In the summer of 2015 I embarked on an ambitious road trip: An epic 40-hour, 2,700-mile journey from Miami to Los Angeles…in a Fiat. A brand new, 7-month-old Fiat that was already broken. And I mean bro-ken.
(Read more about that adventure here).
I obviously survived the road trip and made it west with everything and everyone intact. While I was there I set out on another journey, which was to find all things Cuban…or maybe it was to Cubify all things. Not sure.
Welcome to not home: Los Angeles.
The Huntington
San Marino, CA
Incredible gardens, opulent galleries, and a stunning library all in one place.
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Roses on the Road
Pasadena, CA
Be prepared, it’s you and a gazillion other people either FaceTiming with their mothers.
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Santa Barbara #Blessed
Santa Barbara, CA
If you really want to be Cuban-meta in this beautiful city, climb up the tower of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse and whisper, que viva Chango.
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37th President
Yorba Linda, CA
I love a good villain, so when I found out that Nixon’s Presidential Library and Museum was an hour from LA in Yorba Linda, I gassed up the car and headed inland.
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Exiled in Echo
Echo Park, Los Angeles
In the middle of the city’s bustle, there’s an oval-shaped park with a huge lake in the middle, with a monument of José Martí. Pero why?
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41st President
Simi Valley, Ventura
I packed up a van with all of the Cubans I know and took the 101 to the 405 to the 118 to tour the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.
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Island Hop
Avalon, Santa Catalina Island
Although its only 22 miles off of the coast, I felt a thousand years away from traffic and parking woes.
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Hooray for Hollywood
Hollywood, Los Angeles
The homeless panhandle everyone, except the occasional camera crew, as they know to stay out of their shot.
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The House That Nat Built
Hollywood, Los Angeles
A thirteen-story, earthquake-resistant tower that was the world’s first circular office building.
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This Land is Your Land
Anaheim, Orange County
Have your Dole Whips while watching the show inside the Enchanted Tiki Room.
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A Cortadito on an Old Town Road
Temecula, Riverside Valley
Go directly to Old Town because it has the best cortadito outside of Los Angeles County.
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No More Kisses in L.A.
Southern California
Don’t bring your besuqueo to L.A., because it’s hug-town over here.
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Speak and Spell
Southern California
You will never pronounce any street sign or city name right, so don’t even try.
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a little cuban goes a long way 