MIAMI

The morning after Mardi Gras day I woke up with the urge to book a quick trip out of town. It had been a month of busy shifts at the bar and it wasn't over--St Patrick's Day was still to come. I had the thought of Miami; I had never been there, it's close, and I'd be sure to eat and drink well. As luck would have it my parents had planned a trip there too so I decided to fly out and meet them after St Patrick's day.

My parents picked me up from the airport and we headed straight to Yambo, a Nicaraguan takeout spot with plentiful portions.  We ordered lengua (beef tongue) and chicken on a big pile of rice and beans, both served with a hefty slab of fried cheese. 

We went back to the house, located just south of Little Havana, and got ready to head to the beach. It was super windy but we finally found a good spot.

I’d scoped out the neighborhood ahead of time and noticed a bar called The Mighty that looked local and cool, so we decided to check it out. It was exactly what we wanted: low-key with a friendly vibe, reasonable prices and great service. The specialty was housemade sausages so we ordered one along with some croquettes to go with our drinks. I had also made a run to the closest gas station to purchase a lotto ticket, so we discussed our plans for our imminent fortune over our drinks.

The next morning my dad and I headed to Cafe Versailles for some coffee and breakfast. We ordered cortaditos (strong coffee and steamed milk with sugar), a ham and cheese empanda, and a slice of tortilla. 

That afternoon we explored another beach, then headed to Joe's Stone Crab in South Beach. I'd never had stone crabs before and they were delicious, served with a mustard sauce. We also ordered conch fritters and shared a steak and grilled branzino.

Friday morning I woke up early and took a solo walk down Calle Ocho in Little Havana. I stopped into Los Pinarenos Fruteria for some more Cuban coffee and fresh coconut water.  

My mom met up with me and to do some thrift shopping and wander.

More beach time in Key Biscane. This was the best beach day and we found a nice secluded spot for my mom and I to read our books while Dad snorkeled.

Next we stopped at the Rusty Pelican for a cocktail overlooking the water. My dad got the most attractive one, a rum-based drink with a floral garnish.

Then we decided to return to The Mighty for a few more drinks and snacks. This time it was in full swing for Friday happy hour. We had the same server who immediately remembered our orders from two nights prior and we felt right at home. I ordered a kale salad to round out the other indulgences of the trip.

We called it another early night because my dad and I had committed to a 7:30 am Outrigger Canoe outing the next morning! Unfortunately I couldn't bring my phone and therefore have no pictures to prove I did such a thing.

The trip was short but sweet, and I can't wait to go back! This trip was more beach time than exploring the city, which was just what I needed. But I'm looking forward to returning and checking out more bars, restaurants and music!