A Genuine Experience! South Beach, Miami
Jill and I found ourselves in a slight quandary. “Where do we want to go???”
We thought of Las Vegas (apparently we really REALLY enjoy going there). We thought of Toronto (has to be during the hockey season or CaribanaToronto– Jill has a thing for Caribbean men). We thought of Montana (ok, it was really me that thought of Montana).
Jill: “I know. Let’s go to Miami!”
Jack: “Mi-Jami?”
Jill: “Where?”
Jack: “Never mind. It’s a Cuban-thing.”
And so, we decided to venture to the home of my ancestry. Or at least, second home. I thought it was a neat idea seeing as how long it’s been since I was there (quite a few decades). As usual, I left the specifics up to Jill, as she never disappoints.
Our ultimate destination was set… South Beach, Miami Florida! We would stay at the infamous (which means, “it’s more than famous, it’s IN famous”) SLS Hotels. Or at least, that’s what Jill told me. Once again, I drew a blank. What I did know was, I would have the opportunity to revisit many old and dear memories attached to the days of my youth. That, and chillaxing with my dream girl! This was going to be great!
Our drive from the airport to the SLS was a treat. The sun-filled sky, the palm trees, the mild scent of seawater… it was all very invigorating. Although most of the ‘old’ motels and hotels on the strip have been refurbished, they still seemed to maintain that charm I remembered, albeit in far better operating conditions. Our hotel was certainly not an exception.
We were greeted warmly by all we encountered, displaying genuine hospitality and concern. The facilities were impeccable and as ‘busy’ as it was, it was that much secluded and romantic. The rooms, although on the smaller side, were impeccable and very much modern.
Despite their having lounge chairs and service on the beach, we spent the vast majority of time at the pool, simply relaxing, basking in the sun, as the ‘cabana boys’ (men, actually) catered to our every desire. That simply means, they kept the drinks coming. We really appreciated the fact that the SLS offers two pools behind the hotel; each at the heels of an outdoor bar, both extending a specific atmosphere via music. Though we ventured and dipped in both, most of our time was spent at the first, relaxing to smooth tunes.
The drinks were quite generous in quantity and taste. The pricing? Not so much.
One evening, following a late dinner and walk, we stepped out onto the patio of the outdoor bar grabbing a seat in one of the various ‘comfy’ chairs they offer. There we spent the evening engaged in conversation with each other as well as innocent banter with some neighbors. All this as we enjoyed their most potent concoctions. All about us, there was a very positive buzz of celebration from the many patrons, all lost in their own private getaways. Snuggled together, enjoying our cocktails, we felt alive and free amongst all the ‘beautiful’ people. It was quite arousing.
Then the bill arrived. The drinks are forever etched in our psyches. 
Off we went to our room to continue our celebration of life… and love!
Seeing as we were in Miami, I thought it only proper that we partake in a traditional Cuban meal. At first, I thought we would have to venture to Little Havana but, quite frankly, neither of us was in the mood for any great exertion. Fortunately, the solution was but a block away on Lincoln Road.
If you go to Miami Beach, Havana1957 is a MUST visit, and more than once!
This was a fantastic experience for us, so much so, we had dinner there twice! From the incredibly warm greeting we received from our host, Simon, to the impeccable service from the staff, it was a truly delightful evening with the quality and authenticity of the food the unparalleled highlight (and I am of Cuban decent, mind you).
Simon started our ‘trip’ with genuine interest in our visit to both the area and the restaurant, making suggestions to better enhance the experience. I can think of no better person to be the ‘face of the business’ than him!
Our interaction with the manager, Omar, was incredibly friendly as well, with him displaying the skill and authority of running such a well-oiled machine; a machine only in mechanics, as the personal touch was displayed by all!
In such a busy district, we found it quite refreshing to be allowed to enjoy our meal with no sense of hurry… by anyone at any time!
The food fed our souls and the mojitos fed our hunger… for each other! It was an incredibly liberating evening as we enjoyed the Miami night till dawn!
Outside of our endless pool-time, we took wonderful walks down the boulevard passing by the countless outdoor bars and clubs, all entertaining the night, and their patrons, with an endless stream of sound. All of the motels and hotels that I knew as a child had taken on a different character. Though I certainly understand change is constant, it did bring about a bit of melancholy. As always, Jill remedied this by simply holding my hand and drawing me into a close embrace.
During the day, we did the tourist thing, visiting various shops for mementos of our time. In the process, I became fixated with acquiring a pair of ‘Ray ban’ style shades. Now, quite frankly, I had NO idea exactly how much Ray bans actually cost. When Jill ‘learned’ me this little fact, I was about blown away. Given my habits, I would have been better off throwing the money away as I was sure to misplace them in short order. As such, I opted for the next best thing; shades from a tourist trap. After all, how bad could they be?
Well…. My FIRST pair found the frame snap. My SECOND pair found the frame crack yet again, followed by the lens ‘exploding’ (the Hattian girl behind the counter found great amusement in this one). My THIRD pair worked out fine. Well, that is outside of giving me a headache seeing as I was carrying a ten pound weight on my face. (Many weeks later, I found a pair of glasses which I wear obsessively during the summer months and warm-weather vacations. That story will follow another time.)
Reality
Sadly, our nights in paradise turned very dark suddenly.
After yet another incredible evening enjoying the finer things South Beach has to offer, we ventured onto the beach for a midnight stroll. Mind you, in my youth, ‘we always’ hit the beach at night and shared life’s celebration with anyone and everyone. It was communal.
Times have indeed changed.
After a short walk, we sat down next to some stacked lounge chairs and fell asleep to the sounds of waves lapping at the shore, only to be woken by a man screaming in Spanish. Eventually, coming out of my groggy state, I realized he was telling me/us a thief had run off with Jill’s clutch. He and I both gave chase but to no avail. It was truly unsettling.
After escorting a tearful Jill back to the hotel and leaving her with the staff, who contacted the police, I revisited the beach in the hope of finding the missing articles. I did not. In speaking later with the police I learned that the beach closes at midnight. I also learned that crime on the beach at night is high. Very high.
But as with most bad events, you can usually find the proverbial ‘silver lining’ and this was no exception.
As I returned, I found Jill being watched over and comforted by a hotel security guard. Quite frankly, his presence was both commanding and assuring. He and I spoke, as he shared his regrets for our experience. Further, the manager also came over to us, expressing the same sentiment. We came to learn that he was in direct communication with the police all during this ordeal, which we both very much appreciated.
The staff of the SLS Hotel demonstrated a genuine compassion in response to an incident which was not in the very least related to them, going above & beyond. I felt more than confident in leaving Jill as I gave the surrounding area another ‘sweep’ in the hopes of some small miracle. This consideration is something that is not found in people very often, if at all. With that, we can say with 100% certainly, that we would not hesitate to stay with them again, when going to Miami Beach.
In spite of this, we collected ourselves and enjoyed our last day in Miami, having a lovely breakfast in the shade and pool-time in the sun.
And yes, some more drinks. Hey, you only live once!