"HILLARITY" IN MIAMI

It is a little after the fact, but the Chicago weather is somewhat different from Miami heat (no sports reference intended). More than a week has passed since landing at O'Hare ... pictures have been posted on Facebook with no explanation ... short-sleeved tee-shirts have been traded for sweatshirts ... many want to know what happened when Hillary came to visit. Needless to say, she wanted to wander and that we did! Paul took Monday off work and made eggs benedict for breakfast. (He wanted to test a new egg poacher.) Delicious! We left for an early tour of Vizcaya Museum & Gardens on Biscayne Bay. Vizcaya was built by James Deering, an agricultural industrialist, from 1916 to 1918. It is a huge European-inspired estate with lavish gardens featuring statues, fountains, and many piazzas used for entertaining. The main house is fully furnished and still contains much of the original art work. (The feature I liked most were the secret panels opening into different rooms and hidden stairways used by the servants to go to different floors.) There are three expansive stories in the house ... an elevator was to be used only by family and guests! Most of the day was spent wandering about the grounds and taking a tour of the mansion itself. Hillary loved the huge dock where yachts and boats anchored. It was a massive barge carved in stone and coral reef; the obligatory mermaid perched on the front and huge anchor on the back. It must have been at least a city block and a half long ... beautiful! Way past lunchtime ... Hill wanted a Cuban sandwich. We hit the renowned Versailles, ordered the sandwich and a dish called "Imperial chicken" ... yellow rice with different herbs and flavoring covering an abundance of slivered chicken and peppers. Groaning with gourmet satisfaction, we journeyed home. Tuesday, Hillary, Larry and I went to Safari Land where Jason had had his initial brush with alligators. She didn't want to be outdone by her little brother ... she HAD to go see live creatures in their natural habitat AND she insisted on holding the baby 'gator. We took the fun airboat ride and Hill was not disappointed. She loved every minute of it; and, for proof of her bravery, had her picture taken holding her next pair of shoes. Oops, sorry! She opted to return the little tyke to the wilds! Having enjoyed the seafood at Rickenbocker Fish Market when Jen and Jason visited, we took a side trip there and had mahi-mahi with mango salsa, peel-and-eat shrimp and conch fritters. (Sent pictures via IPhone to torment Paul, who was at work.) Home in time to sunbathe by the pool ... sun was hot ... water was cold ... ah-h-h, such is life in the civilized tropics of Miami. More fun with Hill-pill to follow!! Marma