Where Did I Leave Off?

Let's see, I left off with going to the library.  Well we did go and my idea of reading some magazines went out the window.  The few that were left were either nothing we wanted to read or in Spanish.  Oh well, the good part is that we saw many more things we never would have seen.  We had been concentrating on South Beach and the library is in North Beach....so, whole new world. 

We took the bus, which is a tale in itself.  Welcome to their world....get on the bus, very nice woman driver, with a very erratic way of driving.  Go 2 stops and on gets a homeless man (pretty sure anyway) he had lots of Publix bags not full of groceries, a pull cart and a very large duffle bag.  Then the yelling began....between the bus driver and Ed...well he kind of looked like an Ed :)  She started in on how he couldn't have things in the aisle of the bus, he came back with numerous retorts to which she yelled back you can't have things in the aisle, this went on for about 5 start and stop blocks.  Everyone else seemed to take it in stride as they got on and off the bus, so in the end when he got off we decided it was, if not a choreographed amusement, friendly banter.   I  do have to say I wouldn't want to get on her wrong side. She then had to board a woman in a wheelchair and let me tell you by then she was WAY off schedule.  She proceeded to drive like a bat out of hell....trying to make up for lost time.  With the traffic in South Beach this was more terrifying than N.Y.C.!!

She apologized for "him" when we got off  saying he was crazy and always gave her grief.  I think there was a little dual craziness going on there, but she did see us later and waved and stopped the bus to ask if we wanted a ride....so she is firm in my memory at least as a "great character".

Anyway, we made it to the library, left and walked back to the boat.  On the way back we saw the Miami Ballet, the Bass art museum and the Holocaust Memorial. The latter being something we did not seek out, but were deeply moved by.  It was the most beautiful setting for the most horrific story, and a lesson in history that we try to forget, but can't possibly after experiencing this place.  I did not have my camera, but probably would not have taken pictures it was too sobering for that.

Sunday we took another bus with a much more sedate driver...but a much longer ride.  We have seen so much here and we agree that each has its value, walking you see more sights, riding the bus you get an experience in "people".  I have seen so many people here talking to themselves I feel I may be the crazy one.

Anyway, after the long bus ride we sat in the park at government cut, ate lunch and watched the insanity on the waterway.  From tour boats, to Sport Fish, to Jet Ski's.  There is only one speed PEDAL TO THE METAL!!   Only the cruise ships showed any common sense at all.  Amazing.

We made it back to the boat around 7:30 pm.  Long beautiful day.  We left this morning, headed north.  Hopefully I will catch up on this blog and not be a day behind, it is so much easier to remember what happened today as to recount yesterday.  There is just too much to see and too little time to reflect!!!!!