A trip to the swamp

From Dallas I flew down to Miami arriving around 10:30pm. As I was arriving late I asked my travel agent to find me somewhere near the airport. The directions the Hertz map computer spat out were meaningless since I had no point of reference, so I took a chance and asked the lady on the gate how to get to the hotel. She was only too pleased to help and produced a map, a set of directions and off I went.

After 30 minutes of driving I concluded that either my hotel was not near the airport or I wasn't near my hotel. The answer was Yes and Yes.

I find the folk down there really hard to understand and they feel the same about me I'm sure. After are rather lengthy to and fro with the desk clerk via my mobile he managed to give some directions that worked.

Alas, when I arrived my hotel was (by my book) a motel. I should have known by the word Inn in the title. Worse than that, the obligatory air conditioning unit in the wall by the door was in bits and squeaked madly from time to time. I took my chances and turned it off.

Morning came and I was awoken by a couple of jets landing as the curfew ended. I paid my dues, showing the lady at the front desk the picture of the air conditioner. As I headed to my rental, a car crashed on the off ramp next to the hotel. It made a lot of dull thuds and then I could see steam coming from where the car lay. I turned round to go back to the hotel and tell them to call the cops but found another couple were ahead of me. I tried to confirm what their intent was, but they like so many people around there they didn't speak English, so I gave up (I knew the lady behind the desk would understand them since she had a hard time understanding me).

Heading up to Jean's place was a nice drive. Big roads, blue sky, palm trees and swamp with a fence between the road and the swamp to keep out the 'gators. Last time I was in Miami I went swimming and there was fence in the ocean to keep out the sharks. Good idea on both counts!
The town where he lived was from what I could tell a nice place. It had big roads, blue sky, palm trees and lakes (aka civilized swamps). I had a good visit with Jean, he seems like really genuine guy and his Mrs was just pure French Candian and lots of bubbly fun. I hope I get a chance to visit again and stay a bit longer.