Guess what? I went to the beach for the first time this year last Saturday. I waited until August to hit the beach! Don't tell my fellow Miamians.... I'd be boo-ed. Shame on me.
I love the beach, especially Miami Beach, and what I didn't realize was that each cross street defines the beach experience (Miami Beach stretching from 1st & Collins up to 23rd & Collins). For example, the farthest south you can really go is Nikki Beach - 1 Ocean Drive is the landmark. Nikki Beach is a resort, club, and the local name for the beach area associated with it. You can rent umbrellas & chairs there (kinda pricey) and bring your cooler and chill on your plush lounge chair or the sand for some prime people-watching. This is where the beautiful people hang....
But, go a little north and there is a place where cultures collide too. My sister and I like to say that the heart of Miami Beach is where Hollywood, the French Riviera and Ohio come together. You have stars and star wannabes (insert picture of Flo-Rida taping the beach scenes for "Sugar" video here), Europeans who are oblivious but beautiful and exotic (and sometimes topless), and then the obese couple eating fried chicken with their loud screaming kids. It's truly something to behold.
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| Waiting for chicken! |
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| Topless! |
One day, when I was out walking this particular beach with some friends, we saw this happy photo opportunity....
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| In case you missed the fine print |
So mosey up a bit north to 12th and Collins and you are in a "sea" (pun intended) of banana hammocks, weenie bikinis, grape smugglers, slug huggers, sausage casing... whatever you want to call them. The nice thing is, these guys usually look good in their speedos. You get the drift....
So Saturday, I was actually around 21st and Collins, which was fantastic because we could rent chairs and an umbrella for $50 or so, and we were right near a little tiki bar that served food and drinks. It wasn't too crowded or noisy - or even touristy for that matter. Just a nice good day at the beach. And the only photo op was this:
