LITTLE HAVANA, MIAMI – IS IT ANYTHING like THE genuine THING?

Miami, Florida is only 90 miles from Cuba’s coast. Being the closest American city to Cuba, it makes sense that the people who made the relocation Stateside have established a bit Havana of their own there. however exactly how similar is Miami’s version of Cuba’s funding to the genuine thing?

Thanks to its considerable Cuban expat population, Miami, Florida has a type of duel culture. The beachside celebration town glam of Florida’s Gold coastline has integrated with the untouched salsa spirit of Cuba, as well as what’s come of it is really unique.

Here’s our video of bit Havana to provide you a taste of what it’s like there compared to the genuine thing:

Click right here if you can’t see the video.

As 8th street heads to its eastern edge, the interesting suburb of bit Havana truly concerns life. It’s interesting since it’s both like as well as unlike anything else you’ll discover in America.

You get similar Hispanic hints in locations like San Diego’s Old Town, however there’s something distinctly Cuban about this part of Miami. as well as that’s what makes it different.

But the thing that made it even much more fascinating for us – coming directly from Cuba to Miami – was to see exactly how the Cubans right here represent their homeland funding in America.

Little Havana, Miami

Down the broad, directly American street that locals right here phone call Calle Ocho, evidence of Cuban influence is clear.

Cuban flags as well as salsa beats fill the air, as well as restaurants offer ropa vieja as well as Cuban sandwiches – though this specific meal didn’t exist on Havana’s menus up until recently.

But things feel a bit fake. A bit forced.

It’s not up until you area the bit details that you realise the authenticity of bit Havana.

In Maximo Gomez Park – likewise understood as Domino Park – we were drawn to the clack-clack of the dominos slamming down. Tables as well as tables of Cuban gents all playing the age-old game. however better inspection shows these dominos are distinctly Cuban. instead of one to six dots, these pieces go as much as nine. as well as it’s a much much more confusing game.

You’ll likewise discover people selling long thin cones of white paper full of peanuts. If we hadn’t been to Cuba, we’d most likely have discovered this rather strange, however these bit snacks are a typical sight on the streets of Havana.

Food, drink as well as home entertainment in bit Havana

Like many locations in Miami, there are lots of watering holes as well as food venues in bit Havana. From American quick food joints to bit family-run Cuban paladares, 8th street has plenty to select from.

But the most compelling as well as likewise the most fascinating on Calle Ocho is the Cubaocho museum as well as Performing Arts Center. With online bands playing often as well as unscripted salsa dance-offs happening too, it’s the ideal area for a mojito or a cubata. sit at the bar, view the people as well as absorb the concept of Cuba.

Further inside Cubaocho is a riches of old Cuban artefacts, furniture as well as artwork worth going to see.

Also worth taking a look at are the cigar shops on Calle Ocho. a few of them have people hand-rolling cigars in the conventional way. Of course, these won’t be Cuban cigars, however the rollers look like they’re doing a quite expert job. though they’re much slower than the pros we saw in the Partagas factory we went to in Havana.

Funnily enough, you’d never see people rolling cigars on the street in Havana, Cuba. They’d be arrested immediately. The only legal cigars created in Cuba come from government-run ‘factories’. whatever else is essentially a bootleg product.

How much does bit Havana hold up against the genuine thing?

Obviously bit Havana is missing the old grandeur of Havana proper. The history, range as well as stylish overlook of the design in Havana is like nowhere else on earth. Its narrow looming streets full of life as well as very little pavement produce a distinct feeling as you walk with Cuba’s capital.

However, bit Havana is much cleaner than the genuine thing, which is desirable. It’s likewise safer in respect of avoiding traffic. The flexibility as well as family member riches the people in bit Havana have makes us both unfortunate as well as hopeful for the Cubans still in their homeland.

And with the coming tide of tourism to Cuba, possibly we’ll be seeing a Taco Bell as well as a MacDonald’s on Havana’s streets – just like on Calle Ocho.

Is it worth going to bit Havana?

Little Havana is as distinct a location as genuine Havana. however then all of Miami is just as unique. No two locations are the same.

Little Havana is excellent if you’re searching for a small pointer of your time in Cuba. It’s fun, colourful as well as practically as full of life as the genuine thing. nothing rather beats really going to that lovely island nation, as well as we’d suggest costs time in Cuba toanybody who wishes to see something extraordinary.

If you haven’t been to Cuba yet, a few of the bit details we delighted in may pass you by. however seeing the subjected heart of a major aspect of Miami life discusses something of what this city is about.

Many of the older Cuban Americans concerned Miami fleeing persecution of the Castro transformation in the ‘50s as well as – seen by the Cuban specify as traitors – they haven’t been back house since.

It made us question if we were seeing the Havana the locals kept in mind from their heydays before whatever in Cuba changed.

Have you been to bit Havana in Miami? What did you think? have you ever been to a smaller version of a city you’ve fallen in like with? tell us all about it in the comments below!