Portugal: Guía de viajes, visados y alojamiento gratuito · 2026

UUSAblogi · 5 oct 2009Leer

...the airport was left far behind. In the shuttle, I meet two Cubans (or rather, they meet me...) ah, Cubans... more on that later..;) In broken English, they ask where I'm from, I say Belarus.. Belarus? Never heard of it.. The rest of the way they talk among themselves in Spanish, and one by one, first the driver and then other passengers on the "shuttle" join in.. soon the whole shuttle bus knows each other by name, everyone is laughing merrily, making jokes (judging by the glances, in my direction..) oh yes, in Spanish, of course! By the way, I came to the USA with a firm intention to improve my English, but instead, it seems I'll have to learn Spanish.. In Miami, 90% speak Spanish, it's all Latinos: Cuba (this is apparently that 90%=)), Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Portugal, Jamaica... but the Cubans! There are tons of Cubans! A wide selection, a rich assortment.. =) In short, you could say I wasn't in America, I was in Cuba=)) ...meanwhile, our little bus reaches Miami Beach, new acquaintances gradually get off, saying goodbye to those remaining in the "shuttle" as if they had known them their whole lives or had been best friends for an eternity! Extremely friendly people!! Here is my hostel, I pay the driver, get a few invitations to visit from the passengers as I leave, turn on my default "smile and wave" (it's amazing, but it works!! An extremely useful thing) and tired but happy, I trudge to the reception.. ..reception: hello, I would like.. no, I don't speak Spanish.. yes, my friend booked a spot for me in room #11.. no, I don't have luggage, it was lost.. I get a magnetic card, and here I am in the room... Nadya (that's my friend's name) is at work.. in the room, judging by the occupied beds, there is one more person besides us.. the setting doesn't match the $27 paid: two bunk beds, a small refrigerator without a leg, one closet for three, a shower.. air conditioner right above the bed, impossible without it, but with it - it blows.. just as I'm about to take a shower, the door opens and.. - here it is, the wonderful moment of reunion!! Nadya was let off early! We rejoice, exchange impressions.. I tell her about the lost luggage, we need to go shopping immediately.. Here we are at the store. By the way, stores in Miami Beach are divided into two types: very expensive branded ones and, no less expensive, souvenir ones, where you can buy wonderful panties with no less wonderful inscriptions ("FBI - fabulous booty inside" - the most decent of what was there), as well as t-shirts-bikes-caps-towels-shorts with screaming, no, YELLING declarations of love for Miami itself and for each of its parts individually! I love Miami! I love South Beach! I love Miami Beach! I buy shorts.. next, I need shoes.. AirFrance is paying! We go into the first shop.. And here we meet for the first time... a guy trying on stilettos.. he is keenly interested if they have the same ones, but in black.. he also likes the red ones very much, but he is more comfortable in black, it's not (!) as provocative.. yeah.. we go into a couple more shops, quickly buy everything necessary - and back to the hostel, I am terribly exhausted, the night at the airport and the time difference are taking their toll.. tomorrow we have a day off, the owner (from the restaurant) promised to take us around the shops