MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) 鈥� The loveable kilt-wearing, bagpipe-playing members of quickly discovered the reality of Miami’s summer heat at the .
Many of Scotland鈥檚 most dedicated fans took over South Florida鈥檚 beaches and bars ahead of and were greeted with temperatures peaking at 93 degrees Fahrenheit (34 degrees Celsius) in Miami Gardens.
鈥淩ight now in this kilt, I am sweating,鈥� said Hayden Sutherland, one of the thousands of fans who made the journey to the U.S. for Scotland’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. 鈥淎bsolutely sweating. It鈥檚 crazy heat.鈥�
Cloud cover provided some relief for fans at the home stadium of the NFL鈥檚 Miami Dolphins 鈥� solace some haven鈥檛 felt since their traveling tour took them from Boston to Miami.
The Tartan Army wouldn鈥檛 have fared much better back home, however, as Scotland is in the midst of a rare heat wave. On Tuesday, temperatures peaked at a surprising high of around 84 degrees F (29 degrees C).
But the humidity in Miami, fluctuating around 63-66% in the afternoons, remained relentless.
鈥淚鈥檝e been to warmer places, but the humidity is just killing me,鈥� said Peter Wright, another Scottish fan. 鈥淗ere, I can walk 100 meters and I鈥檝e got a bit of sweat on. In Boston, I was walking miles and it was lovely.鈥�
Wright, along with many other Scotland fans, wore a traditional knee-length kilt wrapped around his waist. Some said their kilts offered relief, while others found that they only added to the discomfort.
Outside the stadium, Scotland supporters were fanning themselves and trying to find shaded areas.
How are the Scots managing to cope?
鈥淛ust beer,鈥� said Wayne Sutherland, Hayden鈥檚 father. 鈥淲e鈥檙e two Scots. No water, just beer.鈥�
As the Tartan Army takeover has gone from Boston to Miami, bars have struggled to keep up with the high demand for beer. While the fans were greeted with a 鈥渂eer barge鈥� in Miami, bars in Boston struggled as the visitors drank their way through the city.
Despite the challenges, the Tartan Army has shown that nothing can deter them from the experience of following Scotland. They barely sat during Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to Brazil despite their team trailing from the seventh minute.
And they belted out 鈥淣o Scotland, No Party鈥� all throughout the day.
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Gracie Fisher is a student in the University of Georgia鈥檚 Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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