[Delphine] Dresscode: Bitch!

Dear everyone, Miami writing!

Most of you probably know that I have already been to many clubs, in many countries. Well, Miami is...different!

First thing to say is that South Beach is not Miami. Tourists who come to South Beach on vacation may be disappointed if they want to find something different from their country of origin, especially if they are from Western countries. Indeed, South Beach is one of these places full of life, where people are surrounding you everywhere and speaking every possible language (mostly Spanish, French, Italian and obviously English). They walk in bathing suits showing as much skin as possible (too much sometimes) and wearing sunglasses hiding half of their faces. But you know, those people are here on vacation, so.. of course!

South Beach

The thing is that they believe they have seen Miami. All they saw is what I like to call “tourist island”. I have nothing against this place, I love the crowd, the beach and the fun so characteristic of South Beach! But you have not really eperienced Miami there. Miami is where I live, downtown, where you have more people from Latin America or Haiti than from the US, where you have empty streets during miles and miles and where you have to wait hours in the heat to get a bus. I feel really lucky to be able to experience both parts of Miami. I love my quiet place, and I love just as much spending my evenings and weekends in South Beach’s craziness.

Back to business.

On Thursday evening, I joined a friend, David who is here on vacation for one week. It was so nice seeing him again! We went to Clevelander, a hotel with an outside bar, chairs and tables, and a pool accessible for everyone. We enjoyed the live music and had fun watching drunk people dancing alone on the dancefloor.; everyone else was sitting around or at the bar, probably prepartying. Of course I had trouble getting back home after this lovely evening and waited 45' between 12:40am and 1:25am for my second bus to come, but hopefully it finally showed up.

Friday at work was nice, and in the evening, I saw Charles, my French friend staying in Miami for a long time, and we met people we had never seen before, including a French girl I had been talking to on Facebook for a couple of weeks. We actually met her, her roommate and another girl at an American guy's apartment. He is working in the music industry and loves house music so he came with us to Treehouse, a small place with no tourist and house music. I am glad I was really dizzy because that kind of music, house  music for drugged people, I don't really like it.. But I spent a really nice night anyway!

I figured when I came here that I would have to wear (very) high heels to party in night clubs. All I had was this one pair of black shoes that I bought in LA last year, for the same specific reason (friends from Helsinki and from last summer, I know you have seen this pair more than once!). Well, I obviously can't walk with them more than a few minutes, so I bought another pair, red this time!

Mansion

Mansion

I am glad I did since when we were lining up on Saturday evening, or Sunday morning, since it was already  more than 2am, in front of Mansion (one of the biggest clubs in South Beach), the doorman (aka bouncer) kicked out two girls who were standing in front of David, Charles and me, because their shoes were not appropriate (understand: flat).. It seemed to us that we would never get: they were only allowing groups of girls with very high heels and very very very short dresses.. What could be sexy turns right away into vulgar, but that is the rule in South Beach: the fewer the better! David, master of the moment, said a few words to the doorman and got us in in 15 seconds :) The Mansion was overcrowded and we were definitely not drunk enough! But we enjoyed the show, especially guys, I suppose, since there were about 6 girls almost naked dancing all over the place. The atmosphere was similar to what the Black Eyed Peas could do: lots of green lights, guys in strange suits reflecting these lights. Even if it was way too crowded, I liked spending the night there.

Of course, having very late nights does not mean you want to ruin your days, so the program for the weekend, at day, was beach, sun, friends and shopping!

Downtown

This is just the beginning of my life in Miami and South Beach. You will learn a lot more very soon!

xoxo, D.