Top 10 Reflections That Capture the Essence of My Miami Hometown
Jun 22, 2025
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Serious and not-so-serious reflections based on recent trips to childhood hometown, Miami, Florida.
Great coffee. I was fueled by thrice-daily café con leche and lattes.
2. There seems to be less of a visible homeless problem in Miami than in Los Angeles.
The redeveloped parts of Miami seem cleaner, safer, and have more user-friendly w signage, walkability, and bike access
than their L.A counterparts: Wynwood vs Arts District, Brickell vs Mid-Wilshire.
4 Miamians of all persuasions have great self-esteem. I did not meet one self-effacing, humble person on my recent trips. Never have, come to think of it, during my childhood either.
5. Brickell is an amazing example of a walkable, high-density, pedestrian, and transit-oriented neighborhood. I was so enamored that I might consider semi-retiring and wintering there one day!
Food and Uber rides are less expensive than in Los Angeles.
7. Speaking of food, every type of Latin American cuisine is available--from Peruvian ceviche to Venezuelan arepas to Argentinian empanadas. Yum
8. Speaking of Ubers, I had insightful conversations in two languages with drivers from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and New Jersey.
9. On a good day in LA, I am about 90% fluent in Spanish. If I lived in Miami, I would be 120% fluent y 'volvería mi acento cubano, chicos!
10 . Aventura Mall keeps growing. Great food court and al fresco dining options, plus an indoor farmers market.
11. Bonus Reflection Ives Diary Road and US 1 have been under construction for over 40 years!
