They call him Flipper (or Mitzi)

HE SAID: 
I  can't believe it has been a week since we picked up Pat's mom from the airport. We have been very busy running around Miami. The highlight of the week though was visiting the Dolphin Research Station in Marathon on the Florida Keys.

Where Flipper AKA Mitzi is buried

I wanted to tour this place when we where in the keys, but I was too sick. This place is totally dedicated to the dolphin. You can swim with the dolphins, have an encounter, and watch a show. I was excited that this is where all the Flippers where trained for the show in the 60's. I loved that show and was a huge fan of Flipper....(a lassie of the sea)

We also took a bus/boat tour of Miami. They really gave us a great trip of the city, pointing out a lot of the history of the city. It was a two story open air bus, that was great in the morning, but by 4 in the afternoon, we were all melting in the sun. It didn't help that I forgot my hat, so even though I been south since December, I still got a bad burn on my head. It was fun getting a tour of the all the "rich and famous" homes. For example the home below belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. The rabbit statute in the yard was given to her by Michael Jackson.

One of our favourite activities was driving down "Ocean Drive" in the evening. This is in South Beach and it is where the movie "Bird Cage" took place. There are a lot of restaurants along this strip and of course lots of beach bunnies.  Parking is hard to find. We thought we would be smart and park in a  parking building one night and had to pay a flat fee of $30.00....ouch!!

Pat was really good at finding us some great restaurants in the city and we loved eating outside if it wasn't too hot out. 

SHE SAID:

We have had a lot of fun in Miami.  I am surprised John didn't review the hotel we stayed at for a week - Design Suites at Castle Beach!  He went as far as registering a complaint to the Hotel and to RCI who put us up there on a certificate that we had.  If you know us well, usually I am the one that will move from hotel room to hotel room, at times leaving a hotel if I can't get it right.  I was in more of a Hakuna Matata mode, this week and left the fussing to him.  It didn't start out strongly to start - we lined up in a valet parking line (the ONLY way to park here) for about half an hour.  John decided to get out and get the check in process started.  He went to what looked like the desk and was told the check in was in the basement - yep, the basement of the hotel.  He joined a long line, which was being help up by a lady who was having a major problem and all three of the desk personnel were talking to her, with the line up growing by the minute. (the maids also shared the office space as we watched them bring their carts out while in the line up) Meanwhile I was inching up the parking line, and finally was able to tell them I was checking in, so I had to put the car to the side until check in was done.  I finally made my way to the nether regions of the building, and joined the waiting line.  We finally finished, and were given our key to the room - a real key - which I haven't seen in years.  I will digress to the origin of the building as the original Playboy Hotel in Miami - it has seen better days, but you can get a glimpse of the opulence that once was there.  Lots of oak panelling, marble floors, arched ceilings and chandeliers.  It is now condos and about 5 hotels sharing the building, with no one really taking ownership.  We made our way in the elevator, which was scary (kind words) with broken walls and no ceiling panel to our room.  The room was OK, until the bathroom - no toilet paper roll, and the tap didn't move to turn the water on - it spun...back to the basement to discuss this.

Our issue was put on 'the list for the maintenance guy' to be taken care of the next day, as he had just gone home.  Oh...also...THERE WAS NOT WIFI!!!  If you read our earlier posts you will know what state of mind John goes into over this situation.  The quest for connectivity comes on - perhaps this is why he became hyper sensitive to the place.

I won't go on much more on the state of the room - parts were great - the marble floor - parts were abysmal - the bathroom, but it kept on everyday for five days, as every time we made our way to the dungeon to report that the maintenance man had not visited our room, only to discover that 'he had just gone home'.  On day 3 quest for WIFI was solved and on day 5 the water in the bathroom was fixed - by the way, I had my own temporary fix by taking off the spinning tap and we turned the shower on by twisting the metal on the pipe.  

The best part of this hotel was the pool - warm, big, not overcrowded and the proximity to the ocean - it was on the ocean - the beach was beautiful white sand, with warm water.  I guess you can't have everything.  We will let you know the result of Johns complaints as we find out.

John has covered much of the week with Mom, great weather, keeping busy and smart dolphins - it's been wonderful!  We picked up my Aunt Dorothy yesterday (Saturday) and tomorrow we board the Norwegian Sun for our 3 week cruise through the Panama Canal to Vancouver.  We then hop a plane back to Miami to get the dogs and the Motor home.  I am sure there will be some adventures coming!  We even get to stop at the magical cruise port of Victoria - family, hope to see you - I have Noni with me :)