What appears to be a quiet area and a little used bridge is anything but. This bridge is in the busiest part of the city and taken in the early morning. It looks as though it could be in Italy. There are lots of other bridges from all over the world even Italy. Go take a look.
The murals are spreading. They seem to be everywhere. This one is on the side of a warehouse. We don't have elephants here, in spite of what you may have heard to the contrary. Nor, do we have mountains. As such, why wouldn't you put them on a wall? And there you have it. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday weekend. Be safe out there!
Here is an interesting wind vane. It is blocked by the building on three sides, so he can only point in one direction. The fish is located in front of a seafood restaurant. Not very smart. Perhaps, he should go back to school.
While out taking a leisurely stroll awhile back, I was buzzed by this flying thing. My first impulse was to hit it with my camera. Then, I realized the camera cost more than my Yugo and decided to spare it's life. It is a Polka-Dot Wasp Moth (Syntomeida epilais). While it looks rather sinister and dangerous, it is quite harmless and very beautiful. Biology wasn't my strong suit, but I am still having trouble with the Wasp-Moth connection.
This mural is a tribute to the late jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius. Many people consider him a genius in his field. The muralist is Bill Savarese. He worked with such notable groups as Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, to name but a few. If you are interested in jazz, a quick search in Google or Wikipedia will give you more insight into this talented and tormented artist. He died at the age of 35.
It's just one on those things you never notice till, you notice. I've driven over this bridge many a time and never thought twice about it. Then Louis starts this Sunday Bridge thing and, suddenly, I'm seeing bridges everywhere. I even saw one at my dentist's office the other day. I like the stone work they did on this. It is off the beaten path so there really was no need to go to the trouble to make it look anything other than what it is. I'm glad they did. 
"Groovin' on a sunny afternoon"... I loved (love) that song. It's one of those songs that just makes you smile and feel good all over. I saw these two friends who were listening to that song by the Young Rascals as I pulled into a parking spot. Lots of good memories and smiles all around. Do you remember?
I've been seeing more wind vanes around town. I am sure it is due, in no small part, to the worldwide interest generated by our series. Today's offering is a Porpoise still referred to as a Dolphin in these parts. Some may even call him Flipper but they would really be dating themselves. Not that I would know anything about that, you understand.
I've passed the building many times and never noticed this side of it. It has a wonderful quality to it. It tends to draw you in, almost invites you in. I'm beginning to think I should rename Fort Lauderdale, Mural City.
This is Romulus. He is a 3 foot long Black Snake. We have a symbiotic relationship. I allow him to roam my yard and feast of any small crawly thing he comes in contact with. He has only one job requirement. On the days my water meter is read, he must lie in wait and scare the meter reader. Here he is , in the meter box and eagerly waiting to do his job. My water bills are very small and I don't get very many of them.
This is The F. E. C. railroad bridge. The shot is somewhat deceiving. It sits right in the heart of the downtown area. There are no buildings that can be seen from this angle. It also crosses the river which can't be seen, either. As the train approaches, the bridge is lowered and the train does not get wet. Most ingenious.
A number of people have come to the conclusion that Fort Lauderdale is a pretty strange place. It's true that we have more than our fare-share of "nuts and bolts." But strange? No! We are just like everyone else. We paint our houses in a 'tasteful' manner, wanting to fit in and not offend. Simple, "Middle-America" with a southern accent.
Summer has arrived in the Tropics. It is 'steamy hot' all over South Florida. The pace slows to a crawl as the sales of Gin & Tonics rises. It's summer time and the guy in this photo is livin' easy. Why he's just wastin' away in Margaritaville.
I came across this strange sight in a parking garage. It appears to be an antenna farm of some sort. This is located right in the downtown area. It seems sort of strange. I never saw it before and my curiosity was aroused. As I finished my business, I decided to check in to what was going on. I approached the gate and was met by a person who was impeccably attired. I introduced myself and asked what was with all the antennas. He said his name was Bond something or other, and was there to find out himself. He asked if I would give him a boost over the wall and suggested we meet later for a drink. I obliged and will let you know what happened.
This is The Seven Mile Bridge. It is located in the Florida Keys. You pass over it on the way to Key West;one of the most scenic drives in the country. This is also the domain of BIG MO. He is a huge Hammerhead Shark. Legend has it that Mo has developed a taste for 200 lb. Tarpon. I have fished these waters for years and have never seen Big Mo, just a lot of tarpon heads. To me, he is very real. Incidentally, the bridge is actually 6.79 miles long. I think Big Mo ate the rest.
Have you ever really stared at a frog? And one good look at this fellow speaks as to why not to. One thing is for sure, what ever he is staring at is making him green with envy.
Another in our WIND VANE series. This appears to be a bird of prey. A friend thought it was a Seagull. I don't think so. He did say his name was Jonathan, however. He does look like he has been repaired a few times. And if I'm not mistaken, the wind direction is WNW but he is pointing more to the south. These people may need a second vane for confirmation.
This is the 17th Street Bridge from a little different perspective;underneath. This is the last bridge in Fort Lauderdale as you are heading out to sea. It is relatively new and replaces the old bridge. This one is considerably higher, and as such, doesn't have to open nearly as often as the old one. Something that is greatly appreciated by people like me who used to have to cross it 6 or 8 times a day.
Well it's time once again for THEME DAY. But, that is secondary to the really big event of the day;THE KENTUCKY DERBY. So, I thought I would combine the two. The fellow pictured above has dreams about running in the big race. Unfortunately, he is a horse of a different color. He will have to be satisfied with smelling the roses instead of running for them. Why not gallop over and check out the other participants and their take on May's theme.Click here to view thumbnails for all participants