13/12/2010 Going down… Miami Beach

We stand up early this morning to pick up my rental car. Unfortunately, (or by purpose) my brother forgot his driving license, so I drove all the way down to the everglades by myself. Surprisingly, I was not as stressed and tired, as I expected to be after a 7h nonstop drive. And we were also lucky to catch the last air boat leaving in the Everglades. It was a bit cold, so there were not that many alligators; however, we have had the chance to see 3 of them in the free nature. Later in the evening we met up with my old colleague and enjoyed ourselves with drinks and dancing. Sweet.

05/09/2010 Little Havanna

Yesterday night, I got sick. Soooo sick. I ate wrong, too late and too much. This resulted in a short visit in my favorite club. Too short. On the roofdeck of Clevelander at the Oceans drive, there was an amazing party. It was so great, cool music and me with 10 other friends. You could party and enjoy the wind in the hair. Looking down, on the people dancing on the ground floor and looking over the town and the ocean. On the roof, they have had rainbow waterfalls, waterfalls from which the wattter was falling down in rainbow colors. I worn my new dress and all was great... But my belly. So I stayed 5 minutes and went sad home for sleeping.

The next day was a bit better, i thought. but soon I found out, that I only felt good, if I was lying in my bed or at the beach. sitting and walking was not a very good idea for my belly. However, somewhen in the afternoon, it was ok and we started a cool sightseeing tour. (Remeber, I was the only person allowed to drive the car) We went to Miami Ink and after that to Little Havanna. Little havanna was nice, but rather empty... Well we should predicted, that sundays is not that much action in latino, catholic districts. But it was nice and we ate the cheapest and best food at the whole miami trip.

In the night I worn again my new dress. The guys came over in our room, we drank, we talked, it started raining and it never stopped. We were staying and waiting while drinking, but it was like a hurrican. Somewhen at 2 we took the risk and left the hotel. I wanted to go to the Mansion Club on Washington, because I ahve had always a good time there. Unfortunately, the club requiered an entrance fee of 40$. Way too much, in special, if I can stay only for 2 hours, because I have to sleep to be ready to drive the 7h back tomorrow. So, I went back on the rainy street, towards my hotelroom. Seems, this dress is not done for party :(

04/09/2010 - Lazy at Miami South Beach

Sleeping late, breakfast on the way to Oceans Drive, going to the beach, sleep and swimm. So relaxed, so nice.

03/09/2010- Afterwork Strip

I arrived in Miami, slept a bit, took a shower and met my lovely ex colleagues(*) for an afterwork drink. They were amazing. They picked me up for going to the "bar". The bar was a very private bourlesque club, with breathtaking shows of acrobatic, bourlesque, strip and dance.

THey have had there big swings and huge beds to make it yourself confortable. Everywhere were tastefull pictures of almost naked or naked women and the waiters worn only underwear. Nevertheless, it was not a dirty place, very tasteful, classy and confortable. I loved it there.

Later, my fav. colleague started a competition at the pole... I though, I could win, because I took some pole aerobic lessons in the past.... forget about it! Unbelievable, what he could do. I forgot that he is regularly working out and has tons of arm muscles, with which he can climb um and hold himself with one arm and so on. Man, this 43 years old auditor, father of 4 kids, should be boring, not that professional at the pole ;)

(*) there was one more surposed to come... He was only allowed to hang out with us, because his wife was out of town. However, she found out and returned. Luckely she found him before we left for the stripclub...

03/09/2010 7h road trip on 95

7 hours Road trip on 95.- all the way down from Jacksonville to Miami. It seemed to take for ever. We have had the plan to go to Miami by a private minibus, but somehow, plans change and so, my friends take their car and I take together with 3 others a rental car to have the labourday weekend in Miami. At 7:30 in the morning, I met with one swedish guy from my car to get to the airport and pick up our rental car. At the airport, we found out, that there is only 1 driver allowed on the car and the 2nd driver ahs to pay 16$ per day extra. Sounds like a unfair system, but we were willing to pay it, unless, we (or better the agent) found out, that our 2nd driver is under 25 years old, and therefore not allowed to drive this car according to the rental car company policy. "Nice". This means, I drive all the way down by myself. And also there, I will always be the driver. This indicates, no drinks after midnight :-( And this in labour day :-(((
However, after we solved that, we got the next problem with the insurance. I am an Amex card holder and therefore, I am very risky and do not care about anything, because I have a credit card insurance for almost everything. In addition, I am german and I guess I have more insurances as some museeums. However, the Swedish guy gets scared by the fearfull and dramatic misinformation of the rental car lady. She is a really good sales person, so after an other half hour discussion, we took the car plus the extra insurance. So, after 2.5h discussion we got our car and started with a 3h delay in our weekend.

The streets in US are terrible boring: streight all the time, but with a speedlimit of 65mph or 70 mph. This is only 105 kmh. :-(((( and it takes sooooo long. However, we were lucky and had had a relaxed ride. The other private car was a bit speeding, but I was afraid to drive way to fast, because I was the only signed driver, and if I would loose my licence, it would be the end of our weekend.

A nice story to the private car. The car is a used car, which my roomate and 3 polish friends bought last week for round about 1200$. Plus insurance, Tax, legalization and so on, it was a price of 2000$. When me and the swedish guy drove to the airport we discussed, that this car is great for going to grocery and so, but not for a 1000 miles road trip. The car has some lacks, no aircondition and smells like hell. However it drives, as long, as there is fuel inside. The fuel display is broken, so within the last week, the guys rund twice out of fuel and asked me for my bike to get to the next gas station. Well, for the trip to miami, they put 20$ gas inside, I dare, this would be enough to cross the whole state.

Finaly, 150 miles before Miami, their car broke down. The engine was blown up and they have had to sell the car for 200$ to pay the bus tickets back to Jacksonville :-(

Very sad for them, but when they called us, we were already in Miami and we could not really help them. So, we reduced from initial 15 to 8 and now to 4 people. But great people :)