After all the research done, Keywest was one place that I really wanted to go to. It was not very feasible with the 7 hours drive oneway. However, we decided to give it a try all the same and we started off at 3AM on the drive to Keywest.
I got even greedier and wanted to stop over at Miami. We did not want to miss Miami either and we hardly had two days left.Miami roads were very crowded and tough to navigate. I remember reading that the traffic to key west can get bad. Seven hours was the estimate without traffic considerations - so I decided to drop key west for a later visit.
The car meanwhile showed a change oil warning - for whatever reason, I decided to take care of it and had the oil change done. While we waited, Divya fed Niya her doughnut breakfast.
From there, we reached sobe(south beach).The color of the water was magical blue.We played for some time in the beach and then decided to try the art deco - the hotels of miami.The art deco welcome center host directed us to the lincoln mall to get a feel of the city.The city is what miami is about as per the fodor's guide as well.
So we walked through the lincoln avenue. Here again, a liking for slowness set in. We just walked around - it was a nice city. Miami needs to be stayed in - it is not a place to just come and see things and leave. Miami cuisine also had featured in the guide - we landed at Pasha's mediterranean restaurant and had excellent salmon and chicken kababs for lunch with basmati rice.
As we had started off with the ambitious key west project, I wanted to atleast cover everglades. So we went to everglades to be challenged by rain and traffic.It seemed very likely that by the time we reach the everglades national park, the park would get closed.As rain struck hard and the estimated arrival time kept gaining minutes,we called up Jacob and found out the phone numbers and closing times of the alligator parks.We had to drop the national park and went to the alligator farm instead.
We reached just as the last airboat ride was starting.It was a short nice ride through long green grass and marshes.Niya had a great time as well. The airboat is very noisy and hence we wore ear-cuffs to protect us from the noise.We also saw alligator skins and alligator babies.
We rushed back to Miami to play some more time at the beach.But by the time we reached and got quarters for parking, night had set in and there were no people around.We briefly went to the water but returned soon.
The ocean drive is where we had parked our car.All the hotels were well lit up and the live music and the recorded music were flowing into the streets, making it very lively. The ambience invites me to Miami right now.
We decided to end the miami trip at one of the fodor's recommended restaurants. That is how we drove to Hy Vong, vietnamese restaurant.
Looked like this was in the coconut grove area, which is an early cuban settlement.The restaurant was crowded and we had to wait outside.Then an elderly american lady ushered us in and that is the best service we have ever received from any restaurant anywhere.I had folded my arms as I sat at my table - the lady immediately brought the AC down. Brought soup and rice for Niya and told this is from her. I requested her to choose the menu for us - she started off with starters. I said - that is ok, we will just have the main course. She offered us beef/pork starters - again free! and said you guys just eat it - this was again excellent.We ordered duck and salmon with mango - both were excellent. By the time we were out of the restaurant, I was thick with sleep from the heavy food.
At around 11PM, we started our ride back to Orlando.Sleep set in bad and I could feel my eyes sink down uncontrollably.And we were driving by the dark seas on both sides and at night the ocean was somehow deeply menacing.And there were no rest areas to park the sleep.So we kept driving and finally we parked next to a petrol pump shop. The plan was to doze off for 10-15 minutes but we slept off for two hours or so and continued our drive.
I just wanted to reach home as fast as possible now and was driving as fast as I could.Cops brought us down. I was all ready to pay as much as needed as I was clear that I was at fault. The cop politely said : 'The reason we stopped you is that you are driving at 83 where the speed limit is 65.Is there any particular reason?'I said we were driving back to Orlando from Miami - had slept off at a shop and wanted to reach back as soon as possible.The cop took the driving license and came back later and said 'This time we will give you a verbal warning.But please try to drive a little slow'.Relieved and thankful, I drove at cruise at the speed limit all the way back and crashed the bed from around 6AM to 2PM.
I got even greedier and wanted to stop over at Miami. We did not want to miss Miami either and we hardly had two days left.Miami roads were very crowded and tough to navigate. I remember reading that the traffic to key west can get bad. Seven hours was the estimate without traffic considerations - so I decided to drop key west for a later visit.
The car meanwhile showed a change oil warning - for whatever reason, I decided to take care of it and had the oil change done. While we waited, Divya fed Niya her doughnut breakfast.
From there, we reached sobe(south beach).The color of the water was magical blue.We played for some time in the beach and then decided to try the art deco - the hotels of miami.The art deco welcome center host directed us to the lincoln mall to get a feel of the city.The city is what miami is about as per the fodor's guide as well.
So we walked through the lincoln avenue. Here again, a liking for slowness set in. We just walked around - it was a nice city. Miami needs to be stayed in - it is not a place to just come and see things and leave. Miami cuisine also had featured in the guide - we landed at Pasha's mediterranean restaurant and had excellent salmon and chicken kababs for lunch with basmati rice.
As we had started off with the ambitious key west project, I wanted to atleast cover everglades. So we went to everglades to be challenged by rain and traffic.It seemed very likely that by the time we reach the everglades national park, the park would get closed.As rain struck hard and the estimated arrival time kept gaining minutes,we called up Jacob and found out the phone numbers and closing times of the alligator parks.We had to drop the national park and went to the alligator farm instead.
We reached just as the last airboat ride was starting.It was a short nice ride through long green grass and marshes.Niya had a great time as well. The airboat is very noisy and hence we wore ear-cuffs to protect us from the noise.We also saw alligator skins and alligator babies.
We rushed back to Miami to play some more time at the beach.But by the time we reached and got quarters for parking, night had set in and there were no people around.We briefly went to the water but returned soon.
The ocean drive is where we had parked our car.All the hotels were well lit up and the live music and the recorded music were flowing into the streets, making it very lively. The ambience invites me to Miami right now.
We decided to end the miami trip at one of the fodor's recommended restaurants. That is how we drove to Hy Vong, vietnamese restaurant.
Looked like this was in the coconut grove area, which is an early cuban settlement.The restaurant was crowded and we had to wait outside.Then an elderly american lady ushered us in and that is the best service we have ever received from any restaurant anywhere.I had folded my arms as I sat at my table - the lady immediately brought the AC down. Brought soup and rice for Niya and told this is from her. I requested her to choose the menu for us - she started off with starters. I said - that is ok, we will just have the main course. She offered us beef/pork starters - again free! and said you guys just eat it - this was again excellent.We ordered duck and salmon with mango - both were excellent. By the time we were out of the restaurant, I was thick with sleep from the heavy food.
At around 11PM, we started our ride back to Orlando.Sleep set in bad and I could feel my eyes sink down uncontrollably.And we were driving by the dark seas on both sides and at night the ocean was somehow deeply menacing.And there were no rest areas to park the sleep.So we kept driving and finally we parked next to a petrol pump shop. The plan was to doze off for 10-15 minutes but we slept off for two hours or so and continued our drive.
I just wanted to reach home as fast as possible now and was driving as fast as I could.Cops brought us down. I was all ready to pay as much as needed as I was clear that I was at fault. The cop politely said : 'The reason we stopped you is that you are driving at 83 where the speed limit is 65.Is there any particular reason?'I said we were driving back to Orlando from Miami - had slept off at a shop and wanted to reach back as soon as possible.The cop took the driving license and came back later and said 'This time we will give you a verbal warning.But please try to drive a little slow'.Relieved and thankful, I drove at cruise at the speed limit all the way back and crashed the bed from around 6AM to 2PM.
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