31-10-2008
Arriving in Miami, first time. The wind is with me, we arrive 1,5 hours early because of it. On he airport I only hear Spanish and see mostly coloured and black people. I feel immidiatly at home. I guess it is that Obama virus. You feel included because you are diffrent, like him. Or in this case: everyone looks diffrent, talks diffrent languages, so I am no diffrent than the rest.
In the taxi to the hotel I am struck b the skyline of Miami....I feel like I am in an episode of CSI. It is really true. I always thought the scenery and the colours were a bit exaggerated, but they are like this in reality. Wow....
Southbech Miami. My hotel looks like a fancy discotheque. While having a beer outside I see all the cliche images of hip America in 15 minutes, accompanied by loud hip hop latino music out of every shop/restaurant. A parade of subcultures : skeelers, joggers, hiphoppers, soulbrothers, merds with small dogs, latino's in very sexy clothing, Afro Americans with large golden teeth, fashionista's, alto's, emo's, skinheads, studets, artist, gangmembers, bums and everyone looks around 20.
It is halloween so lots of kids but also the older people are dressed up. Lots of witches and corpses but also French waitresses and a monk with an Obama mask. Even the dogs are dressed up.
Besides from the mask I do not see anything elated to he elections in 4 days time. No posters, no billboards, just the tv talks about it all the time.
Than I see someone walking with an Obama board and I follow him. I end up in the South Beach Obamacenter, run by very friendly people and Elvis, we make a date to start filming tomorrow and than the big moment: I meet Obama for the first time! He is tall! Picturetime.......
