Beaches, bikinis and Bentleys

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Miami Beach - a slightly unreal sand island bathed in Florida's sunshine. We follow a Lamborghini in from the airport, only to discover they are common here. As are Ferraris, Bentleys and Porsches. Even Rolls-Royces.

Our beach front 1930s Art Deco building looks very small. It is just three storeys and now they are building up to 50 storeys. Next door they are fitting out a small new apartment block, just nine storeys. There, sea front apartments start at $8 million. In Miami Beach you can pay more than $40 million for an apartment!

We walk the beautiful white sand beach, it's a busy place. Sun worshippers and beach lovers from all over the world are here to enjoy the sun, that fine white sand and the blue, blue sea. The beach is wide and long, 8.5 miles long, dotted with life-guard huts on stilts. No sign of Pamela Anderson though.

It's too hot for us to walk to the end and we stop to chill at a beach kiosk. A shaded seat on the warm sand, a cold drink, lapping waves ... February should always be like this.

Miami is the starting point for Caribbean cruise ships, they arrive during the night and leave again at sunset. We watch from South Pointe pier. They tower over us as they slide out along the channel.

South Pointe is also a favourite area for professional photo shoots. Most days there is a motorhome or two parked up while bikini-clad young ladies have their make-up adjusted and bearded men play with their lenses. There is usually a police officer in attendance too, for their protection or his entertainment, we are unsure which.

Miami has been a great place to spend a chilled out week in the sun. Tomorrow we head back to the UK and home. No more blogs until September, when we plan explore a few countries on the Silk Route.

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