left: Little Havana shops sell unique Cuban crafts and gifts. right: The games go on all day long in Domino Park, the soul of Little Havana.
Mornings in Little Havana begin with the aroma of strong Cuban coffee and the rattle of dominoes. A
rooster ambles down the street, lifts his head, and gives a wake-up call.
left: Pressed Cuban sandwiches are popular throughout Miami. right: Calle Ocho passes through the heart of the neighborhood near downtown Miami.
When you take a stroll along SW. Eighth Street, better known as Calle Ocho, you feel as if you've
slipped away to Cuba. Buildings as bright as flowers hold bakeries, shops, restaurants, and
cigar-makers. Even if you've only got a couple of hours to spare, that's time enough to enjoy a
quick taste of one of Miami's most colorful neighborhoods. Start with these.
Join the crowd at Domino Park. This greenspace, officially known as Maximo Gomez Park, lies in the heart of Little Havana at Calle Ocho and 15th Avenue. "Prohibido gritar palabras obscenas" (no shouting obscenities) reads one of the rules painted on a wall, but this morning the park seems as polite as a church picnic. A balding man, deep in thought, ponders his next chess move. At the domino tables, players include a well-coiffured woman wearing pearls and a red blouse sitting next to her nattily dressed husband.
Step down the block for a breakfast of fried eggs, toast, and café con leche at I Love Calle Ocho Café & Shop. Sit outside, and enjoy the balmy weather; (305) 643-3737.
