no one can say we didn't try...

So we thought we’d give Miami another chance. Well I did anyway...Ollie was pretty keen on the place from the start! With the promise of a BBQ at our hostel never coming to fruition (it’s not the greatest of places...great lobby but apart from that it’s a bit rubbish!) we decided to give in and spend some money out, having dinner. Wondering down the street we couldn’t seem to find a bar where we’d actually ‘fit in’; jeans and flip flops just don’t cut it here! Eventually though, we settled on Johnny Rockets, my choice as I’d loved it the other day. If anyone has seen the film ‘Scarface’ then you might be interested to know that the staircase used in the Chainsaw Massacre scene is situated on South Beach beside Johnny Rockets. If you haven’t seen the film then you won’t care what staircase is there...it may as well be the one ‘Banana’s in Pyjamers’ came down!

The burgers we had were some of the best we’d ever eaten. Sooo much meat and loads of topping. Just how you always want a burger to be but end up being disappointed when it’s not! Ollie really wanted a cocktail so for one night only I agreed to spend $20 on one. It was 45oz (massive!) and he got to keep the giant cocktail glass! It was called ‘Rocket Fuel’  and contained 153 proof alcohol, the strongest legal liquor in America! It was basically a slush puppy! It took him over two hours to drink so actually in hindsight perhaps it was quite good value for money! He did feel a bit ridiculous walking down the street with a bright red drink in a comedy glass but that just made it funnier for me! It must have been pretty strong though ‘cos even though he was fine while we were out, as soon as we got back to the hostel that was it. He passed out!

After dinner we wondered up the street, stopping to watch a guy hand rolling Cigars. It was too good an opportunity to pass buy so we bought one and decided to smoke it on the beach. Having left our lighter in the tent that was now somewhere, still soaking, in Ollie’s pack, we had to ask the guy if we could borrow a lighter too. Not so cool! 

Down on the beach we climbed up to a Life Guard hut and sat looking out at the black sea, smoking and passing the night away. Maybe this was the way to enjoy Miami...

* * *

Today we didn’t have to catch our bus until the evening so we spent our time back on the beach. We sunbathed and swam all day. It was boiling and although I was wearing sun cream I still went a little red (of course I did, it’s me!). Ollie refused any sun cream because as always he thinks because he’s Cornish he doesn’t need it. Well. Now that he has a big red torso he feels a little foolish! Ha. Ha.

We left Miami as it began another of its relentless outrageous nights, heading back across the bridge towards the city lights. I’m not sorry to be leaving but in the end I did enjoy the experience of the last few days...a bit! Our parting gift was an $11 dollar taxi ride to go five minutes down the road. We had to take it because we couldn’t cross the interstate on foot but never expected to be so ripped off! The driver got mad when we didn’t tip, but all I wanted to do was kick him! Goodbye Miami. It’s time for you to exploit your next victims...

22/10/11