Sailing from Datona to Miami through Indian River..

A new adventure In sailing

So today marks the first day of a four day trip of sailing Florida's back rivers and dreched out canals in a sailboat belonging to one of my friends. Before you all say WOW he is Sokol lucky and other comments of the same ki d let me explain in detail.

This is not your typical luxury sailing boat with crew and all the fixings of home but instead one that we must get to Miami, fix the motor, make sure it doesn't leak, and manage to get through places called mosquito lagoon which is over 40 miles during the day so that we can actually set anchor in a place that we can sleep covered in off and with the windows open for ventilation and not be forced to sleep sealed up in what will become an oven as we hide from the mosquitoes. In case you have not figured it out this little sail boat also lacks AC.

Day 1...

When we arrived at the marina port smirna beach I instantly noticed all the beautiful and large sailboats but having been warned by my friend, I already knew which boat was ours, the very last one, at the end of the last dock, which made unloading the vehicle located in the front parking lot, pleasent as I say that word with clutched teeth. It looked a little ragged and maybe used would be the word, but I have to admit the more of it Jessica Hale, avant-Garde's new secretary and captain of the ship, opened up the front section, put away materials, organized and put together the various sections of the inner cabin, the better it looked and in the end minus the AC, the fact that we have to rebuild the engines before we set sail, and the likelihood that with our sense of timing we will be stuck in mosquito lagoon tomorrow night forcing us to sleep in an oven because it will have to be sealed right now we are finished with today's chores, about to get in the nicest shower I have ever seen in any dock master area, off to a glass of wine and then laugh about everything that has happened to get us here.

For you see it's been three days we have trying to leave Miami for here and today we finally actually left the house. I think deep down we knew it would require a lot of work to get this trip started and it did, but now the adventure begins and we have 4 days of a journey through Florida's man made dug canals along the intercoastel waterways and the restored Indian River. A trek that is starting from this beautiful beach city near Datona and will end in Miami, officially taking over as guardian of our little ship and will be it's new home. We bring with us food for 20 people, engine parts, back up parts, emergency stuff in case we sink and strangely enough I find myself already attached to this little boat which now looks great but don't forget looks can sometimes be deceiving..

After my shower we will head to walmart while our batteries charge and purchase two portable fans and then we will truly be blessed and I can't help but think that the reason I am on this trip that the people who were professionals who tried last time abandoned ship as they told the owner they had lost confidence in the vessels ability to get them to Miami.

Where is their sense of adventure or challenge. I know we will get this boat to Miami because we are determined... We will make it through the mosquito lagoon before nightfall, and we will be fine in the end and laugh as we turn this little boat into a modern, contemporary sailboat filled with new windows, fittings, sails, kitchen galley, and everything in between for a little company that will one day be huge called Avant Garde Home Furnishings,LLC., Everything for your modern & Contemporary home..

If you all remember the little engine that could think about us as we will be in Miami by Wednesday night because in our hearts we really like this little boat and we love a challenge. that is something I can promise.

Check back for daily pictures and trek stories of our journey from Daytona to Miami in our own little engine that could...

We know we can....

AG HOME GOODS

Dubai, UAE... Simply Amazing City a great atmosphere

A very modern awesome creation.. 
Abu Dhabi, UAE, A city designed with many future goals

opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

Here are the fantastic and opulence Helix hotel design by Leeser Architecture in Zayed Bay in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Called the Helix Hotel for its staggered floor plates, it rests in the bay, partially floating in the water and adjacent to the serpentine Sheik Zayed Bridge currently under construction by designer Zaha Hadid.the Hotel Helix takes part in a critical dialogue between rich and civility among the various services offered by a small town and the demands of a guest at the five star hotel. The floor of the curves suggests a winding path leads through a bustling city and many program elements are open to the views through the central void. Although the gap seems to offer complete visibility, there are enclaves for private meetings and guest privacy. It is designed for an activity that feeds the next time that affect clear separations between each activity. Moreover, a feeling of being free to experiment haphazardly all aspects of the hotel without having to decide on an agenda in advance. In the days luxury holiday of culture, there are play areas make the hotel a destination in an iconic design. From the beginning, is both a showcase for the wealth of the opulent life, because it is a totally enclosed urban experience. For example, the building has an inverse functional origin of water drops from the ceiling down through the vacuum at the lower pressure. At the entrance, valet parking for customers driving to its fleet, which, instead of being predictable on the surface or below the hotel, is located in the bay instead. Cars are literally pushed into the water. As guests head to their rooms, spectacular views Zayed Bay even more dramatic in the upper floors. At the top of the propeller, the pool deck on the top floor has a full group size glass bottom, and visible water swimmers from eight floors below ground level. In the restaurant below the lobby, the waves of the bay are so close to the floor plate that absorbs at the edge of the restaurant inside the glass curtain wall.

wonderful and opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

stunning layout at opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

stunning and opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

main lobby opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

landscape opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

fantastic lobby design in opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

fantastic and cool helix hotel design by leeser architecture

cool opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

cool bedroom design in opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

This is absolutely amazing any way you look at it. They already have the worlds only 7 star resort and now thins.. These people will not stop going out of their way to attracft tourists, first a dessert ski resort, then the worlds only 7 star resort, then the world tallest building, and now this.. Great job and way to attract tourists.. Its like the UAE has built its own versions of Disney world, since that company will not build in the Middle East.. Oh and I forgot and how could I, the man made Palm Islands in the UAE, an artificial neighborhood, design masterpiece.. 

Here they are one by one.. 

Burj Al Arab: the world's only 7-star resort

Burj Al Arab is a unique sail-shaped hotel situated on a man-made island in Dubai. The 7-star hotel has 27 double-storey floors, 202 bedrooms and all of the luxury trimmings. www.jumeirah.com

Worlds only Indoor Ski Resort...

Ski Dubai is the first indoors ski resort built in the Middle East and is part of the Mall of the Emirates, one of the third largest malls in the world. Travelers can visit the ski resort to enjoy the experience of real snow all the year round. The resort is a haven for ski sports enthusiasts, as it offers a 60-meter high indoor mountain, which is designed with 5 slopes of different difficulties and steepness.

The Ski Dubai resort also offers an amazing variety of activities for everyone like snowboarding, tobogganing, snowball shooting, or just playing in the snow. Not only this, the ski resort also has a snow play area that comprises of climbing towers, an icy body slide, a 3-D theatre, a mirror maze and an ice cave.


It offers something for all age groups and levels of expertise. If you get tired and need a break, Ski Dubai offers a number of themed restaurants where you can rejuvenate yourself before you go back for a fresh round of skiing.

Worlds Tallest Building...

Burj Khalifa
Also Known As: Burj Dubai or Dubai Tower
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Developer: Emaar Properties
Architect: Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM)
Year: Officially opened January 4, 2010
Height: 828 meters / 2,717 feet (including the spire)
Stories: 162

About the Burj Khalifa:

Originally named Burj Dubai (or Dubai Tower), the soaring skyscraper is now called Burj Khalifa, after Khalifa Bin Zayed, the president of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai has been a showplace for innovative buildings, and the Burj Khalifa shatters world records for building height. The skyscraper is much taller than Taiwan's Taipei 101, which rises 508 metres (1,667 feet). During a time of economic slowdown, the Burj Khalifa has become an icon for wealth and progress in Dubai. No expense was spared for the building's opening ceremonies on January 4, 2010.

The Man-Made Islands at Dubai...

The Palm Islands in Dubai.  New Dutch dredging technology was used to create these massive man made islands.  They are the largest artificial islands in the world and can be seen from space.  Three of these Palms will be made with the last one being the largest of them all. 

Upon completion, the resort will have 2,000 villas, 40 luxury hotels, shopping centers, movie theaters, and many other facilities. It is expected to support a population of approximately 500,000 people. It is advertised as being visible from the moon

Dubai, UAE... Simply Amazing City a great atmosphere

A very modern awesome creation.. 
Abu Dhabi, UAE, A city designed with many future goals

opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

Here are the fantastic and opulence Helix hotel design by Leeser Architecture in Zayed Bay in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Called the Helix Hotel for its staggered floor plates, it rests in the bay, partially floating in the water and adjacent to the serpentine Sheik Zayed Bridge currently under construction by designer Zaha Hadid.the Hotel Helix takes part in a critical dialogue between rich and civility among the various services offered by a small town and the demands of a guest at the five star hotel. The floor of the curves suggests a winding path leads through a bustling city and many program elements are open to the views through the central void. Although the gap seems to offer complete visibility, there are enclaves for private meetings and guest privacy. It is designed for an activity that feeds the next time that affect clear separations between each activity. Moreover, a feeling of being free to experiment haphazardly all aspects of the hotel without having to decide on an agenda in advance. In the days luxury holiday of culture, there are play areas make the hotel a destination in an iconic design. From the beginning, is both a showcase for the wealth of the opulent life, because it is a totally enclosed urban experience. For example, the building has an inverse functional origin of water drops from the ceiling down through the vacuum at the lower pressure. At the entrance, valet parking for customers driving to its fleet, which, instead of being predictable on the surface or below the hotel, is located in the bay instead. Cars are literally pushed into the water. As guests head to their rooms, spectacular views Zayed Bay even more dramatic in the upper floors. At the top of the propeller, the pool deck on the top floor has a full group size glass bottom, and visible water swimmers from eight floors below ground level. In the restaurant below the lobby, the waves of the bay are so close to the floor plate that absorbs at the edge of the restaurant inside the glass curtain wall.

wonderful and opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

stunning layout at opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

stunning and opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

main lobby opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

landscape opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

fantastic lobby design in opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

fantastic and cool helix hotel design by leeser architecture

cool opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

cool bedroom design in opulence helix hotel design by leeser architecture

This is absolutely amazing any way you look at it. They already have the worlds only 7 star resort and now thins.. These people will not stop going out of their way to attracft tourists, first a dessert ski resort, then the worlds only 7 star resort, then the world tallest building, and now this.. Great job and way to attract tourists.. Its like the UAE has built its own versions of Disney world, since that company will not build in the Middle East.. Oh and I forgot and how could I, the man made Palm Islands in the UAE, an artificial neighborhood, design masterpiece.. 

Here they are one by one.. 

Burj Al Arab: the world's only 7-star resort

Burj Al Arab is a unique sail-shaped hotel situated on a man-made island in Dubai. The 7-star hotel has 27 double-storey floors, 202 bedrooms and all of the luxury trimmings. www.jumeirah.com

Worlds only Indoor Ski Resort...

Ski Dubai is the first indoors ski resort built in the Middle East and is part of the Mall of the Emirates, one of the third largest malls in the world. Travelers can visit the ski resort to enjoy the experience of real snow all the year round. The resort is a haven for ski sports enthusiasts, as it offers a 60-meter high indoor mountain, which is designed with 5 slopes of different difficulties and steepness.

The Ski Dubai resort also offers an amazing variety of activities for everyone like snowboarding, tobogganing, snowball shooting, or just playing in the snow. Not only this, the ski resort also has a snow play area that comprises of climbing towers, an icy body slide, a 3-D theatre, a mirror maze and an ice cave.


It offers something for all age groups and levels of expertise. If you get tired and need a break, Ski Dubai offers a number of themed restaurants where you can rejuvenate yourself before you go back for a fresh round of skiing.

Worlds Tallest Building...

Burj Khalifa
Also Known As: Burj Dubai or Dubai Tower
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Developer: Emaar Properties
Architect: Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill (SOM)
Year: Officially opened January 4, 2010
Height: 828 meters / 2,717 feet (including the spire)
Stories: 162

About the Burj Khalifa:

Originally named Burj Dubai (or Dubai Tower), the soaring skyscraper is now called Burj Khalifa, after Khalifa Bin Zayed, the president of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai has been a showplace for innovative buildings, and the Burj Khalifa shatters world records for building height. The skyscraper is much taller than Taiwan's Taipei 101, which rises 508 metres (1,667 feet). During a time of economic slowdown, the Burj Khalifa has become an icon for wealth and progress in Dubai. No expense was spared for the building's opening ceremonies on January 4, 2010.

The Man-Made Islands at Dubai...

The Palm Islands in Dubai.  New Dutch dredging technology was used to create these massive man made islands.  They are the largest artificial islands in the world and can be seen from space.  Three of these Palms will be made with the last one being the largest of them all. 

Upon completion, the resort will have 2,000 villas, 40 luxury hotels, shopping centers, movie theaters, and many other facilities. It is expected to support a population of approximately 500,000 people. It is advertised as being visible from the moon