h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've been there a couple of times on business, and would advise you to have good up-to-date maps and advice from your friends on how to get where you want to go. When it comes to looking at the funkier places, I assume your friends will chauffeur you.

It isn't a matter of danger so much as the fact that, as soon as you get off the major arteries, everybody speaks Spanish - I'm serious, now. You might think that, if you were lost, you could drive up to the nearest petrol station and get directions, and you'd be wrong, unless in fact you do speak Spanish.

If you decide to go up to Orlando and survey the realm of The Great Mouse, I will gladly drive over and take the opportunity to meet y'all. There are probably other researchers in Florida who would do the same. Miami is too far of a drive for one recovering from pneumonia, I'm afraid ... and anyway, I don't own a gun

Lil

Thanks for the advice, Lil. The thing of it is... there are two people out of our group who live in Florida, but none of us lives in Miami. Most of us have never even visited. It's sure to be educational, all ways around.

My number one concern about visiting Miami? Safety. I took this into consideration, and with incredible foresight I managed to move to St. Louis four years ago. Living here is the best self defense class there is, and I now know that I'm ready to take on any mugger that dares to cross my path.

Thanks for your offer to help us out, though - gun or no gun.

Yeah. None of us lives in...

...er... well one of us sort of lives there, Amanda. The one who's arranging the itinerary... you know, whatzisname, the BBC guy.

All I have to say (and no offense to anyone who lives there) is please don't form an opinion on the USA based on what you see in Miami. It's known to be a bit, erm, seedy, for lack of a better term. Unless I am greatly mistaken, it's known more for its nightclub scene and hotspots than for its downhome charm, though I'm told it's quite an interesting place.

I'm afraid I can't help you with tips and suggestions, as I'm quite a long ways from Florida myself.

LOL! Right you are, KM...that one guy. Who did that thing...you know?

I wouldn't even trust the maps.

Every time I have gone there or driven through there I have gotten lost. Basically, I have never gone to Miami the same way twice. And, I go there a lot.

My theory is that if I just keep driving, I will get someplace (like an interstate or something of that nature). I keep my doors locked.

In fairness, there's a lot of the US that's rather seedy, and a good deal that's known for stuff other than downhome charm... Miami's a decent city in spite of its reputation, especially in the less terrifyingly urban areas. It's a big place, and a fairly unique place, and it isn't all like it looks on the national six o'clock news. On the other hand, the entire US shouldn't be judged by any particular city anyway, because seriously, if someone formed his stereotype of me after a visit to Juneau, I might be a tiny bit miffed.

Miami, as I've seen it, is just a city, and nothing at all to be afraid or ashamed of.

Gosh, Kristina Marie, I don't think anybody has said Miami is seedy. I only said it was a place where Spanish is spoken much more than English, and in fact if Mark & Peta can get someone who knows the place to take them through Little Havana and the Jamaican and creole parts then they will have a couple of great lunches and some fantastic photos.

On the other hand, it is not in the least like any other city in the US, in my opinion. You must know at least some of the jokes Dave Barry makes about Miami, about how Americans have to go through customs to get there, and how you have the right to bear arms in the church of your choice....

Lil

Yeah, I know. It's unusual. I'm just saying that I find *all* the individual cities in the US to be hopelessly unlike any of the others, though I've never been to Minneapolis or St. Paul.

I wasn't talking about anything you'd said, by the way, Lil, when I addressed its being called seedy. There is a post—the post, in fact, above mine—that was made by someone totally other, who said that it sort of was. Which is absolutely and without a doubt that person's inalienable right, and I'm personally very pleased that this right has been exercised, because free expression of opinion leads to grown-up discussion and even friendly debate. *stops, backs up, figures out what she was talking about*

And I wasn't even suggesting that it necessarily isn't seedy. I've certainly been to bits that are.

I never intended to offend. I was simply stating my perception. As an example, according to 1991 census info, (the latest I could find on-line) Miami had the second highest crime rate in the country (only Atlanta outranked it), while New York City, which people the world over would probably know to be "careful" in, wasn't even in the top 20.

I have spent time in Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore. All of which (like Miami) have "nice" areas and "seedy" areas. SoHo (in NYC, not London...) for example is considered a bit "seedy", yet it is one of my favorite neighborhoods in the city. Still, I wouldn't go wandering about in it after dark, unless I was with someone who knew the area well.

I'm sure Miami has many lovely areas. And I know each American city is unique, and that there is no one quintessential American city by any stretch. Still, I would advise anyone going to Miami to exercise the caution often reserved for much larger cities: don't announce yourself as a tourist, don't use a rental car that is plainly marked as such, stick to recommended areas, especially after dark, and don't go anywhere without being certain of your directions. And, if someone hits your car, don't roll down the window....

...And don't forget your towel!

You're right billy—very good advice. Thank you.

It's true, anyway, that Miami isn't one of those places that you feel particularly safe walking around alone at night. I tend to forget that, never having been to a place in which I did.

Rupert Everet lives in Miami and I hear that he goes to market every morning he's there. Perhaps you could stop by and interview him for h2g2? I'd give you his home address but he gets really tiffy about those sorts of things

Oh, sorry... I completely forgot about Burt Reynolds... he just had a birthday too... you could stop by and give him a belated birthday present, and steal a toupee.

Also, the Bass Museum of Arts is hosting a gallery with works by Andy Warhol... always an interesting guy.

It would be nice to know the exact dates... there are always interesting events about, like the Daiquiri contest...

Thanks for the tips Lil and everyone else who has posted to this thread. I'm afraid we won't have time to go up to Orlando and visit the mouse - there just won't be enough time.

Lil, sorry to hear that you've been ill. I hope you have a speedy recovery.