SOUTH BEACH MIAMI
Part Three
How quickly a week passes by.
Saturday 24th and we left the ship. Getting off the ship was relatively easy if somewhat tiring. 3000 passengers had to be off the ship by 11am. We disembarked deck by deck.
As we were on the ninth deck which was one of the highest decks on the ship our debarkation was one of the last. We sat on deck and waited our turn to be called. Andrew went for a drink and a sandwich and somehow got himself into a steaming row with a lady in the queue. She was on deck number nine too, and so we had an uncomfortable wait with the lady in question glaring at us from across the deck.
Eventually we got off the boat with our luggage in tow. Even though the glamourous part of Miami now awaited us, there was never-the-less a slight feeling of dejection; we had just left the ship. We had left our friends behind and Kay and I were out there to fend for ourselves once more. The pampering was gone. And there was another feeling, one of deja vu, as yes it was another sweltering experience as we hung around and waited for a cab to take us to the second hotel. Eventually that much welcome cab appeared and we were on the move once more. This time to the new Claremont Hotel situated on South Beach Miami.
Our taxi diver was a Haitian who gave a prolific demonstration of cursing and swearing in his native tongue at all the other taxi drivers who, for reasons we never figured out, annoyed him. Could that reason have been us? Copious amounts of luggage and all?
Whatever, on we rolled this time to our hotel on South Beach. We had arrived. We were now among the 'glitteratti.' Millionaires' playground. Sugar daddies?
The hotel was undergoing a refurbishment. But it was nice. A lovely example of the Art Deco style for which South Beach is famous. And virtually only two minutes walk from the glorious beach.
We dragged our weary selves into reception. A cheerful and laid back young man greeted us. A guy who immediately informed us that he was gay. Really? There was no need for him to clarify. Gay banter, gay gestures and gay smile warmed our afternoon. He was one funny, entertaining man! Obviously revelling in what he thought of as a superb state! He exchanged trivial and fun banter with us and made our checking in experience…well….different.
He told us of his boyfriends, past and present, and it seemed some potential future ones too; wealthy ones in particular. (Who says that only women are gold diggers?) All this whilst we were checking in.
And all this was fine but there soon became a minor problem. Everything as it was, he assumed that Kay and myself were gay too, and so, to our amusement he assigned us to a room with just one Queen sized bed. Oh, the irony of it all.
Quick as a flash, back down to reception we went. OMG we need a room with two beds… Oh, well okay I'll change that……He did without batting an eyelid, (not in front of us anyway), and so still giggling we arrived in what was to be our room for our stay in South Beach, Miami.
After the check-in to upstage all check-ins and followed by a much needed rest (cruising is usually a hectic business with Carnival Cruise-lines), we made our way over to the beach. It was just beautiful. We stroll on the exotic walkway lined with high swaying palm trees murmuring sweet nothings to each other above our heads; all the while framing the silver white sand.
We hung around there a while, watching sunbathers and people riding along the sand in golf buggy type carts. In fact we hung around a little too long. Huge thunder clouds were rapidly building on the near horizon. Having lived on this side of the "pond" for a number of years I knew what was coming. The others didn't. And so when I tried to warn them that we were in for a deluge to probably beat any deluge they had ever seen before, they looked at me and took it with a pinch of salt. Too bad…..
However all agreed that it was time we were heading back and so we set off for the hotel. It was as we were walking along that ….wham…down came one the the biggest downpours of all time.
The hotel was now just across the road, but we were getting very wet very quickly. We sheltered under the coconut palms - a hazard in itself. If a coconut falls and hits you on the head, "Bye bye South Beach." But in spite of this we were reluctant to leave the shelter of the palms. Until, that is, standing there under the copious branches we were now beginning to get drenched as well as being in danger of being flattened by a falling coconut; and no one was in the mood for getting themselves killed. Thus, as the thunderous rain showed no sign of letting up, we decided to make a dash for the comfortable shelter of the hotel tempting us from just across the street.
We made it on to the hotel veranda and to say we were wet was an understatement. Dripping was a much better description. But holiday mood was upon us, so we sat on the porch and watched the now flooded street and the cars go by; throwing up vast amounts of water which almost obliterated them from view.
Back in our room we showered, dried and a few hours later we set out for the now famous, fashionable and elegant Lincoln Road. A glorious stretch of shops and bright, colourful outdoor cafes where you can sit, have a meal and watch the world go by. We found a cafe we liked and seated ourselves at one of the outdoor side walk tables and then ordered a meal from the copious menu.
The magic that is Miami slowly wove it's spell. Parakeets and other exotic birds flittered around in the high palm trees above us and the night scented air smelt of wine. As darkness fell, lanterns were lit on the tables and around the colourful umbrellas. The atmosphere was charming and seductive. Bliss.
Our meal arrived and it was, as is always the case in the Southern States, big enough for several people. We talked, laughed and afterwards savoured the various treats and lavish shops along Lincoln Road, before gradually making our way back to the hotel.
It was to be our last night with Andrew and Cathy as they were about to embark on another cruise to the western Caribbean. Was I jealous? NOT! Well only a little. Come morning and we said 'Goodbye' to them and wished them Bon Voyage, waved them off and then Kay and myself set out to try a taste of Miami.
A trip to the Everglades was the highlight of our three day stay. We were taken directly from our hotel by taxi, transferred to a second taxi and finally arrived at Everglades Safari Park. Our ride on the airboat over the alligator filled marshes was one of the most exciting events of the entire holiday.
Apparently, a cold spell in Miami before we arrived had sent the alligators underwater for warmth. That meant they were slow to make an appearance on this particular trip, even though it was now a sweltering 100 F in the shade. It was only when we were heading back that one popped it's head through the water and eyed us and the boat going by.
The ride was followed by a visit to the alligator enclosure to watch them all at feeding time. And it was there that I was able to hold a baby alligator named Snappy and have my picture took with him. He was delightful. So was the guy who looked after them all, but alas, he was not one of the exhibits to be held. Later we strolled for a while through the walkways and foliage of the National Park and were amused by a few alligators who obliged by popping up through the water, often just two eyes visible, watching all that was going on around them.
After lunch and back in Downtown Miami, we took boat trip around the houses of the rich and famous followed by a bus tour of Miami. Places like Coconut Grove and Little Havana, the latter being Miami's Cuban district, and the Marina were just three of the fascinating districts this amazing city had to offer.
We were tired when we finally returned to our hotel. And there was something of a surprise waiting for us when we got back to our room. Next door, was a Haitian family. Our two rooms had a boarded up adjoining door. The Haitian family were having a vicious row, and Kay and I envisaged guns being drawn, and the whole thing got to the point where we thought we may have to hide at the bottom of the bed to dodge any stray bullets that might find their way into our bedroom. Seriously.
Eventually the row subsided. No bullets.
Peace descended once more and with it, for us, another evening stroll on Lincoln Road for another bumper meal. I was hijacked by a Michael Jackson lookalike street dancer who would not let me pass until I had done a dance routine with him. It kinda made up for the fact that I was one of those who were bitterly disappointed not to see him live at the O2 in London due cancellation by his untimely death.
Later we shopped and I bought some clothes and souvenirs and and so another day in Miami had come to an end. Tomorrow would be our last.
And as always happens, that final day arrived. Our plane was not due to leave until evening and so we spent most of the afternoon sunbathing on Miami Beach and then after finishing our packing back at he hotel, we got a cab to the airport and said "goodbye" to Miami. The trip was over. I was sad.
The red-eye flight to London Heathrow proved to be a bumpy one. Lots of turbulence. Lots of being shaken around. But I came home with some nice memories, and that's what holidays are all about.
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FOOTNOTE: Picture - one of the alligators at Everglades National Park Miami, waiting to be fed
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