Day One- Miami!



We arrived in Miami on Friday and checked into the Miami Marriott on Biscayne Bay. This hotel was great and was located minutes from the Port of Miami.
http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/MIABB



We then decided that it was time to eat. We walked to the Bayside Marketplace and ate at Los Ranchos. This is a Nicaraguan steakhouse specializing in marinated and grilled steaks and a selection of chicken and fresh seafood. What a surperb gourmet restaurant at reasonable prices! I had the Emerald Fish and it was outstanding. After our meal, we sipped Cuban coffee and watched the activites happening at the Bayside marina. I would urge you to eat at the Los Ranchos if you are in that "neck of the woods". This was only the start of a series of amazing dining experiences throughout our trip.

Below you see Judy and me standing under a one hundred year old Banyan Tree.



Several banyan trees were growing on the grounds of the marketplace. Native to India, the banyan trees were planted in South Florida in the 1800's. While this tree is over 75 feet tall, banyans can grow to 100 feet and live over 1000 years. You will note how the trees roots descend from the branches and, once they grow to the ground, they will form another trunk.