Miami Beach beach; or, our last day

 Miles driven: none

Steps taken: 11,240

Calorie units: 1,400

It’s our last day (obviously tomorrow, which is breakfast then all travel, doesn’t count) and it was a perfect beach day.  So we went.

The hotel advertises a beach shuttle; the front desk person told us “it’s only two blocks.”  When we asked about towels and chairs, we were told they were complimentary, but at the stand at 21st and Collins.  The hotel is in the middle of 23rd and 24th on Collins.  I was skeptical about 2 blocks.  OC, it turned out the stand was ON the beach, which was more than a block off Collins.  

But we got on the beach, got our gear, and sat down on the beach. 

It was 86, feels like 95 (this is Miami in July), with few clouds.  At one point a squall blew threw, sending the umbrella next to us rolling away.  But it came and went.  

The water was warm with barely a wave.  There was a lot of seaweed, but that was the only downside. 

Here goes the photo ops:

You can see the aquamarine water and then the infamous rows of high rises.  That’s it.

We were back in the hotel in time to see the second half of the Euro Cup final and to watch England lose a game it looked so long, and again at the end, like they had won.  Yeah rah Italy.

Dinner was at a very Cuban place.  We started with guac, which came with plantain chips!

Then we got the mixed grill for two for our main course. 

Closest to you, in the bowl, is the pork; to the right is charrasco steak; that’s a variation of chorizo center left, and in the distance is chicken asada.  The pork might have been the best (not a pork fan), but it was all delicious. 

As we sat there, an unexpected storm came by and poured — absolutely poured — for maybe ten minutes.  They had to move the receptionist’s stand away from the doorway and all the tables near the outside into the restaurant.  Water ran across the table around us.  It was something. 

And then we made the long trek home, surviving both heat and some sprinkles.  Miami in July. 

And that is Miami in July.  After 10 days, we return home tomorrow.  Like Bridget, I am not really looking forward to stepping on the scale, even with the rules about vacation calories. 😂 But it’ll be good to be home.  Until next month, when we go to LA.  You know, like Randy Newman, I love LA. 😁