It was finally time for Blake and I to leave "The Rock" and get some much needed sightseeing and city time. We arranged a trip to Miami with two couples a few months ago, and have just gotten back this past Monday. What a well needed city break! It is amazing how much you forget about the rest of the world when you are on a tropical island. To actually see lots of cars and buildings taller than four stories was refreshing. As Kate, our Aussie friend put it " There are people here! Heaps of people!"
Miami turned out to be the perfect choice for our first shopping vacation. We stayed in the famous South Beach area and had a blast watching the most flamboyant citizens of the US flaunt their crazy styles (and sometimes flaunt their you-know-whats). On our first night a homeless man with greying hair to his shoulders put on quite the show in his Dallas Cowboys cheer uniform. Our second day was great for Blake as he got to check out girls walking around in bras, and one daring girl who wore only a T-shirt and no underwear.
Aside from the hypnotic people watching we managed to get a full day of checking out our latin neighbourhood, the famous art-deco era buildings and the trendy Lincoln Street. We also used the day to stock up on necessities you can't get on island (or refuse to pay triple for) like facial cream, shampoo, bug spray, razors and just about every toiletry imaginable. The second day began with a major hang-over for most of our crew thanks to the kitchen sink size mojitos from the night before. The hour long stop and start bus trip to the mall in 37 degree heat didn't help much, but the air conditioned mall proved to be the perfect hangover cure (at least for me)! The third day we checked out the actual beach, had a refreshing swim in the Atlantic and broke down and spent a lovely hour in Starbucks- which was probably the highlight of the trip for Blake. That evening we had tickets to a concert by Tokyo City Police and Passion Pit at the Filmore Theatre. Amongst the angst ridden teenagers we moshed and danced the night away. The next morning Kate and Lachie left for Nicaragua and an epic surf trip, leaving Blake and I and Brett and Sarah to hop a bus to the Everglades and take a tour on a fanboat. For those of you who have never visited the Everglades or ridden in a airboat, these are a must! The way the boat glides on the surface of the water is amazing. It feels like you are hydroplaning the whole time while pulling fishtails and swerving through sawgrass. We even managed to see three alligators (or crocs... I still can't tell the difference) in their natural habitat. We followed the tour up with a informative presentation on alligators in which an idiot who must be related to Scuba Len risked his life with the unpredictable reptiles to prove how dangerous they are! That afternoon we returned to our Spanish hostel and packed up to fly back home.
Our total impression of Miami was great. It is truly a beautiful city with plenty of rivers, canals and a great beach. The people themselves are unique and quirky and perhaps a little sheltered. Not once, but twice, after I divulged that I wasn't from America, shocked saleswomen told me that I spoke excellent English. When I responded that I was from Canada, one gave me a blank stare and the other said "oh, well your English is still very good." Gotta love those Americans!
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