South Beach

Back to our trip to Miami at the beginning of the year. While there, I really wanted to go to South Beach. Not for the celebrities, not for the restaurants, maybe the beach if would have been warmer, but I wanted to go for the Art Deco architecture. Yes, I am that big of a nerd. I enjoyed walking around (except when the wind blew which was about once a minute) and just looking at the buildings. Here are some of my favorites.

Sorry Hokie Fans.

The sad things is...I have many more photos. I may be the only one who cares. We didn't make it down there at night but we bet the neon would have been really "neat".

It is a juvenile Double Crested Cormorant

I never really trust my bird identification abilities and I was wrong. I thought this was a Great Cormorant not a Double Crested. However, Todd guided me to the right one.
We walked the Anhinga Trail while we were in the Everglades. These birds, Anhingas, an American Bittern, lots of herons, and some alligators could be seen around this trail. This is were we first met our English friends. Todd was trying to identify a Eastern Phoebe and they came up to us. We quickly saw a Great Egret (if I remember correctly) and a Common Yellowthroat while we were standing with them. I tell you birdwatching makes fast friends.


I zoomed in. My ISO was too high and that is why I have over-exposed areas on him. I forget how to use my camera between each trip and then I have about a two day learning curve. All my pictures from the first day are over exposed.

Is it real?

Todd and I traveled to Miami for the Orange Bowl last week. (Yes, Kansas beat Virginia Tech and I was colder there than when I was sitting in the pouring rain for the loss to Boston College). Anyway, we flew down on Tuesday so that we could do some sightseeing. Wednesday, we went to the Everglades for some bird watching but I found this guy (or girl) the most interesting. Other individuals had spread the word that there was a large american crocodile behind the marina (I believe this was the Flamingo Visitor Center). I never thought I would get this close to one. We arrived to a crowd of people and they were waving us over. As you looked down off the dock, you see this crocodile taking a shower. A young girl informed us that he had been on the opposite shore but had heard the water running when someone turned the spigot on. Supposedly he made a beeline here and then sat for the longest time just letting the water drip onto his face.


Picture from a small floating platform looking back towards the dock.



Taken off to the side from him.

Look straight down from the dock.

In Miami

We arrived late Tuesday. Some observations so far: Never rent from Alamo if you are going through the Ft. Lauderdale airport,Wal-mart is annoying everywhere, birdwatching makes new friends, Floridians think that 70 is cool and that 60 is chilly, and if a review about a hotel says they offer ear plugs then think twice.
Because of birdwatching we met the same couple three times yesterday. They were an older couple of London, England. We also met, very briefly, a couple who were actually younger than us. They looked to be in their twenties. Birdwatching tends to be an "older" thing.
I must admit that yesterday was cold but only because the wind was gusting.
Tonight is the game!