Bill & Jools return to Florida 09 Day 14

[Guest]

Day 14 – 14 May – Duck Tours
Weather today, a short torrential shower in the morning. Hot and sunny for the rest of the day.

We were up and out just after 9 this morning. We wanted to do the Miami Duck Tour, so we had to find out where to go to do it. We had an address for the Duck Tours in the guide book we got with our Go Miami cards. Mrs Tom Tom was duly programmed and got us there within about 20 minutes. We found a parking garage, parked up and walked the short distance to the Duck Tours place. We’d missed the first one of the day at 10am and were booked on the 11am tour. We had about 40 minutes until the tour started so had a walk along a nearby street in the Miami Beach area (as that’s where the Duck Tours leave from). I don’t know where we were but the place had a distinctly Egyptian feel about it. There were street cafes with the same type of tables and chairs we’d come across in Egypt last year. There were also some ‘hubbly bubbly’ pipes on some of the tables. The biggest difference was we didn’t get stopped every few feet and invited to eat in the restaurants.

The sky was becoming ominously dark and the rain soon started and was soon torrential. Ah well we thought nice weather for ducks, we just hoped it would also be a nice day for a duck tour. Luckily we were passing a branch of the Wachovia bank so we sheltered in the huge doorway and under the canopy there. After about 10 minutes the torrential rain had given way to, well just normal rain really, so we walked at Bill’s snail’s pace back to the Duck Tour place, which was less than 5 minutes away.


The Duck tour office was really busy by this time, it was a real hive of activity. Our guide soon arrived and escorted us all to our ‘duck’ which was just around the corner. Once on board she introduced herself as Dee Dee Duckworth and showed us all how to quack. She went on to explain that quacking was mandatory on the tour. She reminded me a bit of Ruby Wax, although not as OTT as Ruby. Anyway the tour was great fun and we saw loads of sights, including homes of the stars when the ‘duck’ went into the Biscayne Bay. Homes here cost between $2 million and $50 million.
This one is cheap at $2 million. The paupers live here.


This one sold for $50 million. Must be nice eh?

This house was used in 10 episodes of Miami Vice

Somewhere to park the boat


We passed the port of Miami where the Carnival Destiny was docked, now that is a big ship. As we were coming back out of the water we saw a sign that said ‘prisoners at work’. There were men wearing bibs that said ‘state correctional’ working on the road where the duck was. They were being very closely watched by a prison official. Our guide Dee Dee waved a cheerful ‘good morning officer’ to the woman in charge. She then told the woman we would all quack at her, so all the passengers had to quack at the woman who just sort of half smiled. I don’t think she was thrilled really.

Once back on dry land the tour went all around the South Beach and Miami Beach areas, as well as into downtown Miami. We saw so much that we would have missed if we’d just gone into Downtown Miami by car. Dee Dee pointed out the real Miami Ink studio as appeared on TV. She also warned us that Lynsey Lohan and Brittney Spears holiday residence was coming up soon. Then she showed us the Miami Beach Police station.

Once we reached the South Beach area where the party animals hang out, Dee Dee put some hip hop music on and started to wave at some girls on the sidewalk. Bang on cue the girls started to walk along and dance to the music. I guess you had to be there to see it. Anyway the tour lasted 90 minutes and was really entertaining.

The Miami skyline from the duck.


Ocean Drive, where the Art Deco area is


After the tour we had a quick lunch in Subway, before collecting the car and heading off to do an airboat ride, which again was included in our Go Miami cards.

We drove out to the Everglades, showed our Go Miami cards and went to board the next airboat. Now this was a highlight of the holiday so far for both of us. We had a great time and our guide was so knowledgeable. She was also passionate about the Everglades and protecting the wildlife there.

The everglades from the boat

We were introduced to Lily.

[Guest]

This blue bird was surprisingly tame and came right up to the boat. She was a wading bird and waded out to the boat by walking on the lilies.



Our vessel

A tree




After the boat ride we went to the alligator wrestling show. I didn’t think I’d like this but it was hugely entertaining and we laughed a lot. The trainer didn’t actually wrestle with the gator.

Don’t try this at home

It was getting on for 4pm by the time we left the Everglades to return to the resort and we got caught up in the Miami rush hour. There seemed to be road works everywhere and Mrs T was trying to get us back via roads that were closed (no one must have told her). It seemed like every ramp we needed to take was closed. We eventually came through a residential area, which was much nicer than the concrete highways. I noticed the palm trees were bearing huge bunches of coconuts and there were coconuts lying all the over the place where they’d fallen from the trees. I wouldn’t like to be walking under one of those as they fall – ouch.

Whilst we’d been stuck in the traffic I’d been watching to see how many drivers were either on their cell phones or texting, as they drove as this always bugs me in the US. I reckoned it was maybe 60%. It was more than half anyway. Now just as we were almost back at our resort, a car shot past us at speed with the driver on his cell phone. There was a stationary bus in front of us and on the inside lane which wasn’t spied by the car driver. He quickly ran out of space and tried to swerve but misjudged it and didn’t make it. The bus shook and he completely ripped off the front wing of his car. Maybe he was going too fast (he was for the conditions) maybe he wasn’t concentrating due to talking on the phone. I don’t know but he’s going to have a costly repair bill. As we passed him he was still talking on the phone! Luckily no one appeared to be hurt.

We eventually got back to the resort where we sat outside in the resort gardens enjoying the last rays of sunshine. We went back inside quite late on – I think it was about 7pm, to get ready to go out to eat. We decided to go to Tony Roma’s again as we’d enjoyed it so much the evening before. Once again we both had a cup of potato soup

[Guest]

Bill had fillet medallions

I had sirloin with loaded mash

We then returned to the resort for the night, tired out after our busy day. We had an early start the next day as we were going to Key West.

[summersun]

a great day and pics, glad the man in the car crash/people on the bus wasnt hurt

[Michelle]

Wow you did a lot today.

Lovely photos again.

[truesdpr]

A very busy day Jools - love the pictures. A good hearty meal at the end of the day too! Perfect.

Pam.

[orlandosgr8]

The Duck Tour sounds great

[voddygirl]

Glad the rain didnt last Jools...great day for you both

[ambersmom]

Wow you were busy bees today, looks like both tours were great,

We have seen the prisoners at work in Naples, i keep imagaining that woman as a bus load of people go by quacking, she must of thought here we go again lol

Lovely photos too, the blue bird is fantastic

[Guest]

Sounds like two very interesting trips today. And finishing off at Tony Romas definitely a good day.