Every so often I feel the need to get away to someplace warm where the water is full of fishies and I can enjoy a nice bottle of tequila while sitting under a palm tree. Of course this hankering usually takes place in the winter months. So in mid-November I planned to spend New Years Eve and the following week down in South Florida. I set up the itinerary for two nights in Miami, followed by four nights in Key Largo, then one night near the airport in Fort Lauderdale. Activities would include visiting South Beach, eating cuban food, ringing in the new year with Champagne, scuba diving, relaxing on the beach and drinking tequila.
The flight from Newark departed on a cold New Years Eve morning and delivered us to the balmy heat of South Florida. Flying into Fort Lauderdale was a less expensive option and is still only a 25 minute trip to Miami. The feel of the 80 degree sunshine was very welcome after enduring the terrible snowstorm less than a week earlier. After a quick trip to the National Rent-a-Car lot we were motoring down I-95, listening to music, enjoying the bright sunshine. The first destination would be the Biscayne Bay Marriott. The hotel is situated right on Biscayne Bay near downtown Miami and only a few minutes across the Venetian Causeway to South Beach.
On arrival at the hotel I was shocked to see so many people dressed in the garb of the Iowa Hawkeyes. There were hundreds of people milling around the lobby looking like they were ready to head for a game. And then I remembered where I was. Miami, New Years Eve, must be the Orange Bowl. Iowa would be playing in the Orange Bowl on January 2nd and everyone else at the hotel was there for the game. There were giant foam Hawkeye claws and stuffed animals shaped like oranges, along with a full assortment of t-shirts, hats, beads and every other piece of saleable memorabilia. The frenzy not withstanding, we got a nice room with a view of Biscayne Bay, with Miami Beach in the distance.
After a much needed rest Juliet and I set out to go down to South Beach check out the scene and hunt down some good cuban food. After a short $10 cab ride across the Venetian Causeway we walked down Collins Avenue taking in the excitement that seemed to be everywhere. Although it was only 6PM, there was definitely a party atmosphere. At the corner of Collins and 7th we stumbled upon the Cuban restaurant Puerto Sagua. With it's relaxed diner atmosphere, traditional cuban food and dirt cheap prices, Puerto Sagua was a great find and a total winner. I had the Ropa Vieja with black beans, rice and plantains. We finished the meal off with a too die for serving of tres leches cake. So with satisfied palates and full tummys we headed out to find some New Years fun.
We bounced around South Beach for a couple of hours popping in on spots like the Park Central hotel, walking by a packed Clevelander and generally enjoying the excitement of the evening. Most places allowed us to just pop in for a drink at the bar, but a few places (like the Clevelander) were charging a steep cover or not allowing people in without reservations. The streets were getting crowded and the town seemed buzzing with anticipation as the 9:00 hour passed. Juliet and I decided to make our way back to the Marriott for our own private little party overlooking Biscayne Bay.
The hotel was bustling with activity due to the impending Orange Bowl festivities, but Juliet and I headed to our room to prepare for the coming new year by popping champagne and watching fireworks. As the stroke of midnight approached I was frantically preparing to pop the cork and get in position to view the fireworks from out balcony. Sure enough, at the stroke of midnight fireworks began to explode just south of us and we could actually see three displays at once from our location. The South Beach and Miami Beach displays went off in the distance while the Miami city display seemed to be right above our heads. It wasa fun evening and we finished it by polishing off the champagne and passing out from sheer exhaustion.
After Miami we drove down to Key Largo where the main activity for me would be diving. I planned an advanced dive course with Captain Slate's Atlantis Divers. I was very anxious about doing the course since I hadn't dove in over a year. I picked a place called Largo Lodge for accomodations. Recommended by a helpful person on the Lonely Planet message board, Largo Lodge is a small tropical getaway with three duplex cottages nestled in the tropical palms next to the Florida Bay. The price was very reasonable and the prospect of having a kitchen was very welcome since I was definitely on a budget. Driving up the beautiful rain forest like driveway I could tell that I had made the correct choice for accomodations. The place was beautiful and as has a small "beach" and dock that sit right on the calm Florida Bay. Our cottage was furnished nicely and had a kitchen with all the necessary utensils. After a trip to the grocery store and some much needed lunch, I went for a snorkle after which Juliet and I drank wine and admired the sunset.
The next day I went down to Captain Slates to start my dive course. After some quick introductions to my instructor Graham and his daughter Heather, we were headed out for the first of three dives that day. The first two dives nearly took the life out of me. The ocean took some getting used to and I got seriously bounced around by waves. All in all it felt good to get back under the water with the fishies. My third dive was a night dive and due to the lack of other divers we ended up doing it in the lagoon at the Howard Johnson's hotel. It was dark and very cold but we got the job done. The next day I finished the course with two more dives including my first dive over 100 feet to an old WWII wreck. The dive was tiring but very exciting. All in all I had a good experience diving with Captain Slate's and I would recommend them to anyone looking to go diving in the Keys.
