Miami

Well, just got back from my weekend in Miami with the girls. It was awesome, and yes, Naomi and I sang the Will Smith song when driving around the harbour. Our satnav, Fifi, wasn't always completely comprehensive but I loved her, especially when she guided us past a trailer park! I sort of squealed. Loudly. In fact I was completely useless on the drive down because I was too preoccupied with singing along to the radio and exclaiming whenever anything of interest passed by the window!

South Beach is beautiful. We stayed at the Ohana hostel which is a couple of streets back from the main strip. It was only $25 and super nice for the money. They tried to keep everything in the art deco theme that the rest of the city wears so well but it's kind of art deco on a budget.

I got my first ever glimpse of the ocean and I even dipped a toe in despite the cooler weather. It was so pretty and even the surrounding buildings are beautiful. The vibe was kind of Benidorm but prettier and with money. I loved it. We walked around South Beach to get our bearings and do a little shopping before dancing the night away in the Cuban equivalent of Coyote UGLY on Ocean Drive.

The next day we explored a little it further afield. We moved up to North Beach for a little paddle in the sunshine before driving over to Coconut Grove to visit the Vizcaya, this manor house built by a vice President which is absolutely beautiful. I shot gunned the green and pink room at the top of the tower for when Alexa and I get rich and move in there. It was very Princessy and had the most amazing view of the ocean. Hara wasn't too impressed because it didn't have Internet access!

I was charged with wingman duty on the way home as Alexa was driving back instead of Hara so whilst Hara and Naomi napped in the back, I had to keep my eyes open for the whole four hours and talk to Fifi about where we were going. Fifi and I had a good rapport and we didn't get lost at all on the way home. I was proud. I am absolutely shattered now though. I wish I could call in to work tomorrow but I guess I need to go in. It was so good to visit a place that wasn't completely fake and manufactured if only for two days...wow, I bet no-one has ever described Miami like that before!

It has definitely fuelled my wanderlust though. Now that I know I can stand the long road trips without throwing up I'm ready to go a-travelling after my programme finishes. Jonathan and I have vague hypothetical plans to travel up the East coast and all around me I'm getting invites to travel to all these different places in April so I don't know what to do. I guess it all depends on the moolah. I just need to figure out how much everything will cost before making any definite plans.

"You didn't thinkwe were going to get the whole ocean did you?" - Finding Nemo