Last Miami Pool Day

On our last day in Miami, we fully enjoyed pool area, we had only gone swimming at night, so it was fun to full experience it during the day. It was the hottest day of our entire trip, so we got a few lounge chairs in the shade and took quite a few dips in the pool.

This little buddy hung out with us for quite a while, he was in the tree just above my chair and I was legitimately nervous that he would jump off the tree directly on to me. But he found his way all the way to the ground  and then scurried over to the tree across from us.

He kept inching closer and closer to where my head was, so  I eventually moved and waited for him to make his way to his next location.

There was another iguana in the tree across the way that got kicked  out  when our iguana friend claimed that tree.

We had picked up  breakfast from a near by coffee shop  so we weren't  hungry for a full meal by the pool, but we definitely couldn't pass up some chips and  quac, the perfect pool time snack.

The airshow  that we enjoyed from  the beach the day before was also going on today, we didn't have as clear of view from the  pool, but  we still got glimpses of some of the planes  as they flew by.

After a full day of pool  time fun, it was time to head back to the room, shower and then pack up to fly home the next day. Our flight left at 6 am so we had to leave our hotel around 3:45, so we had to get an early  start on packing so we could be in bed pretty early.

I loved this trip so much! It was so much fun to finally be able to fly somewhere and enjoy a tropical beach vacation with a couple of my besties. Such a memorable trip.

Memorial Day Airshow and Dinner at Casa Faena

After two busy days exploring the city in the Miami heat, we were excited to get back to the beach and enjoy a day of relaxation.

We had fun watching this pelican search for and catch lunch straight from the ocean.

The pelican wasn't the only thing we were watching in the sky, as a total surprise to us, Miami was putting on an air and water show all weekend for Memorial day. The main event was closer to South Beach, but all of the air crafts flew past us on their way so we got to enjoy the show from the luxury of our private beach.

We got lunch on the beach again, this time I tried the BLT, it was pretty tasty, but not as good as the burger I had last time. 

I made sure to get another Beach Comber, complete with cinnamon stick and mint leaf  garnish, it was too good not to order again. 

Lex ordered the chocolate covered coconut ice cream bar, and it came served as two miniature bars complete with some tried mango and berries to dip her ice cream in. So adorable and fancy at the same  time.

The  air show was spread throughout the entire day, sometimes we could hear them coming and other times we would all of a sudden have a ginormous aircraft soaring above us. It was exciting!

Eyes to the skies

There were parachuters that let off different colors of smoke as they dropped.

Lex and  I spent a good amount of time in the ocean today, it was pretty hot and humid and the water felt so refreshing.

The Atlantic ocean is so much warmer than the Pacific, and had so many different layers of colors, it was beautiful.

The dog watching was pretty good that day too. It was a Saturday on a holiday weekend and everyone and their dog was at the beach, literally.

This little, white floof was one of my favorites.

This  adorable little pup wanted to play  on the beach so bad, and would run away from its mom whenever she went to bring him back to the chairs, it was hilarious to watch.

After a glorious day at the beach with plenty of plane and dog watching, we headed back to the room to get ready for another fun and fancy dinner. That night we dined at Casa Faena, which is part of the Faena district and about a half  a block walk from our hotel.

We passed  by other installments of the Faena district such as The Faena Forum, a classy event space recognized by its dramatically shaped windows, for everything from galas to concerts to buzzy events and posh weddings

We passed by this colorful and masterfully crafted sculpture, I tried to look up all the symbolism that is happening within it but came up short. This explanation was all I could find,

"Studio job’s ‘tree of life’ pays homage to johann melchior dinglinger — one of europe’s greatest goldsmiths of the 17th century. ‘the piece is an important centerpiece in our lifelong practice of extreme craftsmanship and we were inspired to bring a contemporary take on these historic techniques,’ comments the creative practice. made of bronze and aluminum, rare marble, crystals and mosaic, the installation is a monumental and detailed work that references an array of memories, fragments, and symbolism of our collective memory." 

We also passed by the Faena Bazaar, a place for upscale shopping.

Then we arrived at Gitano located in the historic Casa Faena. In the heart of Miami Beach’s colorful Faena District, Casa Faena is an elegant and charming throwback to 1900s Spanish art and design. This historic beachside hotel, blends modern Art Deco style with colonial Mediterranean influences. 

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Mediterranean Revival-style and is a Historic Hotel of America.

As a tropical oasis of lush greenery and bohemian brio, Gitano Miami brings an air of Tulum without ever leaving Miami Beach. Signature tropical vibes, gipsy-disco sounds, vivacious rooftop, refreshing cocktails and Mexican flavors have found a home at Casa Faena.

Before sitting down at our table, I couldn't resist the urge to explore the whimsical lounge area. It was such a colorful, fun and comfortable space, I loved every single piece of decor.

Then it was back to the restaurant to enjoy its enchanting atmosphere and outstanding food.

We got the chorizo con queso to share as our appetizer, while it was delicious, we liked the one we got at Bakan in the art district a little better.

Laura ordered the Tacos De Camaron Zarandeados and I ordered the Pork Chop Al Pastore. The presentation of all the dishes was absolutely gorgeous, they looked like works of art.

For dessert we got churros with chocolate jalapeño and smoked mezcal caramel dipping sauces and coconut panna cotta with passion fruit and lime. Both were absolutely incredible. 

Between the ambiance, the food, and the presentations, this was my favorite meal of the entire trip.

After our deliciously memorable meal, our server said we could go and take a peek at the rooftop bar. It was such a fun hang out spot.

Lex had ordered a piece of their chocolate cake to go so that we could all enjoy it a little later after night swimming. The presentation was again just so beautiful, but the taste.... the taste was .... interesting. It tasted very strongly of banana of all things, not a hint of chocolate to be found anywhere, just banana. While it would be delicious if it was marketed as a banana cake, when you are expecting a rich, decadent chocolate cake, it was disappointing. So, if you ever find yourself at Gitanos Miami, stick with the churros and panna cotta and you won't be disappointed.