Now at Miami Int'l it was a quick exit into that smelley, stuffy, humid terminal (E).
They really need to redo the thing and they are, with AA building a new megahub and I can't wait. I still like this place, I don't know why, maybe cause it is Miami, the land of Golden Girls. Yes, I like that show.

Exit past security, you feel sorry for all the pax enduring the TSA who are going mostly to points South. AA has a massive hub here with flights going everywhere imaginable to South and Central America, the Carribbean, Mexico, etc.

Our flight went onto Sao Paulo, bad behaving seat and all. LOL

Exit to the public area and I love all the int'l counters. When I see LTU I think of my Cargochica. Curious if LTU flies here year round?

I grabbed a cart, free of course, and did some walking. It felt good to walk and it was emptier than during the day so easier to see the counters and yes, do some
'Airport Shopping.' No one on Planet Earth does 'Airport Shopping' better than the guy in Paris, I can assure you, he is my mentor. (and we did plenty of such shopping when I finally got to Paris) Nice to have a partner in crime.

I did check out the int'l terminal, not much on the counters. I did nail some more Taca ticket jackets. Also found a brochure that they would test charging for meals on flights to Central America from Miami. Bad airline! Shouldn't do that on international flights.

I missed my chance for a yummy Starbucks hot chocolate as they had closed when I came back, stupid me.

Down to bag claim and again, stupid me, went to the wrong carousel, thinking the 2 were combined. After a while I started to panic and asked about the LA flight. Oh senor the LA flight is on carousel 10, not 9. Duh on me. Bags were there which duly went onto my cart.
This is when I called Keli and yanked her chain a bit about something. Since she is engaged we have to tease her a bit, and teasing you shall get until May. I promise. he he
Very happy for you and Sal, you know that. We will party later, I promise.

Called the dear Embassy Suites which I had put into my cell, nationwide calling and all that. Great, they are on their way. Took forever so I called the token German woman in Miami, who actually answered the phone in Espanol. I punished her by speaking German and reminding her of her Deutsch heritage. Glad to do it. Sadly she couldn't come out and meet me for breakfast as she had a meeting, but she works near MIA. We had lunch at the Sofitel last time and by the way, an expensive lunch it was, though good.

James and Karina I apologize. I never got to you. I always get miffed at James who lives in Fort Lauderdale and will never come down to Miami, something I,ah, UGH. whatever.
Karina and I had a nice chat last time I was in town.

Dear shuttle finally comes and he takes my bags. Miami was colder than usual, not the usual heat and humidity. Last time I was there standing in front of the airport all dressed up I was going crazy, but this time, quite nice, but not the warmth I expected in this tropical port.

Off to that beautiful, wonderful hotel. A hotel chain someone and I knew well. Leave it at that,thanks.

Go inside to check in, yeah, it has been a long day, great to be here. He says I know you have had a long day, BUT, cringe, we are full and we need to send you someplace else. No hotel at MIA is better than the E/S, unless they give you an actual suite, which is once in a blue moon and I never seem to see blue moons.

We are sending you to the Baymont. The Bay what? I had heard of them but they didn't sound like the Ritz. They didn't even sound like the Sheraton, one of my beloved pampering grounds.

As I had expressed an interest in dinner he offered to take care of it, then sent me with the driver to the other hotel, just around the corner.

Well, it is a dump. Bags all over the floor and people everywhere speaking weird languages, which I always have to easedrop in on. I love languages.

Duly checked in but showed my AA card and hoped that would come through.

My suite at the E/S turned into a 3rd floor dump. My concierge back there who is lugging my bags on the cart turned into self service of navigating that stupid cart through the small hallways. ick

I did call the E/S and asked for a free night which they obliged and gave me a cert the next day and they really did apologize. That was professional. So next November, I am good.

I called a few of you, packed and repacked, then my beloved calzone came like 2 hours later. too much.

Remember, it is 3 hours later than CA, but I am still on CA time. it is awkward to say the least.

Bed at the wee hours of the morning.

Up early and after peeking at their breakfast, pass, went to the E/S for what would be my only real meal til dinner to London that night. I went up to the top floor and watched the planes from different angles. Should have had my camera as the planes and shots were great. I did tour the hotel. I knew the E/S hotels well with my ex(fiancee) and from a company that I worked for that would put us up in them and had nothing else to do but explore, explore, and explore, and raid the maid's cart, not that I would ever do that. I think I had a few pens sticking out of my pocket. smile

Back to the dump, packed, and out. Was going to go down to grab the cart and something just said no, so I dragged the bags to the elevator and down.

The Lobby was a freaking,horrid mass of people, bags, what have you. Miami had a boat show and why the hotels were so full. The carts, as anticipated, were taken by some very well to do women. They had been on a shopping spree and if I had time and didn't have to check in myself, I would have followed them to their counter. They must have paid a $1,000 US in excess bags. Queen Sheva and all.
Lot's of jewelry and very fancy. Their bags took up the entire shuttle and I was wedged in between the bag holder and one of theirs, not comfy. I made a sarcastic remark to the driver and tipped him. Oh too much. Hate to see them in London.

Found a porter, a method to the madness here, and he took my bags to check in.
I could have found a cart and done it myself, but I learned from the past.
The AA check in agent at Int'l First Class was a doll, made it very easy. The porter said my bags are not heavy(at this point ) shall I just tag them here, she said fine.
He then said, )), if the bags are not locked, which I stopped doing long ago,thank you, that he could take them to the TSA for me. He earned his tip. Should have given him more.

Then they gave me a bag cart for my heavy carry on, which will get gate checked later, after doing some more 'Airport Shopping.'

Didn't do the Starbucks, too long of a line, though could have used a nice hot chocolate something. Went to the Air Jamaica desk and borrowed some tags for which I was duly chastized, mon. How many of those do you need, mon? I have enough, thank ya.
Too much.

Then Bahamasair and a stack of ticket jackets were beckoning to me. and to the guy in Paris, I am sure. The agent by coincidence just went in and so I grabbed a stack, then some baggage labels. That was nice.

Unfortunately, no Cayman flight at the time so no Cayman goodies, though nailed a few last time and someone left a ticket wallet on the counter, which ironically, I just filed away tonight, of all things.

Did the look and see but wasn't much. Then tried to hit the Admirals Club, at E, and a very nice club it is, but you must go up via elevator. One dear elevator was out. ick
I abandoned the cart and we joined a stack of US customs officers who did their key thing and made it stop at level 3, where they exited. When we tried to go up to Admirals, it wouldn't budge. We freaked a bit. Then went down to departures. One guy said no way and got off, I persisted, some joined. We tried one more time and again, stuck somewhere and wouldn't ascend, and I had a nasty vision of missing my strategic flights which I really couldn't afford to miss by being in that stupid elevator. God graced us back to dep. and we all got out, whewwwww. So much for the club which is nice.

Being the lounge lizard that I am I had a back up. Found my same, abandoned cart and made my way to Concourse A, the Int'l terminal. Not much in the way of Airport Shopping and a couple of airlines were completely blocked by TSA and whatever and with the cart, forget it.

Up to security at A, left the cart, she questioned my boarding pass but AA does have some flights out of A. Said I was going to the Club America, she let me thru. Full, cursory strip down and (dance, NOT lol) and thru security, passed with an A-.

No carts airside, at that point, and made my way, dragging that freaking bag, to Club America.

I assumed it was too early for the British Airways lounge as I am normally there in the evening. I didn't even try the BA club as I would be getting BA lounges up the ying yang throughout the trip and the 'Warden' or person checking your card going in is a pain in the butt and always in a bad mood. Don't need it.

Club America is one of those generic lounges that you seldom see in America, but you will find just about everywhere else in the world.

Beautiful latina welcomed me, a Kathryn Zeta Jones look alike, not that I would ever have a crush on her or anything , and she was very kind and brought me in.

I only had so much time before the flight to Raleigh and I was leaving from Concourse C, so had a slight trek ahead of me. Set big bertha down and helped myself to a mass of Perrier. Other than the Admirals Club at CDG I have never seen so much Perrier, so I was home.

The lounge is comfy, great couches, little snacks, and allowed me to prep the carry on which I would gate check either here or Raleigh. I should have made it here. AA will charge you for the third bag at check in, BA won't. Amazing discrepancy.

After a few drinks and I could see a few planes, like a Taca and a couple of special somethings from South America, like Aeropostal-Venezuela, I made my exit and found carts, paid the $2/3, and enjoyed the walk which is all airside to Concourse C. They are doing renovation so a bit torn up, but doable. Called Brian from the gate and it was time to board. AA Super 80 to Raleigh.