Day 2 - Traversing the Sahara

Lummus Park & Ocean Drive

Our general game plan for Miami is jog in the AM, eat, walk around a bit, hit the pool for half the day while munching and sipping a few drinks then head out for dinner.  Today we worked the plan to perfection.  We had finished 2k of our 8k before 8AM and were still roasting under the sun.  We traveled along the Miami Beach boardwalk which provided great views of all the other luxury hotels lining South Beach. After our run we took in the Delano continental breakfast, part of our Amex PTS package. Standard issue; cereal, breads, unbelievably fresh fruit and some cold cuts.

After breakfast we decided to cruise Collins and Ocean Dr to check out the shopping scene.  It didn't take long before I was sweating profusely.  It was hot, real hot.  We ducked in and out of stores like it was raining to catch a break from the sun.  The shops were pretty lame so we headed over to the beach.  Miami Beach is a big beach; super wide.  The beach wasn't empty but I'd suspect it would be considered near empty.
Kids are back in school and hey, it's hurricane season! We cruised down the beach absolutely roasting in the sun.  I had to walk in the surf except this was not agreeing with my run burdened calves; but it was the only way to survive.  Nearing the hotel and absolutely soaked from sweat a passerby even kindly offered us some water (for only a $1).  Yes, we looked that hurting. I've logged my fair share of KMs in all kinds of weather and this took the cake for the litres per second of sweat leaving my body.  Click on the image below for a real glimpse.  Anyway, we didn't let that deter us and we just laughed off the mindless ramblings brought on by slight dehydration/sun-stroke. I was tempted to ask to try on clothes in a store to see if I would be denied due to uncontrollable perspiration.

A sweaty guy.

The majority of the afternoon played out like the others.  We hit the pool and had a few drinks, a few more than the previous day and ordered up some grub.  We made friends with some New Yorkers and mostly floated around the pool. The pool did become noticeably busier throughout the day and we expect it to continue to get busier over the weekend.  Hopefully no issues getting chairs.  Side note; you know it's hot when people in the pool head for the shaded areas!

Every chair in the backround was occupied shortly after this shot.

Around 5:30 we headed in as the sun begins to set behind the hotel.  We met Patrick, an Aussie, whose parents own the hotel 'store' and another in the area.  Together we had a few good laughs at the expense of Americans in general. Tonight we're off to the restaurant at the Setai for dinner.