Miami has many attractions. The beach. Sun. The restaurants. Night life. The Miami Dolphins, er, I mean, the nightlife. Most of these are well known and sought after as spring breakers and crazy vacationers annually venture to the Magic City for one of the best times they will ever remember. But for those who want something more than a frozen strawberry margarita or a bucket of beer, Miami is the right place to go: it’s booming with an extreme culture, full of little pieces that make it largely unique and like no other. american city.
One of the “little pieces” that paints Miami colors is Little Havana, an area of Dade County where Cuban immigrants and refugees found solace from the Castro-controlled regime. Named after the capital of Cuba, Little Havana is geographically very close to its namesake. Also culturally close, those who inhabit Little Havana often believe in their roots but have little confidence in their previous government.
The good thing about Little Havana, or really any ethnic enclave you visit, is that the culture of the country it represents is maintained. Visiting Little Havana is almost like visiting Cuba, but, you know, without the socialism and the possible missile crisis.
Walking the streets of Little Havana, visitors are treated to a variety of experiences. From something as insignificant as old men playing checkers to colorful paintings on the sides of buildings, there is culture around every corner. This area of Miami is filled with the smell of cigars, people making coffee, juxtaposed with art galleries, mom-and-pop shops, mom-and-pop restaurants, and the sounds of lives being lived.
Little Havana, in recent years, has been dedicated primarily to Cuban exiles. However, in recent years, Nicaraguan and Puerto Rican immigrants have followed in his footsteps and moved to the area. These days, part of Little Havana is called Little Managua, in homage to the Nicaraguan capital.
Little Havana is unlike any other area in the US; its uniqueness stands out even in a place as diverse as Miami. One reason for this is the festive-Cuban street festival Calle Ocho, which takes place annually as part of the Miami Carnival celebrations. Free to the public, this festival shows the pride of Hispanic communities. As people wear colors, wave flags and adorn T-shirts dedicated to their heritage, food from different countries is served and culturally different music is played. This festival often serves as the spoon in the melting pot of Little Havana.
Spanish for Eighth Street, Calle Ocho occurs in March between 27th Avenue and 4th Avenue, along 8th Street. Famous as the biggest street party in the country, it attracts a million people. Typically, the festival contains more than 30 stages and hundreds of street vendors, performers, and entertainers. It has been going on for almost three decades. In 1998, the Calle Ocho festival entered the history books by setting a Guinness World Record for the longest conga line; it was a conga line that contained 119,986 people.
Whether you venture to Little Havana just for the experience or to be a part of the conga line, it’s definitely worth the trip. By bringing the culture of a different country to America, Little Havana is a great way to see that it really is a small world after all.