Miami, Florida
Suprise, Suprise we both wake up with a cold. We've both been feeling pretty flat but trying ignore it. But alas, it's hit us and it's 5 am. Waaah.
Anyway, off to the airport. First flight to Charlotte, North Carolina. Quick stop off and sleep. Then another short flight to Miami, Florida.
We are wearing pants and jackets and regretting it when we step off the plane. Back in 30 degree heat again. We get the bus to Miami Beach where we are staying. We then have a fairly big walk out to millionaires row where our apartment is. Miami Beach is 95% apartments.
We arrive and check in etc. We crash hard on the bed to a Law and Order marathon. Both of us feeling pretty rubbish. We try and find somewhere for dinner but we are a little too far north for any restaurants, only apartments here. There is a small deli at the bottom of our complex. We get something simple and head back to bed. Should be all good by tomorrow, we're sure.
Sorry for the boring day.
Day 2
After a quiet day yesterday we are feeling a bit better and keen to tackle this thing called South Beach, which is the iconic part of Miami.
We head off down the boardwalk until we start seeing places to eat and stop in for some Cuban brunch. The food is great. Massive grilled chicken sandwich and some other grilled chicken dish with black beans and rice on the side. Pretty good way to fuel up for the day.
Onwards to Ocean Drive where all the bars are. It's a very Miami vibe. People skateboarding down the road, lots of biiiiig cocktails. A bit too early for us though. We wander around to the shopping street.
Courtney drops Jeff off at a 2 for 1 happy hour place (just like the rest of America, happy hours are 3 hours long and the drinks are usually 2 for 1 or just really, really cheap) while she attends to stuff that wouldn't interest Jeff. It's like a creche, I guess.
We go to wet willies and kill some time before jumping on the bus to American Airlines Arena to see our first NBA game. The Miami Heat are playing Utah Jazz. Should be an easy win for Miami, but we reckon that's a good thing. Always good to see the home team win.
The seats we have almost need oxygen tanks provided with them, but we can still see everything pretty well. We are mid-court at least. The introduction is like a concert. 7 Nation Army kicks in, the crowd are clapping, the lights are pumping. The stadium is dark except for massive red lights. Then flames. The crowd go crazy. Rightly so.
The game starts up. It's quite funny how they control the music the whole game. Whenever Utah have the ball it is an intense, pressure rising sound effect being blared out. No wonder they couldn't score.
Seeing LeBron James in action was quite sereal. Jeff isn't really a basketball fan, but he is captivated by how dominant this guy is. If he wants to dunk, there isn't much anyone can do about it. Every time he is on the bench the Jazz make some inroads into the deficit. At half time they actually have a slight lead.
We get some pizza at 3 qtr time. We weren't going to, but some guy pokes is head put around the corner and says "hey, $5 pizza?". How can we refuse. Especially when the line is massive and he's offering them to us for half price. What a good dude.
The Heat end up thumping Utah. The crowd are well pleased. We leave and get the bus home. An awesome experience. Looking forward to maybe some NHL next.
Day 3
Feeling good after our team's win last night we decide it's time to get back on the bike. Literally. We hire bikes and pedal down the boardwalk. Without even having a chance to feel the wind in our hair we are told by a security guard (on a bike no less) that no bikes are allowed in the boardwalk. Hmm. We take the next exit and hit the pavement. It's not pretty. Cars, pedestrians and construction everywhere. The paths are not at all bike friendly, and there's no bike lanes. We make an executive decision to get back on the boardwalk.
We're almost at the end of the boardwalk where it turns into more of a paved pathway and who do we run into but the same security guard. He gives us the old shake of the head, not happy. Jeff explains to him how treacherous the steers of Miami are for a cyclist. He throws his hands in the air and shrugs his shoulders and we take that as an invitation to ride/run away. We cruise for a little longer before deciding to take a dip. The water is so clear, warm and user friendly for a cat in water like Courtney.
Cooled off after our swim we start pushing our bikes up the beach. Yes, we brought them on to the beach being the tourists we are. And it pays off. Just as we get going a lady comes running over waving a camera around. Apparently she is a photographer for the New York Times travel section and they are doing an article on South Beach. She would like to photograph us for it. Yes, you heard right, the New York Times.
Autographs available upon our return.
We get going and ride a little longer before deciding we are parched. We stop in at a bar on the harbour that has a pool. And not some seedy, dirty pool but a clear as crystal 10 ft pool. We ask our waitress if it's for the guests and she says she would 'love for us to jump in. It's clean and no one ever goes in there.' She didn't need to tell Jeff twice.
A swim and a couple of pitchers later (bikes have been returned by this point) we take the scenic route to our dinner destination. We stop in at a drug store where a typical Miami looking retiree is in there buying lottery tickets. With her two dogs. In a pram. You know it's getting out of hand when even the locals are throwing up their hands in dismay saying 'only in America!'
Off to dinner we go. Tonight we go to a place called The Beer and Burger Joint. For those playing at home, this burger place features on the show Man v Food. They have a burger on the menu that weights 10 pounds (4.5 kg). Adam couldn't finish it and at $125 a pot we decide not to either. The waitress says its the size of a man hole cover and if 4 people get through it, it's impressive... Pass. We order sliders and regular size burgers which are spot on. Good quality meat cooked to perfection.
After dinner we head back to our apartment to tizzy ourselves up and then head up north to check out the night life up there. There is none.
Back to South Beach we go. We walk along Ocean drive and are offered 2 for 1 cocktails and a free shot. We decline. He offers 3 free shots each and grabs Jeff's shoulder. Deciding that there is probably a big old catch to this (like $100 finders fee added to the bill) we quickly make a run for it. We end up at an outdoor club just down the road. We order the biggest cocktail you have ever seen and sit back and watch the grenades and Jersey Shore wannabes hump on the dance floor. It's wonderful entertainment.
A couple of beers later we decide it's time to hire bikes again and head home.