January Cruise Vacation 2014

Street art in Miami Beach, Florida. 200_P1000395

A tentative shot through the hotel window does not entirely do justice to the Fort Lauderdale sunrise as it casts the first light of the day across the 17th Street Causeway. 200_P1000343

Today, I took 133 photographs. Some will make it on to my ipernity; almost none will be posted SOOC. This shot of the speedboat 'Baja' enjoying the evening sun on the intracoastal at Fort Lauderdale is an exception. 200_P1000535

'Night' This installation is at Las Olas Blvd and S Atlantic Blvd (A1A), Fort Lauderdale. 200_P1000435C

'Day' This installation is at Las Olas Blvd and S Atlantic Blvd (A1A), Fort Lauderdale. 200_P1000345C

This important double-sided sign in the John U. Lloyd State Park, Fort Lauderdale tells a tale of a different era which, disturbingly, was only 50 years ago. I think the words can be read in large and I encourage you to read and reflect. Unfortunately, in the same era, newly arrived immigrants fared little better in the UK where there were also outrageous rules, discrimination and barriers to career progress. 200_P1000370

The container ship 'Vega Azurit' arrives at Port Everglades with the tug 'Erin McAllister' astern. She had arrived from anchorage and, originally, from Freeport, Texas and was due to sail for Kingston. The duo are passing Holland America 'Zuiderdam' which would leave in the evening for Half Moon Cay. 200_P1000355C

In the shadow of Holland America 'Zuiderdam', the tug 'Erin McAllister' follows 'Vega Azurit' into Port Everglades. 200_P1000358C

The International Swimming Hall of Fame has been in Fort Lauderdale for as long as I can remember but is due to leave the city after February 2015. My tenuous connection with the museum, as a non-swimmer, is that the author Ian McAllister is a friend. Ian hopes to get Hilda James, whose story is told in his book 'Lost Olympics', recognised in the museum. 200_P1000350C

Holland America 'Zuiderdam' at Port Everglades. She had reportedly arrived from Puerto Limon (which seems a long way to come non-stop) and would depart in the evening for the much nearer Half Moon Cay. 200_P1000364

RCCL 'Majesty of the Seas' at Port of Miami prior to departure on a Bahamas cruise. Short cruises, especially to the Bahamas seem to feature at Miami with longer itineraries often starting from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to the north. As a consequence, Miami sees more of the older ships with fewer balconies but this will begin to change with the February 2014 arrival of the NCL 'Norwegian Getaway' which I photographed in Southampton and which currently features on roadside billboards in South Florida. Today's shots at Miami were into sun. 200_P1000374C

'Carnival Ecstasy' at Port of Miami prior to departure for Nassau. Short cruises, especially to the Bahamas seem to feature at Miami with longer itineraries often starting from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to the north. As a consequence, Miami sees more of the older ships with fewer balconies but this will begin to change with the February 2014 arrival of the NCL 'Norwegian Getaway' which I photographed in Southampton and which currently features on roadside billboards in South Florida. Today's shots at Miami were into sun. 200_P1000375C

NCL 'Norwegian Sky' at Port of Miami prior to departure on a Bahamas cruise. Short cruises, especially to the Bahamas seem to feature at Miami with longer itineraries often starting from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) to the north. As a consequence, Miami sees more of the older ships with fewer balconies but this will begin to change with the February 2014 arrival of 'Norwegian Getaway' which I photographed in Southampton and which currently features on roadside billboards in South Florida. Today's shots at Miami were into sun and this was taken from a moving car in which, I hasten to add, I was a passenger. 200_P1000380C

I could not resist a picture of these unusual baseball mitt shaped seats in the Casino Bar, deck 2 of the Holland America Eurodam. TZ30_P1010650 Geotagging approximate

As Eurodam approached St. Maarten, brown boobies slipstreamed the ship and tried occasionally for the flying fish. As far as we could see, the fish were a little too fast. I love to photograph birds but it is a challenge with a bridge camera and a greater challenge from deck 10 of a moving ship. I am pleased with the result. 200_P1000868C Geotagging approximate

There was just time to snatch a couple of shots at FLL while I was waiting for my ride to Port Everglades. This is Silver Airways Saab 340 N343AG landing on 28R. Silver Airways serves seven Bahamas destinations from FLL. Classicists or chemists will be amused by the registration. 200_P1000568C

There was just time to snatch a couple of shots as I waited for my ride to Port Everglades. This Southwest B737-700, landing on 28R at FLL, appears to have '556' on the nosewheel door and is probably N556WN. 200_P1000569C

Goodyear airship N2A off the beach at Fort Lauderdale (seen from Port Everglades). N2A is based at nearby Pompano. 200_P1000600C