Thursday, January 24, 2019. I slept like a baby in my top bunk. Although at some point during the night I was startled awake by a bunch of “clicking” sounds then lights turning on and off all around me. (For a second I thought I was a having a acid flashback to my clubbing days!) Then I heard someone yell, “TURN THE FUCKING LIGHT OFF!!” and remembered exactly where I was.
I dozed off again and slept until almost 7. The roomies were up and gone long before I finally woke for the day. I sluggishly wandered down to the lobby for some coffee. Breakfast at the Generator was a simple spread. Fruits, breads, cereal, coffee, milk, and O.J. I loaded up on carbs and caffeine then ran back upstairs to grab my snorkel. Stopping briefly for a selfie on my way back down.
It was slightly warmer this morning and less windy than the day before. The weather was going to be perfect today! I headed directly to the beach, passing tanned and well toned bodies on their morning jogs all along the way.
The surf was calmer that day. I didn’t care how cold it was, I was getting in the water! I dove in and nearly had a heart attack! It felt like an ice bath! I waded, neck deep, until my body acclimated to the water temperature. The visibility was too cloudy for good snorkeling so I swam, floated, and played in the waves like a toddler without a care in the world. After that I flew a kite and made a sand castle on the beach! – Kidding. After 30 minutes I was ready to get out of the water and do some more exploring.
I went back to my room, pushed “play” on my waterproof JBL Bluetooth speaker and jammed my Cali Roots Reggae playlist while I showered and got ready for my day.
I took the trolley south to Franklin street, where the upscale shops, art galleries, and restaurants are. Oh, and a Starbucks on every corner! The sun was shining bright and the gorgeous people were on display. I had nothing on the schedule for this day so I elected to roam and see what kind entertainment City Center provided. 
I was considering a cigar again. But couldn’t justify shelling out $30 on a Romeo Y Julieta. It just wasn’t in the budget this time. Besides, if I purchased the cigar, then I”d have to buy the Goorin Bros. straw fedora and Cubavera linen shirt to go with it (you gotta look the part too!). Next thing you know I’m out $300 for a damn cigar!….Disgusted by the audacity of these high end retail stores, I moved on down the line to see what other finds were nearby that I simply could not live without!
As expensive as it may be, you can always find a reasonably priced lunch in Miami. And you haven’t lived until you’ve had a Cuban sandwich there. I got a table at Havana 1957. They have an outstanding Cuban sandwich, with fries and a salad for under $10.
Now that I’d satisfied my craving, I was ready for round 2.
I’m not cultured by any means, but I do appreciate the arts. There are several galleries on Franklin street so I spent a couple of hours bouncing from one to another. Romero Britto and Avant Gallery have some very impressive pop-art exhibits.
Peter Lik and the National Geographic Fine Art Gallery both have amazing photography on their walls.
Before I knew it, it was almost 4 in the afternoon. I’d been strolling the outdoor mall since 11 am! I’d lost track of time and now I was getting hungry again. I hopped on the Collins Loop trolley and rode it back to the hostel. The sun was close to setting when we reached my stop. I hit the beach once more before returning to my room to change clothes and fix a sandwich.
Matt and Juan were getting ready to head out for dinner and they invited me along. I had already almost hit my budget limit for that day but I didn’t want to be rude so I accepted. We ate at a place they found on Yelp called Alma’s Mexicana, on Washington. It was incredible!! I’m always skeptical of Mexican food once I get outside of Texas (because we have the very BEST) but this little hole in the wall did not disappoint! It’s making me hungry all over again thinking about! And Matt was absolutely flabbergasted that they had this thing called a carne asada burrito on their menu!! I guess they don’t have those in Boston. Suffice it to say, we enjoyed our meal immensely. After dinner we caught the trolley back to Generator. (By the way, the trolleys are free, buses are $2.50.)
I wasn’t tired, so I went to the Driftway (one of the bars at Generator). Matt went to the room to get some sleep and Juan had work to do.
I’d had a pretty good beer there the night before from a local brewery called Concrete Beach IPA. Crisp and well-balanced with just the right amount of hops, I ordered another one. Soon Juan met me at the bar and we hung out for a bit. If you’re ever near there go see the bartender, Anthony. He’s got a thousand funny stories, and they’re all about seeing boobs!! Plus, he’s a damn good bartender!
I knew this would be my last night in Miami and I was feeling a little melancholy about it, so I paid for my beer, told Juan to look me up if he’s ever in Texas, and went for another one of my contemplative walks.
There was a light drizzle, which seemed to fit the mood. I walked a few blocks, got hit-on by a transvestite, and then decided maybe it was time for bed.
johnparrishtravels 