The day began. It was 30 degrees. The sun was shining beautifully in Florida’s sub-tropical sky and I wanted to go have coffee at Miami’s most famous coffee place, Versailles. This iconic restaurant is celebrating its fiftieth year and it has seen so many of Miami’s most famous citizens pass by and take a shot of Cuban Coffee, which is nothing other than espresso.
Ronald Reagan came to speak to the Miami Cubans and he chose, among other places, Versailles Restaurant. After that, if any politician wanted to capture the votes of the Cuban community, they had to make a stop at Versailles. Here Cubans have continuously plotted to overturn Dictator Fidel Castro’s communist control over their country. Here the Venezuelan community of Miami has now joined them as they too face the onslaught of communism in their country. Before that it was the Nicaraguans who fled the Sandinista regime. In other words, Versailles was the quintessential meeting place where you can sip your espresso, your cappuccino or your «cortadito» (espresso with a little milk), and eat an empanada or a pastelillo (meat or guava pie), plot a revolution or just fantasise about how you would get rid of a tyrant.
So, having been away from Miami for so many years I had to return there. And I was shocked. There was a queue! In my day people gathered around the counter at the outside window. Everybody stands to eat or drink! Now it was organised through a queue! I could not believe it. And the prices! Three times what I would spend for a shot of espresso and a pastelillo! How things have changed. Now, instead of old…or older…men standing there debating how to get rid of communism, there were tour buses bringing in tourists from Nebraska to try «Cuban food» and young suburbanites pulling up in their Tesla cars. My, how things have changed in Miami…
So, I returned home to the beach. I walked across to the seashore, the day was brilliant and the Atlantic Ocean was majestic (as always) and there to greet me was a bunch of pelicans. I love those huge birds!
In conclusion, I would say that should you ever get frustrated, surprised, confused et cetera about the things in the city, there is always nature to turn to for solace, peace, tranquillity and beauty. In Miami, being as how there are no mountains to climb or forests to hike through, I go to the ocean, the biggest and most powerful natural attraction around.
Cheers…
JaZzArt en València 
Great share! I love good coffee! Enjoy Francis!
Keep well.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Gracias Elvira, te deseo una semana feliz. Un abrazo
Me gustaMe gusta
Gracias, Francis. Igualmente para ti.
Otro abrazo
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
De nada Elvira, que pases un día y una semana feliz, abrazos de Miami!
Francis
Me gustaMe gusta
Tu también, Francis. El día y la semana feliz. Abrazos de México.
Elvira
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
¡¡¡Què envidia!!! . Pásalo bien.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Gracias Azurea! Un saludo y que pases una semana feliz.
Me gustaMe gusta
Ah many times there and my father know the original owner! Have a great time in Miami nice..!
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Gracias, si es una institución aquí en Miami.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Asi es de viejos charlatines lol!!
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Jejeje…
Me gustaMe gusta
Jejeje
Me gustaMe gusta
I can only imagine how much things have changed since you last visited. Luckily, we keep the ocean in the same place still. Have fun, my friend!
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Yes! Thankfully the ocean is still in the same place! Cheers Brad.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
I love pelicans and the ocean, but can pass on strong coffee. Lovely photos, Francisco.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Not strong, just espresso…
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
The few times that I have tasted espresso, I personally found it very strong.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Yes, I can understand that, but for those who have been drinking it since we were 6 years old, it’s just coffee… 😊🌹🙏
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
30’C and pelicans? Sounds nice 🙂 Enjoy 🙂 xx
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Thank you Aiva!
Me gustaMe gusta
I loved this post, although I regret the changes you’re seeing in Miami. Your mention of the tour buses reminded me of when I was in Scotland. I was visiting an iconic ancient stone bridge when a tour bus arrived, 60 people from Japan jumped out, each one with camera in hand. They took five seconds to take their pictures, jumped back on the bus, and were gone in a flash. I suppose when they got home they took time to look at the photographs in order to know what they’d seen while in Scotland.
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Yes, I saw that same thing in Greece one time and I wondered if they would ever look at the photographs…
Me gustaMe gusta
It is strange to see such a drastic change in a place you enjoyed because of the conversation, the simplicity and eloquence of just that. Your photography is lovely of the sea and the pelicans. Glad you found solace there my friend. 🤗❤️
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Oh yes, the sea is very relaxing and therapeutic and I am so glad I live close to it, here next to the Atlantic Ocean and in Spain on the Mediterranean. The sea brings peace and also much spirituality. Thank you so much Joni, have a great day, a great week, Holy Week, filled with love and blessings.
Me gustaMe gusta