The Wandering Disciple

  The Port of Miami, often heralded as the "Cruise Capital of the World," stands as one of the planet's busiest and most dynamic cruise ports. Its strategic location and state-of-the-art facilities make it the premier gateway for millions of passengers seeking an unforgettable nautical experience. From this bustling hub, travelers embark on a variety of voyages, with the sun-drenched and historically rich Caribbean islands being the most popular destination. Passengers departing from Miami anticipate a delightful Caribbean adventure, ready to explore diverse cultures, pristine beaches, and the vibrant marine life of the tropical seas. The port is a critical junction where international travel, commerce, and leisure converge, setting the stage for thousands of dream vacations each week.   Taken: October 21, 2006 at Port of Miami (Miami, FL)

The iconic skyline of Miami Beach rises above the coastline as seen from the top deck of a cruise ship at the Port of Miami. This coastal view is the last thing passengers see before departing for their Caribbean cruise.  The Port of Miami is one of the busiest ports in the world. It is the largest cruise port in the world and is the largest container port in Florida and ninth largest in the US. And for each of the ships passing to and from the Port of Miami, the skyline of Miami Beach is the guiding light welcoming ships into the port and waving good-bye as ships depart.  Taken: April 19, 2010 at Port of Miami (Miami, FL)

The Queen of the Skies arrives at Miami International Airport while another Queen holds short. MIA is the busiest airport in the country for cargo operations and seeing heavy lifters like the 747 is a common sight at the airport.  Known as the Queen of the Skies, the Boeing 747 is a double-decker aircraft. Originally designed to be a long-haul passenger aircraft, the 747 entered service in 1970 with Pan-Am. Today much of the 747's have been converted to freighters and are seeing a second life in cargo operations like these two pictured here.  Taken: November 12, 2022 at Miami International Airport (Tampa, FL)

  Miami Police Department Miami, Florida November 12, 2022

Miami, Florida:   During a recent visit to South Florida, we got by Miami International Airport for a little planespotting before heading home.  We spotted from the El Dorado store located along the threshold of Runway 9 at the southern end of the airport.  Spotting at Runway 9 always provides a bunch of heavy aircraft and this stop featured a few.  During our visit, the skies quickly turned dark and an afternoon shower/storm hung around the field for a bit, but that didn’t keep us from trying to squeeze in as much spotting as the weather allowed. Here is a look at what we saw during the trip.   If you click on the aircraft name, the link will take you to the photo of the aircraft. 20-1949 – C-37Gulfstream V (US Air Force) A7-BEJ – Boeing 777-300 (Qatar Airways) C6-BFY – Boeing 737-700 (Bahamasair) CC-BBD – Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (LATAM Airlines) CS-TUJ – Airbus A330 (TAP Air Portugal) EC-LZX – Airbus A330 (Iberia) EI-EJH – Airbus A330 (ITA Airways) HI1066...

Situated along Biscayne Bay in downtown Miami, American Airlines Arena is home to the 2020 Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat.  Opened in 1999, the art deco inspired arena is the home of the Heat as well as a popular concert venue.  It is sponsored by American Airlines, who is the primary airline servicing nearby Miami International Airport.  It is one of two NBA arenas sponsored by the airline.  The $213 Million dollar arena can host 19,600 spectators for a basketball game and a little more that 21,000 for a concert depending on configuration.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

 A male siamang calls out during the morning hours at Zoo Miami.  The siamang is a gibbon found in the forests of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.  Making their homes high in the canopy, the siamang is known by its loud vocalizations.  The male will inflate its throat sack to make the loud call and will often shake branches and swing from trees while calling.  This is a defense response used by the Siamang to defend their territory.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

Like a floating pool party in the middle of the sea, the pool deck of the Majesty of the Seas is a happening place.  From belly flop competitions to movies under stars, to a hot body competition to just plain relaxing in the sun, there is plenty of fun to be had in this wet wonderland to help pass the time until the next port of call.  (Photo: April 19, 2010)

The Government Cut, PortMiami's gateway to the Caribbean and the world, opens the port to the coastal shipping lanes that connects Miami to the rest of the world.  Government Cut opened in 1905 and helped transform PortMiami into the world's largest passenger port and one of the nation's largest shipping ports. (Photo: April 19, 2010)

A jaguar tries to take an afternoon nap at Zoo Miami.  Jaguars rest during the day so they are ready to hunt once the sun goes down.  They use the cover of night and their camouflage patterning to stalk their prey, striking when they least expect it.  (Photo: November 4, 2018)

The lights of the big city shine bright along the bay in downtown Miami.  Miami and nearby South Beach are a popular nighttime destination.  In Miami, its not just the heat that's hot, its the clubs and night life that really heat up this city.  (Photo: October 28, 2006)

Just hanging around at Zoo Miami, a very vocal and active Siamang gives zoo guests an exciting show to welcome them to the zoo. The Siamang is a endangered gibbon found in the forests of Asia.  The colony of Siamang here at Zoo Miami are one of over 500 species of animal that live at Zoo Miami.  (Photo: February 16, 2018) 

A Sumatran Tiger is on the prowl in front of the tiger temple at Zoo Miami.  The Sumatran Tiger is a critically endangered species of tiger from the Indonesian island of Sumatra. It is believed that there are less than 700 of these tigers living in the wild.  Their numbers continue to decline due to habitat destruction by palm oil plantations and poaching.  In 2015, Zoo Miami made history by the birth of a Sumatram Tiger in their care at the zoo.  (Photo: February 16, 2018)

Many people refer to Miami as the New York City of the south and if that analogy is true that would make the Freedom Tower Miami's equivlant to the Statue of Liberty.  Originaly built to house the Miami News, the Freedom Tower is known more for its role in welcoming refugees fleeing Cuban.  The towering building in downtown Miami was the first stop for the Cubans as they sought a new life in the US.  (Photo: April 23, 2010)

The downtown Miami skyline shines bright along the dark Floridian nighttime skies. This sight is usually the first thing that cruise passengers see after returning to the port following their cruise. This photos was taken from the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas and features the Port of Miami bridge in front of the downtown skyline. (Photo: October 28, 2006)

The Majesty of the Seas passes through the Government cut as it embarks on another Bahama cruise. The Government Cut is a manmade shipping channel that connects the Port of Miami and the Atlantic Ocean. (Photo: April 19, 2010)

The Carnival Destiny maneuvers through the busy water of the Port of Miami. The Port of Miami is the gateway that connects South Florida cruisers with the Caribbean ports of call. (Photo: April 19, 2010)

The pool deck of Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas is one of the ships most popular features.  The ship has two swimming pools, 2 hot tubs and two stories of sun decks to help passengers relax between ports.  (Photo: April 20, 2010)

The international flights stack the gates at the south terminal at Miami International Airport.  MIA is the 26th busiest airport in the world and averages about a thousand flights a day.  The airport operations was featured on a reality TV show called Airport 24/7 which aired on the Travel Channel for three seasons.  (Photo: April 23, 2010)

The calm before the storm, the Casino Royale sits quietly while the Majesty of the Seas sits in port in Miami. But once the ship hits international waters, the sounds of slots and excitement will fill the room as the ships passengers try their luck against the house. (Photo: April 19, 2010)