One of the highlights of the last three days we’ve spent in Fort Lauderdale has been a water taxi trip around the canals and waterways of this VERY well healed part of the world.
Outside our hotel was Steven Speilberg’s yacht “Seven Seas”. $220m to build and, if you feel like chartering it then bank on $1.5m per week! You won’t have to polish it as it includes a crew of about 24. Oh, and you get a chef!
This is one of it’s ‘garages’ with one of the launches which is hydraulically lifted in and out of the water.
This ‘captain’ seems happy to be in charge of his own vessel!
The mansions and yachts we saw on our way around on the water taxi were amazing. For values of the mansions in the pics think of between $20m and $40m and for the yachts think of anywhere between $30m and $100m unless otherwise told. Enjoy the ride!
“Atomic” was built as a surprise for the billioniare owners family. Guess they may may have been mildly impressed!
This is “Galant Lady”. the owner named it in honour of his wife’s battle with cancer. He has six yachts like this – all with the same name.
Mr and Mrs ‘Millionaire’ on a little trip down the shops!
Most mansions have launches or speed boats with lifts to keep them out of the water.
The wash from the bigger craft would damage the smaller boats if they stayed in the water all the time.
The water taxi needs the bridges to open at high tide as it can’t quite squeeze under.
If you need more power then just bolt on another!
This is one house. It’s lived in by an old couple – if they have a row at the start of the week they dont see each other for days, after which the row’s been forgotten.
After these mansions are built the gardens are landscaped and all the palm trees are brought in fully grown and planted ……..
…….. this mansion is huge and goes a long way back along the channel. Valued at $50m, the special palms were brought in at a cost of $30,000 each.
This mansion was bought by a local multi millioniare as a birthday present for his niece. No doubt the garage was filled with suitable cars as well!
If you look carefully you can spot iguanas in the trees.
They can be difficult to spot – there are two in this pic.
Some of the new builds can be a bit different to the older styles but all new ones are built to withstand hurricans.
On our last day we caught up with friend David who is currently working on Cunard’s “Queen Victoria! - which just happened to be in port for the day. So, with Lance and Vanessa, we all piled into Denny’s for a late breakfast.
Sadly our last day was very wet so much of it was spent in the shops, in taxis and in various eateries. Mind your fingers Lance!
Well, we fly out this evening at 23:00 hrs after a grand 10 days at sea and on land. Thanks Lance and Vanessa for your company and friendship –it’s been a hoot!
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