Feb 13, 2008

Dear Dad

Our holiday in Miami, Valentines Day, Miami boat Show, Coconut Grove Art Show

David and I had only Tuesday to get ready to leave for Miami.  We were on our way for a four day holiday as guests of close wonderful friends Cindy and Bill.  We also had tickets for the Miami Boat Show where we had plans to meet Flip and Soo, more good friends who live in Martha’s Vineyard, but as snow birds, had left the cold to spend the winter in Florida. We also planned to see the Coconut Grove Art Show as well. Even the one hour delay at the airport could not damper our good moods.  

David and I met a wonderfully nice friendly and attentive flight attendant on the AA flight to Miami, one of the nicest attendants we have ever met, real executive material.

Sitting next to me was a nice man who has business in Costa Rica. I heard him talking to the friendly attendant earlier in the flight about how he visits Costa Rica once a month.  I was so curious to know what business he was in but as soon as we took off, he went to sleep and I could not ask him.

David and I had seats in the bulkhead row near the boarding door of the plane.  Every passenger that sat behind us, passed in front of us to find their seats.  It was impossible to get too comfortable with the heavy traffic even after take off because it seemed to be the flight attendants crossed in front of us as well. 

The man seated next to me didn’t budge, even when passengers and flight crew seemed to trip over his extended legs and feet occasionally.  Finally as the AA plane got us closer to the US, the man woke up and I had a chance to ask why he travels to Costa Rica once a month.

I would never have guessed his profession and even after he told me that people are just dieing to use his product - I was still stumped and then he told me that he makes urns out of Costa Rican hardwoods used for holding ashes after a body has been cremated.  I told him that I thought he was nice but hoped I never saw him again.

Being close to door of the plane, David and I were the first ones off and knowing our way around we walked quickly to immigration wanting to get out to the airport and meet Bill and Cindy and get something to eat.

Walking to the immigration area, we noticed that the lines were long in the visitors’ line and both of us mentioned that we hoped the American Citizen lines would be shorter.

All of a sudden we heard someone yell ¨hey, you!¨ David and I both stopped and looked around and across the room away from the people standing in line, we saw a window open and a seated man in a blue uniform pointing at us and he said again ¨ yes, you¨. 

David pointed a finger to his chest and mouthed ¨who me?¨´ and the uniformed man motioned with a wave of his hand for us to come closer. 

David and I had turned pale, we were chalk white not imagining or maybe imagining too much the reason we had been picked out of a room where there were thousands or people in lines waiting everywhere.

We walked to the window and the official asked ;¨You are American citizens aren’t you?¨.  We nodded our heads yes and then he said ¨You want to get out of here, don’t you?¨ and again we nodded our heads and he asked to see our passports, stamped them and made us promise not to tell anyone else and then directed us to the flight crew exit line and David and I bypassed everyone else and got out of the airport, cleared immigration and headed for baggage- got our suitcases and then cleared customs in record time.   Of course we both aged a few years with the initial shock of being pulled out of a crowd by the immigration officials wondering what we had done.

After only another few minutes wait, Cindy and Bill pulled up in Cindy’s Lexus and after quick hugs and kisses we were on our way to dinner.

Dinner was at a Peruvian Restaurant we had not been to before and it was wonderful. 

We ordered a lot of appetizers so we had a chance to sample almost everything.  Best of all it was fun to be with Cindy and Bill.

Thursday, after I made ceviche for the Valentine Dinner Cindy had planned for the evening, Flip and Soo arrived and the four of us went to the Miami Boat Show.

Parking was impossible and Flip drove us around in circles in his Toyota Hybrid,  looking for space and we saw an old man standing on his front lawn.  Cars were parked on the lawn and as luck would have it, there was one space left.  The man was charging $20 per car to park, but after talking to him and after we told him we live in Costa Rica he said, ¨for you, only $15.00. I went to Costa Rica once and stayed for a week. ¨ Really; I asked, ¨did you go on any tours while there?¨ I was really waiting for him to tell us that he went on a Calypso cruise and it was the best thing he ever did in his life, but ¨No¨, was his answer,¨ it was at least 10 years ago and I stayed drunk in a bar the whole time I was there¨

David and I spent a lovely day with Flip and Soo at the boat show.  We went on the first day it opened, a day set aside for customers of the displayers and this made it not so crowded.  We all wondered what was going to happen the following 4 days if the parking now was practically non existent.

While walking around we bumped into twin brothers from Costa Rica, Roger and George, who were there selling their popular rubber rafts of all sizes – like a zodiac – but their own design. 

Interestingly enough, on their video that showed how the boats are built and how they maneuver in the water, I saw background pictures of Punta Coral.  We have known the French twins for years and they have spent time at Punta Coral.  They are also responsible for making the trampoline webbed netting made out of the same hyperlon material that their boats are made out of.  Last year we had two new sets made because with all the foot traffic we needed something to last and the first set lasted 12 years.  Yes, they cost an arm and a leg; but are safe; look great and best of all have a long life.

The company, Apex, also built the boarding ramp on Manta Raya.  The twins do great work.

After a few hours of walking and looking it was time to eat.  The food selection was minimum and we looked for something healthy to eat.  Outside BBQ ribs were cooking, but the lines were long and the sun hot . We chose between us Japanese and Chinese and Flip ordered two small pizzas and once again we looked for parking, but parking our bodies so we could eat lunch.

We found a table in the crowded room with space for about 12 and sat next to a man eating a green salad, obviously on a diet his wife or doctor ordered.   After he left two men sat down and they also had chosen a healthy diet of fruit and Chinese food.  One of them asked if we were at the show buying a boat, and all of us replied that no, we had boats.  To be polite we asked him if he was at the show to buy a boat and he replied, ¨no, I have 250 boats.¨

Curious to discover why he had so many boats, we asked.  ¨We are customs agents¨, was the reply. 

How odd to meet two customs agents especially since our incident with the immigration official the day before.  We asked and they answered all our questions, we mostly listened to them tell tales of smuggling or spy planes.  ¨You wouldn’t believe what we see going on, on the stern of yachts that we fly over¨, one of them said. ¨We have such great cameras we can see longer distances now¨, the other one added.

 The most interesting part of the conversation was when one of the men, the older one, told us how they discovered cocaine smuggled in diesel fuel.  ¨How did you discover it, do you test all the fuel from all boats coming into Miami?¨ We were told that an informant had led them to a lab and there they found records and  formulas and were able to make a big bust.

Living in Costa Rica we hear of drug busts all then time, the latest being a big semi-trailer filled with 2 million dollars cash and 600 pounds of cocaine discovered when the truck was  headed north on the Pan American Highway.

Fishermen along the coast find ¨square grouper¨ all the time and abandoned boats floating off shore.  In fact, David’s launch is a mold that boat builders in Limon had taken from a Columbian drug boat confiscated on the Atlantic coast.  

All of us knew not to ask too many questions or questions that we knew they could not answer.  We did learn that the cartel has so much money and power that they are now going to big universities and recruiting graduates, even those with Phd’s and that the smuggling operation is very high tech now and very BIG business.

After our most interesting lunch, we continued walking through the showroom until we all agreed we could not take another step and we left.  It was back to Cindy and Bill’s house and the waiting Valentine dinner.

David and I said goodbye to Flip and Soo, but not before the four of us made plans for a trip to Nicaragua and Morgan’s Rock – an all inclusive resort on the Pacific Coast of Nicaragua, after we returned to Costa Rica.  David and I were thrilled to hear of a new place to discover especially since we were expecting the yearly visit from Lisa and Jimmy two days after we returned from Miami.

The Valentine dinner surprise Cindy had prepared was more that you could imagine.  She ordered take out from Joe’s Stone Crab – one of our favorite restaurants, and also a heart shaped delicious chocolate cake for dessert.  This was all served with a delicious champagne and white wine.  At each place setting there were chocolates and wrapped gifts  It was a celebration and we felt like celebrities.

The weather in Miami was perfect.  On Friday, after I went with Cindy to the vet to pick up Cejas (pronounced ¨say has¨ and means eyebrows in Spanish)  Cindy and Bill have two Cavalier dogs that are their babies and Cejas, the younger was at the vet getting neutered.  The other dog, Freckles, was so sad and missed his friend terribly and could not understand how or why he disappeared. It was a joyous reunion when we returned with Cejas, who didn’t seem to mind his missing privates but was just glad to be home again.  He rules the animals - consisting of three dogs and three cats.

David and I then drove to Dolphin Mall to return the suitcase I have had so many problems with and had once again locked it and was not able to open it again.

It was a long drive out of town but I wanted to return the suitcase. 

We parked at the end of the mall where I knew the store was only to get inside and see an empty space.  Now what do we do?  I asked at another place and was told, ¨Yes, they moved out yesterday:¨  I then went to information and was directed to another store, you guessed it, at the far end of the mall.  Information told me that the store I was looking for had not left the Mall but had moved.  Wrong.  It was not the same store, but after I asked what they suggested I do with my suitcase that would not open, the nice lady said; ¨my guy can open it for you¨.  And that is just what he did. Then he changed the combination for me so that the suitcase worked correctly and I left with a smile.

That night for dinner, David and Bill cooked on the BBQ delicious white salmon.  If you have never had a chance to eat white salmon you have really missed out on a delicious treat.

Saturday David and Bill and Mark (Bill’s new son-in-law) went to play golf.  Cindy and I and a neighbor went to the Coconut Grove Art Festival.  Because of Bill’s job in Miami he gets lots of perks and had given us free passes to the show as well as free valet parking at the Sonesta Hotel that is located at the entrance to the show. (We have stayed there twice and it is wonderful with great staff, delicious food and very comfortable beds and pillows) The only thing is that when we drove into the garage and asked the valet about the parking he told us ,¨you have VIP valet parking and this means that you have to park the car yourselves on the fourth floor¨ WHAT?  Really, it is what he said and instead of arguing we just did as told.

The art festival was wonderful.  What talent and what prices!!!!  It was hot and I was glad to have brought along my parasol or paper umbrella to keep me in the shade.  More than one person wanted to know where or at what booth I had purchased my parasol. 

I liked a lot of the paintings but only ended up buying some sconces or wall vases for the house.  I have very little table space and love to have lots of flowers.  Cindy bought some beautiful pieces of jewelry, way over my budget. I also bought a dragon fly in a frame that was not a real one at all but a clever design made out of photo film and another plastic used to make the wings and bodies.  We saw displayed hand painted silk jackets and blouses and jewelry of all sorts and sculptures – some more interesting than others- but all together a wonderful collection of talent and original ideas.  Soon it was too hot , we were exhausted and hungry and we went home.

Cindy left on a trip for Columbia early Sunday and I convinced Bill and David they both needed to go to the show to see all the art, it was too great to be missed.  Besides we had the free passes and free ¨do-it-yourself¨-valet parking. 

Bill pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and a uniformed valet came and got his car and parked it.  What did he do that was so different than what we did the day before is anyone’s guess.

After a wonderful complimentary breakfast at the Hotel Sonesta (Bill knows the manager really well) I walked with Bill and David through the show stopping every 50 feet to say hello to someone else Bill knows.  We met a lot of people. Bill is on TV a lot and knows all the ¨who is who¨ in Miami.  Besides he has a shock of white hair that makes him stand out in a crowd.

We stopped at a stand that sold interesting doll art that hangs on the wall.  The prices were better than anyplace else and at the art show you must buy art.  Right?  Anyway

The pieces we bought are whimsical and a nice souvenir from the show.  Of course we all got t-shirts with this year’s selected art design by a famous artist.  David and I also bought a few vintage posters to give away.

At lunch time we crossed the street to one of our favorite restaurant stops. Bill and David had a big or giant bowl of freshly steamed muscles and I had a salad with baby greens and a warm Maine lobster claw on top.  Yum.  The owners recognized Bill and maybe us too as we have been there before (one of the waiters is from Costa Rica) and brought a bottle of champagne and fresh orange juice to make mimosas.

As soon as we finished, the sky opened up and it began to pour and now my parasol, good to keep the sun off was no use to keep me dry.  We hurried back trying to stay dry and rushed back to the hotel, got our wet bodies in the car and went home. 

All three of us felt bad because of the investment of the sellers to have a booth and work all year to sell their goods, now were hiding under cover because of the rain.  It didn’t stop and continued until the early afternoon on Monday.

David and I planned on flying home on Monday, but he received a phone call from our captain who let him know that there was a problem with Manta Raya.  A mechanical job we just completed had gone bad because the engineer did not grease a part well and we didn’t have a spare.

This is not the first time the engineer has not done his job thoroughly; but it is his last because we are going to replace him ASAP.  David thought we might have to wait for a spare part from Seattle and with Presidents Day on Monday everything might be closed and we could be delayed even more. The tour for the following day had to be cancelled, all 85 passengers would have to find something else to do.

David had a flash.  He remembered that a few years ago a woman came into the office and wanted to trade boat parts for a trip.  David happened to have the same part

in the office that we needed now and gave it to the woman.  David called the Captain and had him send on old part to San Jose. First thing in the morning Xochilts – in the San Jose office - took it to the woman’s store to see if maybe she had the part we needed.  The angels were on our side and we got the part, sent it to Puntarenas and by the afternoon Manta Raya was up and running and we only had cancelled one day.  This is still lost revenue. 

Before Bill went to work on Monday, we agreed to have an early dinner because David and I had an early flight out the following day.  Now, when in Miami during Stone Crab season, the thing to do is to eat as many as possible.  David took me for lunch at Monty’s on the water and we gorged ourselves on the delicious treat.

The waiter wanted to know where we live and as soon as we told them Costa Rica we were asked a lot of questions.  Then the waitress came over asking if it was true that we were from Costa Rica and after we said yes she told us a story about her father who used to take fishing tours to Archie Field’s Tarpon Lodge.  I am not sure if you remember it or not, but during your visit to Costa Rica with Mom we took the kids and all six of us went there.  You met Archie too.

If that didn’t make the world small enough, the waitress is also friends with Sue and Dr,
Pardo who happen to have a house at Cedros Island – the island that sits in front of Punta Coral. She told us that she went during spring break and I couldn’t help to ask if she finished collage why she was working at Wolfys as a waitress.  Her answer surprised me because she used to sell real estate but could no longer stand the lies and back stabbing and after a few years quit.  She seemed happy, but it was less than a week since she started.

David and I met Bill at home and we went to a new Italian Restaurant for dinner.  It was fabulous.  Although David and I were still full from lunch, we didn’t tell Bill.  We ordered light and this was mainly because the waiters brought to the table an enormous hunk of parmesan cheese and stabbed a small hunk for each of us, then a brochette (slices of toasted bread with fresh tomatoes and basil on top) and also thinly sliced zucchini grilled and flavored with lots of garlic.  Veal was the main attraction and that is what the guys ordered and ate after sharing a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce.  I had a delicious risotto with fresh langoustines and crab.  Yum, I wish I had some now.

The owners moved their 30 year old restaurant from New York.  The food was delicious and the service superb.  All the waiters are Italian and since we were the only customers they hovered over our table . Soon it will be difficult to get in the restaurans once the world finds them.  Yes, the food is that great.

Our waiter looked exactly and dressed like Humphrey Bogart in the movie Casa Blanca.  What fun we had.  Oh the Italian wine the waiter suggested was delicious.  The address is 1 Miami Waterfront and the name Il Gabbiano.

The restaurant is the only one that sits on the water and we could see the cruises ships in the distance leaving port, shrimp fishermen in front of us dragging nets and small boats trolling.  We watched a parade of boats go up into the nearby river and even saw a patrol boat pass by with all his lights flashing and siren wailing.  We saw a fast speed boat and a sailboat go by with passengers. It was like having a movie to entertain us while eating.

Tuesday David and I returned to Costa Rica and home.  We had a wonderful mini vacation and both of us were ready to get back to work and prepare for an Astronomy tour on Wednesday at Punta Coral to see the lunar eclipse and guests arriving on Thursday and a trip to Nicaragua and more visitors the following week.

Hope all is well with you and you are healthy and happy

I love and miss you.

Besitos,  Cecs