Back to Miami..................
Trip Start
Jul 09, 2008
1
21
29
Trip End
Jun 10, 2009
Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Friday, September 19, 2008
What we hadn't bargained on was that passport control was going to take about 2 hours, which meant we missed the free shuttle bus from Miami Airport to the Days Inn, so we got charged $20 for a 5 minute ride - Rip Off!!
We settled for the rest of the night in our room until we got booted out at 11am - crikey we've only been in it for 6 hours!!, and were rudely told that if we stayed over the 11am deadline a charge of $35 + Tax would be charged!!
With no plans we spent the next few hours in Miami Airport arranging car hire and sorting a room in Miami Beach. Strangely, around early afternoon we looked up from the seat we were occupying
and found sat opposite us were some of the Xpedition passengers , we didn't know them all that well but had a conversation all the same, apparently they were the last to leave the Marriott in Quito that morning
Ahhh Classic Art Deco......
. We explained what we were doing and after receiving a few odd looks they were on their way for a connecting flight.Sorting the accommodation and car we set off to Miami Beach before it got dark.
Miami is hot hot hot! About 90 Degrees but with humidity at about 90 to 95% its very sweaty too. Sorry i mean we're very sweaty too.
The motel isn't all that great really and it smells too, i think we've been spoilt by the Marriott, Ho Hum.
Miami Beach - more specifically South Beach is a really nice place, very easy on the eye. Originally a whole raft of Art Deco buildings took centre stage, and fortunately nothing since has overpowered that. If anything the more modern buildings seem to compliment the older styles. Its also very clean too from the beaches on the east coast right the way through South Beach, which i expect makes for some very expensive property.
Through Ocean Drive, Collins and Washington Avenues dozens of restaurants spill out onto the pavements, in and amongst expensive shops, cafes and souvenir shops
.....and some more...
. We didn't manage to make it down in the evening but understand that the restaurants and bars have numerous clubs attached, so finding somewhere to do some bopping isn't difficult.I start getting really grumpy as the humidity is unbearable, getting a real lather on. We finish our tour of South Beach and get to the beach where after a quick change we hit the sea. Brilliant - just what the doctor ordered!! The temperature is gorgeous, like warm bath water, although very salty.
Downtown Miami has less going for it than Miami Beach, its still very clean coupled with a huge financial centre made up of a half mile stretch of Bank skyscrapers but there isn't a huge amount else. We found a bazaar type street on Flagler and toured bay front park - Kash found a slide so was happy! We drove around to the airport to see what else we could find (not much) before returning to the hotel to find somewhere to stay in the Keys.
Before we arrived in Miami we had an idea that it was a party town and this visit just goes to confirm that. Its geared up for eating, drinking shopping and the beach, for anything else you have to go further afield - unless Art Deco is your bag.
