From NYC to MIA

Hey everyone,

It took me a bit longer to write this next post from when I said I would be updating.
This post is going to talk about a recent trip I made with Rachel down to Florida where we got to visit some very interesting places and met some really cool people.

Sight coming into Miami Int'l Airport

A hotel along the beach

We started our trip last Tuesday 6/16 flying into Miami int'l airport where we headed to Miami Beach. Stay at this very nice hostel, which I would highly recommend for anyone wanting to go to Miami beach that would like a relatively cheap place to stay where you will meet lots of people and are located 2 blocks from the beach. It is Miami Beach International Hostel. You get a single bed in a coed room shared with up to 7 other people. We met people from Denmark, Brasil, Australia, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, France, Libya, Northern Africa and many other regions of the world.

Due to a long 4.5h delay and transportation issues we didn't actually arrive to our hostel until around 3am, exhausted from the long delay and uncomfortable plane ride with Frontier Airlines (if you want cheap flight with no snacks, space, or reclining seats, then choose Frontier).

The following morning we took it easy, went to the beach, had a couple drinks, checked out the city of Miami Beach.

Complimentary drinks just for choosing the restaurant

After getting a bit more settled in we went and got discounts to go paddle boarding (Groupon).

Our hostel organized a group outing that evening to one of the biggest clubs in Florida, Liv Lounge!
Here are some pictures but you should check it out online to get a better idea of the atmosphere. Apparently this is where some of the top people go. Think Leonardo Dicaprio.

The prime day to go is on Sundays so it wasn't as big as a Sunday but the club was very packed regardless so I can only imagine it on a good day! Before heading out, the hostel hosted an open bar/DJ pregame before heading out because they didn't want us wasting money on $30 beers. This is what I was actually told. We were picked up from the hostel by a party bus, which was pretty awesome.

The next morning was an early morning as we stopped by the car rental to switch out our vehicle for a small compact. From there we headed out to the city of Key West. From Miami the drive can be made in under 4 hours. Due to the previous night that almost didn't end we took the drive at a much slower rate and arrived mid- to late afternoon.

A couple little facts about the keys before I continue. I know when most people think of the Keys they think of sunny beaches, fresh seafood, and some good bar-hopping along the main street, Duval. Some other facts about this area are not so well known though. First, Key West is the southern most part of the U.S. where we are 90 miles from Cuba. Second, the isle hasn't always been known for what it is today. To be more specific, the name in Spanish for it is Cayo Hueso, which literally means Key Bone. This was given by the Spanish settlers who were the first to inhabit it after the original indigenous people, many of which were either murdered and disposed of in communal graves on the isle or sold into slavery. I can't speak so much into the history but I can say that the city was built upon the graves of the original inhabitants. If you are more interested in another poorly known piece of US history then just look it up. Now back to the trip.

A little piece of advice for anyone driving from Miami to the keys. For those who are planning on spending more than one night, I HIGHLY encourage that you stop by one of the tourist/info centers on the way down, especially if you are thinking of booking some all day adventure. What happened with me and Rachel is that we stopped at one of these after making calls to different companies about activities to do for the one full day we would be there and found out that they were offering exactly what we wanted with a promotion that included a free open-bar sunset champagne cruise, something we couldn't get over the phone or any other way.

Beginning of the Sunset Cruise

More sunset pictures

I wish I lived there :(

The actual sunset over the horizon

I recommend doing the visitor's center this because these little centers will sometimes have deals and promotions with free add-ons that you can't get going directly through the company you're looking at or over the phone. This is how we were able to fill the rest of our night with something exciting while getting to meet new people.


The pictures below are just a few of the oddities we noticed in the Keys. This was actually before the cruise when we were wandering around Duval Street. Duval is the main street where all the action is located. There are bars, restaurants, cafes, gift shops and other touristy spots for booking adventure packages like we did.

Interesting Bar Stool Comic #1

Interesting Bar Stool Comic #2

The package we got was a full-day adventure package that included snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, paddle boards, open bar, 2 meals, and more! It was definitely money well spent in my opinion. There are dozen of deals and combo packages to choose from which I would recommend especially if your trip is a shorter one. After that our trip came to a close as we gathered our things and made the drive back to Miami.

Not sure what you call that but it was fun!!

A slide

Jet Ski!

Notice the wild roosters running around....

Another common thing to see around Key West

Saturday was our last day in Florida and we decided to spend some time in Miami instead of on South Beach. On Saturday we took the bus over to downtown Miami and checked out some of the areas along the beach.

View from the tram looping DT Miami

Palm trees with a background view of the city

After that we walked to check out Wynwood Art District. As the name may suggest, it is known for the art.

Not only are there over 70 galleries, small museums and huge art collections, but the streets are also covered in wonderful works of art and different graffiti of all styles.

Mastr cola

These were a collaboration of artists from all around the world that helped promote the notion of Wynwood being known for the art and fashion. The spectacle is known as Wynwood Walls, the outdoor mural permanent exhibit, however artwork extends over the streets and ceilings of other buildings.

Aggressive

Love

This area is one of the biggest street art districts in the world!

More interestingly, many building that were abandoned have now been turned into studios for artists and even a couple that are works of art themselves, such as the huge old-fashioned beatbox next to the highway. Below you find more of the great works!

Loveism!

That about wraps up our trip to Florida. I hope you enjoyed reading and I will be sure to post more frequently. If you are interested in seeing more pictures just shoot me a message.
For quicker updates with pictures about what's going on with me and what I am doing just follow me on Instagram @roberto_evans_sip or on Snapchat @roberto_evans.

The next trip in the making is this weekend to Washington, DC to spend Independence Day! I will also include in the next post more about the pride parade we attend this previous weekend. Until next time!