Day 165, January 21, 2010
Well, it wasn't a day of relaxing on the beach after all. Instead we set off on the bus to find the Napa Auto Parts Store in Miami. Things started off well with the bus ride across the waterway on the Rickenbauker Bridge to the Metrorail depot. We paid for a day pass each and joined the northbound Metro rail. The Metrorail is just like the El in Chicago except a lot more modern.
We ended up seeking some advice from a passenger who recommended we get off at the Okeechobee stop and then take the #73 bus southbound to 58th Street. No problem. We were waiting for the bus at the Okeechobee station when we got into conversation with this nice old boy. First he warned us to be very aware of people around us. That this was an area of Miami where nasty things happen. He advised John to take off his gold necklace because people get mugged for that! It was kind of a lonely spot beneath the metrorail tracks!!! "Don't do anything that makes it more obvious that you're tourists!!!" Oh Great! Then we went on to have a nice chat about how he used to be a captain on one of these motor yachts and some of his funny experiences.
We managed to get on bus #73 and ended up in a not so smart area of Miami called Hialeah. Very Spanish, very seedy. However, we found the Napa Store and were thrilled to find they actually had the fitting we needed in case we have problems with the refrigerator again!!! We shall guard it with our lives. Then back on the bus, this time southbound to the metrorail, Dadeland, where there's a big Mall. Took the metro up to Bricknell and we were back to the original station.
We were starving hungry by then and found a lovely little roadside cafe where we enjoy a great sandwich and shared a yummy piece of chocolate gateau!!!
We found our way back on the bus to the marina without any problem and were glad to sit and have a cold beer.
Walked over to where the charter and fishing boats were moored. They sell fresh fish from there and fillet them how you like, right infront of you. I bought two yellow tailed snappers for supper and they were delicious.
I was interested in these birds I hadn't seen before which were hanging around there waiting for scraps along with the pelicans. The young guy told me they were Black Crowned Night Herrings. If you look carefully you can see one long white thread like plume hanging from the back of his head. Apparently they almost became extinct at a time when the ladies liked to have these plumes in their hats. A good thing we don't wear hats like that any more. They are common now.
In the evening, we were invited over to one of the other boats. A group of Jamaicans, old friends, who have all lived in Florida for years, hang out there at Crandon Marina. What a nice bunch of guys. We had a lovely evening with them while they barbecued the pork, with Jerk sauce, sausage and asparagus, washed down with beer!!!
Well, it wasn't a day of relaxing on the beach after all. Instead we set off on the bus to find the Napa Auto Parts Store in Miami. Things started off well with the bus ride across the waterway on the Rickenbauker Bridge to the Metrorail depot. We paid for a day pass each and joined the northbound Metro rail. The Metrorail is just like the El in Chicago except a lot more modern.
We ended up seeking some advice from a passenger who recommended we get off at the Okeechobee stop and then take the #73 bus southbound to 58th Street. No problem. We were waiting for the bus at the Okeechobee station when we got into conversation with this nice old boy. First he warned us to be very aware of people around us. That this was an area of Miami where nasty things happen. He advised John to take off his gold necklace because people get mugged for that! It was kind of a lonely spot beneath the metrorail tracks!!! "Don't do anything that makes it more obvious that you're tourists!!!" Oh Great! Then we went on to have a nice chat about how he used to be a captain on one of these motor yachts and some of his funny experiences.
We managed to get on bus #73 and ended up in a not so smart area of Miami called Hialeah. Very Spanish, very seedy. However, we found the Napa Store and were thrilled to find they actually had the fitting we needed in case we have problems with the refrigerator again!!! We shall guard it with our lives. Then back on the bus, this time southbound to the metrorail, Dadeland, where there's a big Mall. Took the metro up to Bricknell and we were back to the original station.
We were starving hungry by then and found a lovely little roadside cafe where we enjoy a great sandwich and shared a yummy piece of chocolate gateau!!!
We found our way back on the bus to the marina without any problem and were glad to sit and have a cold beer.
Walked over to where the charter and fishing boats were moored. They sell fresh fish from there and fillet them how you like, right infront of you. I bought two yellow tailed snappers for supper and they were delicious.
I was interested in these birds I hadn't seen before which were hanging around there waiting for scraps along with the pelicans. The young guy told me they were Black Crowned Night Herrings. If you look carefully you can see one long white thread like plume hanging from the back of his head. Apparently they almost became extinct at a time when the ladies liked to have these plumes in their hats. A good thing we don't wear hats like that any more. They are common now.
In the evening, we were invited over to one of the other boats. A group of Jamaicans, old friends, who have all lived in Florida for years, hang out there at Crandon Marina. What a nice bunch of guys. We had a lovely evening with them while they barbecued the pork, with Jerk sauce, sausage and asparagus, washed down with beer!!!
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