7 days in Florida and our last days in America
Florida is full of surprises like the Delray Beach Police bullet proof tank we saw guarding the local upscale street market from renegade drivers. This is way cooler and much more intimidating than our home town's ugly concrete blocks. We came across Delray Beach after detouring off the uninteresting Florida Turnpike highway on our way to Miami. By chance I spied with my little eye something beginning with 'D'- Drawbridge. Florida has many drawbridges, either linking the mainland to the jaw dropping beachfronts or between the 'Venice of America' canals. They are fun to watch rise and fall but not so much fun for traffic that deal with them everyday.
Quiggy and I have had many jaw dropping moments in Miami, the wealth here is astronomical particularly near the beaches. Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Palm Beach are for the rich and richer. On our budget we could only visit for the day and head out West to our airbnb's at night. Thankfully there are plenty of free sights in the high end of town and we have been lucky to have had near perfect weather and less crowds during our travel in their winter off-season.
Just today, whilst driving around the glamorous homes in Fort Lauderdale's Rio Vista canals, we found a free car parking space (don't we take that for granted at home?), walked over to the boardwalk and out of nowhere a water trolley cruises towards us and stops to pick us up. The captain tells us to climb aboard and we are taken along the waterways in millionaires row, under the drawbridges, stopping at the places of interest, cruising over the manatees, passing the sun lazing iguanas and the best part? - it was free!
We chose to stop at a market along the river where traders were running a competition to see who cooked the best chilli. Giant pots of chilli concoctions were on offer to taste relying on your vote to win the ribbon of best chilli. The Support for Veterans stall helper told me "chilli is a very American thing we do, almost a sport". I told him that "Australians are afraid of chilli" to which he replied "so are Americans, we just don't admit it!".
Sport is just as popular here as it is at home. Quiggy's wish list on our travels is to see as much sporting events as possible. We scored tickets to a Miami Heat home game of basketball for $20us. It was awesome! The entertainment, singing of the national anthem, cheer squads, music, hilarious mascot and home team crowd made for a great night and the game was thrilling. Point for point until the last quarter when the Heat broke away only to be beaten by the Sacramento Kings in the last 3 seconds. The crowd were shocked into silence and calmly they got up and walked out...game over. Do try to see a game in the States, it's not everyday you get to see athletes with a team salary cap of $100 million dollars.
Quiggy being a betting man meant we had to see a horse and what a horse we saw. Gulfstream Park Racetrack in Hallandale Beach, staged the most expensive horse race in history - $16,000,000 purse - and we were fortunate to see the winner 'Gun Runner' (and get a groupie photo) before the race. We were surprised how blase the parading of the horses is here. Gulfstream is located within a ritzy shopping plaza and casino. It is most unusual to see shoppers, diners, gamblers, jockeys and horses using the same paths. Across the road you will see (can't miss it) a huge 100 foot statue of Pegasus defeating a dragon. This monument is impressive and the second tallest statue in the USA with first being the Statue of Liberty.
Like cigars? In Miami Beach pretty young ladies carry trays of cuban cigars for sale. We don't smoke but when you're in the famous Art Deco district along Ocean drive, across from the stunning beach watching the beautiful people drink their giant $50 cocktails while the valet parks their Ferraris, the sun beating down and the music getting you in party mode, you suddenly feel all 'Che Guevara' and you need to get out before this revolution sucks up your travel budget.
With the soundtrack of 'Cocktails' still playing in our heads we take a drive down to Florida Keys, there's actually no place called Kokokmo there, but there is mesmerising blue water and lots of wildlife to see. The drive to Key West from Key Largo takes about 2 hours on coral and limestone islands connected by 42 bridges. The destruction from Hurricane Irma in 2017 is still evident with homes rebuilding and piles of greenery and destroyed materials lining the road for pick up. The Keys are in most places, less than 1 kilometre wide and it's surprising that the islands weren't wiped off the face of the earth during that storm. It's still a beautiful place that makes you drive silently in awe and stop for photos that will do no justice to what the eyes see and heart feels.
We saw and did a lot in Florida. We also spent too much money and wished we could have spent a lot more. Florida is expensive. There's Disney, the Everglades, Beach Resorts, abundant water activities and endless bars and restaurants. The highway is full of tolls and car rental insurance will bleed you. Hotels are the most expensive we've seen on our trip and airbnb was pricey too. But if you've got the dollars to burn and you want fun, fun, fun then Florida is your place.
#Back away from the cigars
#Skip over the road to the beach
#Go see the turquoise blue water