{"id":62144,"date":"2013-05-21T13:02:53","date_gmt":"2013-05-21T11:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.misterunique.de\/?p=62144"},"modified":"2025-05-21T23:18:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T21:18:28","slug":"road-trip-through-florida-my-diary-part-8-miami-here-we-come-or-the-grand-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.misterunique.de\/?p=62144&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Road Trip through Florida \u2013 My Diary \u2013 Part 8 \u2013 Miami, Here We Come or The Grand Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"

17.03.2013
\nTitusville, Holiday Inn Express<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Teil-8-Karte-1-Kennedy-Space-Center\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

When the Mood Hits Rock Bottom…<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

After an evening where the atmosphere between me and the girls was already hovering around freezing point, one would assume that the dark clouds had cleared by the next morning. Unfortunately, that wasn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

After getting up and going through our morning routines in the bathroom, it felt as if we had all taken a vow of silence in some imaginary monastery during the night\u2014one that now demanded strict adherence. The girls exchanged a few scattered words here and there, but that was about it. Even when we all sat down together for breakfast, silence mostly reigned. No one wanted to make the first move, no one wanted to back down.<\/p>\n

At some point, I\u2019d had enough of the whole situation. It just felt ridiculous. So after breakfast, while we were still sitting by the pool sipping our coffee, I decided to break the ice.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt some point, you just have to draw a line and start moving toward each other again,\u201d I said. \u201cWe still have a few days left together, and honestly, I\u2019d much rather spend them enjoying the trip than ending it on a sour note.\u201d<\/p>\n

They all looked at me with wide eyes. You could practically feel how hard it was for them to take that first step toward reconciliation. But reason won out, and they realized how pointless it was to keep up the tension. We slowly began to talk again.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t quite like before\u2014less familiar, a bit awkward\u2014but the important thing was that we had started communicating again. We packed our things, loaded up the car, and continued our journey.<\/p>\n

\"cape-canaveral-florida-2013\"<\/a>
\nWhen I brought up the topics of „NASA,“ the „Kennedy Space Center,“ the „launch site of the Space Shuttles,“ and the „largest building in the world,“ the others were so enthusiastic<\/em> that their only response was: „So, when can we finally go to the beach \u2013 we want to sunbathe.“ Well, let\u2019s just say enthusiasm looks a bit different. The fact that we were at a historic site didn\u2019t interest them in the slightest. At least we reached a compromise: I was allowed to take a closer look at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB).<\/p>\n

\"capecanerval-Vehicle-Assembly-Building\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This is the assembly hall where the Space Shuttle was connected to its external tank and solid rocket boosters and prepared for launch. It ranks among the largest buildings on Earth and features the tallest doors in the world at 139 meters. But enough technical talk for now.<\/p>\n

We drove north, passing through Titusville, then over the bridge crossing the Indian River, and continued along the Max Brewer Memorial Parkway into the restricted area. We were getting closer and closer to the VAB. We could already see it in the distance, and even from afar, it looked absolutely massive. Like a giant cube, it rose straight out of the flat landscape of grass and shrubs, towering into the sky.<\/p>\n

But then, suddenly, our journey was halted. A barrier and military guards blocked the road \u2014 this was as far as we could go. So I had to take my photos from a distance, as we simply couldn\u2019t get any closer from this side.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve loved history since my school days, and it\u2019s always an indescribable feeling to stand in places where historic events took place \u2014 events that shaped the course of humanity. And now we were at one of those places: where the first astronauts once set off to walk on the moon, and where the Space Shuttle program both began and came to an end.<\/p>\n

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I thought about that tragic day in January 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded in the sky shortly after takeoff. But today, the blue sky, the shining sun, and the peaceful silence quickly pushed that somber thought aside, and we left the cube behind us.<\/p>\n

We headed back across the bridge and then further south over the next bridge toward the Atlantic, driving along Astronaut Boulevard past Cape Canaveral \u2014 one of the largest cruise ship hubs in the U.S. Most of the Disney Cruise Line ships set sail from here, heading to the Caribbean and other destinations.<\/p>\n

Now the blue Atlantic lay to our left, smiling at us invitingly, practically begging us to stop. The girls were still on my case with their repeated question: \u201cWhen are we going to the beach?\u201d<\/p>\n

Not that I didn\u2019t want to hit the beach myself \u2014 but, as always, I was torn. One part of me longed for the beach, the other was focused on the remaining leg of our journey. Still, I had already started scanning the coastline for a perfect spot where they could finally soak up the sun.<\/p>\n

From Cape Canaveral on, it was crystal clear: today was Sunday. The gorgeous weather had drawn crowds to the beach \u2014 in droves.<\/p>\n

\"strand-atlantik3\"<\/a>\"strand-atlantik4\"<\/a>\"strand-atlantik\"<\/a>\"strand-atlantik2\"<\/a>
\nBlindly following the GPS, we left the direct coastal road and lost any chance of getting back to the beach quickly, as we crossed a bridge that led us back to the mainland.<\/p>\n

\"Teil-8-Karte-2-Vero-Beach-und-Palm-Beach\"<\/a>
\nThe road did run right along the water, but it was only an inland waterway, just behind the coastal strip\u2014not exactly inviting for a swim. You can imagine how Melly and Mary\u2019s mood noticeably took a turn for the worse when I had to tell them that I still didn\u2019t know when we\u2019d reach a nice beach again. About 45 minutes later, in the town of Vero Beach, we finally saw a sign pointing to the beach\u2014and without thinking twice, I followed it.<\/p>\n

\"vero-beach3\"<\/a>\"vero-beach1\"<\/a>\"vero-beach2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The tension within the group was palpable…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And then, finally, we made it to the beach. In that moment, Melly and Mary no longer knew the meaning of friendship \u2013 they charged ahead without looking back, racing toward their long-awaited goal: sunbathing and taking photos of themselves. As mentioned, the mood within the team had been toxic ever since Orlando. That didn\u2019t change just because we were speaking to each other again. For the first time, I caught myself actually looking forward to the end of the tour \u2013 to the moment when the team would finally go their separate ways. Still, I hoped that things might turn around. After all, we still had five more days to spend together. After about two hours, we set off again, heading toward our destination for the day: Palm Beach.<\/p>\n

\"palm-beach-best-western\"<\/a>\"palm-beach2-best-western\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We had picked the Best Western Hotel \u2013 which, in hindsight, turned out to be an absolute disaster when it came to Wi-Fi. That\u2019s when it really hit me how important an internet connection had become \u2013 especially when there was none. It was so crucial that I actually got back in the car and drove to the nearest McDonald\u2019s, just to sit there at 9 p.m. with a large, strong coffee and keep my connection to Germany alive.<\/p>\n

March 18, 2013 \u2013 Palm Beach, Best Western Hotel<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Fuck, Wi-Fi. That was my first thought when I woke up and tried to quickly check Facebook on my iPad. Everywhere else we had been in Florida \u2013 even in the tiniest backwater towns \u2013 every hotel had great internet access. But not here in Palm Beach, not at the Best Western. I\u2019m seriously wondering why they even call themselves \u201cBest.\u201d \u201cLast Western\u201d would\u2019ve been way more accurate. After finally giving up on trying to load a single page at snail speed, I grumpily dragged myself into the bathroom.<\/p>\n

Breakfast today was way more relaxed than the day before in Titusville, where we\u2019d just silently stared at each other across the table. This time, there was laughter, planning, and excitement \u2013 especially among the girls \u2013 about our plan for the day. We were heading to the largest shopping mall in the U.S.: Sawgrass Mills. Over 350 stores under one roof. A nightmare for any woman who only has half a day to shop \u2013 considering the overwhelming number of options.<\/p>\n

\"Teil-8-Karte-3-Sawgrass-Mills\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Extensive shopping lifted the girls‘ spirits once again…<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

As mentioned, the girls were already in full shopping frenzy. The car was quickly packed, and off we went towards the shopping mecca. Since we had already covered quite a distance the day before, it took us just about 45 minutes today before we found ourselves on one of the massive parking lots surrounding the mall.<\/p>\n

\"sawgrass-mills\"<\/a>
\nThrough an inconspicuous side corridor\u2014which at first made us quite skeptical whether we were even in the right place\u2014we eventually found our way into the heart of the mall. And just after turning the first corner, we saw a circular room where walkways from all directions converged. So, we were in the right place after all. But without a map, you\u2019re quickly lost here: the paths are winding, and if it\u2019s your first time\u2014like it was for us\u2014it\u2019s easy to lose your sense of direction.<\/p>\n

Melly and Mary immediately set off on their own mission to explore the mall as a duo. After checking in with Kathy, we decided to do the same: go our separate ways for about an hour and then meet up again to continue our shopping adventure together.<\/p>\n

Price-wise, this mall is a paradise, and I can only recommend that anyone planning a vacation in Florida should definitely set aside at least one full day for shopping. Nowhere else can you find brand-name clothing this cheap.<\/p>\n

And a little side note: I\u2019ve never seen so many people walking through a shopping mall with brand-new suitcases. I guess that\u2019s the moment when most people realized they hadn\u2019t planned enough luggage space for their return trip. Unfortunately, I was one of them too. *lol<\/p>\n

Sometime between 5 and 6 p.m., we met back up at the entrance where we had come in and, full of that successful post-shopping happiness, we made our way to Fort Lauderdale.<\/p>\n

That happiness was just about the only positive thing at that moment, because out of nowhere it started to rain. The sudden downpour and the dark clouds that now covered the sky slightly dampened the mood. All we wanted was to get to the hotel.<\/p>\n

For our last night before heading to Miami, we had chosen the Crowne Plaza near Fort Lauderdale Airport.<\/p>\n

\"crowne-plaza-fort-lauderdale\"<\/a>\"crowne-plaza-pool-fort-lauderdale\"<\/a>\"zimmerchaos\"<\/a><\/p>\n

How much I would\u2019ve loved to take a dip in the pool here, which was located on the fourth or fifth floor and offered a great view of the runway. But the rain ruined that plan. So I stayed behind alone in the room, while my two companions went down to the hotel bar to satisfy their hunger. They weren\u2019t gone for long though \u2013 after just an hour, they were back. And since we were all more than exhausted from our shopping marathon, the Sandman sent us off to dreamland especially early tonight.<\/strong><\/p>\n

March 19, 2013 \u2013 Fort Lauderdale, Crowne Plaza Hotel<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Finally. Finally, Miami was on the agenda today. Even though we technically landed in Miami at the start of our trip, we hadn\u2019t really seen anything of the city itself \u2013 because, first, it was already dark when we left the airport with our rental car, and second, we had driven straight out to the Keys the next morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

But now, at last, the final highlight of our trip was ahead of us: MIAMI!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Since we had booked the night at the Crowne Plaza without breakfast, we were able to head out right after everyone got ready. It wasn\u2019t far to Miami from here, so we cruised east from the hotel toward the water \u2013 also known as the Atlantic Ocean. But before we could make it all the way down Sheridan Street to the beach, we had to make a quick stop at McDonald\u2019s \u2013 our bodies were demanding it. A solid dose of coffee was needed to stop the hands from shaking. Just kidding<\/em>. One last check of the internet, a quick burger, and off we went again. We were way too excited to delay the long-awaited destination any further.<\/p>\n

\n

When searching for „Dexter’s“ apartment almost gets the police involved\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

At the end of Sheridan Street, we turned right onto Collins Avenue, heading straight down into Miami Beach. This was the iconic scenery you\u2019d know from documentaries and movies: a wide boulevard with high-rises stacked one after the other on the left, forming a concrete wall that completely hid the endless sandy beach behind it. The skyline stretched on and on all the way into Miami Beach \u2013 it was massive. And don\u2019t even get me started on how much one of these apartments must cost. We were constantly in awe of the views unfolding before us.<\/p>\n

And I nearly forgot that I had promised myself back in Germany that I absolutely had to visit the exterior of the apartment belonging to the main character from the series Dexter<\/em>. I had looked it up online \u2013 since the show is set in Miami \u2013 and discovered the building is located on Bay Harbor Islands. For anyone who doesn’t know the show Dexter<\/em>, I\u2019d recommend clicking [this link] instead of me explaining everything here.<\/p>\n

We parked in front of the residential complex, and I immediately recognized it all from the show. The girls had to come along, of course, but they weren\u2019t fans of Dexter<\/em> \u2013 so naturally, they didn\u2019t share the same excitement I felt at having found something I had seen so many times on screen.<\/p>\n

\"dexter\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, we couldn\u2019t get any closer to the apartment, as all the access points were blocked off. So I asked an elderly gentleman who was standing behind a locked gate whether there was any chance I could get a bit closer to the object of my desire. Without batting an eye \u2014 and clearly unimpressed by my best puppy-dog look \u2014 he casually replied, straight from the hip: \u201cNO!\u201d<\/p>\n

Alright, I wasn\u2019t ready to give up after one \u201cNo,\u201d but when he repeated it a second time \u2014 even after I assured him I was a huge fan of the show \u2014 I took the hint and decided not to press further. We were left with no choice but to try some awkward, stretched-arm photos over the fence. While doing so, I overheard an older lady asking the same gentleman \u2014 whom we had spoken to just 2 or 3 minutes earlier \u2014 whether he had already called the police. His response wasn\u2019t exactly chatty either. He simply said: \u201cYes, I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

At that point, I turned to the girls \u2014 who, despite not even knowing the series, were now taking even more photos than I was \u2014 and suggested that it might be a good idea to move on. As soon as we were all back in the car and I was reversing out of the parking spot, a patrol car came around the corner. I think the fact that we were no longer standing at the fence saved us from a few \u201cnice\u201d and probably very heartfelt words from the charming police officer. Instead, he simply followed us in our wake, and when we turned left at the next intersection, he turned off in the opposite direction.<\/p>\n

At the following intersection, we rejoined Collins Avenue and continued on toward Miami Beach. Just driving through this iconic and unique part of Miami was enough to leave us wanting more. It felt like its own little microcosm. Maybe it was the Winter Music Conference, happening at that very moment, that made the streets feel so alive \u2014 full of quirky, beautiful, and eccentric people \u2014 but I was instantly hooked.<\/p>\n

The sky was still slightly overcast, so we decided to head to Downtown first, check into our hotel, and come back to Miami Beach later. So we left this lovely little patch of earth via the MacArthur Causeway, and as the breathtaking Miami skyline came into view, we were already completely captivated by our next destination. The skyscrapers looked like fortresses rising straight from the water, built so close to the shoreline it felt like they were growing out of the sea itself.<\/p>\n

\"Teil-8-Karte-4-Miami\"<\/a><\/p>\n