Florida, Oddly Enough

A little field trip for you...There was a feast for the eyes awaiting me in Miami this weekend. We didn't have enough time for me to take all the photos I wanted to take, so we will be going again in a few weeks. This trip was for seeing the very relaxing and informative Immersive Van Gogh exhibit.  We booked a very reasonable and lovely airbnb for our one night stay in nearby Little Havana. Though short, our visit was really enjoyable.

Things I loved:

Number one, the Art Deco architecture. In Miami proper, it was oftenn sadly neglected to the point of decrepit. Many gems were graffitied over. But in Miami Beach, the beautiful architecture style is alive and well. 

Number two, the people love. People in the south Miami area, especially Little Havana, wear their clothes with confidence and style. You get the idea that body size and type aren't judged. People are too busy conversing and eating and loving on babies, their own and each others'. Children are highly valued and everyone looks after them. It was just nice to see the body confidence in these people who live with gusto and panache. It's refreshing to imagine deciding that I could easily wear beautiful things that make me happy without thinking they have to look perfect. Also, I have always loved Cuban style men's shirts. I will have to buy a few sometime. The good ones are pricey. I've already picked out a few. Oh, and outdoors I didn't even mind the cigar smoke.

Numero three, the coffee. Real Cuban coffee is so good. The gentleman who made ours this morning brought us a tray with two pitchers and two small cups. And may I say that this coffee seemed like ambrosia? Reading about it, I see that the trick is in how you whip the sugar into a small amount of espresso, then pour in into the pot so it slides into each cup across the top. He served it to us with a small pitcher of warmed frothy milk. It was divine. I've had Cuban coffee other places but it was not this well made. It will be a special treat for me, now, when I visit there. 

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Number four,  thee amazing plant life. Florida is lush, but Miami neighborhoods have a little something special. Their terrain has a difference I didn't know about. At the Vizcaya museum, more on that later, I learned there remain elements of old growth forest in some parts of the area. I haven't had time to read about it, but there were many trees and plants we don't see, or at least I haven't seen,  on the gulf coast. 

Hoping this week there will be elements of beauty and relaxation in your lives as well.

~Dorothy Dolores