Fwd: Days 24 - 28 22/06 - 26/06

----- Original Message -----
To: "Lizzie Fletcher" <lilyfletch@hotmail.com>
Subject: Fwd: Days 24 - 28 22/06 - 26/06
Date: 27 Jun 2016 12:13:00 -0000
From: ZMQ5985

----- Original Message -----
To: "Alec" <adonald@abdonaldltd.co.nz>
Subject: Days 24 - 28 22/06 - 26/06
Date: 27 Jun 2016 12:05:06 -0000
From: ZMQ5985

Hi again to all,
Well, 27 days have gone - 43 to go. So far, it's gone like a flash. It's a challenge writing these blogs as so much happens that is different, one thing blends to another.
However, to start here are some impressions of Miami.
Firstly it's surprising just how many Latinos live here; from unreliable memory over 60% of Miami's population is Latino. You simply cannot assume that everyone speaks English. In fact, far from it. Especially in the little supermarket just down the road where we often bike to. When standing at the butchery/deli counter it's 100% Spanish all around. Donald Trump's going to have his work cut out!!!
The food in cafes generally is of poor quality. Breads and pastries galore. Quite dispiriting. Even the other night we went to a new place which was all outdoor with a central bar and takeaway type food outlets around the perimeter in makeshift shelters or vans. Some actually quite good but, as it was a highly imaginative innovative way of serving food, you might have expected a bit better. Jim opted for the really healthy option - Scotch Egg and chips and cheese and Jean had a vegetarian salad. She enjoyed hers but the cheese wasn't even melted on the chips. However, the Scotch Egg was well ahead of any in recent memory. Last one was probably back in Godszone last year!
Another thing which came to mind after we had arrived back home was that it would have made an ideal venue for an Orlando type shooting. At least 200 people there in a rectangular space from which there was no obvious way out except through the front gate. A killer with one of these assault rifles could have a field day. Doesn't bear thinking about (so we will try not to), but it does come to mind every so often and there is no doubt that another nutter/fanatic will do it again in this country with its out of control gun laws. It's insane and for that reason alone, let alone anything else, we could never live here.
Jim probably had some irrational expectation that one might see some 50's-60's era cars with teeth and fins still driving about, but of course that's not the case. They are either all gone or in the hands of collectors where they are lovingly restored. There is a car yard not far from here which has some examples but they look as though they are either beyond restoration or at best needing lots of $$$$$'s. So, it's disappointing to see Buicks and Cadillacs which in some cases are almost indistinguishable from a Toyota. Even Lincolns. Famous names such as Lincoln Continental (in wich JFK was assasinated), Ford Thunderbird, Cadillac El Dorado and Buick Riviera. And Pontiac and Oldsmobile (no longer made), not to mention the ubiquitous Chevrolet Impala and Bel Air. Chevs nowadays go by the names of Spark and Volt! But to make up for all that blandness, there is a plethora of Europeans - Volvos, Mercedes, BMW, Audi to name a few. And relatively cheap here compared with NZ. If Jim lived here with lots of money he would collect a '53 Buick convertible with a straight 8 engine, a '59 Cadillac El Dorado convertible with a 7 litre V8 and fins to die for and a '56 2 door Chevrolet Bel Air. And maybe a '59 Pontiac Le Mans (or Bonneville) convertible. Then a '71 Mercedes Benz 280 SE 3.5 V8 convertible. These MB's were the last to be hand made and are worth many $$$$$'s now. Saw an ad. for one for sale and it was USD375,000!! Such are dreams made of! However, it is good to see retro styled new Ford Mustangs. At least they look like cars - and available new in NZ too!
Miami seems to be architecturally fairly featureless. You hardly ever see restored old buildings and yet there must have been quite a few. An exception already mentioned in a previous blog is South Miami Beach's Art Deco buildings. They have made a feature of these and there are now covenants against substantial alteration or demolition.
Last Saturday we went on a picnic down to Key Biscayne via Virginia Key. We went to a pleasant beach which has an outlook back to downtown Miami CBD. Very hot (over 30C) but there was some tree shade and we had a small tent which kept the worst temperature away. It was a weekend so quite difficult to park two SUV's (!) but we managed and the white sand beach itself wasn't too crowded. Had 2 swims in warmish water but it was cooler than the air temperature and, being salt water, was good to swim in. The boys were surprisingly unfazed by the small waves as they are mainly used to swimming pools so that was good to see. Even the change to salt water didn't upset them unduly. Tracie had made a quiche and we also had some enchiladas and a cold beer so were well replete. Amazing we didn't sink; it was probably the buoyant salt water of the Atlantic Ocean that kept us up!! A Mr. Whippy-type van came by so we had icecreams and then drove back home. On the way Perry drove Jim further south along Key Biscayne to see many marinas, condos and golf courses - all in immaculate condition. Goodness knows what it costs to be there, even living on a boat!!
We had been swimming in Biscayne Bay which is where there is a nuclear power station that apparently is leaking a radioactive isotope (Tritium) into the Bay in its cooling water. Various conflicting opinions claim it is harmful while others (mostly power company spokespeople) say not. Either way, it's disquieting to say the least and one wonders just how many of these aging facilities are in a similar condition in this country. We were joking that we were getting our daily dose of Strontium 90, but it's not really a joking matter.
An unexpected result the other night with Brexit by a margin of 2 million votes. Jim was fascinated and watched the result unfold live on the internet until 2 am Eastern Summer Time. Seems that at least a major factor was a general deep seated dissatisfaction which has been completely overlooked or ignored by those in power. It's the same groundswell of opinion that has supported Donald Trump thus far and despite the polls which were spectacularly wrong with Brexit, Trump could actually win the presidency. A far scarier scenario than Brexit. However, you can understand that mainly middle class middle age people who have lost at least jobs to globalisation and in many cases their entire assets in the GFC, feel this way. They are lashing out the only way open to them and it is a potent force for change. And not for the best. It's the same anger and frustration that saw Hitler come to power in Germany in the 1930's - circumstances were different but the anger and sense of loss was the same. Governments would do well to heed these warnings but there is little sign of that as was clearly shown in the British Government's decision to hold the referendum on EU membership.
Last night an ex work colleague of Perry's and his wife and their 7 month old son came around for a BBQ. They are Aussies of Italian descent and a pleasant evening was had by all.
Well, that's it once more - Colombia is looming up. Only 9 more sleeps!
Cheers and lots of love from us
Jim and Jean
Miami
Florida.
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