Spring Break

March 15, 2011



Lucy Kaplansky

Kathy & Bayla

Spring Break

Each year in March, Key West is overrun by thousands of college students who visit the island during their spring break. There are always a couple of weeks that are excessive based on the large numbers of schools that have their breaks at the same time and the past couple of weeks have seen the masses of students in huge numbers. Other than the effect that the increased crowds, noise, drunken scooter riders and the difficulty parking, spring break hasn’t really meant much to us for some time. This year however we were happy to actually have some spring breakers visiting us, well more likely visiting because they happened to have a place to stay.



Stephanie, Ilana & Bayla

Spring Break- Smathers Beach * Photo by George Murphy

Our niece Bayla and two of her friends Ilana and Stephanie were here from their respective colleges in the Northeast as part of their spring break. It worked out well as they were able to stay around the corner in the vacant home owned by Kathy’s father and we were able to see them some without being intrusive on the fun that they were having. I’m sure it made for a winning combination all around.

Bayla, Stephanie & Ilana



We took them out for a great Thai dinner and to an art gallery opening that I’m sure they enjoyed about as much as watching paint dry, but they were good natured about it. The days spent snorkeling, parasailing and hanging out at the beach more than made up for a few hours of having to hang out with us and they even scored a free meal. In actuality it was great to have them here, they certainly seemed to enjoy the visit and the absolutely perfect weather that they enjoyed while they were here.



In addition to hanging out with Bayla and her friends, we also found time to attend yet another in a long line of excellent concerts at The Studios of Key West, this one by Folk singer Lucy Kaplansky. The Old Town/New Folk music series has brought a number of amazing musicians to Key West and this concert was no exception.
Kaplansky is based in New York and was a part of the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 80s that featured the likes of Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin. After a break from music where she earned her PhD in psychology, she has returned to a solo career that focuses exclusively on her music.





The concert was a wonderful performance from a warm, welcoming and talented artist. Kaplansky had the large crowd at the studios enthralled from her first song. Her charming demeanor which was on display when she forgot the words to one of her songs, until receiving the lyrics from a member of the crowd who googled them on their iphone.



We did experience a very sad situation this week as well as our elderly cat Suzie passed away. Suzie had been using up every one of her nine lives in the past year, having two critical illnesses, both of which we had thought were the end, but she amazingly bounced back each time. Blind and deaf, she nonetheless had settled in to a very mellow and easy existence the past few months and seemed to be doing well until her unfortunate passing earlier this week. Kathy and I are both devastated at the sudden loss of what was one of the sweetest and most loveable pets anyone could ever wish for.





We will miss her gentle nature. Here are some photos of Suzie, including one that was featured in a pet calendar a few years ago, in which she and our dog India appeared with members of the Key West police and fire departments. We miss you Suzie!

Zoo Miami

March 8, 2011









Zoo Miami



Being in Miami for the Grand Am race, which was held on Saturday afternoon, it was easy to find time to visit one of the best zoos in America on Sunday, Zoo Miami (formerly Miami Metrozoo). If you happen to like zoos, Zoo Miami is one of my personal favorites, due to the expansive areas that the vast majority of the animals call home. My personal stance on zoos is that, while certainly not the ideal, they provide opportunities for people to experience the wonder of the natural world and hopefully develop an appreciation for animals that will translate into a desire to protect wild areas.

Howard & Najada





That is the experience that I have had, recalling many early trips to the old Indianapolis Zoo as a child that helped turn me in to an environmental activist. Many of my friends feel much differently, that zoos are inherently evil somehow, but I just don’t feel that way. I still love the awe and wonder that comes with seeing animals close up and in as close to natural surroundings as possible.







The Miami zoo is the oldest (35 years) and largest zoo in Florida and is the only tropical zoo in the US. It is divided in to four major sections (Africa, Asia, Australia and the newest addition, Amazon and Beyond). It is spread over a huge area, 740 acres and is home to more than 2000 animals. The zoo is ringed by a path that is 5km ( about 3 miles) around and we walked every inch of the path and then some, enjoying the perfect sunny and warm South Florida weather.









Having attended the race with my friend Howard and his wife Najada, we all stayed at a very nice Holiday Inn express hotel in Kendall very near the zoo. The night after the race, we headed over to nearby Coconut Grove, where we walked around and shopped at Cocowalk and enjoyed a wonderful meal at a French restaurant, Le Bouchon.







The next morning we were up early and on our way to the zoo, where we arrived just as the gates were opening. The zoo visit took most of the morning and early afternoon and we still did not see all there was to see. We did take in the new exhibit, “The Scoop on Poop”, which is back at the zoo by popular demand. The 5000 sq. ft. traveling exhibit explores what poop is and how it is used by humans and animals. A funny look at an unpleasant fact of life, the exhibit is actually fairly fascinating.







There was a good crowd out enjoying a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the hot weather had a lot of the animals sleeping, but there were still enough awake and active to make for a nice visit. There was even one hungry Giraffe that we were able to feed from the feeding station that the zoo has set up.







After a long day with the animals, we were back in the car for the drive back down the Keys. Most of the traffic as is typical on a Sunday evening, was headed North and we made the drive in to the setting sun without any problems, another fun weekend in the books.



Le Bouchon

Zoo Miami