February 2025.
Miami, Florida.

After our cruise to Miami, our plane wasn’t scheduled until late in the day. We had several hours to explore Miami’s iconic scenes. My niece and her husband mentioned they used Norwegian Cruise Line’s shuttle service to get to the airport on a previous cruise. The shuttle also made several stops, including a lunch stop. We opted for the Miami City Tour, which concluded with a final stop at Miami International Airport.

Not far from the cruise terminal, we drove through a major construction project on the freeway system.

The I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project in Miami is a significant transportation initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity and reducing traffic congestion. A key feature of this project is the Signature Bridge, an iconic arch structure that will carry NE 2nd Avenue over I-395. This major project is scheduled for completion in 2027.

The MSC Cruise Line has made a significant commitment to Miami as it navigates its expansion into North America. In addition to this office complex, MSC built a next-generation cruise terminal at PortMiami. That terminal can accommodate up to three cruise ships and handle 36,000 passenger movements daily.

Given my niece’s experience, we expected to stop at Little Havana. Instead, we rode through with the tour guide, who commented on Calle Ocho and Domino Park. I was on the wrong side of the bus to get a photo of the park’s entrance. The theater is a cultural hub for Spanish-language plays, performances, and classes.

Miami’s architectural trends often involve concealing parking ramps behind walls or integrating them into the building’s design. This approach enhances the city’s aesthetic appeal and maintains a cohesive urban landscape, especially in areas with high tourist activity. Our tour guide pointed out several buildings that disguised parking ramps and other utilitarian constructions, many of which were decorated with large murals.

As we drove by Joey’s Wynwood Cafe, known for its exceptional pizza and modern neighborhood vibe, I expected this to be our lunch stop. Nope. We went right on by with only that recommendation from the tour guide.

This mural features the Monopoly Man, also known as Rich Uncle Pennybags, running with a green sack of colorful money bills. It’s a vibrant and playful piece with an orange background and the artist’s name, “Alec”, prominently displayed in graffiti-style lettering. The artist, Alec Monopoly, is famous for using this character to explore themes of capitalism and wealth. His pieces are well-known in urban art for their bold colors and satirical edge. I’ve included additional images by Alec in the gallery on my Flickr site here.

At one point, we drove by what appeared to be a costume or theater shop where an artist was busy painting a mural on the upper walls of the building.

This mural, titled “A Love Supreme (Wynwood Saints),” was created by El Mac and painted in 2019. It celebrates everyday heroes and the beauty of human connection, making it a powerful representation of the community’s essence.

This mural, “Abduction,” was created by the artist Dasic Fernández. Known for his vibrant, surreal style, Fernández often incorporates themes of imagination and cosmic wonder in his work. When I learned the name of this mural, I began to realize that we wouldn’t stop anywhere on this tour, except perhaps for lunch. I was getting hungry.

This mural, titled “REAL EYES, Realize REAL LIES,” was created by the artist @menacereza. The theme of this work revolves around awareness and truth. The phrase “REAL EYES Realize REAL LIES” emphasizes that truly perceptive individuals can uncover the falsehoods surrounding them. By now, I was convinced we would not stop, not even for lunch.

This restaurant is La Colada Gourmet. It’s located in the heart of Little Havana, Miami. Known for its authentic Cuban coffee, La Colada Gourmet is a popular spot for locals and visitors seeking a genuine taste of Cuban culture. When we drove by this restaurant, I had no illusions that we would be stopping anywhere but at the airport.

This mural was created by artists @FERTONE and @DASE.ES, whose signatures are visible on the artwork. The depiction, which features black-and-white portraiture, abstract patterns, and figures holding symbolic objects such as grapes and books, suggests themes of culture, knowledge, and identity.

This building is the Union Beer Store, a popular craft beer bar and bottle shop in Little Havana. Established in 2013, it is known for its rotating selection of local and international beers and a cozy atmosphere. I was intrigued by the paint scheme on the wall above the awning.

The colorful chicken statues scattered around Little Havana, particularly along Calle Ocho, are part of a public art initiative called the “Rooster Walk.” This project began in 2002 and was spearheaded by local artists, including the late Cuban sculptor Tony Lopez. The roosters celebrate Cuban culture and heritage, as the rooster is a significant symbol in Cuban traditions, representing strength, confidence, and good fortune.

Feral chickens are occasionally spotted roaming the streets in neighborhoods like Little Havana and Downtown Miami. These chickens are often remnants of backyard farming or have been abandoned and thrive in urban areas.

This mural by Alec Monopoly is titled “Scrooge McDuck”. It features the iconic Disney character, Scrooge McDuck, in a vibrant, playful street art style.

Our last (and only) stop on our tour was the Miami Airport, where we dropped off our checked bags and (finally) had lunch on our own dime. After hearing about my niece’s experience on their Miami Tour to the airport, we were pretty disappointed in this excursion. This is another example of “shrinkflation,” where products and services cost the same but are provided in smaller quantities or lack previously offered features. In fairness to NCL, nothing in the tour description indicated that we would stop anywhere, especially for lunch. We could have taken a taxi to the airport for much less than this tour cost, but the tour guide and driver earned a tip, and we left the bus with a broader view of Miami and its varied neighborhoods.

John Steiner