Life in Coconut Grove - Day 150 - Miami Coconut Grove, FL

Except for four days in Miami Beach for the boat show, we have been at Coconut Grove since February 10.  That's a total of 14 days at the Grove Isle Marina.  Today, we signed up for an additional seven days, which will make stay in Coconut Grove a total of 21 days; the same amount of time we spent in Sarasota. 

Why you may ask?  The answers starts with Grove Isle, the nicest marina that we have visited to date.  The Grove Isle Marina is part of a gated community on an island on Biscayne Bay about 300 yards offshore.  It is reached by a bridge that leads to a security station staffed by people who are dead serious about security.  You cannot get on the island without a pass or authorization from a resident.  Everybody is photographed along with their vehicle.

Bridge as viewed from Grove Isle

Security station as viewed from the bridge

Grove Isle consists of three 18 story condominiums and a first class hotel.  The grounds are spectacular with a beautiful entry road, landscaped pathways, 12 tennis courts, a barbecue area, a beach and seating areas around the property.

Entry drive. The tennis courts are hidden on the lefthand side.

The Grove Isle Hotel and Spa includes a four star restaurant, spa, workout room, heated pool and seating areas.  Rooms cost around $400 per night.

Gibraltar Restaurant (note the fire pit)

Fire pit at the restaurant

Located about a mile north of Grove Isle and a quick dingy ride is the Fresh Market, a store that Whole Foods could learn a few things from.  The prepared foods are unbelievable.  Great selection and great recipes.  Note: They stopped me from taking photos.

Fresh Market has been the source of most of our meals and is a welcome change from eating in restaurants.

Then there's the town of Coconut Grove and its charming downtown.

The Cocowalk with a 12 screen theatre, restaurants and upscale shops

Johnny Rockets with outside seating and rock music

One of many restaurants with outdoor seating

Mayfair Hotel

And Kodi continues to make new friends.

Kodi charming three young ladies in the theatre lobby

And we continue to discover more history.  Yesterday, while walking downtown, we discovered The Barnacle, the oldest home in Dade County.  Today it's a historic park.

The Barnacle

View from the Barnacle looking out on Biscayne Bay

And, of course, the weather continues to be nothing short of spectacular.  Over 30 days of warm temperatures (80s during the day, 70s at night) and sunny skies.  We haven't seen rain since Key West.

Walks at night with Kodi are nothing short of magical.  From the beautifully lit walkway around the island we get a view of the downtown Miami high rises, Biscayne Bay, Key Biscayne and the high rises around downtown Coconut Grove.

Written by Les.

Visit to a landmark - Day 147 - Miami Coconut Grove, FL

Readers may remember that when we first arrived in Miami two weeks ago, we saw this unusual mansion as we traversed the Deering Channel enroute to Grove Isle Marina.  We also saw a photo of it on our Sea Ray Navigator screen (see photos).

Vizcaya as viewed from Deering Channel

Vizcaya photo on the Sea Ray Navigator

The mansion is called Villa Vizcaya and it was build by James Deering between 1910 and 1914.  Deering's father founded Deering Harvester Company which became International Harvester and later Navistar.  The Deering Channel was dug by Deering's workers to enable ships to bring building materials to the site.

We visited it today and it was spectacular.  The property is now owned by Dade County and is operated as a museum.  It is a popular tourist attraction. 

Many similarities exist with Ringling's Ca' d' Zan mansion is Sarasota.  Deering and his architect and interior designer, Paul Chalfin, journeyed throughout the world to acquire the furniture, art, sculpture and even rooms that make up this impressive property.  In fact Deering and Chalfin acquired the artifacts, arranged them in a warehouse and then built the rooms to accommodate them.  Every room is from a different historical period. 

Unfortunately, they will not let you take photos inside the house.  That said, we cheated and took the two below.

Sculpture at the west entrance

Phone room (one of the first phones in Miami)

The grounds are spectacular and beautifully maintained.  The original property consisted of 180 acres, which today is 50 acres.  Part of the 130 acres to the south was sold and is now Mercy Hospital.  Another part of the property, called The Farm, is now the Museum of Science and Planetarium.

Photos on the grounds were allowed.   Enjoy!

Grand entrance from the land

Grand entrance from Biscayne Bay

One of many spectacular features is the "barge," which is essentially an outdoor patio on the bay.  It was built on a sandbar and then the land between it and shore was dredged to create an island.  Guests rowed over to the barge in small boats.  In the second photo you will notice unusually painted poles.  These they explained were gondola poles as found in Venice.  And yes, Deering had gondolas for his guests.

The "Barge" as viewed from shore

Note the gondola poles

Boat dock

North view from the gardens

Gardens to the south

Fountain Garden

Fountain Garden viewed from The Mound

Casino

The weather as indicated in the photos was beautiful with temperatures in the 80s and an onshore bay breeze.   In fact the last 20+ days have been warm and sunny. 

Note: Since leaving Chicago, we guestimate that we have no more than 10 days with rain.
Written by Les.

Miami Boat Show 2011 and Return to Grove Isle, Days 139 - 145, Miami Beach, FL

It has been an exciting week of funfilled activities.    We stayed at the the Miami Beach Marina thanks to Paul Boudos' securing us a slip.   Although the priciest yet at $227/nite, it was in an excellent location being in South Beach.  There was a boardwalk that went south and then east along Goverment Cut to the beach.  It was magical at night with lights in the towers (see photo below) that turned from green to blue.

Boardwalk along Government Cut

Lazy day on Miami Beach

Busy day on Miami Beach

South Beach's landmark just two blocks from the marina

We got a dog walker for Kodi for Friday and Saturday, which enabled us to "show go" with no concerns.  The dog walker, Keith, took her home to play with his weimaraner and returned her to the boat each evening.  So Kodi was happy.

This was our first time at the Miami Boat Show and my first time in South Beach.   The show was so big (and the traffice -- well, you can imagine).   There was a lot of "fancy iron" which Les loves.

Fancy iron

Slick boats

There were many fast boats, classics, and luxury yachts

83 Azimut that we visited

And, "wish list" stuff -- like a bathtub

My "bathtub" (Ok, I know it's the hot tub on the 83 Azimut)

We came to the boat show just for fun, and wound up finding a boat we love.  (Sounds kind of fickle as I sit here on our lovely 48!)    This "new love" is a Fleming 55 and think it will be the next (and last) boat on our journey.

Fleming 55 Pilot House Cruiser

Fleming salon looking aft

Best ever galley (includes oven, dishwasher and convection microwave)

To die for control panel

On Sunday, accompanied by Ron and Linda we (and two other interested couples) sea trialed the Fleming.  It was awesome.  All you hear is the sound of the water!  Engines?  We are still not sure if they come with the boat.  You could not hear them.

Spectacular view from the pilothouse

Having now spent 5 months living on a boat, we better understand what is both desired and practical for us, i.e., a washer and dryer!    While getting a Fleming 55 will be a "process", we envision heading in that direction.

Meanwhile, the BEST part of the weekend was spending time with friends

Pam and Scott.  Pam accompanied us from Grove Isle to Miami Beach Marina.  Then Scott joined us for the Brokerage Show on Collins Ave.

Pam and Scott on a 75 Mochi trawler (by Ferretti)

Linda and Ron Markovits.  We did the inwater show at Sea Isle and the Collins Ave Brokerage venues with them.  Les and Ron did the Convention Center venue.

Ron and Linda pose for a photo after the sea trial

Kathy and Dick Hoffman.  They too own a 48 Sundancer and are our neighbors at Belmont Harbor.

We pose with Dick and Kathy next to a badboy Rolls Royce 

$400K Badboy Rolls Royce in black primer coat owned by a football player

Awesome dinner at Prime One Twelve on Ocean Drive

And Heidi, Jim and Michael.  Jim and Heidi were part of the "fix-up" 24 years (short 4 days) ago (with Laura and Bob) that brought us together.

The bunch of us

Heidi, Michael and Jim at Smith and Wollensky

Note: Michael and Les ended the evening with a high-speed night dingy ride through the channel adjacent to the marina.

The weather may be wonderful, but it's friends that make it special.

Skipper Bob's little dog "Skipper" at the inwater show at Sea Isle.

On Monday, we left Miami Beach Marina (and the 4-5 knot current when the tide change and turbulence) and returned to paradise (Grove Isle Marina) where we will stay for the next seven days (recovering from the weekend). 

Guided Discovery at Grove Isle slip C1

On Tuesday morning, we discovered Lucky Star, the 55 Fleming that was in the show on the "T" at E-dock where we were last week.  Pam and Jim, owners of Lucky Star, invited us for cocktails on Wednesday evening.  They are GREAT salespeople for Fleming (i.e., they love their boat - what's not to love).

Lucky Star - Hull #218 Launched November 2010

Just picture her with the name Guided Discovery!!!!

Written by Diana and Les