28 April 2026 St. Louis: The Grove!

 

Tower Grove is the neighborhood where we had our AirBnB.  It is halfway between forest park and the botanical gardens and was a perfect location for us.  We were close to the zoo, the hill and the science center.  We took our laundry to the nearest laundromat and we were able to do all of it at once.  The washers cost $6.50 each load but they were big machines and the dryers were free!  We next headed off to the Schnucks for groceries.  We did not buy too much as we knew that we were going to be going out to dinner a couple of times.  We got settled in, had dinner and called it an early night.

Smoked Turkey Tails!

Big washer machines

The Grove has taken public art to a new level

Birds!

Dragons

The handle bar

New age

We visited this dispensary

Make a cocktail 

Mushrooms and sunshine

A cross between a cardinal and Godzilla

More dragons

Grooves at the Grove

Birds!

All the world a canvas

So much art!

Inclusion too

That says it all!

 It has been 3 years and 323 days since we began our Migration

27 April 2026 St Louis: Our BLS Appointment and Another Plane Ride

 

Of course we set an alarm and of course we woke up before the alarm even went off.  No time for showering and such... just a slice of cold pizza and off we go to the BLS office.  Our appointment was for 8:30 AM and we were walking down the street with our big folders stuffed full with our paperwork when Leslie says oh, no!  She had left her passport in its usual place and not in the folder.  I gave her my folder and hoofed it back to the hotel.  These long legs finally were paying off and I made it to the hotel and then the BLS office all before the office even opened.  The submitting of paper work was difficult to say the least.  there was a counter with a large plexiglass partition.  We had to slide the documents in the slot at the bast and try to hear the attendant through the small hole towards the top.  It mas made works when the list they gave us was not in the same order that I had my documents.  to it took us a while and them when we sat down both of us fount additional required documents that they did not have on the list.  Finally we made it, got our pictures taken and headed back to the room for a big sigh of relief.  We headed off to the airport to wait for our flight.  It was delayed due to St Louis storms!  We found a nice spot out of the way and hunkered down with books to read and music to listen to.  The flight was delayed till 7:55 and just by chance we heard an announcement that the flight would be boarding soon.  This was just after 6, long before we were supposed to board. Thankfully we heard the announcement or we might have missed our flight.  

A large folderr for each of us

Leslie's passport cover!

We have submitted!!!

Back in the MIA airport for our return to St. Louis

Lunch the the airport

Flying into a storm

Look who is there to greet us, Aaron Vandiver

We are in our AirBnB by 10 PM

It is cute enough for us

 It has been 3 years and 322 days since we began our Migration

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