Miami Trip (Day #5)

This is sad but this post is for August 14th, our last day in Miami (I'm only like 3 weeks late--no biggie).

This day started like the others, with amazing breakfast-- I went all out (the smoked Salmon was so good). Then Sadiah and I decided to go shopping for souvenirs. Our first attempt was a total bust and it sucked because we went out of our way to go there and it was the most shadiest place ever. We decided we would go back to the Flea Market we had gone earlier to get some more cute rings. 

Salmon + eggs + cheese + potatoes

 We went back to hotel, grabbed our stuff and went to the Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market. We had initially thought we would go to the flea market, get our stuff and then go to Hollywood Beach, but we were mistaken. After we were done shopping, we barely had enough time (although at that time we thought we had plenty) to get some food before it was time to go to the airport. 

Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market 

Beautiful rings--I got greedy and decided to keep the first one for myself

We returned our rental and began walking towards our terminal. With our luck, the rental place was at the polar opposite of where our terminal was (the airport was "u" shaped, so we had to go all the way around). We printed our board passed and stood in the long line for security. We had food with us and wasn't sure if we could take it so we quickly ate one steak and cheese and decided to risk taking the gyro on board (we were allowed to take food onto the plane). Finally after passing security there were maybe 2/3 minutes left for boarding so we ran, literally ran, to our terminal. The terminal was empty and the person there told us if we had been another minute late, we would have missed the flight. This is the view we almost missed.

Sadiah decided to sleep during our flight to Pennsylvania, while I enjoyed the window seat.

Good-bye Miami 

Over the Atlantic

We landed in Philadelphia and took a short coffee break before our beautiful sunset flight to D.C. (we were early to this one). 

Philadelphia Airport

Miami Trip (Day #4)

This is for August 13th.

Sadiah and I decided that this would be the day to walk to the shops near the hotel. We were both craving sushi so we had lunch at a sushi place. They charged by the plates and at the end, we had about 8 empty plates. 

No clue what this was, but it was amazing 

Street art 

A moon picture (they never come out good, do they?)

By the time we were done shopping, Bushra was back from work and we decided to go to South Beach. Like always, we got there a bit late, but the beach was not crowded at all and we got to see the beautiful sunset. 

Yay palm trees

Beautiful streaks in the sky 

Slow shutter fun 

After the beach, we decided to go to Little Havana. As we were driving back, I pulled over on the highway to capture the skyline and failed miserably; actually it's not that bad (the streaking lights would be the cars driving by). We went to Versailles Bakery, where we had Cuban Espresso and this papaya guava filled pastry. 

Cuban espresso 

A Cuban pasty with Papaya Guava 

View from the 12th floor

Miami Trip (Day #3)

Prepare/brace yourselves because today there will be lots and lots of posts (okay, 4 to be exact--maybe 5--or maybe I should just post all the pictures one one but then there will be too many pictures and too many words--no, no I will just post separate ones) (yes, I just had a conversation with myself). I was going to spend the whole weekend studying but yesterday I made a smart decision and wasted the whole day at the mall. Today I was going to study but my books are in my car which my brother-in-law decided to take to work today so I have nothing to do but make more posts. Hooray. 

Anyhow, this post is for August 13th. 

After we drove back from Key West, we changed hotels. We were now in JW Marriott Marquis Miami (although this wasn't on the presidential floor, it was pretty sweet--case in point: it had a TV in the bathroom. yes, a TV). They had one of the pretties chandeliers I have ever seen. We checked in pretty late so I took these pictures the next day. 

The pieces looked like stars

View from the hallway

This day, Sadiah "worked" and I "studied"--it was all very "productive." Around 4ish, Sadiah decided to go flea market shopping. We went to Opa Locka Hialeah Flea Market (coolest name ever). It was all outdoor and incredibly hot (I felt like I was in Pakistan). We got there around 5, which happened to be when the stalls closed, so we didn't buy many things. 

They had a stall selling animals

After the flea market, we went to the mall nearby to buy this "halal" nail polish by Inglot Sadiah had recently discovered (only Muslim girls will understand this but it allows oxygen and moisture to touch your nail so you make wuzu with it on). The nail polish is actually really good. Even though the bottle is a bit small, you don't need to double coat it. 

We bought: crimson red, glittery blue, grey and pastel pink

After the mall, we went back to the hotel. Bushra was finally done with work so we went to dinner. 

Enjoyed a sunset from the hotel before dinner

We went to Shore Club South Beach. They had an outdoor restaurant. The whole place was lit with contemporary chandeliers and floor lanterns. They had seating in the back lit with red lights and a clear water blue pool. The food was pretty good too (I couldn't get any good pictures because it was too dark). 

After dinner, we called it a day and went back to the hotel (wow, what a lame ending but this is all I have). 

Miami Trip (Day #2)

Its finally here: more Florida pictures! 

This should be dated August 11th because that's when we drove to Key West (it should have taken us about 31/2 hours but I think we finally got there 5 hours later--traffic and a Taco Bell pit stop).  Although Key West was as scenic as I expected, the drive down to Key West was gorgeous. We stopped on the way for a little shopping.

I love me some palm trees

Coconut water

Creepy fish in the water

We finally got to Key West and first then went to the Key West lighthouse. There were approximately 80 stairs (actually I stopped counting after 80). The view from the top was beautiful

After this we went to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory and this probably the best part about the trip (although it was really hot inside). There were butterflies everywhere.

After this, we went to the most southern point in Florida.

Southernmost point: 90 miles from Cuba

Looks like paradise!

"No standing on the pier without a smile"

We left shortly after taking the picture at the southern most point. I really wanted to stay and watch the sunset but someone, ahem ahem Bushra, did not. But she was kind enough to stop on our drive back. 

sunset action

Looking back at this, we actually managed to do a lot in a short period of time. I'm actually shocked we managed to get out of the hotel as early as we did. Ladies, I'm still shocked at us.