We recently went for a week-long visit to my nephew in southern Florida, who has called it his second home, following the completion of his graduate studies there, and landing his ‘first’ job. It is a long way from California, his first home, which sits on the opposite side of the continental US, on the periphery of the Pacific. Florida is on the eastern coast of the Atlantic, also with miles and miles of beach, warm weather, vibrant life, and adventure. I guess you can call it a tropical paradise.
During this visit, we just bonded together at his place, happy to see each other face-to-face again. He showed us around his favorite hang-outs and his workplace. Met some of his friends, and THE girlfriend. We had dinners out. We also took a weekend trip to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Yes, much like California, the state of Florida is also home to Mickey and Minnie, you know - the “happiest place on earth”? I will tell you all about the details in this and in future blogs. I broke it down into three parts.
But first, let me tell you a little story in the backdrop. We actually planned a surprise visit last summer, on his birthday, excited to film his reaction for Tiktok. 😊 But as fate would have it, we could only go as far as the airport. Why? Because right, when we were already at the gate, after check-in and screening at the TSA, Spirit Airlines, canceled our flight! Bummer! So we, along with all the passengers on that flight, had to go back to the airline counter and line up to re-book. And before we could even do that, we had to collect our checked-in luggage which they already unloaded into the carousel. It was a mess! It took us a good two hours to get re-booked on a different flight.
And yet, within a few hours, they canceled it again. The crazy thing is that we actually got to board the plane, but it never took off the ground! We just waited and waited, until the pilot announced that his crew - having already worked for so many hours past the ‘legal limit’ - whatever that meant - were advised to disembark, and a different set of flight crew would be called in. Long story short - all passengers were sent back to the gate and told to wait for a new set of pilots and flight attendants! We had been waiting at the LAX airport for almost 24 hours! Sleepless! It was craaazy! We just gave up, asked for our money back, and headed home.
This time, we had much better luck. Our five-hour flight from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale, Florida was uneventful and comfortable, with an attentive crew, lots of movie choices, drinks, and snacks. Here are a few snapshots I took during take-off, on the plane, and on our arrival at the Fort Lauderdale airport.
We were welcomed by a swarm of birds while waiting for our Uber ride. Such a warm welcome.😊
It was nighttime when we reached my nephew’s place. He met us with a big smile and the tightest bear hug. I forgot how this once husky high-schooler has become a hunk of a man. He’s got big ”guns”!
Here’s a view of the skyline on the eastern coast.
My nephew had to work the following days, but he planned on taking us to Disney World on the weekend. In the meantime, hubby and I busied ourselves exploring what Florida has to offer.
Miami is one of the more popular vacation destinations in the nation, offering warm weather, pristine beaches, and vibrant nightlife. It is an amazing place for family fun, outdoor adventure, and exotic food and culture. It is about a 30-minute drive to the south of Fort Lauderdale.
It’s also the home port to many of the world's cruise lines and it is dubbed the "Cruise Capital of the World".
The Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, and Carnival are some of the cruise ships that dock at the Miami Port. Cruise destinations range from World Cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas.
It also houses some of the biggest national and international companies with its skyscrapers.
We passed by some interesting structures with a colorful murals.
Have you guys seen anything like this parking structure where the cars are mounted on the walls?
We also went to Little Havana, the epicenter of Cuban Culture in the city of Miami.
When you see the giant and colorful roosters in front of the restaurants, you know you're in Little Havana in Calle Ocho to be exact. The rooster has a significant symbol in Cuban culture.
You can score Cuban cigars too.
We went for lunch at one of the Cuban restaurants that were suggested by our Uber driver the day before. Popular for the locals, it must be good, La Carreta.
Purple rice, salad, plantain, and the famous ropa vieja (translation: old clothes) beef flank with strands of shreddy fibers. Delicioso! We had a good time getting to know downtown Miami even just for a day, and we made sure to drive back before the rush hours, cause we sure know how traffic logjams can ruin one’s day. Till the next blog, guys. Thanks for reading.
//]:# (!pinmapple 25.77216 lat -80.21358 long little havana d3scr)
