Guess Whose Heading Our Way?

Hurricanes Hannah, Ike, and Josephine and are all heading West accross the Pacific - South-Florida's way.
Hurricane Gustaf just missed Miami, hurtling towards New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico.

This fantastic satelite pic gives a clear indication of the vicinity of the storms: Hannah is just East of Cuba, over Haiti; and Ike is looming behind. According to weather forecasters, Ike has potential to reach Category 5 hurricane strenght within a week. The last storm of that magnitute was Hurricane Andrew in '92, and it obliterated large parts of Miami.

We're holding our breaths.

A Visit From My Boet

A Stroll In The Gardens

The Ninnemans were our guests on Sunday and we headed to the nearby historical landmark of Viscaya.

A beautiful house full of grandeur and priceless works of art. The multi-millionaire built the house to entertain his Winter guests from the North - impressing and surpassing the Joneses was what it was all about.

All glittery and shiny, that is Viscaya - a monument to the plethora of ways man can try to impress others who really couldn't care less.

The gentleman even travelled to Europe about a dozen times and brought back small souveneurs e.g. a small Italian town's centerpiece fountain, another French town's church ceiling, painted by one of the old masters. Additionally, there are nearly a hundred statues in his enormous and elaborate French-style gardens - dating back to the Roman empire. What a magnificent sight - we photographed some exquisite pieces eroding away next to the ocean for our next generation not to see.



Reminds me of another multi-millionaire's house we visited in North-Carolina - the Biltmore Estate. The man built the largest private American house in existence, but his was a philantropist's way and his estate is thriving still today.

Mr. Biltmore's estate is so large that it would take a horse rider nearly two days to circle. He created a forest on some eroded mountain slopes which today still facinates visitors. He build a dairy farm and a town and a school that still exists today.

A big difference in viewpoint and priorities that echo even today.
One who surrounded himself with his wealth, dying a lonely man, while the other built a lasting legacy and truly added value.



Last pic: Megan and Sarah leaning on a Roman altar dating back to 230 B.C.!

Our New Surroundings

We now live in South Miami, about 7 miles from Downtown, and on the edge of the old original Miami. It is beautiful old, tall tree-lined streets and settled older neighborhoods with large houses.

We are about one mile away from US1, which dissects Miami, running North South from Key West in the South all the North along the East Coast towards the Canadian border.

East of US1 is about 2 miles to the coast. Within close range is Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables, as well as beautiful Coconut Grove.

The University of Miami's campus, as well as the Biltmore Golf Estate is within walking distance, and Sarah and I often walk at sunset in the working week evenings.

Come visit us, and bring your walking shoes.