December 17 – Miami, USA

Weather– 24º, sunny

pricy coffees!

ymbol of Little Havana

Steps – 12,126

Humidity – 72%

Today we were in a group of 18 that wandered the streets of Little Havana behind Orlando, our guide – no accidental private tour today. This is no problem at all, a group of 18 is a nice number especially for Orlando who got tips from 18 rather than only 2 of us like yesterday.

Little Havana is about 40 min by car from Miami Beach. Fo
r some reason we are reluctant to plan anything that requires more than a walk, however, we caught an Uber.

beef empanada

We planned to arrive a bit early and find a coffee on Calle Ocho – 8^th street. We

making Cuban coffee

found a Cuban coffee place where we were recommended the tres leches coffee. It was delicious, but it had better be for the low, low price of $16CAD each!

Our first stop on the tour was for beef empanadas – good, but a lot of dough…kinda what I think of empanadas usually. Next was for Cuban coffee…strong and sweet. Here we had a cigar making

cigar making

demo and bought one cigar. After learning about cigars, we had a Cuban sandwich and a mojito (last night’s was still better). Dessert was a pastelito de guayaba – a flaky puff pastry filled with guava and cheese…delicious. Second to last was a stop at a street window for fresh pressed sugar cane juice.

One of the stops between snacks was at Domino Corner – an outdoor, but covered place where those 55 and older (just in time for me to join) can get a membership to play dominos.

cigar buying

As we walked, we also saw plenty of roaming chickens. They don’t belong to anyone…just roam.

Lastly was a place with Cuban memorabilia including classic cars. We had a churro and learned about guayabera shirts. Guayabera shirts are short

Cuban sandwiches and mojitos

sleeved (they can be long) with 2 distinctive vertical stripes along either side of the chest. I hoped we would be brought to a place where Chris might buy one…he did.  

Between stops for food, we heard about Cuban history in Miami, saw some of the stars on the Walk of Fame, and looked at outdoor wall murals.

sugar cane pressing

We ended out time in Little Havana by sitting at the bar at The Ball and Chain, a bar that opened in 1935. A trio was playing salsa music, and some were dancing. This place was open to the road and from the time we met the tour across the street we could hear the music and planned to stop after – a fun place!

pastelito de guayaba

Another 40 min Uber ride back to the hotel for siesta time, followed by the hotel’s wine hour where we chatted with an old fella from Tennessee.

We still weren’t at all hungry after this afternoon’s food but thought we needed to stretch our legs anyway. We walked along the path behind our hotel and all the way down Ocean Drive admiring the lit-up Art Deco hotels.

There were a few places that caught our eye with live music. We are never particularly married to any place…outdoor seating, live music, someone beckoning us with happy hour and we are sold.

The Estefan mural

We had 2 for 1 margaritas and calamari while listening to and watching flamenco. Although we both are happy with the same drink…a margarita, I know that in Miami 2 for 1, means 2 of the very same drink. I couldn’t get a margarita

Bay of Pigs memorial

and Chris get a mojito (for example) and only pay for one…oh no, I also knew to be specific and explain that we only want one drink each…I remember learning this lesson the hard way in Miami with my mom and brother!

A benefit of sitting outside is that you can see the world going by however, that can also subject you to panhandlers etc. Not in Miami Beach though. I
don’t think we’ve seen one panhandler this entire

Ball and Chain bar

trip. There is a park perfect for sleeping that no one seems to sleep in. There are also cops everywhere. Seems like there is a budget for the tourist area…good for us I suppose.

Anyway…the one and only time we were approached was by a guy asking if we were Jewish. He had menorahs that he was either selling or giving away, he

classic cars

didn’t stick around for us to find out. Once we said we weren’t Jewish, he split. The front host came up to us in a flash to see what he wanted. She said

"Are you Jewish?"

she had never had that happen before. Then…on the way home Motti’s Mitzvah Tank drove past and again…asked us if we were Jewish…of all the time we have been approached for one thing or the other being asked if we are Jewish is a first.

Lori – I loved the Birdcage too, I need to rewatch it!

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