Miami Part Four

A last photo at Miami River Inn before we checked out.



Key Biscayne
An island 7 miles long, and 2 miles wide, I'd wanted to check out the place and see Cape Florida Lighthouse located at the very tip of it.

















On the way back to the car, I saw the cutest little thing.



Cuban Influence
Cafe Versailles ( 8th St and 36th in Little Havana) serves up the most delectable Cuban food ever. If you are attempting Cuban for the first time, you absolutely HAVE to try the fried plaintains, beans, yuka and shredded beef. Yifan's Versailles Paella is another item that you can't go wrong with.





And I finally got to try Pina Colada!! That's the second of the two must-trys when you visit Florida.



Having the mafia patronise the restaurant is further testament to how good the food is. Just kiddin'.



Coral Gables
The town with Mediterranean-style architecture.





Venetian Pool
Constructed from limestone in the 1920s, this is a working swimming pool!!













Star Island
Lots of celebrities own mansions in Miami. We thought we'd go admire the houses, and hopefully catch sight of someone famous.



One of the little islands we visited was Star Island. It's really just a tiny strip of land, with very tight security. We were stopped at the security checkpoint, asked a couple of questions, and Yifan had to have his picture taken by the surveillance camera, before we were allowed to make just one drive through the place.

Anyhow, do you think this is Shaq's house?



We had a couple more hours before we had to leave for the airport, so it was back to SoBe to work on our tan. Or rather, Yifan's tan. I was done.









Then it was time to go!



But before we leave Miami, there was just one last thing to do-- Eat Colombian food.
El Sitios on Washington Ave.









Just when we thought we ate enough, we saw Cafe Versailles at the airport!!! So of course, we bought some guava pastries back home, and I tell ya, those pastries were beyond delicious, I wish we'd bought more ( Yifan saw a guy buy 20!!!!).

Miami Part Three

A beach vacation to Miami would not be complete without spending a day lazing on SoBe. Memorial Day weekend was also Urban Beach Week in Miami. Lots, and I mean lots, of black people gathered to party the days away. It was, afterall, the largest Urban Festival in the world that caters to the hiphop community. P. Diddy even performed at one of the clubs there!!

The white locals stayed away ( I really think they just don't like the blacks), while Yifan and I enjoyed the scene ( we both are very used to seeing lots of black people)--big, burly black men were cruising along Ocean Drive in cars that looked like they just had a makeover in Pimp My Ride, while girls strutted on the streets in the most outrageous clothing you have ever seen.

On the drive to the beach, we passed the Port of Miami, where the Carnival cruise ships set sail from.



Blue sky, fluffy white clouds, and an expanse of white sandy beach. That, and the light turquoise waters make for beautiful pictures.





After the previous day's dismal weather, we literally jumped for joy.

















We Love Peruvian Food!

We discovered our love for Peruvian food at Chalan On the Beach at Washington Ave and 16th St.

Black people love all things flashy!









You gotta love them for it!









They do get on the wrong side of the law too. Or perhaps, it was just a case of discrimination?

We saw a guy being frisked by a policeman for no apparent reason, except he was black.

Then we saw a girl in handcuffs. Black girl, I must add. She was later released.



And you wonder why the Blacks and the Whites don't get along?!



Coconut Grove

A neighborhood just south of Miami.