Leaving Orlando today for Miami so went for a hot breakfast in the hotel restaurant to set us up for the journey. 230 miles on a very hot & sunny day but at least we can put the air com on when it gets too hot to handle.
The journey was ok until the last bit as it was through quite a dodgy looking area, we can't afford the hotels in the main part of Miami but this one seems ok, basic but nice staff & just what we need for a few days stay, although we are on a busy road, however they have provided us with ear plugs!!!
Unpacked then went to a restaurant up the road which has happy hour from 2 until 9! Looked ok & the menu is a bit different from the norm, wine is still $5 a glass & when he brought it I thought it was a sample, no, that was all I was getting, oh well, I had to have 2 glasses!
The food was good & I did have some key lime pie for pud but $80 - really???
Day 13 Miami 27.04.12
Got ready & went down for breakfast in an open courtyard, lovely to sit outside to eat.
Driving all the way down to Key West today, 165 miles each way. Lovely journey, beautiful scenery & sunshine. Finally found a parking spot that didn't cost an absolute fortune & went to B.O's fish hut for lunch, as recommended by Louise. You were right, Lou, the food was good, we had fish sandwich with the best french fries so far this holiday.
After a look around this lovely resort we drove leisurely back & stopped a couple of times at nice scenic areas. Unfortunately we missed seeing the 'African Queen', the boat from the film of the same name as it had gone out on a trip half an hour before we got there.
Got back & had a quiet night except for the traffic. Ear plugs do help though.
Day 14 Miami 28.04.12
Had some heavy rain during the night & was very grey & over cast this morning. Had breakfast outside, the rain held off, then set off for the Gator Park in the Everglades. only about 30 miles away so hope we miss the rain.
Got there without any problems & paid our $42 for an airboat ride & show.
The airboat ride was great, just as we'd expected through the channels & we saw a water turtle, several gators including some babies, lots of different birds & we had a very fast ride as well. It was really good. Then we went into the show which was a guy who put his hand in a large gators mouth, then he showed us how the Indians used to catch gators by sitting on their backs & grabbing their jaws, which was quite exciting, then we saw a tiny baby one & finally a 4 foot long one that you could pay $3 to have your photo taken with. We didn't bother as the queue was too long.
After a coffee we set off to Miami beach but it started to rain, we drove up past all of the hotels & large & small boats then found a parking place & went for a walk on the lovely sandy beach. There were a few hardy souls sitting on the beach & some wind surfers but it was still beautiful. Drove the rest of the way to the end then back to the hotel. Planning on getting a pizza for tea later.
Hope you like the photos.
The Keys as we drove down the road.
Hi Sue and Roy
ReplyDeleteI stayed in Miami Beach 29 Years ago. I bet its changed a lot since then. We went Nov / Dec and the weather was lovely. We booked a 3 day trip to the Bahamas which cost £70 including the flight and a very luxurious hotel, We couldnt belive our luck. Miami beach was such a vast stretch of sand. We had a strom one night we were there and hundreds of jelly fish were washed up. I hope you continue to enjoy your journey and think of us back in a VERY wet UK.
Sam