An early start to the day compared to what we have been accustomed to recently as the Taxi was arriving at 0845 to take us to the Airport. Security was very tight and they checked everything very well and then at the gate the checked it all over again. We left about 40 minutes late but according the Captain, and I guess he should know, the flight time was about one hour shorter than planned and we would expect to arrive on time.
The Virgin beds made the journey very comfortable and for lunch we even enjoyed Bangers and Mash after a couple of drinks at the bar. We arrived 15 minutes early and the process of getting through immigration and collecting baggage, the worst part of any journey, only took about 45 minutes and we were on our way to the Sofitel at Miami Airport. The hotel had been recommended by a good friend and business colleague and the staff were very friendly and also helpful in every way, quite unusual sometimes in the big country.
We had a couple of drinks in the bar and the hotel lobby and bar was a little cool but to be expected as the weather in Miami and Florida in general is the coolest the have experienced I think for about 100 years they reported on the TV. There is nothing quite like a good homemade hamburger and fries and a couple of glasses of plonk to set you up for a night's sleep.
Should we visit Miami again this Hotel is well worth remembering? The only complaint was that the speed of the internet on the free access was very slow to what we are used to, but never mind it enable us to check our emails and news and then to discover how the weather had radically changed since we left about 15 hours earlier. Airports were closed and thick ice and snow, boy we were lucky to get away by the sound of it.
Tomorrow we are meeting up with Noel's ex business colleague Helmar and we hope to look around the town with him. And so to a well earned bed
