Memorable week at the Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach

The first thing we did when we arrived Friday night was to visit a Cuban food restaurant. One of few things I miss about living back East is the Latin food. Colorado has a couple of Cuban restaurants but they don’t compare in authenticity. Sazon Cuban Cuisine on Collins avenue was recommended by the hotel’s concierge.

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel and laid by the pool. The hotel features three adult pools for cooling off and relaxation. Several hours later, we showered, got dressed and went to dinner and clubbing. We stumbled upon a Peruvian restaurant called Ceviche. The food was amazing and best of all, affordable. After dinner, we went to Mango’s, a popular club that features live shoes and Latin bands. Although there’s a ten dollar charge and the drinks are pricey, the shows are quite entertaining. The one dance floor is rather small, but you can always find room on the walkways to dance the night away!

After breakfast on Sunday, we headed over to the South Beach for lunch and shopping. One of my favorite stores, Zara has two locations there. I had already made sure I left plenty of room in my suitcase for shopping.

I got quite the surprise when I found out my sister was joining me for the rest of the trip to keep me company during my husband’s conference. What a thrill, I’d never had a vacation with my baby sister. We have not lived in the same location since we were teenagers. She resides in Puerto Rico with the rest of our family and me in Colorado with my husband and son.

My husband didn’t have to be at his conference until Monday afternoon, so after lunch, we went to the pool and a few hours later, he was off to his activities. I had dinner by myself at one the hotel’s cozy restaurant, a cozy pizza and burger venue called Pizza and Burger.

Hubby was off early to his conference, and before nine a.m, my sister was in the lobby. I was thrilled! We took an Uber to south beach (Uber is location-based smartphone app where you can hire a private driver), and after breakfast, the real shopping began. My wallet suffered a beating that day but cooling off at the pool sipping drinks with my sister made me forget.

For dinner, my sister and I chose El Patio Wynwood bar and club. What a great choice. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was fun, and the music was even better. The energy in South Florida is something I also miss since leaving over 20 years ago. I was a great night. I was up until 2 a.m. Way past my normal Colorado bedtime.

The next morning we hopped on the boardwalk to see where it would take us. We had lunch at a very small Cuban cafe in a strip mall on Collins Avenue. After the long walk and much-needed exercise, we settled at the beach to soak the humid Miami heat.

For dinner, we ate pizza at the same hotel’s pizza restaurant from the night before, I found it to be the most affordable option of all the hotel’s restaurants. After dinner, we took a drive to downtown Miami. We ended up in a sports bar featuring great mojitos and salsa music. We had a few drinks, danced a bit and called it a night early because I had an 11 am flight back to Denver.

I can hardly describe how much fun I had with my sister those couple of days we shared in Miami. It was the first time we’ve done anything like that together.

As far as the Fontainebleau goes, I couldn’t make a connection as far as my father ever working there, but spending time with my sister there helped us feel closer to him. Although the hotel’s historical charm still remains in the old building, among its marble floors and rich architecture, I thought it was too outdated for the $300 dollar a night price tag. The restaurants were overpriced and its location is not near bars and restaurants. We pretty much used Uber most of the time. When scheduling your Uber pickup, make sure you share the ride with others because it’s a lot cheaper, and a lot cheaper than a cab. Most of our rides were about four dollars each way.

Rosa

Rosa Talavera

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