| Miami has many attractions. The beach. The sun. The | | | | Little Havana, over the past years, has been mainly |
| restaurants. The night life. The Miami Dolphins, er, I | | | | dedicated to Cuban exiles. However, recent years |
| mean, the night life. Most of these are well known | | | | have seen Nicaraguan immigrants and Puerto Ricans |
| and sought-after, as spring breakers and crazy | | | | immigrants follow in their footsteps, moving into the |
| vacation takers annually venture to the Magic City | | | | area. These days, part of Little Havana is called Little |
| for one of the best times they'll never remember. | | | | Managua, in a tribute to the Nicaraguan capital. |
| But to those who want something more than a | | | | Little Havana is unlike any other area in the US; its |
| frozen strawberry margarita or a bucket of beer, | | | | exceptionality sticks out even in a place as diverse as |
| Miami is the right place to go: it's booming with | | | | Miami. One reason for this is the Cuban-Festive Calle |
| extreme culture, filled with tiny pieces that make it | | | | Ocho street festival, held annually as part of the |
| largely unique and like no other American city. | | | | Carnival Miami celebrations. Free to the public, this |
| One of the "tiny pieces" that paints Miami colorful is | | | | festival showcases the pride of Hispanic communities. |
| Little Havana, an area of Dade County where Cuban | | | | As people wear colors, wave flags, and adorn shirts |
| immigrants and refugees found solace from a | | | | dedicated to their heritage, food from different |
| Castro-controlled regime. Named after the capital of | | | | countries is served and culturally different music is |
| Cuba, Little Havana is geographically very close to its | | | | played. This festival often serves as the spoon in |
| namesake. Culturally close as well, those who inhabit | | | | Little Havana's melting pot. |
| Little Havana often believe in their roots, but have | | | | Spanish for Eighth Street, Calle Ocho occurs in March |
| little confidence in their former government. | | | | between 27th Avenue and 4th Avenue, along 8th |
| The neat thing about Little Havana, or really any | | | | Street. Famous for being the biggest street party in |
| ethnic enclave you visit, is that the culture of the | | | | the country, it attracts a million people. Typically, the |
| country it represents is maintained. Visiting Little | | | | festival contains over 30 stages and hundreds of |
| Havana is almost like visiting Cuba, but, ya know, | | | | street vendors, performers, and entertainers. It has |
| without the Socialism and potential missile crisis. | | | | been occurring for nearly three decades. In 1998, the |
| Walking the streets of Little Havana, visitors are | | | | Calle Ocho festival found its way into the history |
| treated to an array of experiences. From something | | | | books as it set a Guinness World Record for the |
| as minor as old men playing checkers to colorful | | | | longest conga line; it was a conga line that contained |
| paintings on the side of buildings, there is culture | | | | 119, 986 people. |
| around every corner. This area of Miami is filled with | | | | Whether you venture to Little Havana just for the |
| the smell of cigar rolling, coffee brewing people, | | | | experience, or to be part of the conga line, it's |
| juxtaposed against art galleries, family owned shops, | | | | definitely worth the trip. Bringing a different country's |
| Mom and Pop restaurants, and the sounds of lives | | | | culture to America, Little Havana is a great way to |
| being lived. | | | | see that it really is a small world after all. |