Bienvenidos a Miami
We arrived in Miami with two overlapping goals: explore the famous Miami Beach, and get rid of Helen’s bicycle shorts tan line. Unfortunately, hurricane Milton had other plans. With the storm on course for Tampa, Miami was experiencing the secondary effects of being pummeled with rain. Sadly this meant that our gracious hosts Wesley (Adam’s brother) and his partner Koko had to cancel all their outdoor bookings.
However, we were still determined not to let the rain rain on our parade! We managed to snag a break in the rain at a waterfront bar, Lido. While sipping mezcal margaritas and enjoying the diffuse cloudy light playing across the water, we spotted a pod of curious dolphins passing a few feet from where we were sitting.
At night Wesley and Koko showed us some of their favorite restaurants (just not the rooftop ones), which did not disappoint and Koko led a family beauty session while Chef Wes made cookies and we all binged a new Netflix show together.
On Monday we let our hosts work in peace and ventured away for a Helen and Adam excursion. We rented a car and headed west to the Everglades, one of the world’s largest wetlands. Once there we found an airboat tour, powered by a big honking V8 engine connected to an airplane propeller. The seats were stadium style bleachers that at full capacity could probably hold 15 people and the driver. It all sat on top of a flat metal boat haul floating high on the water.
Maybe it was the impending threat of a hurricane or the fact that it was a Monday, but we ended up with getting a private tour and without the weight of 13 other passengers slowing us down the boat flew over the water. The ride was exhilarating! We bobbed and weaved through the dense vegetation and slid tokyo-drift style across the wetlands; Adam declared it was the closest he’d ever get to feeling of flying in a Star Wars pod racer.
On the water we saw a few birds and an alligator, which, to Helen’s delight, the guide said was probably in its early 30s (just like her!). The guide also said the water levels were too deep and the weather was too hot for much of the wildlife; noting that we should come back in winter. We did manage to record a red-winged blackbird singing over the noise of the airboats in the distance:
The tiny slice of the 1.5 million acre Everglades was a treat to behold, and we are eager to return in the winter when the birds flock to feed on fish in the low tide.
After enjoying the views of the wetlands we hopped in the elevator to take full advantage of Koko and Wesley’s 64-story rooftop pool. Poolside, we soaked in the hot tub, splashed around in the pool, and took a break from the rain under the overhang.
All in all it wasn’t the weekend we planned but it was still a fun one. We’re excited to return sans hurricane and maybe Helen will finally be able to get rid of her tan line.
