We’re wrapping up our séjour in the Grove today. The sun is shining brightly and music is drifting across the mooring field from the park adjacent to the Sailing Club. The 48th annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival is taking place this weekend. It is estimated that 150,000 people attend this event to look at and buy art work from over 300 artists from all over the world. I don’t think we’ve ever seen so many people in one place! The art work, from painting to sculpture to jewelry and tapestry, is truly spectacular and truly expensive. The food vendors represent the usual hodgepodge of gyros, hotdogs and hamburgers with a bit of Latin food tossed in--pinchos, chicharrones and empanadas, all equally expensive.

We ate at a Cuban restaurant this week, La Carreta. Claudia ordered a sampler pletter that had enough food to satisfy our appetites for 2 days. In fact, we brought home the leftovers for lunch the following day. Peter nearly always orders picadillo at Cuban restaurants. It’s a very popular dish which consists of seasoned ground beef. His Cuban friend Carlos taught him how to make it several years ago. It’s been a favorite in our household for years. The version served at La Carreta was almost as good as Carlos’ version.

We went to the Barnacle State Park, within walking distance of the Sailing Club. It is the site of the oldest residence in Miami Dade County still standing on its original foundations. It’s a beautiful home that was well thought out by the boat builder who designed it. It’s located on five acres of Florida Hammock right downtown in the Grove. It’s amazing how quiet and peaceful it is there just a few hundred feet from traffic and city noises.

Tomorrow begins a new adventure. We’ll keep you posted.