Ginny's Journeys Miami Winter Number 5

Everglades & Biltmore Jan 5, 2010

Another must for any tourist is a trip to the Everglades National Park. Again, I got to accompany Jeanne, Ed, and Sarah for this visit. Laurie was working (a ranger) and Connie was working as a volunteer, so we visited both of them when we got there. We walked a ways on the asphalt path and saw lots of alligators and birds. The day was cool so the gators were sunning themselves and birds fluffed up their feathers to keep warm.

Then, we went to Coconut Grove, an upper middle class section of Miami, to the Biltmore Hotel where the Clintons stayed when they were in office. We had Afternoon Tea in the lobby of the hotel, where we noticed that incoming guests were served champagne and/or water as they checked in! There were many kinds of tea to choose from. Leaves from the tin were put into a pot and boiling water was added. Once it steeped long enough for our tastes, we poured the tea through a little strainer over our teacups. I tried the chocolate mint tea and both tastes were subtle, making the tea very good! With our tea, we were served 4 triangles of different finger sandwiches - cucumber, cream cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, and 2 other kinds. Then we had a scone with butter and jam and a jewish pastry called rugula or something like that. But wait - next came out our 4 desserts - a brownie, a fruit tart, a chocolate covered strawberry, and an orange jelly-filled sponge cake!!! I just had my supper! What an elegant way to spend a late afternoon!