There is nothing like being a tourist in your own country. But in our very own Miami, everyone seems like a tourist in this melting pot of a city, with people from everywhere including Cuba, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Europe… and, did I mention Cuba?
Our hotel was right on the Miami waterfront where as many as seven cruise ships were lined bow to stern along the huge docks, awaiting departure from the largest cruise port in the world. Despite the foggy, damp weather, I had several hours to see some local sights, so a Russian driver named Sergey ubered me (is that a verb now?) across the bridge to the historic art deco district of glitzy South Beach. It was cloudy and wet and the strong winds from the Atlantic Ocean nearly blew me over, making it almost possible to imagine the ferocity of a hurricane.
The lifeguard houses along Ocean Drive were shuttered and the beach was closed. The other side of the street was lined with Necco-wafer colored, rounded stucco buildings and briskly swaying palm trees. I walked for blocks past vintage art deco hotels, street side restaurants, luring erotic clubs emanating with the sounds of Caribbean rhythms, swimsuit boutiques, hookah cafes, and lovely cigar girls.
Nestled obscurely between buildings is the mediterranean mansion of the late fashion designer, Gianni Versace where, returning from a morning coffee run in 1997, he was brutally gunned down on the steps of his home. It is now the luxury hotel and restaurant Villa Casa Casuarina, with it’s hidden passages, original 24-carat gold pool and A-list regulars, including Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, and Sylvester Stallone.
Back at the Intercontinental Hotel of Miami where we stayed, we had dinner at Toro Toro, the Pan Latin restaurant of acclaimed chef Richard Sandoval, known for its Miami chic vibe and creative cuisine with the flavors of…Cuba, of course.