I've been in Florida for over a week now and I feel fully engrossed in their day to day lives. So many people have taken me under their wing I'm ever so slightly suffocated but in a thankful, appreciating way. And I'm even beginning to deal with the lychee sweet friendliness.
This week I've been taken out to dinner at Treasure Island Beach, Caddy's Bar was the location and what a location it is! Right on the beach front, strides away from the shore line and perfectly set up to catch every glimpse of the outstanding sunset.
Only downside to the venue was its seemingly inability to sell anything that's not dipped in grease, fried in grease or comes with a side of grease. It did make me wonder how the ripped and toned men around me stayed that way if they were eating this stuff. They must get really hot and sweaty working all that off..... . . . . . . ... ahem, sorry. What a lifestyle it would be though, to stroll down to a beach bar after work and watch the sunset with a cold beer in hand. Definitely getting me thinking.
My next mini adventure was my first baseball game. The local team here are the Rays, they've had a notorious losing streak for 11 seasons but by some miraculous change of luck they are now winning their division and fighting for a place in the play offs.
Their home is the Tropicana Stadium and it's fricking huge. Seats 30,000, fully enclosed and fully air conditioned, several levels, so many bars, food outlets, shops and god knows what else you could spend the whole day just walking around.
The feel of the crowd is totally different to any sport I've ever seen in England. They aren't so blindly drunk you feel nervous around the supporters, they are head to toe in Rays clothes, earrings, cow bells, hats and some have even painted their faces. Everyone from the tiny toddlers to the doddering elders are here to cheer on their local team.
I had a seat up in the "nose bleed section" which is high up (so high I dare not lean forward at any point) but I can still see everything really clearly. Around the stadium there's video screens everywhere playing different visuals which they've cleverly produced and music is pumping out as the players run on to the pitch.
They all seem to have an fetish for the cowbell. Now I get the point of contraption, it's used to create atmosphere, draw the supporter into the game and let the players know they are behind them but my god they are ANNOYING. I swear I now have tinnitus thanks to those sodding little blue bells.
The basics to baseball is pretty similar to rounders. You have a pitcher that will try to make the batter miss, 3 strikes and they are out and if they throw 4 foul balls the batter gets a free run to first base. The batters aim is to hit it so far that they are able to run all the way around the bases and the fielders are there to prevent it. It's just a little more jazzed up and less girly than rounders.
The game is slow in comparison to football but it still has the edge of your seat excitement and less faked injuries although the players seem just as obsessed with their hair styles and looks.
After about the 4th inning I was getting really into it, it may have helped that they serve beer in buckets but I'd like to think it was the drama of the occasion that had me whooping and clapping like a crazy person.
The game took 4 hours to reach the final inning but I was never bored, one thing the Americans really have going for them is they really know how to have a good time. It can even make a stone face Brit let down her barriers long enough to loss a little inhibition.
After the game we headed over to the local sports bar. Immediately as we walked in my eyes were on stalks, if a gal is looking to find a mate in Florida a place like is this a good way to start. I won't bore you with my hit list as I'm sure not everyone would enjoy me retelling the glorious sight of tall, dark and handsome strangers with their tight, tight shirts on but ladies, if you want to know (and want pictures) just give me a shout ;-)
That concluded my first outing at a ball game, two more days and I'm back for more!
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