Tuesday, March 22, Day 18 at Ft. Lauderdale

Ran out of picture space in the google file, will figure out what to do and add in later. Jerr

The thing to do today was a tour by boat of the inner harbor executive and famous peoples homes. We found a boat the Carrie B. to do a hour or so tour. The boat is tied up somewhere downtown and we have to find it. It was not easy, again those streets going one way and the avenues the other way, except for some streets that just plain confuse you. It leaves at noon, we find it at 11:59am, the guy looks at us and asks if we want to go, I said yes. He hands us a special parking ticket that lets us park right alongside the boat. What a deal. That's our car as we pull away from dock.



Smallest house least taxes

 Now what can I say, there were so many exclusive homes, not necessarily lived in more than a week or two a year – one never since built.




Original Home from way back

















Then as we enter the harbor area are some immense yachts, he mentions some of the owners, Spielberg,


Spielberg's yacht



who has the largest US component built vessel. Some pictures are for the home, some for the landscape.


Some yachts


Towed to be cleaned for upcoming exhibit



Beautiful wood, old time boat





Looking at Restaurant

 The captain recommended the 15^th StreetFisheries alongside the harbor. Why not? How could I pass it up, in 1948, the marina was known as an abandoned site for submarine torpedoes used in WWII. A draw for us old submarine sailors. Yes, we found it. The view is neat, we are looking for a seat alongside the water, we had to sit one back. But one opened up and I indicated to the bus boy that we would like to sit there. He said he would clean it first. As we waited for him to clean it a couple sat at it. The bus boy looked at me, I gave him a so what we’ll sit here then. He told the waitress of the situation and she moved them to a table behind us and moved us to it. What a surprise. A large seafood menu. Shirleen ordered a Maine Lobster Roll Just like they do it in the New England Coast.

I a Lauderdale Marina Salad Romaine Lettuce, Shrimp, Snow Crab Meat, Artichokes, Hearts of Palm, Grape Tomatoes, Hard Boiled Egg, and a Papaya Chutney Dressing. A Marina staple for more than 30 years. How can I resit something different?

I ordered

a 15th St.

Bloody Mary with Absolut Peppar and Zing Zang Bloody Mary mix, garnished with a jumbo shrimp, pepperoncini, lime wedge, celery stalk and finished with Old Bay seasoning. A side of Yuengling. This was spicy but flavorful.

Alongside us are tarpon and many different species of fish cruising the dock. It was OK to feed, as the restaurant feeds them each day at 5pm. The tarpon were said to weigh 200 pounds.

We want to go up A1A for awhile, it is spring break and many people walking and sunning. I notice a restaurant we ate at 4 years ago, Shirleen remembered it because of its strange seats.

We then notice the Bonnet House sign and we decide to go there again. It is 45 acres of heavily treed area in the heart of Ft. Lauderdale. It is called the bonnet house because of the yellow floating lily in the freshwater pond. The tour through the garden, where pictures are permitted, but not in the rooms. There are many of her and his paintings.

The entry is guarded by a blowfish overhead as we walk through the gate.

Then the splendor of the inside garden with hanging orchids around the inside perimeter.

We were able to see the two white swans but not the little monkeys.

Seashell rocks used for building and walkways

Look at these beautiful colors of the flowers and leaves!

We head to the hotel, of course it is 5:25pm and everyone is on the road.

We ate at Shoney’s next to the hotel. We were told that the buffet was bought by some customers. We learned that they were high school deliquents with a night out. The guys ate first and marched out then the girls came in to eat. The menu was limited, the buffet was for them with their types of food and to top it off. The delivery truck for them did not make it so our selection was limited. Shirleen was able to order her hamburger, bacon cheese, BBQ burger. I a ground beef patty with onions and mushrooms and mashed potatoes. It was one of those things they could not provide, so fish and chips. The fish was lightly battered and tasty, even tough I had initially doubted anything would be good. jerr