A Long-Awaited Return

It’s been a very long time since I’ve blogged. I don’t really have a good explanation for why I stopped, but ever since 2022, life just took over. I can assure you, though, that I never stopped traveling or writing.

A part of me feel like being a travel blogger is all too common these days. With the overabundance of blogs, vlogs, YouTube creators, TikTokers, and so many others, I couldn’t see where I’d fit in. Especially after changing my blog’s name not once, but three times from “Hello Victoria” to “Mauby Tales & Travel” and now to “Mauby Travel & Tales.”

The original idea for this blog was always to continue writing, but after my first post about how I started traveling got a great response, I gravitated more toward travel content.

So here I am again, making another effort to blog about my travels and the stories I encounter throughout my life. I’m excited to get back to it and share what I’ve been up to.

Welcome to Miami!

I just spent 72 hours in Miami visiting a friend I’ve known since I was 18 but hadn’t seen since 2012! You might be asking, “Why such a short trip?” Well, the main goal was to get a few things done. As someone living outside of the U.S., one of my biggest pet peeves is having to return for mandatory things like renewing my driver’s license, getting an employment physical, and doing all the little bits of paperwork to make sure the minor bureaucracy is complete.

A Taste of Cuba

Restaurant: Casavana Cuban Cuisine

Website: https://www.casavana.com/

My first stop was to Casavana Cuban Cuisine. It had been years since I had authentic Cuban food. My last memory of it was over 10 years ago at a restaurant in Atlantic City. I can’t remember the name of the place, but I do remember one dish: meat served on sugarcane skewers. The name of the dish has faded, but the taste hasn’t.

I actually ate at Casavana’s twice during my stay once was a takeaway order and the second time was a dine-in experience.

Cutting to the chase, the customer service was fine, but nothing to rave about. The interior of the restaurant is as generic as they come for a Miami spot, but the food was incredible. Both times, I tried the Baby Churrasco with thinly sliced plantains, white rice, beans, and fried yuca. The food was delicious and hearty, and it reminded me why Cuban food like most Caribbean food is so amazing.

Baby Churrasco

Mariquitas

Fried Yuca for appetizer

First Watch  

Restaurant: First Watch – Breakfast, Bunch, Lunch

Website: https://firstwatch.com/

My friend couldn’t stop raving about this place, and I finally got to see why. First Watch is a breakfast restaurant that prides itself on great customer service, a fantastic atmosphere, and, of course, delicious food. They have it all: a juice bar, brunch cocktails, healthy options, and all the classics.

I’m not much of a breakfast person myself. There are so many things in a modern American breakfast I just don’t eat. For instance, I’m not a coffee drinker. I also don’t eat eggs in any form whether they’re boiled, scrambled, poached, sunny-side up, or in an omelet. (And don’t even get me started on mayonnaise!) That excessive amount of bright yellow or orange cheese is also something I can’t stand.

I played it safe and had their Belgian waffle with a side of bacon and tea. When it comes to waffles and pancakes, you can count me in! Since I hadn’t had breakfast waffles in years, this one was absolutely perfect.

First Watch is a great place to start your day, but make sure you reserve a spot, especially on Sundays! Based on the food alone, I can see why it was so busy. This is definitely a spot I’d go to again.

A Quick Stop in Key West

For the last part of my trip, I headed to Key West. While I’ve been to Miami before, this was a first for me. I only spent a few hours there, but it was pure paradise and felt just like being back in the Caribbean. The smells, the colorful homes, the beach, the wild chickens, and the lizards all made it feel like home.

Even though this part of the Keys had a gentrified vibe with all the yachts and expensive properties, it still reminded me of places like St. Croix, Antigua, or Barbados.

I also learned a few things about Key West on my visit:

* The Florida Keys is a chain of islands, and Key West is the most famous.

* The area has a lot of wild chickens and roosters.

* It’s the southernmost point of the United States.

* It’s also casually called the “Conch Republic.”

* The Bahamian people, also known as “Conch,” played a key role in developing the culture of the Key West area.

A Sweet Discovery: Sea Grapes

As I was parking, I noticed a Sea Grape tree (*Coccoloba uvifera*). I actually wrote about this tree years ago in a blog post called “Travel for Food: Caribbean Fruits.” It had been ages since I’d tasted one, so I was thrilled to find them here.

The Baygrapes or Seagrapes are common in coastal areas of many Caribbean and Floridian shores. They tend to grow close to the sea in sandy areas in large groups and are wind and salt tolerant. They can be a sweet treat while spending a long day at the beach. The reasons why they are referred to as grapes is because the fruit tends to grow in clusters like wine grapes, but not on a vine.  The leaves are wide and fan-shaped, and many Caribbean people use them for cooking tropical dishes. Just like the banana leaves, you can use the Baygrape leaf to wrap food in to boil, steam or bake.

A Stroll and a Treat

The main street in Key West is huge, filled with shops, restaurants, museums, and art galleries. You can find everything from one-of-a-kind boutiques to well-known stores like Gap and Banana Republic.

Before we left, we stopped at Mattheessens Cookies. This was another place my friend was excited about. Mattheessens has homemade cookies, fudge, ice cream, and key lime pie. I had the snickerdoodle, but next time I’m definitely trying the key lime pie.

Final Stop: Airport Food

While waiting for my flight, I found an eatery called Island Chicken Grill. I decided on the Cuban Skirt Steak Platter, thinking it would be a flavor I couldn’t get in Europe.

My honest review: it was a good meal, but it felt like the food was simply reheated. It tasted decent, but it wasn’t the same quality you’d find outside the airport. The plantains and the mango salsa were the best part.

Overall, my 72-hour trip to Miami was a success, and it reminded me once again just how amazing Cuban food is.