Well, hello, Lunatics!! Oh, South Beach, love of my life… how do you do me like this??
Do I have a story – or some stories – for you all… So, I decided I had had enough of the cold New England weather in December and took off to Miami for a few days after most of my work commitments had been fulfilled. I booked a quick, surprisingly inexpensive flight to MIA and off I went. Wait until I tell you about the cutesy hotel where I stayed within walking distance to everything! It was so different compared to the 5-star chain I usually tend to book.
Anywho! I am sure you have had your own experience(s) from catching a stomach bug to getting a cold, to other much larger emergencies. So, if you’re here to compare, please sit tight.
Let’s start with the Good stuff first!
First, there is sooo much variety from Peruvian to Colombian to Mediterranean to Irish to American… to, well, Cubannnn… which for me all cause an issue because I love to EAT! Seriously, as if you don’t know that by now?
Second, if your lodging (read hotel, hostel or AirBnB) is on Washington, Collins or Ocean, you are sooo golden! Especially if you’re not far from the Lincoln Mall area on Lincoln Blvd near 16th Street. Again, the choices are endless.
Third, if you don’t care about a formalities and are in the mood for something more on the casual side, the Lincoln Eatery is the perfect place to grab a bite on Lincoln Lane North. I mean, they have a variety of small stands where you can get your fix of Asian, Indian or Italian cuisine, Latino inspired foods, desserts and even Vegan options.
In fourth place, again, if you know me… all the coffee shops right on or not too far from Lincoln Blvd. You do have the option to go to the staple Starbucks, I mean, for crying out loud… there are two less than a block away from each other! However, there are also local shops where you can get a cortadito, latte or Americano. Whatever suits you! I found this place on Washington Avenue called “Charlotte Bakery” which is locally owned and has been at that location since the early-mid 90’s. It’s right across from the Five Guys burger joint on 15th Street.
Last on the list of good things, are the sweets and desserts shops. Gelato? Yes! Candy? Yes? Cheesecake? Absolutely. Guess who came home with 10 extra pounds? Exactly. In any event, you can find a variety of sweets to satisfy your craving. Worse case scenario, you can also stop at the big chain drug stores to get snacks! They are open 24 hours.
Now, me being forever an optimist and loving South Beach and Miami… there weren’t too many bad things to worry about. However, there were a couple of them that left me a bad taste.
Here is the short list of bad things
The first day I arrived, I went to the Five Guys place because I was in the mood for a burger. I forget that fries are separate and they cost as much as a burger. By the time I took the food back to the AirBnB, a block away, I had finished the fries – I was hungry! – while walking back and got full. The burger sat for about two hours and, if you’ve ever had a Five Guys burger before, you know they’re delicious the minute you get them. Where is the bad thing about this? Well. Had I really thought about it, I would have only gotten the burger and not the fries, so I ended up paying extra for not a great experience. BUT it wasn’t their fault. That was all on me.
The second thing is the price of dining out. I mostly buy food to keep in the room or cook if I have a full kitchen in the AirBnB for two reasons: I get to save money for other experiences and I get to keep an eye on what I eat. This time, around, I paid double, alright? In addition to paying a lot more for food than I usually would, I gained weight. It’s okay, I am on the mend. So, the lesson here is to keep to my plan.
The third bad thing was that if I had not been paying attention, I would have double-tipped. I am a big tipper, don’t get me wrong. I am usually above generous, but for a restaurant to automatically tag a bill with a 20% gratuity on 2 appetizers and 2 cocktails? I was shooketh! Quite honestly I would have even tipped more, but – sir, let ME do it!! I like the young lady who waited on me.
Let Me Address the Ugly
Like every single major city in the US, Miami has its share of homeless individuals and drug addicts hanging out or simply sleeping on the bare hard pavement. South Beach is not immune to this, especially near old abandoned businesses that at some point thrived lifting up the economy and the neighborhoods.
Leaving a restaurant with packed leftovers and walking back to the restaurants felt really ugly to me. I wasn’t sure if to leave the food by their side as I passed them by – I could say I was concerned about allergies or someone else taking the food or them not seeing it when they woke up. Whatever my reasons were, I didn’t leave the food.
It was just an ugly feeling. A feeling of shame. Guilt. Embarrassment.
Now that I am back home, holidays are over – you know, the time of joy and cheer where family gathers and exchanges gifts (as I continued to battle with my depression and anxiety), I can’t stop thinking about what I could have, should have, would have done. I have thought about a couple of things that I can and will do. ’tis the season is what I make of it, I think, and it doesn’t have to be only around the December holidays, right?
Anyway, I hope this didn’t dim your light too much and that now that you’ve found – and hopefully read – this post, you’re on to meeting your 2024 goals in full of abundant love, health and wealth of every kind!
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