One full day in Miami so we wanted to get out there and explore! I had done a little research so knew there is a free MetroMover with a stop only a couple blocks from our lodgings. We started the day with some tea and bagels with Vegemite ... So nice having a kitchen, really makes it so much easier and cheaper to be able to make at least some of your own meals whilst on holiday. Around 9 we headed off to the Brickell station and jumped on the metromover, which are a cross between a monorail and a train... But they've got wheels as well as the centre train rail, very weird, but an awesome system. There's just one car with no driver or anything....sort of like the trams at airports that shuttle between terminals..... Anyway.... We hopped off at Bayside and parted ways with H & T, we strolled along the waterfront for a bit then back out onto the street where we found a bus stop and waited for something to come along. We had seen some orange and green trolleys getting about so thought we'd get on one of those but as it happened the City Sightseeing bus came first, this is one of those double decker, open topped, jump on jump off things. We paid $39 each... Probably could have done this way cheaper but I hadn't done a lot of research... Yes I know, I can hear the gasps of disbelief, Rodd was a bit surprised too! First stop was Ocean Drive at Miami Beach where we wandered down to have a look at the beach and blow me down who should we run into but H & T!!! Of all the directions we could have gone in we end up not only at the same place but on the same part of a very long beach, what are the chances? Reminded me a lot of when Cass and Luke got in the same carriage as us in London.. Same station.. Same train.. Same carriage... Weird! Back on the street Rodd and I decided to walk up to Washington Ave to see if we could find the DASH shop, I googled the address and used google maps to tell me if we were heading in the right direction but we couldn't find it... I'm thinking maybe they closed it? I was very underwhelmed by the one in New York so was interested to see if this one was any more impressive. Oh well! Next we wandered back over to Ocean Drive and decided to walk to the next bus stop to hop back on but as is our way we ended up walking for about half an hour...I swear we didn't see the bus stop in that time but did eventually find one and thankfully it had a bench we could sit down to rest a bit. Poor Rodd has been suffering terribly with a swollen ankle and although he doesn't ever complain I know it must be killing him... He stoically follows along beside me while I drag him on the longest most scenic route I can (accidentally, of course) find... Every now and again though I see him grimace and it reminds me how much he must be hurting. So, back on the bus for a bit more of the sights and then when we get to the top end of Washington we jump off again to go in search of the Miami Ink shop, it's actually called Love Hate Tattoos but was named Miami Ink for the show. This is where I want to go to get my tattoo after the cruise so we went in and had a quick chat with them, the guy I spoke to was very friendly and made me feel welcome etc. I must admit I was a little apprehensive about going in, thought I'd feel a bit out of place and silly but I really didn't. That out of the way we went in search of some lunch and ended up at a lovely Italian restaurant called Hosteria Romana, you know the type, lots of well dressed men speaking Italian and being charming?! Rodd had an Hawaiian pizza, yeah I know, not really very Italian and I ordered Cannelini beans with garlic and parsley, omg yum, and some minestrone soup, this was nice but not as nice as mine! We were also given some lovely crusty bread with the most divine garlic oil and a chilli tomato dip, the problem with starting with bread is that those oils and dips are so yummy I end up filling up on bread before my meal comes, I had to try really hard not to keep eating it! Very full and about $80 poorer we waddled back to the bus stop to continue our tour, this is about the last stop on the beach tour but once back in the city we were going to get on the city tour... We sat at the stop and waited and waited and waited, we were told 15 mins about 3 times but still we waited patiently... At first we didn't really mind cos we were both tired and in a bit of a food coma but after about an hour waiting and the raindrops starting we finally had had enough and luckily there was a metromover stop just around the corner so homeward bound we go. As we reached our stop the heavens opened and the rain came down but one of the friendly bus tour guys had given us emergency ponchos when he was telling us it would be 15 mins so they kept us somewhat dry as we sprinted down the block to the supermarket on the way home.... Unfortunately Rodd slipped and wrenched his bad ankle, poor thing he was as close to tears as I've ever seen him, it must have hurt like hell! Quick stop for some wine, beer and nibbles and a hop skip and jump (or in Rodds case a hobble, limp and struggle) and we were back in our unit... About 5 mins later H & T came in. Not much more happened today, Tim and I went up to the shop and bought some stuff to make ham, cheese and tomato on toast for dinner and some eggs to have with the ham for breakfast.... Then an early night as we want to be fresh and rearing to go for our cruise tomorrow!!!