Irene and I at the Everglades Alligator Farm! This past weekend I flew up to Miami from St. Maarten to spend my birthday with my love.
This past Monday, March 21, I had my 27th birthday! Yes, that’s right, BIG 27!! I could have spent that special day on the island, but it wouldn’t be the same without the person that I love. Because of this, I decided it would be the perfect time to take a trip to see Irene in Miami.
I just had my exams. She just had her exams. We were both free.
While everyone was partying after blocks on Monday night, I spent my post-block evening studying ahead so that I could spend quality time with Irene without having to worry about missing classes or falling behind. I hopped on a plane on Friday, and flew over to Miami for a memorable four days with Irene, whom I hadn’t seen in nearly three months.
Here were some of the awesome things we did while I was in Miami:
- Kayaked the Oleta River — It’s a little bit of nature in the middle of urban Miami. We saw lots of cranes and almost got tipped over by dolphins!
- Robert at Robert Is Here Fruit Stand — A well-known local establishment selling all sorts of tropical fruit varieties as well as some of the best fresh fruit shakes in the world!
- Calle Ocho — Strolled down the main street of the Cuban neighborhood of Little Havana and ate at a local Cuban eatery there.
- Everglades Alligator Farm — Rode on an Airboat through the Everglades and fed baby alligators at the Alligator Farm.
- Trekked the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park — We saw a crane go berzerk after it dropped it’s fish dinner from it’s mouth, which immediately got chomped up by a nearby alligator.
- Challah Bread French Toast — Yeah we made it ourselves and you know you want some!
- Shopped at Aventura Mall — A really really nice mall right by where Irene lives. It’s definitely a shopper’s paradise!
- Made Dinner together — We love each other, and we love cooking. What’s better than cooking together?
- Had a Moroccan Feast at Kabobji’s — Located in Aventura, it’s one of the BEST middle eastern restaurants I’ve ever eaten at. I stuffed myself so full that I need to go back next time for dessert!
- El Gran Inka — For my birthday dinner, we went to a really trendy Peruvian restaurant for some cocktails and ceviche!
- Got the 2011 First Aid USMLE Prep book for my birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!! Previously, I had been using the old 2007 edition… it’s about time I got an update. Thanks Irene!
- Went to class with Irene, and did some studying myself!!
- Fed birds at a pond outside Irene’s apartment. They sure do love moldy bread! Perhaps we need to get more bread next time and let it mold so we can have more fun feeding them again!
- Worked out together at Irene’s gym. I hadn’t worked out much this semester, and it was good feeling and seeing the vasodilation in my muscles again!
Check out some of the photos from my trip!
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- When I got off the plane, the first thing we wanted was some good-ole Cuban food at a local market in Little Havana.
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- mmmmmmmm…. vaca frita
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- whoa.. almost spilled some coffee on ya.
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- we went over to Oleta State Park to do some kayaking and enjoy nature.
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- the cool thing is this is a bit of nature in the middle of the city
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- kayaking in the mangroves
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- a baby crab!
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- rowing..
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- a hippo!
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- we kayaked to the intercostal waterway
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- holding onto Irene’s hat so it doesn’t fly away.
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- Irene’s hat.
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- I think these are called blue cranes
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- Irene’s hat after it dropped into the water.
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- a dolphin!
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- we behaved well.. no one fell in the water..
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- How can we not be this happy after having a large serving of frozen yogurt?
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- dinner that Irene and I prepared
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- On our way to the Everglades, we stopped by the famous fruit stand called “Robert Is Here.”
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- Ugly for some Ugly Fruit
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- the best fruit stand in the country!
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- and some of the best fresh fruit shakes! Irene got the papaya shake!
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- I got the black sapote, a tropical fruit grown in the area.
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- This is canistela… they say it’s “creamy” but i think it’s code word for “dry”
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- Benji, Irene, and Robert is Here!!!!!
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- quack!
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- meow!
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- enjoying my black sapote shake at the animal barn behind the fruit stand.
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- awww
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- CD cover
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- riding on an airboat!
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- darn kid’s head in the way of a perfect shot of an alligator
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- the largest alligator in the world… made of plastic.
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- on the airboat ride through the Everglades. You gotta ride on one when you’re here!
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- awww sooo cute… baby alligator.
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- Alligator Farm
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- the babiest of alligators!
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- aww i want one!
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- the grown-up alligators in the breeding pond
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- overlooking the everglades
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- jimminy
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- walking the Anhinga Trail in Everglades National Park
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- you see lots of animals on this trail… including this one!
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- lotsa alligators everywhere in the wild.
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- and birds that aren’t scared of people.
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- vultures
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- the ducks know to come to Irene!
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- but not to benji 🙁
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- oh here they come! anything for food!
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- quack quack!
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- The golf course across from Irene’s apartment.
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- these birds love moldy bread!
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- they fight over it.
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- matchin’ up for dinner at El Gran Inca (Peruvian Restaurant)
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- we even have the same shoes!
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- 4 cocktails, 3 ceviche dishes, and a lomo saltado, with my favorite person in the world… what more do I want?
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- Ceviche!
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- strolling after the big birthday meal.
i miss u already!!
aww I miss you too!!!