While waiting for a weather window to cross to the Bahamas we decided to go to Miami where Nico's brother lives. I was concerned at first, thinking it would be a chaotic, city anchorage, but it was a delightful visit. We stayed in the city marina on Key Biscayne which overlooked the Miami skyline but was surrounded by parks. Our stay was longer than expected because, on the way in, we discovered our dinghy had sprung a leak and needed to be repaired. Luck would have it that the company that sold the dinghy to the boatyard in Maine was located about 45 minutes away. The repairman picked it up near his house in Miami, repaired it for free (despite initial company rejection that it was a warranty issue), and then brought it back to the city. Nico also had to make a quick trip to Maine for a case. I explored the beaches and the former site of the Miami Zoo which is now taken over by lizards and exotic birds. Philip showed us the marine division of the University of Miami, where he teaches a course, as well as the fish hatchery. We bought fresh fish from a charter boat on several occasions and enjoyed the resident manatees and a visiting salt water crocodile. We also spent a day in the city visiting The Perez Museum of Art and the Frost Science Center. It is a clean, vibrant city with fabulous new skyscrapers. There is a lot of energy here.
The North Miami Beach skyline as we sailed along the coast from Ft. Lauderdale.
Stiltsville, a community built in the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay. Its heyday was during prohibition.
The Miami skyline from our first anchoring spot off Key Biscayne.
Manatee in the marina. One swam by as I was filling the boat's tanks with a water hose. It rolled over and enjoyed my squirting fresh water into its open mouth. Such amazing big animals with their tiny eyes, bristles and algae growing on their backs! I was sad to see so many scars from propellers on their bodies.
The crocodile that hung out for a few days. He slowly swam back and forth by the boat one evening.
An ibis joined me for a picnic at the former Miami Zoo.
A Sandhill Crane
Gigantic iguanas were everywhere. At the marina they would get nervous when you walked by them and would fling themselves into the water.
A pretty nice place to be in February.
Virginia Key, which was walking distance across the bridge from the marina.
My picnic and reading spot on Virginia Key.
Downtown Miami
Perez Art Museum on the waterfront.
The aquarium at the Frost Science Center
The oculus under the main tank.
They had several types of sharks there.
The bottom of the tank.
There was an exhibit at the Portland Museum of Art recently featuring the artist Noguchi that included a model of this sculpture that he made for an exhibit in Venice - but you couldn't touch it. Well, it was moved to Miami and we both could enjoy sliding down!
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