Hello and welcome to my journal! Originally from Thessaloniki, Greece but living in Northern Europe for the past 30 years -the last ten of which in my adopted hometown Brussels, I try to surround myself with nice people & music & visual art & dance, because they make everyday life bearable & beautiful & rich. This is my growing collection of life’s little pleasures I wanted to share with you, but mainly keep and remember so that they don’t fade away…
Since end of August 2016, my path brought me to the Big Apple. While I try to absorb the differences in life & culture, and try to grasp the sheer size of New York, I’ll be sharing my impressions in The Humble Fabulist.
Here we are, on the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S. How an archipelago sitting between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico can be considered ”Continental” is beyond me, but that’s what a concrete buoy-marker claims. It also claims that Cuba is just 90 miles away and that’s just about right (although, again, not exactly). And, after a closer look at the map, I doubt the ”southernmost” part too; some parts towards Fort Zachary Taylor at the tip of the island, seem to be more southern. Not that anyone cares for such details – life on Key West is an all day-long party; and that’s all that matters.
A lone fisherman. A truck. A bird. A tiny island. A bridge so long one can never see its other end. Frankly, I would drive back and forth on the Seven Mile Bridge, even if it went nowhere, just to grasp its enormity. But only in calm weather. I wouldn’t even think about crossing it during a storm. Now that must be a sight to behold!
Time flies in a blink of an eye when you have fun, but we won’t go back to the cold yet. Not before we discovered the Keys, starting with the one closest to Miami, Key Biscayne. With Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in the south end, a lovely beach and calm seas thanks to an offshore reef that keeps waves low and rip currents weak, and a beautifully restored lighthouse open to the public, Key Biscayne looks and feels like vacation – the ideal unwinding spot. If ever we go back to Miami, this is where we will stay.
There’s no escape for first timers in Miami: a millionaire’s row sightseeing cruise is a must. Boats sail around Star, Palm and Hibiscus Islands, offering great views of the city and port, glimpses of some of the most luxurious mansions imaginable and serious name-dropping: Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Elisabeth Taylor, Will Smith, Shaquille O’Neal… hard to remember them all.
In reality, not everyone resides or has ever owned property on the island, but who can blame the tour guides for wanting to give tourists a blown up version of the story? One look at these mega-mansions and I was ready to believe every word.
Take, for example, Phillip Frost: the pharmaceutical billionaire, who owns one of the largest properties on Star Island, was matter-of-factly credited by our guide with the invention of Viagra. On another note, we also learned that the palm trees lining the grounds of his property at the waterfront were imported from South Africa at a cost of $10.000 each (there were more than 30 of them). A quick post-tour search showed one of these facts was false – guess which one.
Oh well, not all is lost, however, because … yes, Don Johnson also stayed here during the Miami Vice years. Now, what about Crockett’s Theme by Jan Hammer, in my opinion, one of the best soundtracks for a TV series, ever?
A World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, a Wetland, a Refuge, a wonderful way to spend a day – but it was early afternoon when we arrived. The park was deceptively quiet as if taking a nap. But look closely and you might even spot an alligator disguised among leaves.
Just before entering the Everglades’ grassy waters, a stop for a deliciously refreshing smoothie at this fruit & vegetable family-owned stand – come smoothie bar – come animal farm – come backyard mechanics (at least I imagine so, for what were these tractors and small aircraft doing there, other than providing great photo-ops?). If you are anywhere near Homestead between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., any day of the week, looking for fresh fruits and veggies or a healthy pick-me-up before your next Everglades’ adventure, well then, look no further… Robert is here!
The delectable Villa Vizcaya, built amid a native forest on Biscayne Bay. Eclectic collections mostly acquired in Italy; lush gardens, home to thousands of orchids and native plants – some endangered; a mini-paradise teeming with wildlife; a stone barge acting as breakwater; a strange feeling that I walked out of reality and into a stunning dream.
Because we all need a break from the harsh New York winter in January. And because, where better to escape the cold than tropical Miami with an average high of 76°F/25°C and mostly dry days? We flew there, then drove all the way down to Key West – but first things first: South Beach and the Art Deco district. A feast for the eyes of an art deco lover (and those of a fancy car/loud Latino dance music/young crowd/strong drinks aficionado). South Beach is Miami’s glamorous party district, it seems. A bit overwhelming at first, but easy to get used to, if one stayed long enough.
An Eclectic Mix Of Revelation By Baldy. A Blog About Cumbria, Home Of The UNESCO Lake District National Park. Photographs, Paintings, Sketches & More. Mountains Are My Bones; Rivers My Veins; Forests My Thoughts.
