We didn't quite get up as early and in the car as soon as we had anticipated on this Sunday morning. We woke up to cloudy skies and the weather would stay that way and rain at times all the way to Miami. It was the day of the Pro Bowl and we drove the roughly 150 miles from Fort Myers to Miami to see it in person. The game started at 7:30 pm so we had plenty of time to get there and explore a little. We drove through the Everglades on the freeway known as Alligator Alley. On the way there, I thought I saw 1 alligator in the water on the side of the road but I'm not positive. I've never had a huge desire to spend much time in Miami but I was definitely curious about the city and seeing South Beach. The only thing is I always envisioned it to be hot and sunny, not cloudy and rainy.
The hotel we stayed at, The Chesterfield, was in South Beach just on the other side of the block from the famous Ocean Drive. Even if you never have been to South Beach, you've seen a lot of the Art Deco district, hotels and surroundings in movies and on TV. Immediately, the area was so busy and it was difficult to drive a car down the Ocean Drive past all the hotels. We soon discovered that none of the hotels have parking lots and that valet parking was $30. Our hotel room was very small but all of them are like this in South Beach.
M and I slept in separate beds because we're not married yet. Ha ha.
The bathroom. It was so weird because the whole floor was the shower floor. There was just a drain in the shower area with no tub or area you step in to. (Yes, I know my pants are unbuttoned and unzipped. I was about to take a shower and wanted a picture first.)
As soon as we left our hotel decked out in our Vikings jerseys for the 20 or so minute drive to Sun Life Stadium aka Dolphins Stadium, it began to rain even harder but I was hoping that we would not be sitting in the rain watching the game. We stopped on our way to get some ponchos just in case. When we bought our tickets to the game, it included a parking pass so we were able to park in the stadium parking lot but not without a huge traffic jam. The traffic was crazy and I just imagined how it would be just a week from that day for the Super Bowl.
It was fun to see all the different jerseys for all the NFL teams. We saw a good amount of Vikings jerseys while there and it was the day when all of us football fans are friends and there are no rivalries. Ok, I did crinkle my nose a little every time I saw a Packers jersey. The majority of the jerseys were Miami Dolphins.
We had one bad start before even getting into the gate. We had to have security check us and my purse and they would not let anyone bring their camera case in so I had to throw it away along with hundreds of other camera cases. This was the same camera case that M just bought me for Christmas as a replacement as the one I had before I lost while at a lighthouse in Door County on Lake Michigan on Halloween.
Once in the stadium, our seats were fantastic. We were on the lower level, row 18, around the 35 yard line on the NFC side. We had a good view of the NFC players and their bench. There was supposed to be lots of Vikings players to play in the game but with injuries and cancellations, Adrian Peterson, Steve Hutchinson, Jared Allen and Heath Farwell would be the only Vikings we would see. The game itself was fun but there really is no meaning to it therefore lessening the excitement of actually playing for something. It was just fun to be there and see the interaction of all the players with each other. The AFC won 41-34 but the score would go back and forth which I believe is done on purpose to keep interest in the game. The rain held off for most of the game. I covered up with my poncho at times.
Outside of the rainy stadium
In the fan area outside the stadium
The band Honor Society played before the game and sang the National Anthem. Never heard of them.
Jared Allen and Heath Farwell being announced
Adrian Peterson
Peyton Manning and Drew Brees with Chris Berman before going on the air on ESPN.
The half time show
Me with my poncho over my head
My future last name
Once we got back to South Beach, we went out and walked around the area. We stopped to eat at a place called Jerry's Famous Deli. They had the most items I've ever seen on a menu. They offered over 600 items. Now M and I know what Jerry's is famous for...ripping you off. I got a chef salad that cost over $17. This chef salad was nothing special and I could have had better quality food at a grocery store salad bar.
Jerry's
Hotels on Ocean Drive--The one side of the street is hotels and the beach is on the other side.
There were different football trophies on display on the street
If you watched any Super Bowl coverage, you probably saw this neon arch that was up specifically for the Super Bowl.
This car was crazy. It had two wheels up front and one in the back and it didn't have any doors.
I loved the look of this alley
Our hotel
Day 4:
We checked out of our hotel just before 11 am and it was still cloudy outside with a few drops of rain but it was extremely humid, even though it was around 70 degrees. We bummed around Ocean Drive again, this time in the day light and went on to the beach. I never envisioned South Beach dead. There wasn't anyone on the beach except for the workers that were constructing things for the Super Bowl. All of the media tents and stages had taken over the beach and that is where the Super Bowl coverage for the week was going to take place. Even with a heavy overcast, I could still tell the waters were clear and had some aqua color to it.
Burger King
Just how I envisioned South Beach to look! :(
A huge stage set up for Super Bowl activities
The hotels in the day.
Humphrey Bogart in a car parked outside one of the hotels
Getting ready to leave Miami. The city is in the background. On the left is where all the huge cruise ships were in the port.
It's hard to tell in this picture but this is an island that had incredibly expensive houses on it. We tried to go in but it was a gated community. I saw there is one house that is being listed for $29 million. There are 3 islands that have incredible houses...Hibiscus, Pine and Star Island. The houses and yachts that you can see are crazy!
As soon as we got out of Miami onto the freeway, it poured so hard that it was very difficult to drive. Our time in Miami was spent under clouds and rain. I over heard someone say that it was the first time it had rained in Miami for over a month. Of course it had to happen the days we were there. We stopped and ate lunch at a place called Azteca's and then got back on Alligator Alley back to Fort Myers. Remember how I thought I saw 1 alligator on the way to Miami? This time M and I stopped counting the alligators once we reached 100! There were everywhere! They are on the side of the road in the swamp areas. There is a fence that separates the swamps from the freeway, but sometimes they come up on the road.
To end our evening, we ate at Applebee's and went and saw Avatar in 3D. What amazing effects!
