Miami
\nWell, I was getting my rent-a-car and I asked the question\u2026. How much more for a convertible?\u00a0 She told me that it would be $60 dollars, but she would give it to me for $30\u2026\u00a0 nah, I could not quite do it\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 I told her no.\u00a0 Then she said that she might be able to get me one for $20\u2026 hmmm, something tells me that Hertz is negotiable\u2026 the end of that story is I am now driving around in a white mustang convertible!\u00a0 South Florida in a convertible.\u00a0 The large black woman at the checkout confirmed that I looked even hotter in that car.\u00a0 Ok, that was basically my words.\u00a0 I asked and she said yes, sometimes ya gotta use that customer service thing for your own good.
\nSo I have got my car and south I go.\u00a0 I figured that I had all the time in the world so I would head to the coast and then drive south.\u00a0 I end up in Hollywood.\u00a0 There is a nice downtown area, so I park the car off the strip and go search for some lunch.\u00a0 I had a cob salad yesterday for dinner so it looks like I am eating kind of healthy.\u00a0 I walk around and pass up an Irish pub in favor of an outdoor caf\u00e9.\u00a0\u00a0 I get a chipotle steak wrap.\u00a0 It was pretty good.\u00a0 Those wrap things have too much lettuce if you ask me\u2026\u00a0 I jump back into my \u2018stang and continue to head south right along the coast.\u00a0 I am on 1A1.\u00a0 I tried a couple of times to get closer to the coast, but was denied.\u00a0 Miami\u2019s coast is dominated by large building on the beach with then road behind them.\u00a0 If you are not in or behind them there is no beach or ocean view.\u00a0 ANB tells me where to go and adjusts accordingly.\u00a0 I reach my destination and continue right on by to check out South Beach and Ocean drive.\u00a0 It is a nice drive.\u00a0 I think I recognize the place that I staid the last time I was in South Beach, but that was a long time ago.\u00a0 I head back to find the hotel.
\nI had booked through Priceline the night before and ended up at the Miami Beach Resort.\u00a0 How cool is that.\u00a0 It pleases me greatly to stay at Miami Beach at THE Miami Beach Resort.\u00a0 I was a little concerned that with a name like that it has been here since there was a beach\u2026\u00a0 well it turns out that it has been here that long, but it is beautifully maintained.\u00a0 The lobby is awesome.\u00a0 I give up my car to the valet (something that never pleases me, might be a control thing) and walk on in.\u00a0 Very nice\u2026\u00a0 I talk to the overly nice man and the counter and he is very helpful\u2026\u00a0 Since I booked on Priceline I had no idea of what room they put me in, but I assumed that it was low and in the front (opposite of ocean view) so I ask how much it would be for an ocean front room.\u00a0 I ask if AAA would help\u2026\u00a0 I am not sure what did it, but I ended up with a free upgrade to an ocean view room on the 17\u2019th floor, sweet!\u00a0 I did have to go from a king bed to two doubles, but it was worth it.\u00a0 The room is very nice and the view is great!\u00a0 I ask about internet and it is $9.99 a day, insert big sad face here\u2026\u00a0 I also find out that it is legal in Florida to talk on your cell phone while driving.\u00a0 Juan Carlos (no really) the concierge was well informed.\u00a0 I get settled and enjoy the view.\u00a0 I fire up my laptop and go to check out internet access\u2026\u00a0 I just gotta, it is one of the first things I do when I land.\u00a0 Maybe a bit obsessively, but I will deny that.\u00a0 Anyway\u2026\u00a0 it turns out that AT&T provide the wireless and my account actually works!\u00a0 I am quite surprised because it seems like a partner site and I didn\u2019t think that my account would work, but it does so I do a little happy dance and continue to get settled.
\nNo one would think that after walking all day the day before, the last thing I would do is take a walk, nope\u2026\u00a0 I walk down the beach about a mile and half and checkout some guy practicing with his kite boarding kite\u2026 cool.\u00a0 I then seek access to the street.\u00a0 As I mentioned the resorts and high-rise building dominate the coast.\u00a0 I have to ask some people how to get access to the street.\u00a0 I make it.\u00a0 I then ask ANB to find me a convenience store so I can get some diet dew and some munchies AND a hat.\u00a0 I have the floppy that Marlo bought, but now with a convertible, I have to rise to a higher standard\u2026 :>\u00a0 I end up walking further away from the resort.\u00a0 I do manage to find diet dew, some bananas, pop tarts and chips\u2026 so much for healthy :>\u00a0 I buy a $.99 bag to save the planet and lug my haul back.\u00a0 It is a fairly long walk\u2026 a couple of miles\u2026 silly man\u2026\u00a0 I wander back, not too fast.\u00a0 It\u2019s not like I have to be anywhere.\u00a0 I walk over by the HUGE boats on the inter-coastal.\u00a0 The biggest boat is called \u201cNever Enough\u201d\u00a0 hmmmm\u2026 that does not sound like a healthy attitude.\u00a0 While I am contemplating the emotional well being of this REALLY rich guy I hear a strange gush of air.\u00a0 I look down next to the slip and there is a HUGE alligator!!!\u00a0 We are talking about 6-8 feet and over 3 feet wide!\u00a0 Some other people come a long and we watch it for a bit\u2026\u00a0 I thought that I was clear of alligators\u2026\u00a0 guess not\u2026\u00a0 I talk to some people later and they have heard about using alligators and piranhas as means to deter simmers and trespassers\u2026\u00a0 I would consider that crude, but effective\u2026\u00a0 anyway I finally make it back to my room.
\nI ask Juan Carlos if there is a hot tub.\u00a0 He tells me that there is not!\u00a0 Major bummer!\u00a0 I was really hoping to soak my weary bones\u2026\u00a0 oh well\u2026\u00a0 I decide to make myself some ice coffee (I don\u2019t drink that much coffee, so this is odd) and draw a bath.\u00a0 The tub is in the shape of the shower base and not that deep.\u00a0 I fill it up with hot water and take a nice soak.\u00a0 It works.
\nNow I have to consider dinner\u2026\u00a0 I am not overly motivated to go out.\u00a0 I consider the hotel restaurant, and the hassle of getting the car from those valet people\u2026\u00a0 I decide that I am on an adventure and staying in at the hotel is not at all adventurous.\u00a0\u00a0 I Google Miami night life and a lot of South Beach stuff\u00a0 comes up that I dismiss, been there, done that.\u00a0 Then a bunch of Lincoln street and the Lincoln mall come up\u2026 hmmm, someone told me about that\u2026\u00a0 I now have a destination.\u00a0 I put it in ANB and off I go.\u00a0 I ask about parking at the deak and they tell me that there is a garage on 17th street\u2026\u00a0 Now, I am not a huge fan of paying for parking, so I hope for some on-street parking\u2026\u00a0 well, I pass up the garage and pull into a side street that seems pretty close to where my rough destination is\u2026\u00a0 score.
\nNow, I am alone in a strange city.\u00a0 Anyone who know me knows that I have a significantly impaired sense of direction AND I am leaving ANB in the car\u2026\u00a0 I take GREAT pains keeping track of where I left the car.\u00a0 To make matters worse, the last time I was in South Beach it took me several hours to find my car.\u00a0 Yes, I lost my car in South Beach.\u00a0 Fortunately there was lots to do while I checked all of the side street, where I got the free parking and I eventually found it\u2026 hmmm.
\nLincoln Street was interesting.\u00a0 It had lots of stores with lots of restaurants and clubs mixed in.\u00a0 I walked all the way up and back to check it all out before I decide where to eat.\u00a0 I wanted to sit at the bar to eat.\u00a0 Some places were too crowded and some were too empty.\u00a0 I found a place that was just right.\u00a0 It was called Van Dykes Caf\u00e9.\u00a0 Apparently there was some birthday party going on so the bar area was a little crowded.\u00a0 I make myself a spot and grabbed a stool.\u00a0 I had a Philly Cheese Steak sandwich, yes another one.\u00a0 I have them a lot.\u00a0 Well I have never seen one before that is so completely covered in cheese that you could not see the roll AT ALL!\u00a0 I had to eat it with a knife and fork.\u00a0 It was pretty good.\u00a0 They even had NA beer.
\nI am fairly tired and have ventured out.\u00a0 I head back to the room\u2026\u00a0 I chill, read, surf and settle in to watch Hero\u2019s.\u00a0 It is now after 12:00 and I am tired.\u00a0 I did get awoken at 5:40 that morning\u2026\u00a0 I shut down Hero\u2019s and turn off the light\u2026\u00a0 the next thing I know the room is bright..\u00a0 I never even moved\u2026\u00a0 The good thing about a ocean view room is\u2026. Wait for it\u2026 the view of the ocean!\u00a0 Now the bad news is that in that on this coast you get morning sunshine!!!\u00a0 It was 7:30 and it was a little bright\u2026\u00a0 I adjusted the shades and went back to sleep for a couple more hours.
\nWhat was I going to do today\u2026. Hmmmm Miami beach resort\u2026\u00a0 maybe the beach!\u00a0 I wait for things to warm up just so and stake out my spot by the pool\u2026\u00a0 why the pool and not the ocean\u2026 one reason, cushions on the chairs, Juan coming around giving me fruit cools towels.\u00a0 Before I left the room I was sure to totally coat my body with my spf 30 spray-on sunscreen and off I go.\u00a0 Now I am being very careful with the sun\u2026 again once burnt, twice shy\u2026 puny!\u00a0 The last time I was in South Beach I went back looking like a leaper\u2026\u00a0 my nose and ears were peeling so badly that I looked the guy from the fly.\u00a0 There were chunks coming off of my nose\u2026\u00a0 I was a hit at the airport bar\u2026\u00a0 not this time.\u00a0 I am being careful.\u00a0 So I took advantage of a palm tree, I put up my umbrella, etc, etc\u2026\u00a0 after the sun went behind the hotels, I decide to venture out to the beach.\u00a0 It was very nice.\u00a0 There was actually one woman who was not wearing a bathing suit top.\u00a0 I went for a short walk, no not just around the woman\u2026 and then took a nice swim.
\nAfter that I came back to the pool.\u00a0 I wanted to get and an clean the ocean off.\u00a0 Well the pool was 90 some degrees, nice!\u00a0 I had a nice chat with several people about different internet travel.\u00a0 Apparently I got a good deal through Priceline for this place.\u00a0 The others all paid more :>\u00a0 we compared sites and places and what not.\u00a0 It was fun.\u00a0 There was one woman that asked if I had heard of the netbook computers.\u00a0 I gushed about my asus.\u00a0 She wants one\u2026
\nI got back to my room to find the answer to an email I had sent this morning concerning Key Largo and my next stop on the Florida 2009 adventure.\u00a0 I found a place that you could stay at and dive from.\u00a0 I\u00a0 made my reservations and will be diving tomorrow at 1:00! The address is already set in ANB:>
\nBack to the room and a nice shower.\u00a0 I figure that I will grab a bite to eat at the pool side bar, blog and people watch.\u00a0 Well that all worked out quiet well.\u00a0 I wrote most of this, had a very good mahi mahi sandwich.\u00a0 I finished most of my blog and then started chatting with a couple of people who attended the printfleet conference.\u00a0\u00a0 We talked about computers and South Beach and what-not.\u00a0 That was amusing.\u00a0 They are dining at the hotel tonight and invited me\u2026\u00a0 I might go, but I need to get some water shoes for tomorrow\u2026 should I go out tonight, or tomorrow???\u00a0 Actually it might be too late for tonight\u2026 I guess I will go tomorrow.\u00a0 Dinner tonight and then next stop Key Largo!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Miami Well, I was getting my rent-a-car and I asked the question\u2026. How much more for a convertible?\u00a0 She told me that it would be $60 dollars, but she would give it to me for $30\u2026\u00a0 nah, I could not quite do it\u2026\u00a0\u00a0 I told her no.\u00a0 Then she said that she might be able […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-178","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-florida-2009"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s7vq9N-miami","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=178"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":179,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178\/revisions\/179"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/whatup.brantct.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}