Worth Ave. was very quiet. We found a parking space easily and walked down Via Mizner to Pizza Al Fresco. In addition to excellent pies, the restaurant has a lovely outdoor courtyard which contains, on one side, the tombstone of Addison Mizner’s pet monkey Johnnie Brown. Our friends arrived, Ohioans originally from Poland, and expressed delight at the weather. I told them the clear blue skies were depriving them of Florida’s shapely clouds.
After eating our lunch, and paying respects at the grave of the monkey, we strolled Worth Ave. Most of the stores, including the rare book shop, were closed, so we headed to the Society of the Four Arts, where we wandered through the botanical garden, admiring trees I didn’t know the names of and sculptures modern and representational. Chris posed for a picture with Roosevelt and Churchill.
From there it was a short drive to The Breakers. The cathedral-like lobby contained two trees and lots of garlands; brunch was still being served in the dining room (the pastries appearing like festive decorations). Down the south loggia we exited the building and stood by the sea wall, the waves of a size rarely seen in South Florida. (They helped make up for the lack of clouds.)
Leaving the hotel, we drove south along the ocean, then down side streets of high-hedged mansions. At one point I heard from the backseat a quiet plea for the possibility of a redistribution of wealth.
