I Went to Miami, This Is What Surprised Me the Most
Hello sun, sand, beaches and a lot more!
It is Paris that makes one feel poetic, Rome that makes one feel heroic, yet it is Miami that makes one feel young.- Pietros Maneos
Miami is one city in the US that had been highly rated on my travel list.
Why? Because it’s near the Caribbean and has a thriving culture of its own. I longed to visit. Even more than California or Las Vegas.
Finally, my wish came true earlier this month, when I travelled there with my husband and my 2-year-old for about a week. This was the first post-pandemic and post-baby vacation, not counting the trip back home to India.
Many of you must be going back to your pre-pandemic lives.
My husband and I were happy to know our sporty, adventurous spirit was intact. And the biggest surprise was the third musketeer, who was a wonderful addition to this newly reinvigorated travel trio. So, it all turned out to be a helluva experience.
I wanted to share some experiences from the trip which surprised me and mostly added to the fun, apart from the sun, the sand and the South Beach.
The Cuisine Bonanza
As a foodie, I’ll start with the food first.
I wouldn’t have guessed before going how strong the influence of the neighbouring countries was. I loved the authentic Mexican, Cuban, Colombian, and Uruguayan food we had there.
It was a welcome change. The enchiladas, chimichangas, and tacos took my heart away. If I could, I would go back in a heartbeat for the food.
Focus on maximizing the food opportunities from the get-go. Book the restaurants in South Beach in advance, if you’re planning to go soon.
The American City With Little English
Would you expect an American city to not be speaking English?
Half of the locals I met couldn’t speak English in supermarkets, restaurants, and around the beach.
Indians can get mistaken as South Americans often, so sometimes people started talking to us in Spanish only to realize we don’t speak a word. Maybe Hola, but beyond this, the conversation wouldn’t go far.
This shows the strong cultural influence of the neighboring countries.
Jaywalking and Poor Driving
Most pedestrians didn’t look at the sign before crossing. This was so unlike the majority in Toronto.
Also, the driving was, on average, reckless. The drivers didn’t seem to check if you were crossing the road on your light when you were alone or in a smaller group, especially.
This can make some people feel unsafe, especially families travelling with kids. Therefore you must remember to be very careful when crossing.
The Variety of the Lizards
This is one fear in my life I doubt I can overcome.
I am petrified of any form of lizards or any reptiles. Everywhere in Miami, there were many kinds, like the brown and the green anoles, and even the huge green iguanas.
Thankfully, they didn’t come near, even though we ran into several anoles outside our hotel daily. The green iguanas were common in the Key Biscayne area.
This information may help someone like me who’d prefer to know what to expect.
Watching out for junkies
It’s so common to run into junkies anywhere you go.
Our hotel was in the best part of South Beach, which is one of the best places to stay. Still, it was common to spot them.
This is something to be mindful of, especially if you plan to be around late at night alone or with your family. You never know who you could run into.
Unpredictable weather
This may be a showstopper if you don’t check this before coming.
I checked the tornado season doesn’t start until June. We got surprised as a tornado warning came into effect suddenly one day. Luckily, we saw it in time, but it affected our itinerary.
We spent the day lounging at the pool.
If you run into weather changes, plan some alternate activities.
Lots of Happy Hours
Many restaurants and even hotels had longer happy hours.
Our hotel, Kimpton Angler’s took this a step further. They had 5–6 pm daily as a free unlimited wine time. They also had group fitness classes during the day.
For those interested, you can work out to burn calories and then test your alcohol capacity later in the evening at many places. ;)
Hello! Ecological Awareness, anyone?
I couldn’t believe they did not charge me for plastic bags when I went to the supermarket.
Not something I would expect to happen in a developed country.
Who’s not ready to pay to keep the environment clean?
Dolphin Interaction
Saving the best for the last, we had the privilege to spend time with a dolphin named ‘Star’. This was a bucket list item.
It had been on our list for a long time, and every time I explored it, it used to be super expensive.
Here we got it for a great deal on a weekday when we visited the Seaquarium. Since our return, my daughter asks daily to be shown those videos and pictures.
If you want to see a dolphin show or interact with a dolphin, don’t miss it.
Bringing It Together
Miami is a wonderful city; full of life, color and culture.
Soak in it.
What stayed with me was a quote I read there. This is the sentiment I carried back on the plane.
Take care of our city, and it will take care of you. — Visit Miami quote