Having lived in South Florida for many years, I have yet to take advantage of all the wonders and highlights of this multi-cultural mecca. The opportunities of what to see and do on a given day are endless. Thousands of tourists flock to Miami annually to soak up the sun, the culture and the history of this wonderful city, yet for me, I have local access to the heart of the Caribbean melting pot.
My first visit to Miami was the summer of 1985. We moved to Key West, Florida from Germany. Before making the move to the Keys, we spent a few days in Miami. My father took us on an afternoon airboat ride through the Everglades promising us we would see alligators. We spent a couple of days in Miami Beach savoring the first bit of beach we had seen since a summer trip to Italy the year before, our pale white skin burned for days after that trip. Living in Key West, my friends and I would occasionally make the three-hour drive to Miami for a night out, shopping or maybe a concert. Once I moved up to Deerfield Beach, my trips to Miami became fewer and far between, reserved mostly for a special occasion, a concert, or a night out at a club. In college, one of my good friends started working for American Airlines and had moved to a little apartment off of 8th street in Miami. I remember spending the night with her in her small apartment. We did our first South Beach experience together, dancing all night long in a trendy club during the height of the “Art Deco movement” that took place in 1980’s to restore Miami Beach to some of it’s original glory from the 1930’s. One spring, I remember attending “Calle Ocho” with her. “Calle Ocho” is an annual street party that takes place in March of every year. People come from all over to enjoy this one-day street festival with food, music, dancing, conga lines and Latin performers.
Living about an hour outside of Miami, my trips here have been typically for business reasons, to the airport or Port of Miami or reserved for a fun weekend in South Beach with friends. I recently met someone who lives in Miami. My new friend Joe is of Cuban and Spanish background and spent some time living in Northern Spain, but was raised in Miami. Yesterday I had the opportunity to spend the day with him while he was able to show me “his city”. Joe is an architect, so naturally has an appreciation for art and design, but I say “his city” because of the passion he has for Miami, his history and truly taking advantage of all that it has to offer.
Our day started with me meeting him in Tropical Park where I left my car so we could ride together. Knowing my curiosity for trying something new and different, Joe proudly took me to Little Havana for lunch. Little Havana is a little piece of Cuba in Miami. Not far from downtown Miami and it’s art deco high rises, Little Havana is a gem on it’s own. Lining the street, there were cigar shops; café’s, meat markets and theatres resembling the charm of old time Cuba. As Joe shared with me his opinions on the where to get the best Ceviche and a brief tour of the different landmarks we passed, we decided to park and get lunch at one of the many choices of authentic Cuban restaurants in the area. We chose to eat at El Cristo, a small café with menu of traditional Cuban dishes. I have eaten Cuban food many times, but being the picky eater I am, I tend to stick with what I know and like. Today was an adventure and I happily wanted to take my friend’s suggestion for something different on the menu. We ordered a Tostones appetizer, (Fried plantains with garlic sauce.) I ordered the Boliche Asado, a marinated pot roast with vegetables with a tomato-based sauce with a side of beans and rice. Joe ordered Rabo Encendido or Oxtail. I had never had Oxtail before, and although it was a favored traditional dish among some of my former colleagues, this was my first adventure into trying it. I am not sure I would ever order it myself, but it had an interesting flavor with a hint of cloves and garlic. We finished our lunch off with an espresso or Cuban Café, typical after a meal.
After lunch, we opted to stroll down Calle Ocho to look at the different shops and cafes. An occasional tourist bus would ride by, a reminder that this little town is a must see on a visit to Miami. We walked into a small shop with various Cuban postcards and souvenirs. On the wall was a collection of vintage prints depicting Cuba as the one time most sought after vacation destination in the Caribbean. In front of the register was a selection of hand rolled cigars. Next, we walked into an art gallery, with a collection of works from local artists, one being a friend of Joe’s. On many of the buildings in Little Havana you can also find murals painted on the walls where local business owners allow artists to transform their structures with colorful images. Joe informed me of an event called “Viernes Culturales” or “Cultural Fridays”, that is a festival where locals and tourists can experience the collection of arts and culture that happens the last Friday of each month in Little Havana. I have made a mental note to put that on my list of things to do.
As we continued down the street, we walked to the Tower Theatre. The Tower theatre is a historic theatre. During the 50’s Cuban refugees who came to Miami, used the theatre not only as entertainment but also as an introduction to American culture. The theatre has been restored in an Art Deco style and now a landmark in Little Havana. Inside the theatre, classic film posters of the works of Federico Fellini lined the walls. We contemplated catching the 6pm showing of “Yves Saint Laurent” or another indie classic. Across the street from the theatre was an ice cream shop with homemade flavors such as Cuban Vanilla or Thai Coconut with Siracha sauce. The floor of the shop was designed in classic Cuban tiles, each one hand painted with a different colorful print, reminiscent of the Havana style décor.
Not far from the theatre is Domino Park. Older generations of Cubans gather there in the afternoons to play dominoes, a favorite game in Latin or Caribbean America. You can find “Paseo de las Estrellas” or the “Walk of the Stars”, stars dedicated to Latin American artists, actors or musicians. On the corner of 13th Avenue is the Bay of Pig’s memorial as well as the memorial to Jose Marti, the famous poet from Havana. Just a block away was a street bar claiming to have the “best mojitos” where locals sat on barstools catching up about the comings and goings of their day.
It was getting later so we decided to head to South Beach to finish off our evening with a drink and conversation. We parked on Ocean Drive and opted to stop at News Café, a cute sidewalk restaurant in the Art Deco district of Miami Beach. I had a Martini, Joe a Mojito. Gianni Versace, the famous designer came to this restaurant daily for breakfast before he was killed in his home not far from the quaint Café. We watched the locals dine and the tourists armed with their Armani shopping bags. We walked and admired the architecture of the hotels that lined Ocean Boulevard, each with a unique flair and design that brings you back to 1930’s.
As I thought about my day in Miami, I realized that traveling does not have to be a trip. For me, traveling is an opportunity to engage the adventurous side of my personality and connect with someone or something different. Traveling is an education, a cultural awakening. For me, it is stepping outside of my comfort zone to try something new, or see things from an alternative perspective. And for me, my afternoon in Little Havana showed me that adventure is not always far away, it can also exist in my own backyard.
http://www.elcristorestaurant.com.
My Virtual Passport 