The Buena Gente of Atlanta

May 26, 2020 — Leave a comment

“What’s the corn dog one?”

It took me a few seconds to realize that my Anglo friend was referring to the picture of a croqueta.

Clearly, there’s a serious deficiency of ventanitas in Atlanta (and in L.A. for that matter) that pop out croquetas paired with cortaditos. That’s right, restaurants here do not have walk-up windows, which means there’s no such thing as having to elbow through a wall of viejos arguing about politics. That is a cultural experience exclusive to Miami…until now.

(Coco)Nuts for New Orleans

January 28, 2020 — Leave a comment

photo credit: WhereYaAt.com

Did you know there’s a krewe in New Orleans that throws coconuts instead of beads on Mardi Gras? I love this town.

Driving in Miami: Survival of the Fittest

January 27, 2020 — 1 Comment

Public transportation in Miami is lackluster to say the least. And with long distances between points of interest, your best bet is to rent a car. I compiled a few tips on how to drive like a local, whether you’re landing in MIA or FLL.

Mediterranean Must-eats

January 17, 2020 — Leave a comment

Anthony Bourdain’s final book World Travel: An Irreverent Guide will be published this fall. It’s slated to be an illustrated collection of Bourdain’s reflections on his favorite places to visit and eat. It was his TV show that gave me the courage to explore places through food. While at home I am a finicky eater, but when I’m abroad I force myself to be as open as possible. When I’m anywhere in the Mediterranean, though, I don’t have to try that hard. Every. Single. Things. Is. Delicious.

Leather at First Sight: Shopping in Florence

January 14, 2020 — 3 Comments

Illustration by Explore Magazine

We were about to start our dinner when the notion of love at first sight was brought up. Our group went around the kitchen and shared their views, which ranged from a resounding rejection of the entire theory to a sweet and serendipitous how-we-met story.

Roses on the Road

December 29, 2019 — Leave a comment

As a kid, I remember watching the Rose Bowl Parade on our very non-HD, barely color and monstrously boxy television set. I could hardly hear the announcers’ color commentary over my mother’s “¡Mira pa’ eso!” “¡Que cosa más bella Dios mio! ” and “Como inventan los Americanos.”

Now I get to send her text messages with crisp photos, inches away from the floats.

Sweet Home Hialeah

December 16, 2019 — 1 Comment

The holiday season is officially in full swing and in the coming days travelers will descend onto congested highways and drab airports to journey to their childhood home or to the home of a marquis family member. I’ll be on a hero’s quest of my own, but nowhere near my hometown. So, on the off chance that your destination is somewhere in South Florida, please consider making a stop on my behalf to the croqueta captial of the world, Hialeah.

Whoosh You Were Here in Madeira

December 10, 2019 — Leave a comment

Spread appeared in Explore Magazine

It was a familiar sensation. The feeling of complete surrender, the incessant giggling, and the particular sound that skating over pavement makes. It wasn’t until my toboggan reached the bottom of the five-kilometer hill that I remembered why. I had recreated my favorite childhood pastime (to the detriment of my mother’s nerves): riding a skateboard while being towed by a friend on a bicycle.

Santa Barbara #Blessed

December 3, 2019 — Leave a comment

There is something magical about this place. The beach, the cliffs, the flowers, the trees. They all conspire together to thumb its nose at Los Angeles. Yet, Santa Barbara doesn’t need to be compared to another city to be better than. It earns that distinction on its own. If money and means were available to me, it’s where I would call home…at least part of the year.

Art Basel: The bourgeoisie and the rebel

November 19, 2019 — Leave a comment

Photo courtesy of Flickr creative commons

The first week of December, Art Basel arrives in Miami Beach like an alligator in a swamp. Waiting. Lurking. Watching. And then it leaps out of the murky water with its mouth agape and tail flexing, showing off its massive power over us mere mortals. And we are left with no choice, but to pay the entrance fee and walk into its mouth, which happens to be located at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Algunos Nacen Estrellas: A Stroll Down (Cuban) Hollywood Walk of Fame

October 19, 2019 — Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America

No other place in L.A. personifies the word chanchullo like Hollywood Boulevard.

Half of the tourists are looking down at the names immortalized in thin gold letters, the other half are looking up for a glimpse at the world-famous Hollywood sign, meanwhile Batman and Elvis are desperately trying to get those distracted people to take a picture with them for a dollar or two. Over the music that blares from stores, street performers and musicians, there are approximately 3 tour companies on every block that try to get you to listen to their pitch as they hand you a brochure. And they are competing for attention and turf space, not with each other, but with Scientologists and Christians who also like to hand out pamphlets and Bibles, while inviting you to take a personality test or warn you about hell. The homeless panhandle everyone, except the occasional camera crew, as they know to stay out of their shot.

Singapore in a Second

October 15, 2019 — Leave a comment

Whether you’re spending a few hours or a few days in Singapore, you will certainly want to make the most of it. This is a land rich with culture, history and delicious cuisine — and lucky for you, SINGAPORE is small enough.

a little cuban goes a long way

mari de armas rolls her Rs and her luggage

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