Miami

Sunday 28 April

We’re up and off to the airport early this morning.  We get there about 45 minutes before our flight to find the airport deserted.  Apart from one other patiently waiting passenger, there is no one about.   Everything is unlocked though, so we go in and make ourselves comfortable.  15 to 20 minutes later a couple of members of staff turn up and check us in (a process that consists of checking our names off a list).  We’re in another little plane and do the same double hop back to Belize International Airport.  The most surreal moment of the flight comes when the gentleman seated behind me takes a phone call mid-flight: ‘Hello, yes, I’m just in the air right now…’.

We’ve got some time to kill before we can check-in for our flight back to Miami and find a spot for an unintentionally leisurely breakfast (nothing happens too quickly in Belize).  We get checked in and go through security.  Immediately we’re hit by the smell of smoke and it doesn’t take long to work out why – the airport bar burnt down this morning.  No one seems too bothered by this, but apparently if Duty Free (just next door) had taken then the whole airport would have gone.    

We land in Miami late afternoon – I have to say that Miami airport is one of the most cheerful I’ve seen.  You’re greeted by ‘All you need is love’ spelt out in flowers and colourful windows, with piped in birdsong. 

We take the bus to South Beach ($2.35 each to get from the airport to South Beach, bargain!) and get checked in.  Nick’s picked the hotel, so it’s a decent one – we’re spoilt with free breakfast, free happy hour drinks and beach loungers.  Ahh.

We have a few drinks at the bar and then walk down the street to a diner we discovered when we were last here (about 6 years ago?).  It’s called the Big Pink, and the oversized burgers served with buckets of sweet potato fries don’t disappoint.

Janet adds: I love going on little planes, but I’m not entirely sure I like being able to see the pilot – especially when he’s busy filling out his paperwork while we’re flying.  Keep your eyes on the clouds man.

Monday 29 April

The sun is shining this morning, so we head to the beach for a few hours.  Miami Beach is all you could want in a beach – it’s wide with white sands and gently lapping waves and stretches as far as the eye can see.

By lunchtime we’ve had enough sun so dump off our beach stuff and grab a sandwich from a nearby deli.  We spend the afternoon wandering about the shops, dodging the odd rain shower and admiring the art deco architecture.

In the evening it’s happy hour drinks followed by Italian food on Española Way (surely that can’t be right?).

Janet adds: I didn’t realize how much of an Italian influence there was in Miami Beach.

Tuesday 30 April

Today was meant to go pretty much as yesterday, except that we just get settled on the beach when we notice this:

It doesn’t take long to blow our way and we abandon the beach for cover.  Before we know it, it’s raining torrentially.  The rest of the day is spent huddling under a flimsy umbrella and wading through ankle deep puddles as we dash between various forms of cover (shops, cafés, diners).  Still, by late afternoon it’s cleared up enough for us to have a few beers outside.  You’ve got to love Miami.

Wednesday 1 May

We’re not sure what the weather is doing this morning, so instead of heading to the beach we grab some bikes and go for a ride.  Miami has a Boris Bike type scheme where you use your credit card to get a bike and can then drop it off at any docking station.  We ride until we run out of bike lanes.  Surprisingly, the sun is still out, so once we’ve dropped off the bikes we head the beach for a few hours after all.

We’ve got a few odds and ends to sort out in the afternoon, much aided by the happy hour cocktails and then head out for some more oversized portions of food at another charming diner.

Janet adds: Ouch American Airlines, your customer service agents just don’t have a clue.

Thursday 2 May

We’re flying over to San Francisco today, but have a few hours spare before we need to be at the airport.  We fill the time with a long walk around Miami Beach.

At the airport, everything is going swimmingly until the changeable weather pulls in.  They’re diverting planes away from Miami and we find out we’re delayed 40 minutes, which then turns to an hour, then two…  We eventually take to the air about 5 hours later than anticipated.  It’s no real inconvenience, but means we don’t land until midnight San Francisco time (which is 3 in the morning Miami time).  With bleary eyes we pick up our car, find our motel and then crash.

Janet adds: looking forward to getting the hiking boots on tomorrow (later today?) – Miami has not been good for the waist- or thigh-line.