23rd March 2013 - Miami
We woke up in the morning at the Miami hotel near the airport that we had just changed to stay for 1 night. We went down for breakfast, and sat outside. The hotel was right on a lake and the hotel was right on the edge of the lake. From where we sat and ate breakfast, we could see some huge fish swimming in the lake, and also a turtle. Didn't expect that...
We checked out and left the hotel and drove towards the everglades to have an airboat tour. We stopped at one of the closest ones called 'Coopertown Airboats'. It was normally $22 an adult, with kids free, but we had a coupon for $2 off an adult. We might be in a different country, but some things don't change :-)
We went on a 45 minute airboat ride and got to see some alligators and turtles. Kinda strange pulling up the boat and only being a metre or two from an alligator.
After that, we jumped back in the car and went to Miami Downtown where we were checking into the Hilton. We had tickets for Renee and Charli for Alicia Keys that night, and the NBA the night after and they were only about 500 metres away from this hotel so that worked out great. With the music festival also on in the area, traffic around the hotel was a nightmare and parking would have been even worse.
On the way to the hotel Kobe did his normal thing and fell asleep. We parked and transported all our luggage and a sleeping Kobe up to our room. He slept a bit longer, and we settled into the room around him.
While asleep, Charli and I checked out the pool area. I have never seen so many people around the pool, with absolutely no one in it. Gotta love Miami :-)
Once he was awake, we thought we would go to a shop that was nearby. We caught the free metromover which is pretty much a small monorail. I planned to go to a big park area that was nearby, and from there we could walk through the shopping centre, have tea and Renee and Charli could see Alicia Keys, and Kobe and I could go home.
Only one problem. That park area, was where the music festival was. We stayed a bit longer on the monorail and got off right near the shops which was next to the music festival. The amount of people that were in the area was nuts. The lines to get in where bigger than anything i have ever seen. Apparently it is the worlds biggest electronic music festival. Google it and you will get an idea of how huge it is.
Anyway.. We got off and walked with the crowds only we turned to the left into the shops, while they turned to the rights. The choice of clothing, or lack there of is exactly what you would expect for Miami.
We wandered around the shops and got some ice creams. There really wasn't much there to do, so we ended up coming back to the hotel before the show. All 4 of us then went for a swim in the hotel pool. We thought it might be interesting but all the people around the pool had gone, and now only people that wanted to swim where there.
After the swim, everyone showered and then we all walked down the American Airlines arena where Charli and Renee could go to the Alicia Keys concert. The whole thing started at 8pm, so we got there right on time. There was no mention of starting act so weren't exactly sure what was going to happen.
I took Kobe home, and we had a nice relaxing time. We got to watch some Peppa Pig, and then we were able to curl up in bed and read some books. Something we really haven't had much time to do on the trip. At home we would all curl up into bed and read 3 or 4 books every night. Over here that has only happened a few times. Kobe went straight off to sleep so our night was really easy and nice.
Turns out Alicia Keys had an opening act. Some guy that Renee hadn't heard of and he was finished by about 8:40. At this point they went and got Popcorn and a drink etc and got back to their seats. At this point Charli was really excited. The seats weren't great as they were right on the side. But at about 9:10 the backup singers and band could be seen on the stage as from the side they could see all that stuff. Renee said to Charli 'it will be starting soon'.
9:20.... Nothing
9:30.... Nothing and Charli is starting to get tired. "Won't be much longer Charli". Renee messages me to say it hasn't even started yet. A little worried now at how much Charli will actually get to see.
9:45... and Alicia finally comes on the stage. Only problem is she is at the back of the stage for the first couple of songs, and from the seats, Renee and Charli can't even see her. At this point Charli is really tired and leaning into Renee. Alicia walks to the front of the stage and Renee is able to point her out properly. After about 4 or 5 songs, Charli is ready to go to sleep. Renee says to her we can go, and she says no she wants to stay longer. That lasts about 1 song, and Charli turns to Renee and says can we go now. So... they do.
After arriving at 8pm, Alicia didn't come on until 9:45, and they only got 5 or 6 songs. While everything i hear is from Renee, it was pretty heart breaking. She loves 'Girl on Fire' and when they got back she seemed a little sad she didn't get to hear her sing it.
Charli said things like she was late because she forgot her hat. Apparently she had a hat on for the first few songs. She said when she is older she will be able to stay up later and see the proper concert.
Once Charli was asleep, which took no time at all, Renee and I were both feeling really depressed for Charli. We didn't expect her to last the whole show. Her normal bedtime is 8pm, and over the last week or so we had extended bedtime out to 9:30ish so she would get to see more of the show. We never would have thought by that time she wouldn't even be on stage yet.
We would have thought that at 9pm at the latest, Alicia would start. In the end it was 45 minutes, and from the seats they had they couldn't even see properly. Lots of people around complained and got moved as they couldn't see.
Its kinda sad that it was only a few days ago that Charli had the joy of Disneyworld and seeing the different parks there, and has been able to do so much on this holiday, but when something doesn't go her way or we feel she has missed out, it really breaks our hearts.
We finally went to bed, and hoped in the morning she would be ok, and not to disappointed.
We checked out and left the hotel and drove towards the everglades to have an airboat tour. We stopped at one of the closest ones called 'Coopertown Airboats'. It was normally $22 an adult, with kids free, but we had a coupon for $2 off an adult. We might be in a different country, but some things don't change :-)
We went on a 45 minute airboat ride and got to see some alligators and turtles. Kinda strange pulling up the boat and only being a metre or two from an alligator.
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After that, we jumped back in the car and went to Miami Downtown where we were checking into the Hilton. We had tickets for Renee and Charli for Alicia Keys that night, and the NBA the night after and they were only about 500 metres away from this hotel so that worked out great. With the music festival also on in the area, traffic around the hotel was a nightmare and parking would have been even worse.
On the way to the hotel Kobe did his normal thing and fell asleep. We parked and transported all our luggage and a sleeping Kobe up to our room. He slept a bit longer, and we settled into the room around him.
While asleep, Charli and I checked out the pool area. I have never seen so many people around the pool, with absolutely no one in it. Gotta love Miami :-)
Once he was awake, we thought we would go to a shop that was nearby. We caught the free metromover which is pretty much a small monorail. I planned to go to a big park area that was nearby, and from there we could walk through the shopping centre, have tea and Renee and Charli could see Alicia Keys, and Kobe and I could go home.
Only one problem. That park area, was where the music festival was. We stayed a bit longer on the monorail and got off right near the shops which was next to the music festival. The amount of people that were in the area was nuts. The lines to get in where bigger than anything i have ever seen. Apparently it is the worlds biggest electronic music festival. Google it and you will get an idea of how huge it is.
Anyway.. We got off and walked with the crowds only we turned to the left into the shops, while they turned to the rights. The choice of clothing, or lack there of is exactly what you would expect for Miami.
We wandered around the shops and got some ice creams. There really wasn't much there to do, so we ended up coming back to the hotel before the show. All 4 of us then went for a swim in the hotel pool. We thought it might be interesting but all the people around the pool had gone, and now only people that wanted to swim where there.
After the swim, everyone showered and then we all walked down the American Airlines arena where Charli and Renee could go to the Alicia Keys concert. The whole thing started at 8pm, so we got there right on time. There was no mention of starting act so weren't exactly sure what was going to happen.
I took Kobe home, and we had a nice relaxing time. We got to watch some Peppa Pig, and then we were able to curl up in bed and read some books. Something we really haven't had much time to do on the trip. At home we would all curl up into bed and read 3 or 4 books every night. Over here that has only happened a few times. Kobe went straight off to sleep so our night was really easy and nice.
Turns out Alicia Keys had an opening act. Some guy that Renee hadn't heard of and he was finished by about 8:40. At this point they went and got Popcorn and a drink etc and got back to their seats. At this point Charli was really excited. The seats weren't great as they were right on the side. But at about 9:10 the backup singers and band could be seen on the stage as from the side they could see all that stuff. Renee said to Charli 'it will be starting soon'.
9:20.... Nothing
9:30.... Nothing and Charli is starting to get tired. "Won't be much longer Charli". Renee messages me to say it hasn't even started yet. A little worried now at how much Charli will actually get to see.
9:45... and Alicia finally comes on the stage. Only problem is she is at the back of the stage for the first couple of songs, and from the seats, Renee and Charli can't even see her. At this point Charli is really tired and leaning into Renee. Alicia walks to the front of the stage and Renee is able to point her out properly. After about 4 or 5 songs, Charli is ready to go to sleep. Renee says to her we can go, and she says no she wants to stay longer. That lasts about 1 song, and Charli turns to Renee and says can we go now. So... they do.
After arriving at 8pm, Alicia didn't come on until 9:45, and they only got 5 or 6 songs. While everything i hear is from Renee, it was pretty heart breaking. She loves 'Girl on Fire' and when they got back she seemed a little sad she didn't get to hear her sing it.
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Charli said things like she was late because she forgot her hat. Apparently she had a hat on for the first few songs. She said when she is older she will be able to stay up later and see the proper concert.
Once Charli was asleep, which took no time at all, Renee and I were both feeling really depressed for Charli. We didn't expect her to last the whole show. Her normal bedtime is 8pm, and over the last week or so we had extended bedtime out to 9:30ish so she would get to see more of the show. We never would have thought by that time she wouldn't even be on stage yet.
We would have thought that at 9pm at the latest, Alicia would start. In the end it was 45 minutes, and from the seats they had they couldn't even see properly. Lots of people around complained and got moved as they couldn't see.
Its kinda sad that it was only a few days ago that Charli had the joy of Disneyworld and seeing the different parks there, and has been able to do so much on this holiday, but when something doesn't go her way or we feel she has missed out, it really breaks our hearts.
We finally went to bed, and hoped in the morning she would be ok, and not to disappointed.
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