple side

and I got a

My half rack with corn on the cob, cinnamon apple, rice and chicken

It was very good but I had to bring most of my ribs back to the boat. (They were a bit too chewy for my taste.) I drank lemonade and Bob drank water. The total bill was $37.63.Note: Most of the restaurants at Bayside add a 15% gratuity on automatically. I don't know if Chili's elsewhere do this or not. In any case, the bill comes PLAINLY labeled Tip, with a line underneath for Additional Tip.

March 26

Our daughter's family left in the morning for their camping trip. Bob's foot hurts - he's done something to it. He's taken some Aleve. We went to Fairchild Gardens which is south of Miami near Perrine where our daughter lives. It has a Coral Gables address. The 83 acres gardens were established in 1938 and are among one of the world's best. There are

Palms

Palms

cycads, flowering trees and flowering

Jade vine

There are also greenhouses

Bob inside

Mr Stinky

Red flower

Green and white striped leaves

Ginger?

Bob looking at some plants

Plant in the greenhouse

Red flower

with orchids and other tropical plants.

Orchid wall

Lavender orchids

White orchids

In addition to to being a popular visitor attraction it offers a variety of programs in environmental education, conservation and horticulture and is an international leader in tropical plant research with an important part in preserving the biodiversity of the tropical environment.

Included in the admission price, there is a tram tour of the garden (which we took)

Bob on the tram

where the driver will explain the various plants.

Heron or egret

Custard apple

Trunk of the rainbow eucalyptus

Ducks

Grouping of plants

Baobab

Cactus

Artists sketching the view

We ate lunch at a little outdoor Garden Café which is one of the tram stops

Garden Cafe where we had lunch

outside on a picnic table, observed by a chameleon.

Chameleon

The website says "Light lunches and cold drinks are available at the Garden daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Enjoy a snack under the sapodilla tree or observe the conservatory nursery through the large windows of the cafe"

Then we went to our daughter's house and collected the mail and fed the animals and did some email. We had dinner at Denny's on the way back to the marina.

March 27, 2004

We crossed the toll road at Rickenbacker Causeway to Virginia Key, Rickenbacker Causeway is a toll road.

NASDAQ 100 0pen entrance

We had to pass the site of the NASDAQ tennis tournament which had somewhat of a traffic jam.

Then we drove the length of Key Biscayne to Bill Baggs Park. The fee for the park is $5.00 per vehicle, including up to 8 visitors. Single occupant vehicle = $3.00. $1.00 each per bicycle/individual walk-in. The park is named for Bill Baggs. If you have never heard of him, it probably means you aren't from Miami, because he was a Miami newspaper editor who advocated this area for a state park. The park is part of a large barrier island ecosystem which is north of Biscayne National Park.

Probably the first European on these shores was Ponce de Leon on the first Spanish expedition in 1513 to the land he called Florida. When he visited this area, he named it the "Cape of Florida." Sandbars and submerged reefs combined with storms, were a hazard to early sailors, causing hundreds of shipwrecks along the Straits of Florida. In good weather, the shoal areas can be seen, but in storms, it is not so easy. Plus the old time ships had less maneuverability at some points of wind. The reefs and shoals were one reason that Key Westers made their fortunes as salvagers. One of the federal government's first actions when Florida became a U.S. Territory in 1821, was to plan for the extension of a network of lighthouses along the east coast of Florida.

My grandfather wrote this postcard to my grandmother in July 1925.

Antique postcard of the Florida Lighthouse

The legend on the back of the card says:"Years ago the Florida reefs were feared by all vessels sailing the south Atlantic. The Government [constructed] many light houses and a particularly tall and staunch one of brick was built at Cape Florida on an island jutting out at a particularly dangerous spot. This light has been replaced by a new modern structure standing on the very edge of the Gulf Stream"
His comment is that it was "Some warm". That at least has not changed!!

Today (24 July 1925) was "some warm"

I did not realize that my grandfather was such a traveler. I do not know what he was doing in Florida in 1925 - my mother would have been just seven days from her 16th birthday when this was written. In spite of the increased number of aids to navigation, we observed a sailboat aground near the junction of Hawk Channel, Biscayne channel and the Cape Florida channel.

Following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, an extensive restoration program was undertaken. The goal of the program is to restore the natural plant communities and systems historically associated with the island and to eliminate the invasive non-native species.

We visited the park on an extremely windy day - there were small craft warnings out, and there was a lot of surf.

Surf on the fishing pier

Some of the best shoreline fishing in the region is available from the seawall located along Biscayne Bay. These little built out dock areas are all along the south shore of the park. You bring all your own equipment and saltwater fishing license required

End of the fishing pier

First we went to the southern side of the park and I walked out along the seawall to the lighthouse.

Cape Florida light

Closed lighthouse door

Oops- I can't get to the lighthouse that way because there is a barrier fence. We found out that the lighthouse tours were only at 10 and 1, so we went to No Name Harbor

No Name Harbor

and had lunch in this trailer shaped restaurant overlooking the anchorage.

Bob walking up to the Boater's Grill

One of the boaters has come in to shore in his kayak.

Boater's Grill Business Hours sign

(The other cafe was closed due to renovation) .The Boaters Grlll has a limited menu which they cook to order and bring to your table after you order at the counter. I had the seafood soup and Bob had a hamburger .

If you anchor here, you will have to either have a dinghy to get in to eat or maybe you can tie up to the seawall There are no overnight facilities on land in the park except for organized group camping for groups such as scouts. The park is for day use only. Boats that anchor in No Name Harbor can stay overnight for a $15.00 fee per boat per night. This is more or less on the honor system. The sign designates how this is to be paid.

Harbor pay station fees - How you pay

Boater at the shore of No Name Harbor

We went out to take the 1300 lighthouse tour.

Cape Florida Lighthouse

Bob sitting by the monument to the lighthouse restoration

Bob didn't want to stress his foot, but I actually climbed to the top of the lighthouse.

The original 1825 lighthouse and cottage were burned in 1836 by Seminoles. The keepers climbed up to the light and one of them was killed and the other was wounded in the feet. He flung a keg of gunpowder down the stairs hoping to kill himself and avoid capture and torture by the Indians. The wooden stairs burned down, but he was not killed. This man, named Thompson, was rescued the next day by the crew of a U.S. Navy schooner. The sailors fired a ramrod with a piece of string tied to it over the top of the lighthouse. Thompson caught the string and was able to haul a heavier rope to the tower's top. Two seaman hoisted to the top hauled the injured Thompson down. It was later reported that the top of the lighthouse had more than 200 bullet holes in it

Old light structure

Walkway to the lighthouse

visitors over 8 years old can climb the tower to the top

Lighthouse door with child

The light was extinguished from 1836-1846. There were complaints that it was too short, so in 1855 the tower was made 40 feet higher (up to 95 feet) and wooden stairs were replaced with 119 spiraling iron steps to the top

Bottom of the lighthouse stair

Stairs_disappear_up_into_the_lighthouse

Depth of the lighthouse door

Looking out to sea from the lighthouse window

and a second order fresnel lens was installed.The light was damaged in the Civil War, and was extinguished in 1878 when Fowley Rocks light was built. In the 60s, the state of Florida saved the area around the lighthouse from developers by establishing Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and they restored the lighthouse and keeper's dwelling.

Lighthouse keeper's cottage from above

I saw these guys from the top of the lighthouse. I do not know what the parameters of this sport is but it looks tricky to me. There was a quite strong wind (small craft warnings) when this photo was taken, and it looked like they were headed down the keys with no way to get back to land against the wind.

Wind surfers from the lighthouse

There were a large number of families enjoying the beach on this spring break weekend,

Public Beach from the lighthouse

even though there was considerable surf due to a sustained northeast wind of about 20 knots.

It's a SHADOW

Miami skyline from the top of the lighthouse

On June 15, 1978, 100 years after it was extinguished, the U.S. Coast Guard reestablished the light. Volunteer guides take visitors through lighthouse

Bob sitting on the lighthouse keeper's cottage steps

and the replica of the 1846 furnished keeper's cottage and the cook house.

Fireplace

There's also a cistern.

Cistern

The tours are Thursday through Monday, at 10:00 AM and 1 PM. Arrive at least a half hour early. Access to the tower is limited to groups of about 20 people at a time. There is a short narrative film in the reconstructed Keeper's kitchen building,

Then we went out to our daughter's house to check on things and Bob picked the tomatoes and grapefruit from their garden

Bennigan's sign

On the way home, we had dinner on the way home at Bennigans

Inside Bennigans

Bob had the American burger

We shared an Apple sizzler $4.39

the bill was $34.22 including tip

Pony Ride at night

.
March 28, 2004

We went to James Deering's Vizcaya in the morning. Vizcaya is not actually in Miami Beach, but is in Miami. A bit of Venice, on Miami's Key Biscayne is maybe what James the second son of William Deering of International Harvester tried to recreate when he built Vizcaya. In 1916 when it was finished, it was meant to look hundreds of years old. Entrance fee for the 34 rooms is $10 for adults. I've been here twice - once in 1967 for an antique car show when photography was allowed inside. Our second visit was this year-2004.

Another Deering estate at Cutler is that of Charles Deering (1852-1927) who was a wealthy Chicago industrialist, art dealer and early environmentalist. The son of William Deering, who started the Deering Harvester Company in Maine, Charles served as the first chairman of the International Harvester Company. We haven't been here - my grandson went and said it was boring, but he isn't interested in old houses or ecology.

For the first visit we were driving our 1932 Plymouth. The cars were on display in the courtyard (toward the street) and also on the waterfront for some kind of festival. I toured the house at that time and took pictures. These are some of the photos I took then - some of them paired up with ones i took in 2004

Vizcaya South Terrace in 1967

Entrance/front 1967 bottom 2004 top

West side of Vizcaya - 1967-2004

James Deering's bathroom

James deering's fireplace

Breakfast room Glass from inside

Library 1967

South Gardens from an upstairs window - 1967 on left, 2004 (with the pigeon) on the right

Looking down a stairway

Looking down at a fountain in the courtyard

Fountain in the patio - I967 on left, 2004 from outside on the right

Mural inside the back - 1967 on top, 2004 taken through the window from the patio on the bottom

Entrance to the courtyard - 1967 on left, 2004 on right

Bob with the 2 girls at the Antique Auto show

Tea House on the Water side of Vizcaya - 1967-2004

1967 East side of Vizcaya - in 2004 the east side was covered with scaffolding which was also covered

Antique Autos on the east terrace with the barge beyond

Top 1976, bottom 2004 Robert Winthrop Chanler was responsible for the ceiling of the swimming pool, an extraordinary stucco bas-relief representing the underwater flora and fauna of the Florida Keys

We went back this past visit and no photography was permitted inside the mansion. I was incensed. This is what their website says."Personal Photography (Bridal and Quince) permits for OUTSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY ONLY are available for purchase at the ticket booth and DO NOT REQUIRE RESERVATIONS.

Arcade with professional photographer

Permits are issued from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Cost is $75.00 plus tax. Each permit admits a total of 6 people, including the photographer. PERMIT FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. Certificate of Insurance for Public Liability Insurance in an amount not less than $1,000,000. combined single limit for bodily injury and property damage is required. Miami-Dade County, c/o Vizcaya Museum and Gardens..must be named as additionally insured. OUTDOORS ONLY FILM STILL PHOTOGRAPHY 8:00 A.M. TO 5:30 P.M $1,650.00 $750.00 Each hour before 8:00 A.M. and after 5:30 P.M. $100.00 $50.00

Rules
1. Photography is allowed ONLY with a permit and receipt showing payment.
2. All vehicles must park in Vizcaya's regular parking lot.
3. Photography is permitted in the Gardens only, except the Secret Garden.
4. All telephone calls must be made at the pay phones in the Service Area or in the regular parking lot.
5. Photographers and their subjects must not block doors, driveways, stairs or ramps from public use.
6. Photography is not permitted inside the Museum.
7. The only restrooms available to photo permit holders are those in the Service Area. As the caf? and gift shop area is a concession area not operated by Vizcaya Museum, photo permit holders may not use their restrooms.
8. Photographers and their subjects must comply with any direction given to them by Vizcaya staff. Any photographer disregarding the above rules may lose his/her privilege of photographing at Vizcaya

Bob at the West Entrance

Side garden at the West entrance

Reflections in the entrance door

In actual practice, there seems to be no restrictions on tourist photography

Butler's pantry

Dumbwaiter in the pantry

Kitchen

Breakfast room Windows from the outside that I took in 1967 from the inside

Terracotta Sculptures in the breakfast room - from the kitchen

I took photos out of the windows, into the windows on the ground floor and sometimes inside when the guard wasn't looking.

Looking through the window on the west side

Center section of the Barge

The end of the barge n the water in front of the Main House sculpted by Alexander Stirling Calder.The Barge is a breakwater shaped as a boat and decorated with carvings representing mythical Caribbean creatures

Deering wanted Vizcaya to be approached and seen from the sea,

Sali boat in the channel on the right of the "barge"

Sculpture from the back

Arches to the secret garden

Sculptures in the garden

Canal around the center island

Central island canal

Muscovy ducks in the Canal

Beware of dogs

I thought perhaps I could buy a picture of the things I wanted to record so we went to the gift shop. Vizcaya Gift Shop offers postcards, slides, and videotapes along with Italian craft items such as ceramics, jewelry and tapestries during museum hours.

gift shop

I would have been happy to buy a slide or postcard of the interior of the house, but there were very few available. This was disappointing in view of the prohibition on photography of the interior.I didn't want to spring for a videotape, and the tapestries and works of art were too expensive for my pocketbook. What I really wanted was a weather vane which showed the speed and direction of the wind inside the room, and I could not find that in any photos or postcards.

After we toured most of the house, we went back over to the swimming pool side

Pool area

Cafe sign

Little boy looking into the pool

Cafe door

Eating inside

where there was a cafe and got lunch (kind of cafeteria style). We could have eaten outside, but it was too hot for me out there. Our bill for lunch was $19.25. I had a

A salad and some Fruit

In the afternoon, we went to our daughter's house. Bob did some laundry, and then went to the store for the perishables. He is convinced that our daughter's neighbor is not installing their floor right.

March 29, 2004

Went to our daughter's to finish up email. I am having a lot of trouble with pocketmail. It has strange filters and I can't clear out the email that is spam. Anyway, I called them for the umpteenth time, and I can't use it until they correct the problems with it. So I'm switching the way I'm doing it so that mindspring isn't forwarding all my mail, but instead pocketmail is picking it up - hopefully after it has most of the spam filtered out. If that doesn't work, I'm going to have to change my email address.

After our daughter's family got back from camping, we all (including our SIL's half brother) over to their friends for dinner. Our daughter supplied the hamburger. Then we went back to the boat.