The joys of a serviced apartment

So I'm now a couple of weeks into my US adventure. I've even managed a full week of work which was a challenge - good job I've got miles of glorious beach to recover on this weekend.

So far there are definitely some major positives about life here and then a few things that are just a bit strange.

On the strange - most people ( outside from work) have Spanish as their first language, and lots of people I'm interacting with speak very little English. I need to join that Spanish class pronto ( I don't even know the Spanish for quickly....)

The next main strange is the lack of fuss over Easter. I spent Good Friday in the office, and I'm spending Easter Monday in the office. No public holidays for Easter here....and I don't even have an Easter egg ( don't feel sorry for me, the two packets of mini eggs I did bring have somehow 'disappeared').

Then the other thing which isn't strange but I didn't expect was how expensive domestic flights are here. I'm trying to visit a friend in a Boston and a 3 hour flight is £250 minimum. I think that's partly that Miami doesn't have as good a value fares but also I just don't think the easyJet/ Ryanair competitive airlines exists to the same extent. I have however figured out using my airmiles, so my dream of a destination a month is being kept alive ( expect to see posts from New York , Seattle, San Diego and New Orleans over the coming months)

Onto the massive positives then:

First of all is the discovery of uber pool - various friends put me off getting a car ( Miami drivers are crazy, everyone has accidents, plus due to no credit history and high insurance a car will cost minimum £700/ month). So I arrived fully expecting I'd get the bus to work each day. After a painful 35 minute wait near a homeless hangout spot I quickly abandoned public transport. So Uber's to work it was - and I was spending over £20 / day just getting to work. Until that is I pressed the little pool button. Some clever technology means for less than $3 I can get to work - it just means we might pick a few people up along the way. I love it!

The other major bonus is I've got back into my morning walks before work. Harriet's son Oliver will no longer be able to mock my Fitbit weekly scores. 10,000 steps / day is within reach, and it gives me the perfect excuse to buy yet more activewear......

But overall my favourite thing so far has to be my apartment - I feel so lucky. This building does everything. They collect my parcels and email me telling me exactly who of the many clothing companies have delivered my goodies. They say hello to me every time I arrive or leave for work. They bring me fluffy white towels to the pool. The concierge, Felipe, offers to book me various restaurants he's recommending. They couldn't be nicer. If I could just talk one into giving the apartment a bit of a sweep once / week I'd be totally sorted......

I have a feeling it's going to be tricky coming back home! My next challenge  is finding someone with a boat - I've not made it onto the water yet....