The Adventure starts here ...

So after two years of anticipation .. the adventure finally begins here in Miami, Florida. Royal Caribean put us up at the Intercontinental Hotel directly across from Biscayne Bay, Florida. It's the sandy-colored building in this photo:

Miami has become a thriving hub for artists, making it an attractive location to be in at this time. The city is hosting Art Basel, drawing art dealers, advisors, curators, and museums, and is recognized as a leading destination for the acquisition of important works from the 20th and 21st centuries. I found this work which I thought was the closest thing an artist had of his impression of the four legged creatures that Jeff so loves.

However, Jeff located another that, although unusual, was perhaps a better replica of the real thing. Although with a price tag of $7500, we decided it's not going with us!

We were greated with a sunny, almost balmy day, with a beautiful breeze that made for a very comfortable day outside. We opted to go for a boat tour to see the bay and the homes of the rich and famous. The area is famous for its "Millionaire's Row," which features the extravagant homes of celebrities, business tycoons, and other wealthy individuals. Fisher Island, located in Biscayne Bay, is known for its opulent real estate and is considered one of the most expensive areas in the United States. The island is home to various notable personalities, including Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Gloria Estefan, Floyd Mayweather, Julia Roberts, and Dr. Brown (the inventor of Viagra). We saw a couple of homes (or should I say Mansions) that might suit us but the price was a little [read as A LOT] so we chose not to pursue this at this time! In addition to the opulent residences of the notable personalities, it afforded unparalleled views of the Miami coastline, downtown Miami skyline, and Port Miami. Our ship was already in Port preparing for our departure tomorrow.

Royal Caribbean also hosted a very enjoyable Gala Celebration for us. We sat at a table with Courtney Brant. She's the director of the Crown and Anchor Society on Royal Caribbean and is responsible for overseeing the customer loyalty program. It was an evening of great conversation, food, wine, dessert and of course, dancing! Afterall, we have to work off that fabulous dessert!

So tomorrow we set sail .. Hope to see you then!