Miami and the Florida Keys - May 2007

After a long drive across the Everglades we arrived at our next destination in south Miami. There were only a few campers in this large park that appears to have been created in a former papaya orchard (at least I think that’s what was hanging from the trees. .). Lots of bird life too – white ibis, blue jays, and even a flock of feral monk parakeets.

But we quickly became fascinated by the trials and tribulations of the pair of red-bellied woodpeckers who had set up housekeeping in the hollow post next to our coach. You can see the female peering out while the male perches on top of their home. Our little couple was constantly bedeviled however by an aggressive group of starlings intent on taking over their nest. The woodpeckers took turns tending to the eggs, but when they both left the nest, a starling took advantage of the situation in an instant. After watching the woodpeckers’ unsuccessful attempts to drive out the competition, Ez came to the rescue! Using a long metal rod with a hook on the end that’s used to pull the awnings into place, he fished down into the post hollow until he finally hooked and dislodged the stubborn (and very annoyed) starling. YAY!! The woodpecker pair quickly re-established residency, although I must say they really didn’t seem very appreciative. That’s OK, we were glad to help.

We headed out to do some sightseeing in fabulous South Beach. Although we certainly felt right at home with all of the other Beautiful People, the glamour of South Beach paled by comparison to all this bird drama. After checking out the art deco architecture and the beach scene, we decided to relax with an alfresco lunch and do some people watching. No Britney or Paris sightings, but we did see a couple of gals on the beach showing their ta-tas to the tourists.

Miami has lots of high-rise condos along the beach, but we prefer the lovely old neighborhoods with expensive homes surrounded by the kind of lush gardens you only see in the tropics. We drove several times through a tunnel of banyan trees that lined a beautiful avenue that curved along the ocean. This mansion is in that area and was originally built in 1916 by Charles Deering who owned International Harvester.

After listening to Jimmy Buffett songs for years, we were anxious to get to the Florida Keys and experience that Margaritaville magic. The Keys truly are among the most beautiful places we’ve visited – from the white sand beaches to the crystal clear turquoise water to the hurricane palms swaying in the breeze. Of course, the breezes were pretty stiff while we were here, so unfortunately we had to pass on the boating and snorkeling we had planned. Instead, we settled for exploring the area and making a couple of visits to Key West.

We both enjoyed the Hemingway House in Key West where Ernest Hemingway lived with Wife Number Two (and met Wife Number Three). The house itself is charming and still home to over 50 six-toed cats, descendants of the original Hemingway pet. Many of the cats over the years have been named for celebrities and are buried in a corner of the garden after they go to the great kitty box in the sky. (Above is the final resting place of Zsa Zsa Gabor.) We did lots of sightseeing in Key West. It was fun to walk the streets that Papa himself walked (and maybe even toss back a few in some of the same bars???).

We were reluctant to leave the Keys, but we have commitments to keep. We worked our way back up the Atlantic side of Florida, stopping at Pompano Beach and Vero Beach. We’re headed to Orlando next and will fly out next week for a two-week visit to Europe with daughter Jennifer and son-in-law Eric. Details to follow. . .

P.S. I know I missed the photo of the alligator on the golf course - instead, here's an iguana on the golf course in Pompano Beach!