Too Many Hrs in the Air

We got up early and headed for the Paris Airport (or as those in the know - CDG). Traffic was light according to Paris standard. We found rental return with only one extra turn around the airport. There was no shuttle so we shucked our bags (my bags were now heavier than Lori's) to the terminal which was right there.

There was a long line at the American Airlines counter but it was really fun watching all the people. There was a British couple in front of us fighting the entire time which was fun. After dropping the bags, Lori went to the exchange counter to exchange her Euros. Standing behind her was some guy trying to look like a rock star and some woman who had way too much plastic surgery and botox.

The flight home was very uneventful except that my earphone plug in had been jammed with something and I could not use it. Lori and I ended up using my double jack in her earphone jack so I could watch the movie. It was so memorable I don't even remember what it was. It was 9 hours to Miami (Ugh! remind me never to go this route again)

As we were landing in Miami, we heard that it was 92 degrees! Needless to say neither of us were very excited going from Paris to hot humid. We made it thru customs and grabbed a cab to the hotel.

The hotel was downtown and after checking in, Lori checked out! I decided to walk around so I put on my shorts and headed out. They told me at the front counter that the Hard Rock Cafe was only a ten minute walk and it was a safe neighborhood. So off I headed in the direction they told me.

As I was walking, I noticed a number of people talking to themselves, drooling, and wandering aimlessly. The drivers were rude and did not seem to know that the sidewalks were really for pedestrians. Everyone was on a cell phone and more than one time, I had to dodge a car that decided the red light and crosswalk did not apply to them.

I kept walking and the neighborhood was getting worse. I saw a FedEx truck and I figured he would know where the Hard Rock was. I started talking to him and the first thing he asked me was why I was walking in this area - it was not safe (Great - there goes the tip for the front desk). He gave me directions and off I headed. As I got a block, he pulled up and told him was going just a couple of blocks from where I was headed and offered me a ride. So I climbed into the FedEx truck and got a little tour of downtown Miami. His name was Alberto and he was from Argentina and he was about 25. He also was yelling Spanish at the lousy drivers and told me how rude they were in Miami. Very funny guy.

I found the Hard Rock Cafe after a few other questions to other pedestrians. As I was leaving the shop, the girls told me that I should not walk alone in that neighborhood. I walked around the shopping mall where the HRC was located, looking for a cab. Saw some of the fanciest boats I had ever seen in the marina. Found a place that serve Cuban food - quite good. I never did find a cab so I hustled back to the hotel before it got dark. I did have a run in with a BMW as I was in the crosswalk and she had a red light. She started to go through the light (of course, she was on her cell phone) with me standing right in front of her. She was very annoyed and did not seem to understand a red light. I did have a nice walk along the bay.

I made it back to the hotel and repacked my bags since we had an early flight tomorrow. I was anxious to get home.