As our tour continued we worked our way along Biscayne Blvd and through downtown Miami. I hate to say it but to me it looked like any large city. One thing that caught my eye was the People Mover. It’s like a little elevated trolley car. It made me think of our “green line” trains in Boston but it’s just one car, not a train.
The People Mover, officially known as the “Metromover” is a 4.4-mile electrically-powered, fully automated people mover system that connects with the Metrorail at Government Center and Brickell stations and with Metrobus at various locations throughout downtown and the best part…its free. Yup, everyone rides FREE.
Now that’s something I’d like to take a ride on.
From there we worked our way into Little Havana. Little Havana is an interesting place and one I don’t quite know how I feel about. One of the first things our tour guide stressed is that everyone speaks Spanish there even in the schools. The Cuban traditions are closely guarded and maintained.
Not to get into a political discussion but I found myself torn because I think anyone who immigrates to another country has an obligation to assimilate into the new country’s culture and language. I guess Little Havana is an exception because the founders were not immigrants. They were/are refugees with the hopes of someday returning to their own country. In any case it makes for an interesting excursion into strange land within our own USA.
We stopped at a cigar factory where we were given a opportunity to tour the factory and, of course, purchase cigars in the gift shop. I opted to remain in my seat at the top of the bus. Pretty soon a man came around peddling peanuts. About all I understood was that his sleeves of peanuts were a dollar and very, very good. I figured a snack wouldn’t hurt so I bought one of his very, very good peanuts, and they were.
We passed the legendary 1930’s night club known as the Ball and Chain. Formerly a gambling den, mobster-owned club and jazz venue hosting luminaries like Billie Holiday from the 1930s–1950s, this storied nightspot reemerges in Little Havana once again, embracing its colorful past with a 1930s-inspired design countered by modern-day live-music acts.
My other observation of Little Havana are the architectural features that reflect the Cuban influence or so I assume. ( Never having been to Cuba) . There are beautiful wall paintings and murals and wrought iron window decorations.
Once we had a head count the bus rumbled on to Coral Gables.
Very interesting. Didn’t know even that much about Little Havana. Good pictures as usual. 🙂
I always learn something new whenever I go places. Little Havana was very interesting. I loved the wall art!