Team Leip Travels

Monday, May 11, 2026

26 April 2026 Miami: A Low Key Day in Miami

We lived in Florida long enough to understand that on any given day the weather can turn on you. So instead of flying to Miami ion Sunday for our Monday morning meeting, we flew down on Saturday. So the Sunday was all ours and we took it very easy. First we slept in and did not wake up till 10 or so. Then we showered and such and we were ready for our noon reservation at Motek, a fancy Mediterranean themed place. After lunch we headed back to the hotel for a while before venturing out to find the BLS office, you can never be too prepared. Then it was time to find dinner which was going to be pizza!

We only had to walk one block to get to the famed Miracle Mile

Chickens!

Motek

A great place and it was rather busy

Civeche

A Cubano sandwich

Lebanese cigars, meat filled tubular food

Very nicely decorated

Little alcoves

We took a break back at the hotel and then vetured out for an early dinner

An authentic Roman pizzeria

One for me

One for Leslie

A bit rude, they don't even know me

A big mural

Picasso and Malaga!

Another serious mural on the other side of the lot

No slobs need enter

Many bridal shops along the mile

#100, it is a miracle!

This little robot got stuck

https://youtube.com/shorts/LH79U5PQzec

It has been 3 years and 321 days since we began our Migration

Sunday, May 10, 2026

25 April 2026 Miami: Off To The Miracle Mile

We hopped in the car and drove to Tony's house where we dropped off the rental car. We shuttled some bags onto his porch to make our loads lighter on the next leg of our adventure. Tony was off floating and we dropped the bags and hopped into an Uber. We were flying American Airlines and we got to use the almost deserted C concourse. Even with the Vex Robot teams heading home, there were many gates that seemed to have been unused for some time. We saw a fun "kids zone" with planes, security X-ray machines, and the whole nine yards. The flight was not direct so we first flew to Charlotte, waited an hour or two and then flew into Miami. We went right to the Extended Stay America. For its location close to the Miracle Mile, this place bordered on poor. Although it was clean, it was two stars at best and it seemed to be a place for transient folks to group together and share a room. No problem, we checked in and did not leave until the sun was up on Sunday morning.

Vex machines

Little luggage cars

Kiddie X-ray

The plane is sadly not aerodynamic

Here is where all the kids have to line up to get into the play area

$16.00 M&M

We are not leaving our less than ideal hotel room

It has been 3 years and 320 days since we began our Migration

24 April 2026 Hermann: It is Party Time!

The party was at Matt's house and there was quite a turnout! Folks that we had not seen on over 30 years came from various places. Kansas City, St. Charles, St Louis, Nebraska and St. Peters were just a selection of folks who came out to join the Hermann folk for a story swapping, bratwurst eating, beer swilling, wine sipping, tiny stick burning good old time! A big thank you to Matt for organizing this and opening his home to a bunch of goofballs. Tankas also to everyone who came out.