Wednesday, August 23, 2006
USofA???
It's my last few hours in Miami, and although technically I'm still in the 48 contiguous United States, I still need some convincing otherwise. Swaying palm trees, beaches with translucent, 80-degree water, geckos as prevalent as ants and no fewer than two reggae radio stations playing the dirtiest dancehall tracks Kingston has to offer makes me thinkI'm already in a foreign land.
Began my second trip to the Sunshine State since December on Monday afternoon, when Larry and Val picked me up fromthe airport and we immediately headed to the world's pre-eminent Tiki bar, the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Took advantage of two-for-one happy hour (these ain't your average drinks) and then - sufficiently buzzed - headed across the street to catch a showing of "Snakes on a Plane". I must admit, I bought into the buzz and left feeling the movie certainly lived up to it's name, but not the months of hype.
Yesterday, Larry had work and Val had school, so I borrowed his car and made a V-line for South Beach. I got in about an hour of swimmin' and sunnin' time before the thunderstorms kicked in and the lifeguards sounded their "get the hell off the beach" siren. I had actually just entered the water when I saw a lightning strike in the distance, and decided being electrocuted on the first day of my vacation would suck really bad. So after ducking into a deli for lunch during a deluge, I proceeded south to the communities of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Of course, I had to check out the University of Miami, perhaps the only school in the country with a more attractive student body than UCSB's. It was the first week of classes, however I refuse to believe any actual instruction occurs there. It has the feel of a four-year country club.
After meeting Larry back at his place, it was the moment I had been waiting for - dinner at Pollo Tropical, my favorite South Florida fast-food chain. For you Californians, it's like a Carribbean El Pollo Loco, except with much more exotic menu items like fried yucca. I dined on roast pork and was very satisfied. We capped off the night with a drink among the high-rise condos at some Israeli restaurant-bar. West LA and Brooklyn may be the only places in the US with a higher concentration of Heebs than this town.
Today saw another trip to the beach, the purchase of a new frisbee (the one I brought is too flims) and withdrawing of cash to pay for my apartment in Buenos Aires. Now it's time for my final meal as an American, at an falafel joint around the corner from Larry's house. This is truly "Jew Heaven" as Larry calls it...
Please forgive any typos, as I am constructing this blog post from their archaic keyboard, one of those allegedly ergonomic things with the keys split.
Began my second trip to the Sunshine State since December on Monday afternoon, when Larry and Val picked me up fromthe airport and we immediately headed to the world's pre-eminent Tiki bar, the Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale. Took advantage of two-for-one happy hour (these ain't your average drinks) and then - sufficiently buzzed - headed across the street to catch a showing of "Snakes on a Plane". I must admit, I bought into the buzz and left feeling the movie certainly lived up to it's name, but not the months of hype.
Yesterday, Larry had work and Val had school, so I borrowed his car and made a V-line for South Beach. I got in about an hour of swimmin' and sunnin' time before the thunderstorms kicked in and the lifeguards sounded their "get the hell off the beach" siren. I had actually just entered the water when I saw a lightning strike in the distance, and decided being electrocuted on the first day of my vacation would suck really bad. So after ducking into a deli for lunch during a deluge, I proceeded south to the communities of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. Of course, I had to check out the University of Miami, perhaps the only school in the country with a more attractive student body than UCSB's. It was the first week of classes, however I refuse to believe any actual instruction occurs there. It has the feel of a four-year country club.
After meeting Larry back at his place, it was the moment I had been waiting for - dinner at Pollo Tropical, my favorite South Florida fast-food chain. For you Californians, it's like a Carribbean El Pollo Loco, except with much more exotic menu items like fried yucca. I dined on roast pork and was very satisfied. We capped off the night with a drink among the high-rise condos at some Israeli restaurant-bar. West LA and Brooklyn may be the only places in the US with a higher concentration of Heebs than this town.
Today saw another trip to the beach, the purchase of a new frisbee (the one I brought is too flims) and withdrawing of cash to pay for my apartment in Buenos Aires. Now it's time for my final meal as an American, at an falafel joint around the corner from Larry's house. This is truly "Jew Heaven" as Larry calls it...
Please forgive any typos, as I am constructing this blog post from their archaic keyboard, one of those allegedly ergonomic things with the keys split.
# posted by BenBlogsFromBA @ 3:24 PM 
