03Jan Miami Biscayne Bay & Aventura mall

Miami’s Biscayne Bayside market place.

Beautiful Biscayne Bay, Miami

Millionaire’s Row starts from Rosie O’Donnell’s mansion

Then, Al Pacino, Sylvester Stallon, Elizabeth Taylor & Eddie Fisher, Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Sharkyl O’Neil, P Daddy, The Parker pen family…
I do not remember which belongs to whom…anyone cares?

Miami skeyline

Beutiful Biscayne Bay

In front of Aventura Mall

Going through North Miami, Aventura, Hallandale, Hollywood, Dania Beach from Miami to Fort Lauderdale

Inside the mall in front of Bloomingdale’s

Third day today in Fort Lauderdale, we decided to check out the biggest shopping mall in Florida.
Aventura mall.
Before that, we tried another 1.5 hours cruise in Miami this time with Island Queen cruise.
It included Fisher Island and so-called ‘Millionaire’s row’ on the Bay of Biscayne.
Miami’s skyline was stunning and so are the luxury mega mansions.
Temperature dramatically dropped this morning from 25C to 4C.
All my warm clothes are in big suitcases and they are already dropped off for safe storage for pre cruise.
So all I had with me for was few t-shirts.
I was freeze to death with just two layers of t-shirts on river cruise.
I stayed inside most of the time but I had to go out on the deck for good photos.
Nevertheless, we did enjoy the cruise so much.
Next stop was Aventura Mall.
The mall is located in North Miami and it has Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom, J.C. Penny’s and Sears as its anchor stores with three huge floors of more than 300 retail shops.
After few more shirts from Abercrombie and Fitch, we were leaving the mall but it has taken us quite for a while to drive through huge traffic jam around the mall.
Back to Fort Lauderdale, it took us about one hour.
We loved GPS!
We could have not driven around without it in Florida!

Pre Cruise Holiday - second day in Fort Lauderdale

Next day morning I have found the bed in the hotel was so good that we called it a heavenly bed.
It is for sale if you want to have it.
$7,000?!$%# ;-{
I might have to think about it twice…hh
As we walked out of the hotel, another fine day was waiting for us.
There were many people on the beach enjoying sunbathing.
But, we were heading to town to meet up with Rico.
Rico was Assistant F & B manager from the world cruise 2010.
He sent me a message through Facebook that he will be in Fort Lauderdale.
Thanks to internet high-tech!
He now is working on Westerdam as F & B manager and would like to catch up with us for lunch.
We were so glad to see him again.
He was still in uniform as he only had couple of hours to spare in between his duties.
We found a cozy looking European restaurant on Las Olas Blvd. and had pizza and pasta.
It was nice to catch up with him after nearly 2 years when we saw him last.
After he returned to his work shortly after lunch, we caught a taxi to pick up the rental car on our 2nd day of Fort Lauderdale.
We got wheels and GPS!

Beautiful day waits for us as we walk out of the hotel

Most people’s idea of holiday comes true here

Fort Lauderdale Boulevard

Las Olas Blvd. hub of Fort Lauderdale

Some interesting stuff displayed on shop windows on Las Olas Blvd.

Carnival Freedom was docked in Port Everglades and ready to embark!

Judge Judy earns 22 million a year by yelling at people, recently sold this yacht for 20 million

This is one of the most expensive mansions around here with 35 million price tag

Venice of America! ~
Canals are everywhere!
We have done it 2 years ago and loved it.
And again this time!
1.5 hours canal cruise around Fort Lauderdale with Carrie-B canal cruise

On top floor of Carrie-B canal cruise

Miami Vice house with outdoor pool goes right inside the house

A pirate ship and a small boat are having lot of fun with water canon

People on pedal boards and a dog seem to enjoy it

6 million dollar man Lee Majors bought this mansion with Farah for 6 million

One of waterfront mansion with pagoda

Coming back to town with Carrie-B

Greg in front of Carrie-B

Las Olas Blvd.

Cafes and Restaurants on blvd. but no fast restaurants are found here.

Had lunch with Rico

Restaurants and Bars on the beach strip are packed

The view of Fort Lauderdale from our hotel room

Going back to our hotel for good sleep. ^^

Pre Cruise for 2012 Grand World Voyage with ms Amsterdam

Greg and I left Sydney on 31st December for Fort Lauderdale via Dallas for another world cruise.

Although, this is our second world cruise, excitement is still there.

We stopped at Dallas airport hotel for a night before continue flying with American airline to our destination Fort Lauderdale.

Flight with Qantas 747 business class was pretty good.

It was rather pleasant after 5 movies, two meals with few drinks and a nap.

Seat was comfortable nearly as flat as A380’s flat bed.

As it was just an overnight stay at Dallas airport hotel, we did not bother to go to town center.
It would have been very quiet as it was the last day of the year anyway.

We ended up having new year’s eve twice.
It was interesting!

On next day, we got on board American airline to Fort Lauderdale.

Everything was sweet as, free hotel shuttle bus to the airport, smooth check- in process at the airport and no extra charge for our luggage.
Yippee.

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale airport where only 20 minutes to our hotel by a taxi is.
The hotel was right at the beach Fort Lauderdale not far from Las Olas Blvd.

Bird’s eye view of Dallas with lot of lakes

Hyatt Regency DFW at Dallas airport for overnight.

Only few luggage ^^

American airline we flew from Dallas to Fort Lauderdale

Our favorite family restaurant The Cheesecake Factory on famous Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale for lunch.

Stuffed capsicum with shrimp, Cajun prawn and Chicken croquettes were appetizers before Chicken Enchiladas as a main course.
Yummy. ^^;

Huge food court in Sawgrass Mills shopping mall, the 2nd biggest one in Florida

Unfortunately, they do not have pretzel with jalapeno.
So we had to settle with the second best Hotdog pretzel!
It was actually even better!
Hi hi

Cinnamon roll with pecan nut and vanilla glaze for breakfast next day

Nop, we did not go in and buy anything here ~~;

Candy shop…
Yum…
Just looking…^^

Outside wing of Sawgrass Mills ‘Oasis mall’

Got lost!
We had to ask which way to find the car park where our rental car was

Largest pizza we have ever ordered near the hotel, but we managed to finish and never again…