Thursday Evening in Florida

Thursday evening was a highlight of the trip for family fun. It brought a bit of that relaxing vacation feeling to the trip for the Quipper, who had been working at the corporate headquarters each day while the kids and I were out on field trips.

We had a romantic and exciting evening at Mai Kai restaurant. The atmosphere was phenomenal. I heard the building and grounds had been quite beaten up by a hurricane, but it was still very impressive. We started our evening in the gardens. We strolled a beautifully night-scaped path among lush palms and other tropical plants interspersed with carved totems, rock gardens, giant clam shells, waterfalls, streams and footbridges.Inside the building the atmosphere was excellent too. Massive totems and high-backed chairs and Polynesian music set the scene.

We enjoyed exotic drinks. The Artist had her first umbrella drink -- whipped chocolate and strawberries, she loved it! The Engineer had milk (the only good drink in his book!). The Quipper had a daiquiri and I had a Hidden Pearl, described as "The delightful tang of fresh juices and golden rums." It was delightful. We had a good meal. Not a great meal, as the prices might indicate we should have enjoyed, but it was good.

On to the entertainment. The 45-minute show was a revue of native cultural dances from various Polynesian islands. The dancers were excellent and the costumes were magnificent. I only took a few photos of the opening number. The Quipper had a better view, but he also had a five-year-old on his lap. The fire dance was most impressive of all and the Hawaiian wedding dance the most beautiful in my opinion.

The Artist was impressed too. After the show she approached one of the dancers to thank her and express how much she liked it.

Thursday Afternoon in Florida

After we finished browsing around the Old Fort Lauderdale Museum, the kids and I went outside to the River Walk. This area, on the edge of the downtown part of the city, was clean and beautifully maintained. If you are interested in the history of the area this placard tells a bit more. Click on the photo for a larger view. The kids got to see some every-day Florida sites that are more rare in our neighborhood. As we were walking towards the New River we heard a horn sounding. This railroad draw bridge was going to lower in two minutes. There was a large digital clock counting down the time. A couple more boaters scooted through before the clock showed zeros and the bridge began to silently lower. From a shady seat in the gazebo we watched the bridge lower. Here you can see the Engineer 'appreciating' the sounding horn. After the bridge lowered our attention was turned elsewhere. Across the river from us a dry dock complex was busy lowering boats into the river. Ships and barges in Lake Erie and the other Great lakes don't need anchors this big!

Thursday Morning in Florida

Thursday was an interesting combination of frustration and relaxation. In the morning I took the children to the Old Fort Lauderdale Museum.

I had the poor fortune of selecting a day when the lady who operates it had a family situation so it was to be closed except for the school field trip that began before we arrived. Thankfully, the kind ladies at the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society next door let us go in and take the self-guided tour. The museum was small and half of it was dedicated to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a champion of the Everglades and author of The Everglades: River of Grass.

The other half was dedicated to Ft. Lauderdale history. It was interesting to learn that the city is named for a man, Lauderdale, who built a fortification along the New River for Tennessee Volunteers in Second Seminole War. I also found it humorous to read that Ohioans fleeing to Florida is a phenomenon much older than I thought. In 1895 Frank Stranahan, an Ohioan, opened Stranahan's Trading Post at the New River ferry crossing on the one and only rock road between Lantana and Lemon City in north Miami.

The museum also had before and after exhibits about a September 1926 hurricane. The area plunged into economic depression three years ahead of the rest of the nation, and recovery did not come until after World War II.

Spring Break! Clarion call of college students making a pilgrimage south was not always the hedonistic flesh fest we see on the news these days. In the 1920's Fort Lauderdale had a regulation- size ocean fed pool. The site hosted the Annual College Swim Forum, which over the decades has grown (ahem. Perhaps that should be "decended") into the Spring Break phenomenon.

The children were amused by the man's bathing suit and woman's bathing dress.