July 17: The Miami Seaquarium ain’t so hot. It was described by a prominent scientist I know as a “geriatric Sea World,” and even that might be too polite for a proper description of the place. Marta and I had paid our $23.95 each for entry, so we went around to all of the trained marine mammal shows, which were entertaining anyway. I am always impressed and amazed when I see trained marine mammals — lots of involutary smiling. How can you not be impressed?? But it still sucks to see a 20-foot orca in a little swimming pool.

“Shark Channel” ranks up there as one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen: it’s a scum-filled moat surrounding a playground. I think the playground would have been fun if I was 10 years old, but a scum-filled moat filled with some jacks and nurse sharks is just embarrassing. Keep the thing clean!

Hmmm. Now I’m thinking that I might have missed something because the Seaquarium web page has a photo of a reef shark underwater. We didn’t see any sharks from below the surface at “Shark Channel.” Oh well.

July 18: Went to visit Doc and Marie and had dim sum with the two of them for lunch. Then, drove to Miami International Airport and parted ways. Marta is headed back to Milan, where she will try to remember what it is like to be an Italian for two months before heading to Plymouth for her masters program (where she will be with Kristene and Alan!). [see today's photos]

Hitomi is in town, staying with me and Wendy for the night. It’s good to see her again! I wish she was local. Also, Cindy wrote me to tell me that she was chosen as one of Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Women of 2003! Look for her in the October issue. :)