Spanish is in the air.
Palm trees everywhere.
Cuban sandwiches are served.
Luxury boats.
A seaside that resembles Caribbean calendars, nevertheless, you realize that you are still in the US. Such a strange experience could be the best way to describe Miami. It looked American in some aspects, yet, at the same time, felt like Latin America. After visiting New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, Miami seemed to make up its own rules.
Our trip began at a small airport in Washington, D.C., where we took a Delta flight to Miami costing about $300, including an exit-row seat, which took about two and a half hours.
The flight itself was quite comfortable, even though there was one disappointment.
No food.
Instead, cookies and soft drinks were served. This was a bit surprising since anyone who usually travels with Asian airlines is used to meals being included even on the shorter flights.
However, the flight took off right on time and arrived ahead of schedule.
Not too shabby.
The Miami airport revealed one of the city’s biggest secrets right away.
Spanish is everywhere.
Signs are bilingual, and Spanish is as prevalent as English. It was one of the first experiences that made the question “does Miami feel like America?” even more intriguing.
Transportation from the airport to the hotel was another minor challenge to overcome.
There were yellow cabs, which are so conventionally American. It was rather difficult to figure out how to actually hail one, but eventually a cab was secured and promptly costing around $70 and including the tip.
An Uber ride would cost about $45-$55.
It was one of the first moments of realization that Miami can be pricey.
The hotel was around $200 a night. The room was spacious though: there were two beds, a sofa area, and breakfast included. Everything was alright, but one could not help but think that it wasn’t a luxury hotel given the price.
However, reaching there was a great relief since it was near Miami’s center.
Later, one realized that true Miami was in a location which was far away.
Little Havana.
Once one crossed into Little Havana, one felt like they were in another country.
It was all Spanish around, the music was Latin, and everything reminded of Cuba, not to mention cigar shops, restaurants, great cars and any other features which one would not expect to see in a city where one had just touched down that morning.
It was not at all difficult to get lost in other culture and forget that one was still in the USA.
What was funny was realizing how a young guy sold coconuts there.
A coconut cost just $6, with the vendor opening it with a special device to insert a straw into it. The coconut was indeed a good drink to have in Miami which was much hotter than Washington DC or New York.
The vendor had come from Panama which made the experience even more authentic.
The sound of the music coming from the vehicles and the radios was largely Spanish.
Because it’s the first time for anyone visiting Miami, it may seem strange.
The next thing was the food.
Cuban sandwich was a good choice.
It was tempting, great in size and rich in cheese and ham, served with crunchy stemming.
The bread itself was nice and smooth, even considered less hard than a French baguette.
And the amount for total was 22 dollars with the tip included.
Was that real Cuban food?
No one knows yet.
But it is quite tasteful.
And sometimes, that’s all that counts.
Little Havana also has a Domino Park where some local people are playing the dominoes here together.
People weren’t merely onlookers.
They were out and about.
Having conversations.
Engaging in games.
Enjoying music.
Taking part in everyday activities.
Which was at least more interesting than any tourist destination.
Eventually, another unexpected mission arose: finding a barber shop with a Cuban.
After wandering around and asking locals for help, the barber was found. And it was completely unlike the usual short haircut.
It included hot steam, amplification cream, traditional razor, and many conversations.
The barber actually came from Colombia and had already lived in Miami for two years. During the shave, the conversation naturally switched between English and Spanish.
And the price was really reasonable – only 20 dollars.
The results?
And suddenly something strange appeared outside the barber shop.
Chickens.
A lot of them.
In the center of Miami.
Which made the environment look more like that of a village somewhere in Asia rather than one of the best-known cities of America.
That was the kind of randomness that helped Miami to stand out.
One moment you could be surrounded by luxury cars and the next by chickens.
Besides, there were also those old American school buses.
After seeing one in movies many times, seeing it live was another moment during my travels that made the United States feel like a movie set.
Eventually, we made our way toward the water.
Rather than just taking an Uber to South Beach, a water taxi seemed more exciting.
It was also true that my trip on the water taxi cost $25 for one way.
The taxi itself turned out to be more than just a means of transportation.
The boat rode through waterways of Miami while the tour guide explained us what we were passing. On the way surrounded by luxury houses worth millions of dollars, we listened to stories about properties owned by celebrities.
Some of them belonged to stars like Shakira, David Beckham, and others.
One property was said to have a value around $110 million.
That is the figure hard to comprehend.
After all, who can buy a place worth 110 million?
Apparently, there is someone in Miami who would answer this question positively.
On our way, we also saw luxury yachts and boats and it was clear that Miami’s marinas are a place for wealthy people
The city appeared as a completely different place completely different from Little Havana.
It almost seemed silly as to how strong the contrast was.
Previously earlier the trip involved expenses of six dollar coconut drink and having a haircut for about twenty dollars.
The places of interest such as the villas greatly worth more than thirty million dollars and yachts in possession of half the million dollars only were discovered.
Moreover, it is interesting to know that all of those cultural spots together can be seen at a very short distance.
The boat approached Miami Beach Marina which is situated close to South Beach.
From there it takes a few minutes to walk to Ocean Drive.
The Ocean Drive is one of the most well-known streets in Miami and it was depicted in many movies.
The streets became particularly trendy in the 1980s.
However, what was surprising about that area was how calm it was.
There were not so many people as expected in that place.
The atmosphere was relaxingly good.
There were palm trees and various Art Deco buildings sight as well as the classic cars and lay-back beach.
There was even an eye-catching car with
However, one thing was not as good.
There were hardly any traders.
In comparison to the beaches in Los Angeles, which are full of vendors selling beverages, fruits, and snacks, Miami Beach felt somehow deserted in that aspect.
The water itself did not look as attractive as the beaches in the Southeast Asia region.
The beach was good, but if the best thing for you is the water with amazing clarity, then Miami is probably not the better option compared to some places in Asia.
Nevertheless, the ambiance was fantastic.
Sunshine.
Palm trees.
Warm weather.
Miami skyline.
Luxury cars.
Ocean Drive.
Spanish conversations going in background.
The city had a unique character.
It was not New York.
It was not Los Angeles.
And it definitely was not Washington, D.C.
Miami was somehow more tranquil and relaxed than the cities mentioned earlier.
Even when you walk through residential areas near South Beach, the ambiance remains very calm. There are luxury cars but no constant feeling of chaos in the air.
The traveler also felt safe during day time.
Miami felt less frantic and much calmer compared to what was experienced in several other big cities in America.
Too bad there was no sunset to report home about, unfortunately.
The plan was to finish the trip at South Point, famous for its marvelous views, but the sky was covered with clouds so that the sunset proved dull rather than marvelous.
Nevertheless, it was still beautiful.
Moreover, perhaps a good sunset would be too predictable for the trip’s conclusion.
Because Miami is anything but predictable.
The first question at the beginning of thus journey was whether Miami would seem like America at all.
The answer after all is complicated.
On the one hand, Miami is definitely America.
The yellow taxis, American highways, dollars, hotels, school buses, and familiar names are lining the road.
However, in terms of its culture, Miami may feel different.
In some areas of Miami, there is Spanish around. It is easy to find Latin American food in Miami. Caribbean features can be noticed. Cuban culture can be clearly seen in Little Havana, while the other communities from Latin America, namely Venezuela, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and others, also contributed to the image of Miami.
That’s the reason why Miami may seem like a completely different nation while one is still in the U.S.
It is both American and Latin American at the same time.
This combination probably makes the most appealing aspect of the city.
However, Miami has a warning for tourists: it is expensive.
Hotels can cost hundreds of bucks a night. Taxis, eateries, entertainment, and tips cost much in the aggregate.
Tipping is also complicated and difficult for a tourist to understand.
Sometimes, the gratuity is already included in the bill, but the machines still ask for tips. So, those who are new to American tipping may find this system excessively complicated.
But Miami has something extraordinarily special compared to other American destinations.
It is somehow a gateway to both the Caribbean and Latin America.
You may have your Cuban dish for lunch, hear Spanish being spoken on the street, ride the boat past houses of the stars, enjoy Ocean Drive and finish your day on an American beach.
And maybe that is the reason Miami creates such a great impact on people who come to the city for the first time.
It does not completely get rid of its American character.
Instead, it combines it with something else.
Something that is warmer.
More tropical.
More Latin.
More laid-back.
So, is Miami worth seeing?
Sure, especially if you want to get a glimpse of the US that is nothing like New York, Los Angeles, or Washington.
However, don’t think of the America you see in films.
