South Beach, Miami Get-Away January 26, 2013
Hello dears!,
I woke up early this morning, as my beautiful body (!) adjusts back to west coast time. Mr. Wonderful and I just returned from a short, warm weather get-away, to South Beach, Florida. 
I love the Cuban flavor of the culture. My favorite area was sort of a “little Cuba”, where we ate twice, at a restaurant called Cuba 1957.
Another favorite dining destination was the BLT Restaurant, within the Betsy Ross Hotel, on Ocean Avenue. The hotel itself is one of the prettiest there, and the restaurant is wonderful! We had dinner there twice, because we couldn’t get into Joe’s Crab Shack, one night, which is a historical favorite, in the area.
There is a great park along the beach, next-door to the timeshare that we stayed at. Here, you can rent bikes. We did this on a couple of occasions and really loved it. The terrain is flat and the sidewalks are wide. The only thing missing was a bike lane. I came close to mowing down a few inebriated bystanders, but otherwise enjoyed riding along the water!
As we drove along the marina, we fantasized about taking off on one of these little boats!
Another highlight of the week, was to join our dear friends, Gale and Glen, who live in Coconut Grove (paradise), for the day. Their home is filled with visitors, this time of year and they are the perfect hosts and tour guides! You can always plan to do the unexpected, with these two!
Since the weather did not cooperate on that day, instead of going out on their boat, we toured some of the galleries and shops around town. Art by God was filled with natural beauties, all for sale!
I would never make it, on an African safari! These animals are so beautiful, there’s no way I could ever kill one.
I did love the sign they had, warning shoppers. What do you think about a sign like this for The Treasured Home? 🙂
After lunch at our hosts’ lovely hacienda, we took a siesta, followed by dinner in a Cuban restaurant, followed by a play. No rest for the wicked with these two! It was a great day!
All in all, it was a great week! It’s so nice to warm your body in the sun and soak up some vitamin D!
I’ll be back at the shop for the weekend, before heading off to the Las Vegas Market, returning Wednesday. I’ll be on the look-out for special hostess gifts, and charming, yet affordable home accessories.
There’s also a “cash & carry” area, where you can take your purchases with you. The last market I went to, had some great Indian sari textiles, that are popular at the shop. If you have a chance, come see what’s new, next weekend!
I’m with you! I would have cried my EYES out if I had entered that store…maybe sneak in at night and give them all a proper burial. Too, too sad. Just not RIGHT!!!!!
It has been a long time since I have seen the sun…I envy you!
xo
Andie
We just missed each other. I was on Fisher Island talking to a gal about a job! I hope you got the Design and Gallery section to see what all is going on there. I was at a place in COCONUT GROVE called Gibraltar that a friend owns. I know like most visitors, your eyes were bleeding by the time you got home!
Hello sweets,
You’re the only person that I have ever heard of referring to “bleeding eyes”, but now I have to say, that I see what you mean! Thank goodness I’ll be dead and gone when all of those tattoos are drooping, 40 years from now!
Is the job opportunity promising?
Funny, when I saw Art by God, I immediately thought of driftwood, seashells..you know nature stuff…not animals! I would like to take a photographic safari someday…course you would get the same feeling at Animal Kingdom at Disney resorts! Sounds like you had a great time, and that’s all that is important! 😉
I thought the same thing. There were some shells and rock formations, but there were a lot more skins and stuffed animals than anything else. I have such a long list of places to go, I don’t know if I’ll ever get to an African safari, but you never know!
What a fun trip. We were in Miami about three weeks or so ago after Christmas. The first thing I always to when we fly into Miami is buy a Cuban coffee…..then I know we’ve actually arrived!
I saw that on the menu at a couple of restaurants. I should have tried it!
Looks like you had lots of fun and most deserved….I have yet to make it to florida….I want to go back to New Orleans love that city
So you were playing in my old “playground”…I miss the great Cuban food…I could just smell and taste it now…and don’t you just love Coconut Grove..a beautiful place…they have the best art show each year…famous!….Glad you had a great time in the Sunshine State!!…Have fun in Vegas!!!….bring back some pretty things!