Meet our new Little Friend! I hear they're everywhere - since people turn them loose when they grow up from babies, and are no longer cute & cuddley. :)

Boat Parade

The annual Holiday boat parade grew from "putt-putt" boats to vessels of 80 feet or more (those mega yachts). It was a party nite for the whole city! This year, Lorraine Bracco of the Sopranos was the grand master/mistress.

Home Sweet Home

Would ya believe - my parents paid $17K for this house? You can't even guess what the last owner paid! Try 47 times more!

Seminole Hard Rock Cafe and Casino

The only gambling we did 23 yrs ago in Ft Lauderdale - was on the weather at the beach!

This is a mega tribute to rock and roll stars (I saw Elvis's pants and Britney's shoes), along with the casino, hotel, shopping and restaurants.

It's like an adult Disney world.

PS This is where Anna Nicole left this world...

The "Other" South Beach

A guy named "The Donald" showed up since I was last here. He added a few Trump Towers here and elsewhere in South Florida.

I think they should name the place we ate across the street as the - Trump Burger King - since that's where all the construction workers were congregated on their lunch hour! :)

South Beach - Miami

No South Florida trip is complete without a visit to South Beach. The colorful art deco hotels are still there and in pristine condition. They're right across from the white sandy beaches.

Many movies have been filmed here such as Scarface and The Birdcage.

Tribute

Just a little tribute I need to add - and one of the main reasons for my visit. This is where my Mom and Dad are buried. At last, I visited my Mom's resting place for the first time - and brought flowers to them both. I felt a peace inside myself, knowing they were together, at last. I didn't expect to feel that!

Alligator "Wrestling"

It used to be a "real live" Seminole Indian who put on the alligator wrestling show for the tourists. Now, it's some white guy who does a couple of tricks for 3 minutes. Not quite as exciting like when I was a kid!

Little "Florida"

This little strip of land is in the shape of the state of Florida - and is for sale for $4.0M. I don't think that includes the house on the adjoining lot!

Downtown Ft Lauderdale

I heard from a reliable source that one of the condo complexes sold out in less than an hour at an auction with 300 units. Prices started at $500K for a Studio with no view - to $3.0M.

It's the only downtown I've ever seen - where all the buildings are the same age, i.e. NEW!

Ho - Ho - Ho

Santa and the reindeer along the intracoastal waterway!

Happy Holidays from Briny Pub

Briny Pub (whatever that is) had a beautiful entry in the Boat Parade - a mega yacht with a big party onboard! This photo was a reminder that it was really Christmas. :)

Another little "toy"

Some winter visitors may stay only a week, or a weekend in their get-away homes. It probably takes longer to travel here, than their visit lasts.

Look at those puffy clouds & blue skies!

Where the yachts are bigger than the homes.

This is a smaller yacht of many in front of the Las Olas homes. This is where people purchase their winter get-aways for a few weeks of the year - bearing in mind that they need a dock & slip to fit their mega yacht (any boat over 80 feet). Sometimes a hardship is created when a new mega yacht is purchased, forcing the homeowner to sell & purchase a home with a bigger dock & slip to fit the new "toy". I heard that Demi Moore stayed in one home for a week - the "rent" was $30,000.

New River - and New Town!

Here I am in front of my mega-yacht. Well, maybe not really mine, but I could pretend for a moment. The tiny downtown Ft Lauderdale exploded into a metropolis the last 23 years, with high rises, banks on every corner, and yachts like this parked in the middle of it all!

I wish I'd taken a photo of the jail - also in the middle of it all - complete with the best views in town!

Christmas - Florida Style

All I ever wanted was an evergreen Christmas (which I've seen many of in Seattle). But here's one I could've had all along. It may not be real - but the smiles of the tourists who gathered here for photos, certainly were! :)