Bilbao to Bordeaux

Boarding the train ahead of us this morning were 3 elderly couples with enough luggage and totes to clothe 10 families. They were all under 5′ and looked as if they would fall through the gap at any moment while they pulled and lugged bags onto the train. They were yelling and bossing each other, paying no mind to the dozen people patiently waiting behind them. I was grabbing bags and lifting them onto the train. Wayne was steadying the women as they mounted the steps. We felt empathy and sympathy until we were onboard & they continued to block the aisle stowing their multitude of bags and arguing about where to sit. Then one of the old men twice pushed me aside in the aisle, and one let the door slam in Wayne’s face. It’s already decided. We’re exiting the opposite end of the car 

Now a word about how the USA could take a lesson on Spanish conservation. Every hotel uses the room key to maintain the electrical current in the room. It slides into a slot by the door. They give you only one key so that when you leave you must take it out of the slot thus automatically shutting off everything. Most escalators begin running as one steps onto the area in front. The hairdryer in one hotel only operated as long as the on switch was held down. And all toilets have the dual flush options.
Other different things
1. Bread is always served. There is always an extra charge for it. There is never butter. We couldn’t decide if we should say, “no pan”, not eat it, or what. So we just paid w/o complaint.
2. An entre is only the protein. And there is no option for sides. I guess it’s a good thing the bread is there.
3. There is very little tipping. The gov’t mandates inclusion within the costs. We do tip.
4. Streets and public places are clean and constantly being cleaned.
5. Cherry trees and magnolias are in bloom.
The ride is beautiful. There are a few pictures on flickr. Try to look beyond the window glare and imagine the valley much greener. Our first change was in Miranda de Ebros a small little station where there are only 4 platforms and a very helpful porter. The country changed dramatically on the ride to our next change, Hendaya, France. We think we were passing the Pyrennes. At any rate they were quite large snow capped mountains.
Arrived on Bordeaux at 4:30. Took a cab to our very charming hotel in the old city. Immediately went to eat something. Can’t tell you how beautiful and full of old world charm this place is. No one appears to be under 22 years of age. And they are everywhere. Tomorrow I will show you through photos the beauty of Bordeaux. 

3 Comments

1. kathrynlima | February 17, 2011 at 7:34 pm | Reply

   Did you see the windmills? Spain and Portugal generate a higher proportion of their electrical power from the wind than anyone else.

2. Christy | February 17, 2011 at 7:56 pm | Reply

   We did when flying into Madrid. Nothing from the train though.

3. carolynberlin | February 28, 2011 at 9:39 pm | Reply

   What a fantastic photo, what a beautiful landscape!

Posted in Travel

Guggenheim Bilbao

Malcolm McLaren said, “The medium is the message.” When it comes to Frank Geary’s Guggenheim, no truer statement could be said. The interior undulates in the same manner as the exterior. Here, several noted contemporary artists have site specific permanent pieces in dedicated galleries. I’m not sure if Geary invited them. But they all pay homage to his design. Jenny Holzer, Jim Dine and Richard Serra each hallmark their medium with works that complement the space. The most effective is Serra’s. I’ll let the photos on flickr tell the story. Julia, thought of you when we walked through Louise Borgeoise’ Maman. And, Carolyn, there is a group exhibit titled Haunted that addresses memory through photography and video. It speaks to your interest.

All the galleries are huge and serve well 20th century abstract art. Really, really, really nice museum.

Richard Serra's The Matter of Time, Guggenheim Balbao

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Posted in Travel

Madrid to Bilbao

 

Bilbao Estacion Abando

Early morning found us on the 8am train out of Madrid’s Chamartin Station to Bilbao. The ride was about 6 hours through countryside that was both agricultural and dotted with heavily industrial towns. There were no train changes so we relaxed, read and enjoyed the view. This was our first reserved ride and came with delightful revelations. We discovered that in first class stewards continuosly pass through the car offering warm, wet towelettes, choice of hot or cold breakfast & coffee, tv w/earbuds, newspapers. Our seats were larger and roomier than air travel 1st class. About an hour out of Bilbao the landscape switched to beautiful rolling hills and very green valleys. It was a gray and cloudy day. With El Greco in my head and that sky before me, I could understand his skies and atmospheric depictions.
Upon arrival we decided to walk the 30 minutes to our hotel just to
stretch and get a feel for the city. All the guide books had described
Bilbao as gritty, industrial with nothing to offer except the
Guggenheim. Well, apparently those writers have never been to New Bedford. The have no idea what gritty truly is. This place is cosmopolitan with great restaurants, clean & bustling streets. Our hotel is directly across from the Guggenheim. We can see Jeff Koons’ Puppy from the doorway. We walked the museum grounds and headed to dinner at Mariko’s where our waiter was the most charming. He and we had a lot of fun trying to cross the language barrier. We talked about the Basque being the first people to cod-fish in massachusetts. So, in conclusion, I am totally charmed by Spain and anticipating the Guggenheim.

Toledo Redux

 Our 2nd day in Toledo began with a nice breakfast in the hotel. My first fruit in a week. Yea! We had the entire day to explore before taking the 5pm train back for an overnight in Madrid. We began at Santa Tome, a chapel built specifically to house Greco’s The Burial of Count Orgaz. The chapel is modest, small and dates from the 14th century. I found the last museum we visited to be the best. The Museo de la Santa Cruz was once a Catholic hospital complete with beautiful Mudejar ceilings and a cloister. The first floor showed tapestries depicting Alfonso IV’s conquering of African areas. The detail, craftsmanship, and quality were amazing. These are unique in that they depict events of their time rather than myths or history.

The 2nd floor had additional artifacts and El Greco’s Assumption. The special exhibit was of the Spanish Renaissance and Mannerist artist Carrera. The works were very strong in color and form.
We ended the day with a ride on the Zocotrain, a Disney-like contraption that took us around the outside of the town for views of the ramparts and city. We left on the 5pm train to spend a night in Madrid so we can catch a very early train to Bilbao.

Toledo

 The train to Toledo from Madrid takes only 35 minutes. It was a good trial run for 2 Americans accustomed to the big handy car in the driveway. We had checked out the Atocha train station the day before. It is quite large and confusing. There is a large indoor garden complete with turtle pond.

The approach to Toledo reveals the battlements rising up off a massive granite hill. It is completely walled. Toledo has a long history beginning with an Iberian settlement conquered by the Romans in 192 BC, followed by the Visigoths in the 6th century and the Moors in the 8th. It was the Moors who left a lasting legacy of architecture religion and learning. The mazelike streets and predominance of brick are their influence. Interiors have Mudejar designed ceilings. Toledo for me has best been known for the artist El Greco. When he lived and worked in Toledo, the town was in decline. I think due to this, El Greco was neglected until the 19th century thus preserving most of his major works in Toledo.
Our first day here we walked for hours through the streets which were narrow, cobbled and hilly. We visited the Cathedral. I thought maybe Gaudi had time traveled and left
his mark. It was much too grandiose and lacking in aesthetics for me. The choir is
unusually located in the center of the nave. Every inch of its dark wood is carved; the
seats depict the fall of Granada. In the treasury is El Greco’s Espolito, which offended
the Inquisition because Christ was on a lower level than some of the other
figures, landing EG in jail. Another church, San Roman, which was far more beautiful in its simplicity, was covered in 13th century Mudejar frescos and ceiling. That night we took another walk. It was very quiet and romantic. All the tourists had left (except us lol).

Toledo

El Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza

Posted on February 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

The Thyssen Museum was once a private collection gathered over 2 generations. It was recently sold to the Spanish government for 350 million. And let me say that was some bargain. This is one of the most amazing collections I have ever seen. It was the largest private collection 2nd to the British royal family (according to the Internet). The collection is arranged chronologically beginning with Medieval pieces and continuing through 20th century. To truly appreciate the works go to the website. I’ll mention what I recall as astounding to me.
1. Van der Weyden’s Madonna
2. Holbein’s Henry IV and adjacent to it a little Catherine of Aragon as young girl portrait
3. Durer’s self portrait
4. Albert Bierstadt, Heade, Church
5. every Impressionist
I just can’t go on. There is too much to mention. I’m speechless.

The Delight of Place

 Today, all day, we walked through the heart of Madrid and spent the day appreciating the architecture and joie de vivre of the city. Two of the most prominent squares of Madrid are in this area. They are Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor. Puerto del Sol is sort of the hub for busses, metro, political demonstrations, etc. It’s very lively, active and filled with tourists as well as locals. It was once the entrance to Madrid through a gate with a carved sun (long gone). The pictures on Flickr will show a statue of the city symbol, Bear with Berry Bush, and the patron, Charles III. There is a pastry shop here that defies description. Mounds of delicious delights tempted us and we gave in to delicious Neapolitans. From here we walked to Plaza Mayor, a vast, cobbled stoned square, described as a grand palace turned inside out. It’s been the stage since 1619 for bullfights, pageantry, and the Inquisition’s horrors, and the spot upon which the war against Napoleon began in 1808. We had lunch outside here in the glorious Spanish sun drinking beer and watching all the peddlers. Next, we visited the Royal Palace, avowed to be the best preserved palace in all the world as well as the 3rd largest. The royals no longer live in the palace (they have a little mansion nearby), but it is still used for royal affairs. The decor was really over the top for my taste. Too much Rococo combined with Chinoiserie left me wishing for some Shaker relief. But, amazingly there were 4 Stradivari instruments. A shame they are under glass and not played. Tonight’s dinner left us both craving something green. I don’t think the Madridians (?) recognize the vegetable family. There is fish and ham enough to feed the world, but nary a steamed broccoli in sight. 

Reina Sofia

The Reina Sofia holds Picasso’s Guernica and the studies for it. The painting occupies its own gallery. I had never seen the painting before and found nothing surprising in the viewing. Maybe the starkness and graphic nature make the reproductions work well. What was most interesting were all the studies; to see which images were discarded and which chosen was so insightful. Also, it was fun to see the transformation of the piece through a series of photographs by Dora Maar. Picasso certainly could portray anguish.

There was room after room of surrealism (not my favorite). But there was a Juan Munoz, a definite favorite.
That night we ate at a Fodors recommended tapas restaurant, el Bocaito. The atmosphere was nice, very Spanish, with ceramic plates all over the walls. But we still think Los Gatos’ food is better. We took a taxi over, but walked the mile or so back. The buildings were nicely lit. 

Walk from Bocaito to our hotel

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Museo Prado

 We got a wake up knock from housekeeping this morning at 11:00 am. What a shocker. We thought going to bed at 10:00am would solve the jet lag. Guess we were wrong about that. Alternatively, we have adjusted quite well to siestas.

We spent the entire afternoon at the Prado, a museum which lives up to its world class reputation. I saw works I’ve never before seen except in reproductions. Some of them surprised me with unexpected color and details. Among those we were most delighted by were Velazquez’ Las Meninas, Goya’s 3rd of May, Durer’s Self Portrait, and for those of you who got the visual joke in yesterday’s post, the real Naked Maja. Kathy, we saw Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and were reminded of our lovely time with you and John in the Lisbon Museum of Antiquity. There was a room entirely dedicated to murals removed from Goya’s home. His personal works are so much more expressive than the court pieces. Perhaps the piece that impressed upon both of us the most was Van Der Weyden’s Decent from the Cross, a work of near perfect composition, technique, color and emotional impact.
After, we enjoyed some small tapas at the bar* next to our hotel. I thought my Spanish was working really well until Wayne pointed out that our waiter spoke English.
We returned to the hotel where Wayne worked out while I ate chocolate and listened to Leonard Cohen. Then we returned to the area behind our hotel of muchos tapas bars for dinner. I ordered what I thought was grilled mushrooms but was in fact steak. All was good, but I obviously continue to work on my comprehension skills. Hasta mañana. *

kathrynlima | February 10, 2011 at 6:27 pm | Reply

Sounds like when we met you in Lisbon and all overslept because of the darkening shutters in the room! And I’m with you on the siestas. Javier Falcon, the Inspector Jefe in Seville in Robert Wilson’s series, has lunch at 1:00 and sleeps until about 4:00 or 5:00, after which he resumes his day. Dinner at 11:00 p.m., of course. Muy bien!

Hola Madrid

 We arrived in Madrid some 13 hours after leaving Boston. The weather was a spectacular surprise. It was downright balmy at @50. Our driver, a charming (and gorgeous) chap, drove us down the main boulevard past huge and flowing fountains and around green parks and massive city gates. We are in a very nice area. The Prado is steps away. Small pedestrian streets filled with tapas bars back up to our hotel. Trying to stave off jet lag and at the suggestion of our hotel clerk, we went to one of those bars, Los Gatos. It was a small place. No one spoke a word of English. Our seats were beer kegs. The most amusing thing was the mural, after Goya’s Maja, which I’ve pictured here. Look closely…very closely. We absolutely love this city. Kathy & John. You would, too. The boulevards remind us of Lisbon. I’m so excited about the Prado. Time to treat the jet lag. Hasta luego.

1 Comment

Juliaeinstein | February 9, 2011 at 5:28 am | Reply

Lol en espanol!

 

An Invitation

Posted on January 25, 2011 | 2 Comments

Presented here is an exclusive railing tour for the privileged few. A very special trip blog prepared for those whom we love to bore with vacation pictures. This twice in a lifetime opportunity with insider access will begin production on or about February 8, 2011. Stay tuned for Tales from the Rails.

So, admit it. This is just plain beautiful. And the Wynn is filled with beautiful mosaics. One little coffee shop has mosaics inspired by Matisse paintings. We had a leisurely morning. Took in our last warm day with a walk and a big buffet breakfast. The flight home was shorter and the jet lag less taxing.
Cause I've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And I'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think I'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, I've got friends in low places

Wayne generously spent the day shopping with me while I looked for boots. Did find the perfect boot....but not my size. Our search took us to The Venetian. It is an incredible space. This evening we saw The Jersey Boys, a play of the story of Frankie Valle and the Four Seasons. It was nice to remember the songs. But the show was mediocre. We had forgotten the Patriots were playing. Had we thought of it, we would have watched them in one of the bars rather than the Jersey Boys. We saw the first quarter, though, by choosing a restaurant with a TV and requesting a table with a view. What a game to miss!

And Trisha Yearwood, Too.

During the day we walked through both hotels and over to the Palazzo. The day was very warm and sunny. We had a nice lunch at La Cav, a tapas bar. But, without question, the best of the day was the concert. I laughed, I cried, I sang along. It is not hype that Garth Brooks is one of the best entertainers around. There is no backing band. It is Garth and his guitar. He played verses and snippets of the songs that influenced and formed him. The best were American Pie and some Cat Stevens. His wife Trisha Yearwood came out ant sang 2 duets with him. His clear, almost pained, but strong voice was as good as any recording we have So glad we went!!!

Well It's Bulls and Blood

Even though they say "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas", I'm going out on a limb here and tell all. Odds are I will bore before I shock. The flight was a long 5.5 hours. But Wayne has a new toy, the iPad, which entertained him, and I had a good book to finish. We had a great cabby who told us that the National Rodeo World Finals were in town. So after checking in we headed straight for the concierge and secured tickets. We have wanted to go to a rodeo for some time, especially to see the bull riding. And it seemed such a serendipity since the purpose of this trip is to see Garth Brooks, he of Ropin' the Wind. And what fun it turned out to be. And LOUD, Wow. There was calf roping and steer wrestling, barrel racing and bronc riding, but best of all, there was bull riding. We're primed for the week end.

A few words about The Encore, which is part of The Wynn. Our room was the size of a small NYC apartment. The place is filled with beautiful mosaics on the walls and in the floors. There are several spectacular waterfalls and gardens so well tended. Shopping galore complements restaurants aplenty. The Encore Entry

A Little Help From My Friends

We spent last week in Pennsylvania celebrating Thanksgiving and the overall enjoyment of dining and drinking for days with friends. Ken and Vicki hosted Thanksgiving dinner. John and Kathy treated us to a wine paring dinner at their club. And we went to Pittsburgh for dinner at Majorca.

Rally for Sanity

We did our best. Drove for 10 hours through NYC stop and go traffic that seemed to stretch from the Cross Bronx Expressway to the Baltimore Beltway. Stood for 5 hours shoulder to shoulder with thousands on the DC Mall. Cheered. Laughed. Sang. Danced. Made friends with all our fellow ralliers. In other words, remained sane and hopeful. But, alas, the country as a whole remains completely insane. I'm just happy to say that I reside in MA, where civil rights, education, science, and the freedom to be an atheist still rule. I had nightmares last night that Sarah Palin was President.

We spent a fun few days in Chicago. What a fabulous city. The weather was absolutely perfect. And the people are all gracious, polite, helpful, and generous. We either walked or took public transportation everywhere. A breeze of a city to peruse. Our agenda:
1) 2 trips to the Art Institute. The new wing is open. I still like the Japanese collection.
2) The Symphony. Ricardo Muti is the new conductor. He chose Berlioz Symphony Fantastique
3) All the Frank Lloyd Wright designs we could find, both in Hyde Park and Oak Park. While in Hyde Park we saw what we could of President Obama's home.
4) Got "high up" everywhere. The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, top of the Sear's Tower, top of the Hancock building
5) Ricky Gervais, funny man, show for HBO.

Back Again

We've been home a week now and have had time to reflect on the trip. We were greeted with an unusually warm and sunny Massachusetts' April. The temps were in the 70's and 80's. The daffodils are blooming and the peepers are singing. We're already planning next year's winter get-away.

As for this trip. There was not a bad day (I'll forget the 2 separate George Washington Bridge accidents that delayed us 2 hours in NYC) We spent 8 weeks in 30 states and the District of Columbia, drove over 11,000 miles, met great people, saw amazing sights, learned new things, and discovered the best short ribs ever.

If I had to give advice (Do I ever do that???), I would say the following:
1. Best Museum: Denver, because of the extensive Native American collection
2. Best Restaurant: Jack's Stacks in Kansas City. By all means, the best ribs we've ever had. And, believe me, we've had our share of ribs.
3. Best Digs: The Desert Pearl in Zion.
4. Most moving moment: Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
5. Most beautiful sight: Zion National Park, all of it, even the heart stopping Mr. Carmel drive in.
6. Best Margarita: George's at the Cove in La Jolla. And the view didn't hurt, either.
7. Funniest thing: Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ

Flower Power

Our final stop on the great odyssey is the DC area. Our first night was with Aunt Juanita and Uncle Carlton in Woodbridge, VA. We had a great time with them, catching up on family, politics, and travel. We also got to see Justine who is off to Oxford this month. The 2 final nights were in DC where we saw Adam, Maura and Tanith for dinner night one. Adam spent the next day with us doing the tourist thing and showing us his new home. We spent the entire day in the National Portrait Gallery and walking around the Tidal Basin. The NPG was fabulous. The current show featured Rose Frantzen, Jim Torok, and Rebecca Westcott. Take a look. You will be very impressed. Pay attention to the scale, too. The other show I enjoyed was the portrait competition. It was thrilling to see the variety and skill of these artists.

On our walk to the Tidal Basin, I saw a Luis Jimenez sculpture in front of the American Art Museum. What a serendipity! This is the same sculptor we saw and studied in Santa Fe. The walk around the Basin was warm with bright sun and peak cherry blooming. Tomorrow we head home, happy to be going there.

The Butler Opens the Door

We spent time in Richmond, VA today in order to see some Civil War sites. Wayne has an interest in aspects of the war: the pathos, the battles, personalities, and Lincoln to name a few. We started with the American Civil War Center at Tredegar. Tredegar was a gun foundry. We, first of all, had to share the Center with a group of Middle School students who ran, yelled and banged on everything. Yes, it was yet another focused, well-planned field trip where students were required to analyze, deduce, theorize and report back on the experience. But, beyond the chaos of the day was the astounding presentation of the war. No wonder many Southerners are still fighting this War. Without doubt, the Center presented slavery as a secondary (or tertiary) cause of the war. According to the Center, it seems that tariffs and Kansas along with states' rights were the primary cause. Whatever the chain of events truly were, they push the fact that slavery was not all that bad and the evil Union hell bent on taking away their God given right to own and sell people. Perhaps this continuous propaganda is what nurtures the vitriol that continues today.

Then we went to the Confederate White House. The tour guide taught us that Davis' "butler" would greet guests in the foyer and his "maids" took care of the household. Finally, someone asked if slaves were in the house. Her reply, "Both slaves and free servants. And even the slaves had their own house which was quite a perk for their job." Job? Really? Talk about denial. So glad I moved north.

"Savannah would be better for you. You'll just get in trouble in Atlanta." Mammy

Savannah, the most beautiful city in the south. Thank god they surrendered to Sherman and preserved all that beauty and charm. We spent Sunday morning enjoying the beauty and spring warmth before heading for Richmond, VA. The last, and only other time, we were in Savannah was in January 2005. It was cold, and the Pats were winning their first Super Bowl. Late March is a much better time to visit. All the trees were dressed in their finest blossoms, the Spanish Moss was swaying in the breeze to the tunes of sidewalk gospel singers, and we were chomping peanuts by the river. Savannah's downtown is one of the largest National Historic Districts in the US. It boasts 22 squares, each with a central park area holding prominent sculptures and surrounded by absolutely gorgeous, beautiful homes. Some of these homes are museums and restaurants as well as bed and breakfast joints. The downtown area outside the Historic District and adjacent to the Savannah River is one long, long shopping and dining delight. I highly recommend a visit. But not mid-summer when a belle could suffer from the vapors.

Miami Heat

We spent the day in Maimi on Lincoln Road and in the Bass Museum. Lincoln Road is a Ramblas type area consisting mostly of restaurants and commercial shops. There are one or two galleries and the Arts Center. The area teems with tattoos, cleavage, lots of skin, and electronic devices. We had a nice sushi lunch among the tanned. After lunch we walked about 1 mile to the Bass Museum. It is very small; one room of Renaissance art and a floor of contemporary pieces. It is more like a gallery than a museum. Question: Why is a mosaic penguin in front of a restaurant NOT art and a mounted stack of cardboard boxes in a museum IS art? Dinner at Chima was so nice. It is Brazilian in style and food, a beautifully appointed space.

The Family of Man

This morning we had normal business to take care of. Wayne needed to go to the Apple store and have his network connection fixed. He also decided to return the Lamborghini. It's too difficult having 2 cars on a trip. We also went to this huge Swap Shop on 88 acres that has everything from psychic readings to dime store items, XXXX videos, food, carnival and 14 drive-in movie screens.

We visited the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art today. It is a small museum and even had a section off limits. But there was an excellent exhibit of Edward Steichen's work from 1923 through 1937 consisting actors, writers, composers, models and dancers he photographed for Vogue and Vanity Fair. Most significantly for me were the models wearing designs by Channel because we had just seen the movie Coco Before Channel.


The Museum sits on the banks of New River next to Las Olas Blvd. After leaving the Museum, we went to the Riverwalk area for lunch and a stroll.

Let Me Tell You About the Rich.

They are very different from you and me. F Scott Fitzgerald
Look what being around them made Wayne go and buy!!! So, to explain all this silliness, we spent the day in Palm Beach, the winter playground for those who register their yachts in the Caymen Islands. We had lunch at a fabulous hotel, The Breakers, built by Henry Flagler who was responsible for bring the railroad (and, thus, the rich) to Florida. The pictures fail to illustrate the opulence of the place. It boasts multiple expansive halls and verandas, 3 ballrooms, outdoor spaces, and shops. One of the ballroom ceilings was covered in gold-leaf, the other with murals. The flower arrangements were yummy and the staff was pleasant.



We also strolled down Worthen Ave when the very rich shop. The funny thing is the windows are full of tiny little sundresses and the patrons' average age is close to 60.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We had a fun day at City of Palms Park watching the Red Sox get trounced by the Tampa Bay Rays. All the big stars were playing: Pedroia, Drew, Youk, Ellsbury, Ortiz. And, they STILL lost. But we were in the bleachers with a bunch of very funny people and enjoyed the sun, beer and jokes.

Art and Music

The Fort Lauderdale neighborhood we are staying in had its annual Art and Jazz in the Park festival. We won a 5 bottle basket of Greek wine donated by Trata, the Greek restaurant we so enjoyed the night before. The musical stylings of Billy Bones was center stage. Here is another very poor attempt at a Woody Allen hand held camera style video.

The 3 R's

Relaxed on Fort Lauderdale beach. Read more Anne Tyler. Red was the color of my true love's skin.

They Call Him Flipper, Flipper

We spent the day driving down Alligator Alley to the Thousand Islands area of the Everglades. Once there, we decided to take a boat tour of the 1000 Islands area. The boat ride was not all that they advertised, which was to include dolphins jumping across the stern, eagles, alligators and manatees. Sounded like a naturalist's paradise. We did see a few dolphin. But mostly we motored at high speeds from one island to another. These islands are situated at the western tip of Florida and are mangroves. If you look really, really closely you an see a few dolphin and then get the feeling for our Indy 500 boat ride.



But the funniest part of the day was earlier when we paid the toll for Alligator Alley. The booth was surrounded by crazy birds that were staring into all the cars and not the least bit intimidated. The booth attendant said they were waiting to be fed.



Since we were practically on the gulf coast, we drove on into Naples for dinner at Verginia's. What a town. Of course, we then had a LONG drive home.

Roji-en

We spent the afternoon at the Morikami Japanese Gardens. They are are ranked 8th among more than 300 Japanese Gardens outside Japan. Please enjoy the pictures.

You Say It's Your Birthday

Happy Birthday to you, Wayne.

It's a rainy Wednesday and we've decided to go to the IMAX and see Alice in Wonderland. The past 2 days we enjoyed sunshine and beaches. It seems there are still colleges on spring break. 3 guys were roaming Fort Lauderdale Beach with a snake and convincing girls to strip their tops and pose with the snake draped over strategic spots. We thought one of these "ladies" needed a much larger snake.

Yesterday we toured Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables. One of their focuses is to conserve endangered species. I was impressed with the type and amount of sculpture complementing the plantings. On the way home we stopped at Miami Beach's South Beach just to walk among the masses. Dinner was at Billy's Strone Crab Restaurant. The view was beautiful in the sunset, but we still vote for Maine's lobsters over the crabs.

Alas, Olas.

Daylight savings time took us by surprise. What we thought was a late morning sleep in and breakfast turned out to be an early afternoon. Just kidding. But we did not do much today. We explored in the car to see where we might like to take a walk; returned the car and walked for an hour over to the canal and back.


Tonight we ate at St. Tropez, a French bistro, on Las Olas Blvd. Surprisingly, everyone there spoke French. But the entire staff was taken with the 1956 Citroen parked outside. Much oohing and aahing took place. Also, the chow was tres bien.