 |
| Miami Beach |
In the past few years, we had traveled to NYC with the Raleigh gang for Memorial Day weekend. However, this year, not many of the Raleigh gang could travel. Thus, John, JoAnna, Keith and Shawna decided to try something different and visit
Miami. Unbeknownst to us, it was Hip Hop weekend!
We arrived late on Friday evening and hopped into a cab. Our cab driver asked what brought us to Miami. When we told him that we were there to relax for the weekend, he broke the news to us that it was Hip Hop weekend and that we would not get much 'relaxation'!
We stayed at the
Shelbourne, which is located on Collins Ave on the beach. The hotel is basic and clean but nothing special. It was the cheapest we could find when we booked the place as many of the hotels were either sold out or super expensive -- that should have been our sign that something was going on that weekend!
It was very interesting walking around -- there were thousands of hippity hoppers hanging out in the streets. The women had skimpy clothes and the men mostly were shirtless with 'pants falling to the ground'. When women walked by, the men puffed their chests as if it was a mating ritual!
We mostly relaxed on the beach and walked around. We also did a boat tour of the bay which was really nice, passing by Star Island (where many famous people have houses) and
Stiltsville (where there are a few remaining houses on stilts in the ocean - built during prohibition to provide gambling at a time when it was only legal off shore).
 |
| JoAnna, John and Keith on Boat Tour |
We ate lots of yummy cuban food and went to a few bars, including drinks on the rooftop of the
Tiffany hotel and drinks around the pool at the
Delano hotel.
 |
| Keith and Shawna at Dinner |
 |
| John and Shawna at Tiffany Rooftop Bar |
We had a good time but decided that Miami was a bit too much of a 'scene' for us and definitely not fun to visit during Hip Hop weekend.
 |
| JoAnna and Shawna at Delano Pool Bar |
