Today, I planned to keep it low-key with a brief visit and a leisurely stroll along Miami’s South Beach. I woke up around 4 p.m.—insane, I know. The disturbance was caused by a staff member showing a woman into the room. I didn’t recognize the staff member, but her voice sounded surprisingly masculine. My sleep schedule had been completely thrown off by my time in Las Vegas, where I’d mostly slept during the day and stayed awake at night, largely due to the heat. Now in Miami, I was in the Eastern Time Zone, which is three hours ahead of Las Vegas. Back in the Netherlands, my home country, it was six hours later.
An Expensive Hipster Supermarket
I decided to pick up drinks and food at a nearby supermarket. When I asked some girls in the kitchen for directions, they told me to head to 10th Street. It was straightforward since the hostel was on 13th Street—all I needed to do was walk three blocks to reach the supermarket.
The supermarket turned out to be quite upscale, specializing in organic products. The prices were shocking—reminding me of my time in Australia, though even pricier here due to the currency differences. At that time, 1 euro was worth 1.50 AUD, and now in the US, it was worth 1.36 USD. It was frustrating that they didn’t carry any Coca-Cola, only cheap generic brands, and there wasn’t a single Pepsi in sight! I had hoped to find some candy, but once again, no luck. “Is this the USA or Spain?” I wondered, feeling irritated. The only candy available was some expensive homemade chocolate—$8 for less than 50 grams, which was way too steep!
Conversations in the Dormitory
The only item I ended up buying was some juice. After stepping outside, I enjoyed the juice and stumbled upon a pharmacy. To my relief, they carried Coke Zero. I picked up some candy there and then headed back to the hostel.
Back in the dorm, I ran into Ziggy and Daniel again. Ziggy, the Moroccan guy, was quite the character—addicted to weed and having invited me to smoke a joint with him the night before. I politely declined, mentioning we had plenty of that in the Netherlands. Ziggy was your typical party-loving Moroccan. Daniel, on the other hand, was a laid-back Brazilian who worked as a pharmacist for Bayer. I was impressed by his job; working for a company like that seemed like a great opportunity.
A Walk to South Beach
I asked them about the bus to South Beach, and they mentioned a local bus that I would need to wait for. Ziggy suggested that walking might actually get me there faster. So, I left the hostel and retraced my steps from yesterday. Walking through the neighborhood at night felt completely safe. The people at the park, mostly Hispanic, were friendly and kind. It took about ten blocks to reach Washington Avenue, and from there, just two more blocks to Miami’s Ocean Drive. Strolling through Miami gave me a nostalgic vibe, like I was back in GTA’s San Andreas or driving along the Californian coast from Los Angeles to Malibu Beach. It even reminded me of walking through sketchy neighborhoods with gangs and homeless people, haha.
A Spacious White Sandy Beach
I headed towards the beach but stopped halfway. It was scorching hot, and I realized there were no supermarkets on Ocean Drive—just restaurants. I retraced my steps by two blocks and found a mini market, where I bought a Coke.
I made my way back towards South Beach and was struck by the sheer size of the beach. It was enormous, stretching out as far as the eye could see.
I took a leisurely stroll along the beach and eventually stopped at the volleyball courts. There, I watched a group of girls playing for fun, celebrating each point they scored with enthusiasm. Their lively comments and reactions made me laugh and added to the enjoyment of the scene.
After sitting there for 30 minutes, I decided to head back to the hostel. As I walked alongside Ocean Drive, I spotted an impressive hotel in the distance (see the last two pictures). I was captivated by its striking architecture.
I walked back along 10th Street, which would take me past the supermarket again. As I entered the store, I couldn’t help but think, “What am I doing here? They don’t have anything I need.” Frustrated, I left the supermarket and began searching for a small, budget-friendly store. Fortunately, Google Maps led me to one that was in the same street as the pharmacy but hidden due to roadwork. I picked up some snacks and Coke Zero.
Conversations and Travel Plans
I headed back to the hostel and relaxed on my bed. I chatted with Ziggy and later joined him in the lounge area. There, I met Will from Melbourne, who was heading to the Cayman Islands the next day. Our conversation about his travels got me thinking. I had originally planned to visit the Bahamas once I got to Miami, but I’d let that idea slip. Will’s talk about the Cayman Islands reignited my interest. I started searching online for flights and affordable options, hoping to find something exciting and memorable.
That night, I reviewed my bank and credit card balances while searching for budget-friendly options. By around 4 a.m., I finally went to bed. With only one day left in Miami, I looked up things to do and discovered a fascinating national park nearby. I was definitely planning to explore it the next day!
My sleep schedule was still off, so I ended up staying awake until 6 a.m. I spent hours searching online, and if everything checked out, I planned to book a trip to the Bahamas the next day. I found a fantastic hostel resort that looked amazing. It’s gonna be legen—wait for it! – dary.
