In 2005 I was lucky enough to go on holiday to South Beach in Miami, probably one of the coolest places I have ever been to, I really didn’t fit in 🙂

So myself, Mike and Iain left Heathrow in early September for two weeks on fun in the sun, South Beach style. It’s a place I have always wanted to visit so count myself very lucky I was able to do it.

Our Hotel
We stayed in the Marseilles Hotel on Collins Ave which was a very nice hotel with lovely staff who were brilliant throughout our stay

Out and about
So in case you hadn’t guessed by the name there is a very famous beach in Miami and our hotel backed right onto it. Now I don’t normally like beaches as sand doesn’t agree with me. I can’t walk on the stuff, i look like a penguin after 15 shots of sambuca trying to walk on sand but this is one I persevered with :).

The shopping and the restaurants were amazing and we shopped and ate at some fantastic places.

This was randomly parked outside our hotel one day, doors open, no owner in sight.

Gianni Versace’s House

The Miami Dolphins
Another thing Miami is famous for is their NFL team the Miami Dolphins, made famous as well by Ace Ventura Pet Detective, laces out!!! I have been a fan of the NFL for many years so the first thing I checked was to see if they had a home game while we where there, they did. The 2005 season opener on September 11th against the Denver Broncos. It was very special in more ways than one but one of them was to be a part of the 9/11 tribute before the game which included a fly by after the national anthem. So this game started my love for the sport and also for the Miami Dolphins team.

Nightlife
The night life in Miami is nothing short of brilliant, we had many great nights at some fantastic nightclubs. The philosophy of the doormen is much different to here, you don’t get in a cue and are let in when you get to the front. There you wait outside and the doormen/owners will let in basically who they want in the club, if you make a fuss that you have been waiting for a while you won’t get in. We were lucky that every place we tried to get into we got in, must have been our charm and sophisticated demeanour. We went out on the first or second night and we got talking to people and I was offered a job in a club in Fort Lauderdale, I still have his business cards so that was a fun start. We also got moaned at by one of the bar men the second time we went in there as we didn’t tip him enough and got quite annoyed about it and wouldn’t serve us. In another club we got to watch a proper dance off like out of street dance, now I know what you’re thinking but no I didn’t get involved, I didn’t think it fair to the others to come in and steal the limelight so easily. It was Iain’s birthday while we were out there so the lady at the hotel booked us a table at a restaurant which included a limo to pick you up and take you somewhere afterwards, we then had a table booked at a club so got dropped off there. We had to leave a credit card with the barman, as it was table service and you paid at the end. That was like showing a red rag to a bull, lets just say we spend our money very easily. This is the night that Mike and Iain tried to lets say make me fall over as I found out some time after they were topping up my drinks all night when I wasn’t looking. I did get my revenge on Mike on a flight to Mexico that I will share later.

SeaAquarium
We had a day at the Miami SeaAquarium after I finished my swim with the Dolphins. We got to see most things you would see at palace like that but we still had a very good day.

The rest of the holiday was spent by the pool, on the beach and just relaxing taking in what South beach had to offer. It was such a great place and would go back if I could. I’m sure it’s changed a lot over the years but still a place I am very happy to say I have visited.

Thanks for reading.