My Travel Journal
Mon/Oct/05 21:09
“Miami is a beautiful place, much better than Santa Monica.” Many times, I was told so. Santa Monica isn’t a great place anyhow, but how is Florida? Perpetually for years, I asked the question, which was finally answered, according to my own field research, done between 26 Dec, 2004 and 6 Jan, 2005. Miami is better than Santa Monica, and women on South Beach are even faker than on the Sunset Boulevard!

So I left DCA airport, in Washington DC at 10pm at night with a rental Ford Focus, after many stops on the road, often once every 2/3 hours, as I am a responsible driver, I crossed the border of GE/FL at 6am precisely.
drive
So 10 hours, average speed 70 to 100mil/h.

Highway traffic of Florida begins as once I crossed the border. Soon, I was passing Jacksonville, Florida, with the raising sun light transpierce the morning fog, with the background of skyscrapers connected by bridges, looking from a far distance I told myself, that wow, this is truly the Venice of 21st century.

My first stop was at the St. Augustine. According to local history book, this
st
beautiful city is the oldest in the North America; build by the Spaniards, long, long time ago. It is beautiful of old Spanish European style. I stayed in the Piratehaus hostel, it is as gentle place as well as the staff, Elaine is. St. Augustine is a small tourist town, one pleasant day stay was enough.

 After a stop on a Natural Reserve Park, I arrived in Miami.

I stayed in Miami for 2 days during the New Year time, it was good enough. I found South Beach was more developed than in Santa Monica and Venice in Cal, of cause, with faker women of various origins at a
refuge
global level. As I saw no Cubans really in Miami, I moved on to Everglade National Park, which I truly enjoyed.

I slept in a hostel next to the park, Everglades International Hostel & Tours- Florida City. I must say this is the most relaxing youth hostel in the world! Which I recommend to everyone. Original style, nice staff team, and gentle travelers from America and Europe.

Since it was winter, many animals gathered in the park due to the lack of fresh water elsewhere in the everglade, very lucky timing because I was able to admire many exotic animals for the first time. One personal anecdote, I had a fear of alligator and crocodile, which I often dreamed about, because:

al·li·ga·tor n
a large reptile that lives near water, has thick scaly skin, powerful jaws, a long tail.

During my tour in the park, the confidence and tranquility of crocodile conquered my respect. The calmness of
gator
crocodiles is the evidence of self-confidence, which I genuinely admired. Since then, I fear gator no more. What Sigmund Freude would say regarding my case?
Meanwhile, I drove to Key west. Stayed for few hours, brought 3 small cigars, then drove back to Florida City. The purpose of driving to the Key west was to able myself telling to the rest of the world that, I drove to Key west, the southernmost point of the United States, by car. I hope it's worth to know, I am proud have done it.

In sum, driving in Florida is not that exciting, because its supposedly gorgeous coastlines have been hidden by expensive mansions (where the money is, according to my friend Justin of FL). On a quick side note. What is going to happen when the sea water level rise in the Atlantic and the Caribbean sea?

The few beaches I saw were much better than in Southern California. Drive again through Jacksonville - Florida toward local airport, I said, wow, this city is really ugly.

Finally, Miami is a good place to be, but for many reason, I think not really for travelers, so 2 days suffice. Yet, as I mentioned previously, the Everglade Park in the south of Miami (no more than 40 min drive) was the most exciting phase during my journey in Florida.
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