Miami, USA - Nov 2014 - Days 1-7

Saturday 

So seeing as this is a semi work trip for Mr Bean, thought I'd take up the mantle of chief blogger for this trip.

Had a great send off on Friday with a fab last day at work, being utterly spoilt by the girls and having the best time out for lunch and then drinks after work. Then hotfooted it over to Mark and Roberts who had prepared a stupendous Halloween feast for us all. Needless to say I wasn't feeling so fresh for a 9.30am flight the next morning. I know, your heart bleeds......

Had a great flight - they had the half series of Game of Thrones box set that we hadn't yet seen! I could have been sitting next to a screaming child and I wouldn't have cared-it was the in-flight choice of entertainment dreams. We do a weird thing where we count to three before hitting start on each episode so we are perfectly in synch. There's NO WAY Aaron is going to ruin a potentially surprising execution/death for me. Even if it does make us look like complete idiots.

Flight went past with no incident except for the air hostess completely mocked Aaron when he asked if they were still out of beer. She looked at him and said, umm, how exactly did expect us to not still be out of beer?! We haven't stopped anywhere, sir?! The best thing was that Aaron refuses to take his huge headphones off when talking to the hostesses so he didn't hear and just smiled widely during the mocking. (AB - I must just add I meant had she checked other cabins for beer - I did not believe her that the whole plane was out!!! It was a good put down though!)

This wasn't the last time Aaron was mocked on travel day. When we arrived in south beach we decided to take a walk up to Ocean Drive (the suns gonna shine on everything you do) and during the walk, a stranger poked his head out of the window of a passing car and shouted really loudly at Aaron YOU DON'T NEED TO WEAR A SWEATER, MAN, YOU'RE IN MIAMI!! Of course I thought this was hilarious, Aaron brushed the arm of his trusty cashmere cardigan as if to signal to the garment, 'don't be hurt, he knows not what he says.'

We are staying at the Metropolitan by Como and it's great, just what we were looking for. 

http://www.comohotels.com/metropolitanmiamibeach

The service is great but in pure American style verges on ridiculous. For those that feel inclined to brush up on this, please refer to my previous special report on American service. Example number 1, on arriving at the hotel, we were told 'WELCOME HOME' three times throughout the check in process. On the third time, the gentleman addressed my look of utter confusion by proceeding to explain,' I say this, because you're going to feel really at home here.' It was like when Aaron tries to explain a scene from Family Guy to people who haven't seen it before - that level of awkward. If it's true then when I get up to my room I'm going to be more than cramped and not have anywhere to put all my stuff. I'm on holiday man, I don't want it to be like home.

The hotel is only 6 months old as it was renovated from an old hotel called the Traymore, hence the old name still on that side of the hotel. 

Nice view of the pool from the pool on the roof. So many pools!

The South Beach equivalent to the Hollywood sign!

Anyway - Nat's foray into the world of Bean About The World blogging was pretty short lived. She lost interest by the afternoon of the first day! Readers were clearly left dangling over what we did the evening! No dedication at all so The reigns are being taken back. Also there was a bit too much Aaron bashing for me!!

Anyway, for those that are interested in what we did that evening we started with a nice few Sierra Nevada's at the pool bar before heading out for a very nice walk down Collins past all the amazing hotels, onto Ocean Drive. As it is Saturday night Ocean Drive is absolutely pumping - I don't think I have ever seen so many people cruising up and down one street in such pimp cars - Ferrari's galore! We have a drink at Oceans's 10 and then head for a bite to eat at the wonderful and great value News Cafe - definitely the best place to eat on Ocean Drive. 

http://www.newscafe.com

Sunday

Sunday started very well. Woke up early to catch the start of the Manchester derby which was on the TV. Result!!

The rest of the day was spent lying by the gorgeous pool and catching some rays! Now as always on these types of holidays the updates can get a little repetitive and boring hence the cut down version of a week per post!

That evening, after a very scenic 10km run down the beach promenande (and Nat on the running machine) we hit Collins again, starting at the stunning bar in the Setai hotel. Such a slick and gorgeous bar. 

After, we head to Lincoln Rd which is one of the main shopping streets with loads if bars and restaurants on in Miami.  We found a great dive bar with great beer and music called Finnegans Rd which we had a few beers in before heading to a great little place called Havana for dinner. 

http://havana1957.com/lincoln-road/

It's a tiny little Cuban restaurant with a really nice atmosphere but dim waiting staff. 

Waking past the cool hotels on the way home. Absolutely love the Art Deco style of Miami. 

Monday

Official work day today so spent most of it on calls and working. The good thing is that as it gets to 1pm here everyone is leaving for the day back home to the email starts to calm down!

For breakfast we keep ending up walking for ages as randomly we were struggling to find decent bagel place in our end of town. However, the good thing is the very scenic walk back down the beach. 

After a nice couple of hours by the pool and another nice run we head out for thre evening. It ha got dark pretty early tonight (5:30pm) as the clocks went back on Sunday morning - our second consecutive weekend of an extra hour in bed!

That evening we have booked a table at the very cool Juvia resturant which is also on Lincoln Rd and on a roof top next door to the iconic 1111 Lincoln Rd - a really cool looking car park / shopping centre in Miami (pictured below). 

We go for a drink in the very cool Shore Club although have to sit inside as it is like a hurricane has arrived. After we have another few drinks sampling different beers in Finnegans Rd bar before we head to eat. 

http://juviamiami.com/m/

The views from Juvia back over South Beach are fantastic and the resturant even better. Highly recommend. The food is fantastic - we had some of the best seared tuna we have had and a great bottle of Malbec. Luckily it is pretty sheltered up there as the wind is really picking up now. 

Tuesday

Thought I'd move the office outside today.  Definitely had worst views whilst working. 

The sun lounger is clearly confusing Nat...

Evening ritual of a few Sierra Nevada sun downers. 

That afternoon we decide not to go for a run as our legs are dead so end up doing the complete opposite - late afternoon boozing session. 

After few beers at our hotel pool bar we head out down the beach to sample some of other hotel pool bars that overlook the beach. 

Such a lovely walk on the beach. 

Amazing kite surfers - this must be the perfect place to kite surf as the wind is really strong today. I enquire about lessons but as I would have to spend about $200 before I even get my feet wet I decide to leave it!

Few more drinks as the sun goes down at the Ritz Carlton bar which funnily is called DiLido which very much looks like someone has just written dildo everywhere. 

That evening we head to Espanola way to our favourite dive bar in Miami - Lost Weekend. It has got everything that we love in a good American dive bar - great beer selection, great tunes on the juke box, pool tables. Love this place. 

And so the sampling begins...

By the time we leave here we are a little worse for wear. Luckily we have booked dinner at a place around the corner called Khong River House which was a really cool Lao/Cambodin restaurant. 

http://www.khongriver.com

After a nice Cambodian curry we grab a Starbucks to sober up on the way home and walk back to the hotel. Another great night in Miami. 

Wednesday

Woke up to pretty poor weather today. Overcast with spells of rain and it is really windy. Definitely not pool weather today. I have a productive morning of work whilst Nat catches up on 'E' television. I am pretty sure there is nothing she doesn't know about the Kardashian's now. 

After a run we decide to head out early. The plan for this evening is to eat at Joe's Stone Crab which is a bit of a Miami institution located right at the southern end of south beach about 5km away. Lots of pubs in between us and Joe!!

First stop is the gorgeous Betsy hotel which is right on time as the heavens open Miami style - absolutely torrential!

We take each small window of opportunity between rain showers to head further down Ocean Drive to the next bar. We have a beer in Finnegans Way and catch the end of some champions leagues games and then head into the Cleavlander when the heavens opened again. Crazy rain. 

You have to admire these guys though - no amount of rain was going to make them move away from the bar. Not when they had their trust drinking ponchos with them.

Very cool clouds and moon shot - eerie!!

Before we hit Joe's we head to a lovely bar called Liquid Assets at Smith & Wollensky. It's a great spot outside overlooking the harbour. 

It's then time for Joe's which you can't book at and by the time we get there the waiting time was 1.5 hours. The place is massive and heaving which is clearly a good sign. After a while we decide to eat outside instead of waiting for a table inside. You can get pretty much the same  food anyway and the rain seemed to be holding off. 

http://www.joesstonecrab.com

The food was really great including their signature stone crab. After dinner we head back (via Starbucks of course!) as I actually have to go into the office tomorrow!

Thursday

Up very early today as had a 6am client call. Not good! We then have breakfast in the hotel before I head off to work and Nat heads to the pool (bitch!)

Cracking view from the office back over South Beach. Typically that weather today is amazing again. 

After a very good and productive day at work I have a couple of beers with colleagues at the very pumping Intercontinental bar before heading back to meet Nat at the beautiful Raleigh bar. I had set Nat some homework today to write the blog so we are all caught up but still no more content than the first half day!! Must have been really busy sunbathing. 

That evening we had booked a table at the Lido Bar and Grill at the Standard hotel. After meeting a lovely Brazillian taxi driver and remiscing over places in Brazil we arrive at the very cool restaurant. 

We are welcomed by a great fire pit... Always a good sign. 

It's like walking trough an enchanted garden until we arrive the restaurant in an amazing setting. 

It is actually over the other side of south beach to the actual beach and other hotels but still a great setting overlooking the water out towards down town Miami. 

Great table by the water sorted out for us by our very nice host Richard who was hilrious. 

Gorgeous tables set around the trees. 

We are so lucky we have booked here tonight and not last night as the weather is gorgeous tonight. So warm and tranquil. 

Friday

Last day in Miami before heading south so had better maximise pool time! Nat could really do with shaving her legs. I keep telling her about it. 

The weather is stunning today - it's really heated up to a toasty 28 degrees. 

Going to miss this gorgeous pool. 

More games of 'shit head' by the pool. So reminds us of traveling. Just for the 'shit head' records I beat Nat 5-0. Yes that's right 5. 0. Boom!

Last night we have booked somewhere special - to go to the lovely Cecconi's again at Soho Beach House. But before that we had to have a last few beers in our fave bar - Lost Weekend! 

Still working our way through that fridge!!

We then grab a cab to Cecconi's and have some damn fine Italian food sat in the gorgeous courtyard. 

http://www.cecconismiamibeach.com

Last night in Miami. Ironically the man at the hotel on the first day (and all throughout the week) was right by saying welcome home repetitively as it has started to feel like that after all. Great week, in a great hotel in a great city. Looking forward to hitting the road tomorrow!!