February 5

   Today  we had breakfast by the beach, then went for a walk along the shore accompanied by three pelicans. It's a lovely morning again, although colder than yesterday.

   As we drove to the Edison house there was miles of Royal palms planted by him to form an avenue to his house, apparently they stretch for twenty miles now, as people have added to it over the years as a tribute to Edison.

   We then drove up to the Edison House where we got taken on a tour by an old man who had a really good sense of humour, and has done these tours for over twenty years!!

   The tour started in Edison's botanical gardens where he planted Banyan trees from India [called the walking trees as they put down feelers from the branches that root and become supports for the original branches, in that way they "walk" all over the place] The oldest has had to be cut back yearly for the last thirty years as it has spread over 400 yards over the years before this!!! There are wonderful exotic trees and plants everywhere that Edison collected from all over the world, Bougainvillea, Flame trees, Bays, Allspice, Candle trees, Chewing gum trees, sausage trees, fried egg trees, palms of every description, to name but a few.

   We then visited the house, surprisingly modest, but very pretty with a wonderful sun deck surrounding the whole house. His carbon filament lights are still running in his house since 1947 when his widow bequeathed the house and 13 acres of grounds to the local council [ as long as it stayed as a memorial museum to Edison for the public] The house is apparently just the way it was when Edison lived there. There is a swimming pool with a little tea room beside it {not for the public Mrs. E. had it built for afternoon tea by the pool.} From the pool you can see the sea and the lovely white beach, Edison built a pier there so that freight i.e. his trees etc. could be docked, A story about him is that he used to go there to fish if he wanted to think and be undisturbed by anyone, but didn't have a hook or bait. so that the fish didn't disturb him either!

   We then had a visit to Henry Ford's house [ his best friend and next door neighbour] the house similar, but deck at back only. His garage still has 4 of the first Model T's that he built in it.

   Then we went on to Edison's laboratories and his museum of  all his works, apparently over 1090 patents during his lifetime [ still the highest ever in the states.] His Model T that Ford gave him is there along with everything Edison ever invented. A really interesting tour, we both enjoyed it very much.

   We then had a late lunch at subway sandwiches, and drove on to  a place called Homestead on Highway 1. Where we stopped for the night at the first motel that didn't look too creepy!! The 2 before this looked a bit like the hotel in Psycho!!!!

   We actually wanted to stay at the Everglades, swamps, marshes and trees for miles where you can take an air boat ride to look for snarligator's, it's very remote and beautiful there, but nowhere to stay in the whole area, although there are little Indian villages dotted around.

   A lovely day with such totally different contrasts, speak to you all tomorrow, if we don't get murdered in our bed tonight!!!!!