Miami, in the less than salubrious vicinity of the airport ostensibly for a little bit of business followed by a bittersweet weekend of unbridled revelry at the Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne. The Sonesta is/was an institution on The Key for the past thirty seven years, for the “Key Rats,” for those from Miami-Dade wishing an escape to the beach on a steamy day in town or a moonlight evening of tropical breezes, and for the thousands from up and down the eastern seaboard, visiting as tourists, convention attendees or as wedding parties. This was not just a hotel, this was home away from home to many, the local watering hole for others, a playground for their offspring and a treasured occupation for so many employees. Although I discovered it and used it myself as a stop over between Quito, Ecuador and Portland, Oregon on many occasions its real claim on me is as the place my wife and I were first introduced. The Sonesta Beach Resort Key Biscayne, as of this writing is no more. (more…)