BACK IN MIAMI

Upon my arrival in Miami, I was met by Bill at the airport from where we drove to my brother's house so I could quickly repack a suitcase for a five day trip. We drove that very afternoon north to Daytona Beach for the 24 Hours of Daytona, race that my nephew would be racing. The drive was about five hours, so we were rather tired upon our arrival at the hotel, across from the race track. After a good night sleep, we got up early to get the race credentials for the weekend. The Thursday before the race there were practices by all three drivers, so we spent the day watching the practices and enjoying the track. On Friday, Juan Pablo had the day off, so my brother, sister in law and the two of us, spent the day sightseeing, looking for a marina where we could tie their boat for the following race, the Daytona 500. Juan Pablo's wife and children arrived on Friday evening along with Catalina and her baby girl, so Libia and I spent a lot of time with them the rest of the weekend. They are the best behaved little ones, and the most adorable. It was a great weekend and a very exciting one. Juan Pablo and his two codrivers won the race. Between 12:30 AM and 4:30 AM JP drove in the rain and when he gave the car to his codriver, he was one lap ahead of everyone else. It was a great accomplishment, since there were only 3 cars that finished on the same lap.

Sunday afternoon, we drove back to Miami and decided to stay with Pablo and Libia instead of going to our friends The Azpiazus. Reason being, the fact that we are going to the Daytona 500 ( Juan Pablo's first NASCAR race ) this coming Tuesday, and are taking JP's boat, where we are going to stay. Upon our return, we will be sailing to the Bahamas on Pablo's catamaran, and will probably be there until the beginnig of March. We are all very excited because this will be their first long trip. Pablo and Bill have been preparing the boat to have it in shape for the long journey.

The weather in Miami has been cool and dry. It is definetely the best time of the year in this part of the world, and we are very much enjoing it.