Florida Exposure - Miami's South Beach

It's Day 2 of our quick trip to South Florida - We decided today’s destination would be Miami's famous South Beach - we walked along the beach and along Ocean Drive through the Art Deco district. Normally bustling with traffic, Ocean Drive has been converted to a pedestrian-only corridor. This configuration allows the restaurants to expand outdoor dining into the street and I have to say, it was nice not having the interference- physical and audio wise - while exploring. There is a naturalized barrier between Ocean Drive and the beach which buffers the beach area from the city. We found South Beach very pretty and enjoyable.

 

 
Cloudy day means we didn't get too hot and bake under the sun!

 

 

 

 
We enjoyed brunch at the Havana 1957 Restaurant with their yummy Cubano Sandwich.

 

 
Did you know - a Cubano Sandwich contains citrusy Cuban pulled pork, slices of ham, swiss cheese, mustard, thin slices of pickle, heated panini style between a sweet crusty (Cuban) bread.

 

 
Later in the day, we caught the South Beach strip as dusk settled in the sky and enjoyed the twinkly lights wound around the palm trees. A lovely way to end our day.

 

 

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Florida Exposure - Miami's Little Havana

The Hubs and I did something spontaneous last week - we took an impromptu trip to Southern Florida.

 

 
I will qualify the use of "Impromptu" though - back in November, Scott outlined four winter trip options which included the Florida itinerary. We had decided this would be the trip, but did not set a specific date for travel. On Monday January 4, we decided to go the following week - pretty spontaneous for us! We booked the flights and hotels quickly and flew out early on January 11.

 

 
First stop - Miami and Little Havana:

 
After arriving and checking into our hotel, we decided to explore Little Havana by driving to the main strip - 8th street - aka Calle Ocho. The neighborhood, with its Latin roots serves as a cultural center for the arts - visual, music, culinary. While live music remains on hold, the colorful murals adorning side streets remind visitors the pause is just that - a short pause.

 

 

 

The quintessential Calle Ocho Roosters dot the streetscape in Little Havana - I learned they were installed as an artists' installation starting in 2002. Appropriate since chickens and roosters often run around the neighborhood.  

 

 

 

 

I found this cool vintage vehicle behind one of the shops and it reminded me of what you might see in actual Havana.

 

 

We walked around and took in the little cafes and cigar shops before deciding upon an early dinner at Restaurant El Cristo. I had crispy pork chunks with roasted garlic - with so many colorful veggies. The official name of the dish is Masitas De Cerdo or Sauteed Cuban Pork - so delicious!

 

 

While no visit to Little Havana is complete without Cuban Coffee, I don't normally drink caffeine in the afternoon. But I snapped this photo of a sad, un-used espresso maker in one of the stores. I suspect it was not operating due to Covid regulations.

 

 

It was a fun afternoon exploring Little Havana. Hopefully the live performance and music scene returns soon.

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Fish Tale (With Dolphins)

On our last day in Florida during Spring Break, we met up with a guide, Captain Cam just before the break of dawn. Cam was taking us out for a half day in shore fishing excursion. We felt lucky as we booked the event the day before - this would be our last "touristy" opportunity as my parents are selling their Florida home and this will most likely be our last visit to the area.

We got in the speedboat and Cam stated "we're going over there to get bait", gesturing towards Sanibel Island. In my naivety, I thought there was some bait shop "over there". You know, worms that are kept on ice, worms that you buy.

In reality, "over there" was the pylons of the Sanibel bridge and getting bait meant casting for it with a net, the bait being little fishes / minnows. Several boats were already out by the bridge, starting their day the same way - casting for bait.




The process of casting nets was fascinating to watch - the swirl of the net, the sheen glistening off the fish scales, minnows twisting. All against backdrop of the rising sun.


There were visitors, waiting for a morsel to come their way


Bait in hand (really, in a reservoir towards the back of the boat), we traveled into the mist of the bay. The fog enveloped us, the rising sun all but gone. It felt cold, grey and silently eerie. We had been in this waterway before - years ago, when visiting the Edison-Ford winter estates - the Caloosahatchee River.



We stopped at The mangroves along Shell Island. Cam baited and cast the lines. Brian got the first bite, almost immediately, but lost the fish just as fast. The waters were full of Yellow Jackfish, a medium sized fish, not willing to give up the fight. Brian and Scott managed to reel their catches in, but it took me several tries before I got the reel technique down. These guys were strong and challenging (for me, I'm more or less the spectator on this excursion). We kept two of the Jackfish, releasing the other 6 or so.





Yeah, my fish feels slimy!

The sun started to peek out and Cam took us out between Sanibel and St James. His boat tops 70mph, so we held on to our hats!

We were now fishing for trout with lures. They had to be at least 15" to keep, so the smaller ones were released. On occasion, a fish would swallow the rubber lure and wouldn't survive the extraction - we watched long necked water fowl scoop up the dead fish and gulp it down its skinny neck. Other birds swooped from the sky, taking lunch into its talons. Nature in action.

En route to our third location, Cam spotted a dolphin swimming along side the boat. "Let's see if I can get him to jump the boat's wake" - and the playful dolphin did just that! We just stood there, amazed. I got out my camera and started shooting. That dolphin jumped the wake 4-5 times. That experience "was not on the tour brochure", and certainly a special bonus.





Overall, we brought home 4 nicely sized trout and the 2 Jackfish. Cam filleted the Jackfish and simply gutted the trout. We grilled up half the Jackfish for lunch (tasted like Mahi-Mahi) and my mother pan fried two trout the next morning. They froze the remaining fish and enjoyed them the following week when my sisters came to visit.

The experience was completely unexpected and a great way to end our trip. I've recently read where happiness is found more in experiences vs physical things and this day certainly proves that out.

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Along My Run | 14 | March Randomness

Five Things that happened along my run in March.

1. I ran in snow. While snow is not abnormal for March, we received over 10" on March 1. Of course, I ran in it and determined that running in 10" on un-plowed streets was really exhausting. That morning I elicited comments from neighbors ranging from "That's hard work" to "You go!" to "You are absolutely crazy".

2. I ran in the dark again. And in fog. With the time change to DST, the mornings are dark again. I normally don't run in the fog when it is dark out, but that day, I had friends running with me, so we all braved it together.

3. I ran two 20-milers. Yes, it's part of marathon training, but these runs were particularly hard - I was nursing a foot injury during the first one. After the second 20 miler, I came down with a huge cold, which tells me my immune system was already weak and running set it over the edge.

4. I ran in shorts and a tank top for the first time this year. Being in Florida made this possible.

5. I ran to the Southern Most point in the US while visiting Key West. Just to say I did it.


1. slowly drifting, 2. Into the White Abyss, 3. Last Week of Morning Daylight. Need to enjoy it while we can , 4. Bundled Up This Morning. Waiting for Spring, 5. This Route Again, 6. Spring Thaw, 7. 20 Milers Through the Woods and Along the Prairie, 8. The Last Quarter Mile is The Hardest But Worth It In The End, 9. Ventured out of the neighborhood and caught this , 10. Sunrise in Key West, 11. Way Down South, 12. Another Great Start

Because of my foot injury (extensor tendonitis) and late March sickness, I'm feeling a bit behind in my marathon training. With the race less than 3 weeks away, there's really no time to do much more other than try to get my lungs back to normal (my asthma flared back up when I got sick), build back some of my cardio fitness and hope for the best.

March's Running Stats:
Total Miles: 113 (out of planned 144 - ouch!)
Average Pace: 9:24 Minute / Mile

This Month's Running Quotes:
We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort.
– Jesse Owens

Runners understand this, this deep desire to cultivate resilience. It transcends the repetition of our gait and gives meaning to the stride of life.
– Kristin Armstrong

I will finish this mile. I will do something I never thought I'd be able to do. So I do.
– Jennifer Fliss

And this - so true -
That's the thing about running: Your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.
– Kara Goucher

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Cast a Wide Net

Hopefully you catch what you seek.



In this case, "we" were out catching live bait for an inland fishing experience. (I say "we" because "we" were in the boat with our fishing guide - in reality, he was doing all the work). I feel fortunate to have captured the scene above - it's not every day I find myself underneath the Sanibel Island bridge at sunrise with a slew of fishermen. I have many more photos to share from that amazing experience, hopefully later this week.

Until then, I hope you cast out and find what you seek.

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Five Things from Florida's Spring Break - Key West

After a four year hiatus, we took a Spring Break trip to visit my parents in Fort Myers, Florida!

They are in the process of selling their Florida place, so it may be the last time we get to enjoy it. As a result we did all sorts of things we normally don't do.

1. We took the high speed ferry to Key West and spent two days roaming the island, drinking in the azure water and skies.




2. We snorkeled the third largest barrier reef (of course, the largest is in Australia, the second largest is in Belize)

We've snorkeled in Belize and while the water is clearer there, the variety of coral and aquatic life was very similar in Key West.

3. We parasailed:


4. We enjoyed the local fare and had the best coffee, compliments of Cuban Coffee Queen:


5. Of course, I took a morning run down Duval street to the Southern most point in the US and watched this sunrise:


It was a wonderful, warm getaway. We did lots in Fort Myers, too - more to share in the coming days!

Sharing with Nancy's Random Friday

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At The Beach

I can't help but smile when I look at these pictures, taken a mere week ago, but a world away.

At least it feels that way.





We were fortunate to be able to visit while my sister and her family were on holiday from the UK. I finally met my niece Winnie, and my daughter and her cousins bonded for the first time. Being on the beach was icing on the cake.





It was a perfect way to end our short trip.

Linked to Mosaic Monday

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Butterflies, Lilies and Flames in the Naples Botanical Garden

A Trio of Butterflies:

I think they look like flying zebras....

Water lily:


Huge Lily pads:


My idea of flames:


All from the Naples Botanical Gardens. The facility is a mere three years old, but chock full of beautiful plants, stunning world themed gardens - Brazilian, Asian, Caribbean and an interactive Children's garden (interactive for both child and adult).

From the Brazilian Garden - the centerpiece waterfall:


If you are visiting southwest Florida, the gardens are a great place to visit.

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Not Your Normal Saturday

Why isn't it a normal Saturday?

A. It's almost the middle of November and it's 80 degF outside.
Well, if you're in Florida, that's probably normal, but not if you are from the cornfields of Illinois.
Oh, wait, it's 75degF in the cornfields of Illinois today.
[Darn, and I thought by escaping to Florida in November, we'd have something to brag about.]

B. I got a close up of a Queen butterfly


C. We're having fun with family we haven't seen in over two years





OK, ALL the above are true, but what makes it really special is hanging out with family - that's something to be thankful for this non-normal Saturday.

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Water Fowl and Photo Tips for Capturing Action

I was going through my flickr stream and thought these photos of water birds might brighten your day.









Photo tips when shooting birds in flight (or any action - I follow these steps when shooting sports):

• Use the Continuous Focus Tracking mode on your camera. Some cameras have a "Sports Mode" which is a continuous focus mode.
• Use the Continuous shutter release which will actuate your shutter continuously when you depress it.
• If you have plenty of light, use the Aperture Priority Exposure mode, and set your aperture at least two stops from full open. (although I don't always follow this rule, as the top two photos were taken at f2.8)

With birds, you need to be patient! That was probably the hardest part for me, although when you're in Florida and have the entire afternoon free, it's not too bad.....

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For the Love of Golf - TPC Sawgrass

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, starts today, and in honor of what has been dubbed the "fifth major", I'm posting the photos I took while visiting the course two weeks ago.

The clubhouse serves as a massive cornerstone of the course. Built in 2007, this Mediterranean style beauty overlooks the 9th and 18th holes.

Our party had the privilege of enjoying the view from the 2nd floor balcony.

The clubhouse is full of memorabilia, including a display of each tournament winner's club of choice:


There is a constant reminder of the golf greats that have taken on the course and won.


Those who will tackle the famous 17th island green this weekend:




Maybe one day, the hubby and I will be able to go and play it ourselves. Heaven knows, I'll be sure to take plenty of extra water balls for Hole 17 (and 18!).

Linked to This or That Thursday.

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