Miami Adventure

May 19-  We woke up and decided today was the day we were going to start our adventure. After quickly packing our bags and booking tickets we headed down the Atlantic City Expressway. After a delayed flight and mimosas at a airport bar we are off to Boston where we have a layover.

We exit the plan in Boston for a humorous 4 Minutes and re-board to our Destination, Fort Lauderdale. 11PM we touchdown in the land of palm trees and check into our hotel to catch some sleep.
My 20 -We wake up with much to accomplish. After snagging a free breakfast and making phone calls we catch a taxi to Enterprise Rent a Car to pick a vehicle. The kind employee behind the enterprise counter informs me that I may not drive. Ha, Right. We have an insanely busy day and in our process of trying to concour the town we realize how laid back life is here, at first it was annoying to me to watch the pace of life around me. We grabbed seats at a Irish Pub, just past Miami Ink in South Beach to watch the Flyers play in the playoffs. Our fellow drinkers cheer on the Canadians while we stand out as Philadelphians, especially to a guy with a back pack that grabbed a seat next to us at the bar. We engage conversation and learn that he is a camera guy for the Jersey Shore show currently taping n Miami for MTV. He just got done working a shift and tells us a bit about the cast. When the games over and our new friend leaves we go for a walk on the beach in the dark. As I step into the warm Atlantic waters and realize my dreams are coming true. Behind me is the city lights of South Beach. I sit in the sand and give BL a call, Its very bittersweet and I miss him.

We need to head back to our hotel and cancel the party planed for us because we realize we will not be home in time.
May21- Day two arrives quickly. At our free hotel breakfast, I realize I do not have my debit card. I have no idea what happened to it. We take off to the bank to get my 3rd replacement card of the year and begin our day of responsibilities. The traffic and heat are intense here in South Florida and during a Starbuck's run I drove the wrong direction on a highway accidentally and almost killed myself. kennedy's interview was awesome and it turns out to be the Job she starts and loves. I head to my college campus for a tour and to sign up for classes. The Campus is beautiful and my adviser is very helpful. I grab my student ID and cant believe its all coming together so quickly.

We grab lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and I apply for a job. After some a exhaustion day and some good food we go to check out about our 30th apt, this one is on a Marina in a cute residential area. We Love it right away. We decide to check into a hotel, it will be my first time ever staying at one and I had my reservations at first.  My reservations disappeared after we met absolutely great people from all over the world. We head to check out another apartment that gets rulled out due to a huge dead cockroach on the floor. We grab some drinks and head back to the hostel to watch a hockey game with our new friends. After the game we head to a bar close by, with our drinks in our hand. We grab some food and drinks and watch the people enjoy dancing on tables inside the marina bar. I'm happy to see that dancing on tables is accepted since i have a reputation for dancing on them myself. After a quiet bite on the canal we hail a $35 taxi ride to Fort Lauderdale. We have been told Fort Lauderdale is better then South Beach and our cab driver agrees. We dance the night away and check out the scene. 1 bartender was so obviously drunk he could not open his eyes or pour drinks and opened a can or red bull by jabbing a pen into it, then continued to pour it into my drink. Another bar had nearly naked girls dancing on the bar and we almost walked into a gay bar. We leave at 2pm, 2 hours before the bars close and go for a walk on the beach. By 4am I'm out cold.

May 22- I head out early hunting for a beach towel because I need a tan. I grab some essentials including my favorite book and head to the white sand just beyond the palm trees where there is the bluest warmest water. As I lay in the sun I reflect on life in my new town I will soon call home.

Status is everything
Luxury cars are everywhere.
There is a laid back diverse culture.
Beautiful people are everywhere.
Fashion, Flash, and Glam.

A great Belgium girl attending college in New York checks in the hostel and she joins us for a fun dinner and drinks at the Cheesecake Factory, in the Aventura Mall. I make a note to make it back to this huge mall. We grab bottles and plastic cups and head to South Beach for some fun. We start by finishing our drinks with butts in the sand and red plastic cups in our hands. We continue onto the check our some bars and walk past Johnny Varsaces Mansion (the home of club Mansion) We choose the Clevelander, a huge 4 floor club with each floor offering great DJ's, Drinks and entertainment. The whole 'U' shaped club over looks an outdoor poll bar and massive DJ stage. Not to mention the beach. We found ourselves dancing in the 4th floor VIP lounge and I'm in awe of the general feel and energy of the place. We crash around 3am.

May 23-  Morning starts with a Starbucks run and we revive notice that we got the apartment on the marina we loved! I spend the day on the beach with Julie and reflect on some of the friends and family back home I will soon be leaving, its very bittersweet and parts of me feel guilty. I think of BL and have many questions that only time can answer. We have a low key evening that includes checking out our new place and neighbors who seem nice. We relax at the hostel and take it all in.

May 24-We start early, Kennedy starts her first day at work and I head to sign the lease with our new landlords. My aunt calls to tell me that my grandmother has been sent to the hospital with a possible heart attack and I breakdown crying.I want to be there and it hits me that Im not going to be blocks away from my family and friends any longer. I feel a scene of guilt that I guess anyone would feel when leaving the people they love to follow their dreams.  By noon i head to the beach to read alone and do some shopping at Ron Jon before heading to pick Kennedy up and dropping off our rental car. We head to the airport and wait longer then expected to fly home. After a 2hr flight home we begin the 2 hour drive from Atlantic City and I'm excited to see BL.
My Last week in my home town - After eating breakfast in bed I head to the hospital to see my grandmother. It brings tears to my eyes to see her sick and have to say goodbye. I only have a a few days left, I visit friends and BL and i head to the beach for a few days.  BBQ's.

May 30th we head back from the beach early and load the Uhaul full of my life after an exhausting day we have dinner with my family and watch a movie with his parents. Memorial Day BL and I spend the day  having a nice BBQ at his place and when Kennedy is done loading the Uhaul we say our goodbyes and begin our journey driving south to or new hope. I think to myself, 'If I can do this anyone can.'