South Beach Deco and the Fairchild Gardens

Hi,

Hey, wait  a minute, that's not me....must be because I didn't get to go on these two day trips, so I guess I will have to let mom help write this one for me. 

Mom and dad took a walking tour of the art deco hotels in Miami's South Beach. Mom loves art deco and they both really enjoyed the tour.

The guide did a wonderful job of explaining the elements of art deco architecture. The "eyebrows" to help keep the interior cool, the symentry and flat roofs.

Right in the middle of these hotels was Johnny Versace's former house, where he was murdered in 1997 on the front steps after he returned from breakfast.

The next day they went to the lovely Fairchild Botanical Gardens. Dad took so many pictures that mom had a hard time picking the ones to include in this blog. Beautiful tropical plants and flowers,

exotic trees

check out this sausage tree

lots of lounging lizards,

a turtle peeking up at us

a beautiful enclosed butterfly garden,

and of course, so many palm trees. We could tell why our friends, John and Greg recommended we visit this garden.

Adios,
Yuki

Look Out For Those Gators

Hey There,

Here I am at the Everglades,  not too sure I am looking forward to seeing the alligators! In fact, the first place mom and dad stopped there was this sign next to the car.. I hid under the seat so they wouldn't see me, and I wouldn't see them!

The first day we went to the south end of the park. There was a great boardwalk walkway where we saw lots of birds and alligators. I was okay with the birds, but the gators were really scary. I figured I would just be an appetizer for them!

All of a sudden I looked down and who do you think

  was coming right toward me!

He was looking right at me! Then we turned the corner and I was shocked and scared to death to see so many in one place. Mom told me they were just trying to get some rays as that builds their energy for their night hunting. Liked the sound of that "night hunting", mabe I am safe!

Even the ranger said he had not seen so many of them together and that he was going back to his car to get his camera!

The next day mom and dad left me at home while they took an airboat ride through the everglades, although I think I would have liked the trip. Seemed it would be more air then sticking my head out of the window of the car.

And off they went right through the grass - quite a fun ride....

until they got stuck....

luckily there were no gators in this part as the guys had to get off and rock the boat out of the thick grass. While we were there several 

beautiful  birds came up to the boat.

Then a bit further down was Scarface, a huge male gator.

They even saw more gators, birds and fish when they stopped at the Big Cyprus National Preserve.

Sure had fun at these parks. Next stop, South Beach Miami Art Deco District  and the Fairchild Botanical  Gardens.

Adios,

Yuki