1. I can’t wait to take my brother and sister to get some Cold Stone Ice Cream, because it’s their favorite and my Mom doesn’t take them often enough. Oh, and because it makes them think I’m the best big sister in the whole wide world.
Cold Stone Ice Cream
2. I can’t wait to have some Cuban food and a proper mojito (have yet to find a place in Lebanon that makes a mojito how I know and like it!). Even if we have to order in from Casa Romeu (lol Mom) and even if I have to make the mojito myself!
Cuban food...delicioso..arroz y frijoles, platanos maduros, bistec de pollo..yum!
Mojitoooo
3. I can’t wait to watch my Grandmother make me some Trinidadian food, talk to her and my Grandfather about the past nine months, and listen to their sweet “singy songy” Trinidadian accents..
Curry chicken and plantain
4. I can’t wait to take a drive down to South Beach for a beach day with my best friends..take a walk on Ocean Drive and Lincoln Road, and maybe even take an Art Deco walking tour to learn more about Miami’s Art Deco Buildings (can’t believe I’ve never done that!)..and ohh, go for caipirinhas and sushi, at our favorite South Beach restaurant – Sushi Samba Dromo..
The iconic lifeguard stands on South Beach
Lincoln Road - one of the most famous streets in South Beach..I forgot how beautiful palm trees are!
Sushi Samba Dromo - Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
Ocean Drive - South Beach's most famous street - at night..
aaaand if things get really crazy (I can’t wait to see if they do!), then we might even hit up Liv at the Fontainebleau,,
Liv Nightclub (Miami's hottest nightclub) - Fontainebleau Hotel - Miami Beach
5. I can’t wait to go for a picnic with my Dad at Vizcaya Gardens..
Vizcaya Gardens..just beautiful..South Miami, Miami
Vizcaya Gardens..South Miami, Miami
6. I can’t wait to go for a spa/pool/relaxation day with my Mom at the Standard Hotel in Miami Beach.
The steam room at the Standard Hotel
The pool at the Standard Hotel - Miami Beach
7. I can’t wait to go for a stroll in the Design District with my family..many of them have yet to see it..and it’s such an amazing place!!.. full of boutique stores, art galleries, incredible architecture, and charming cafes..
How cool is this building in the Design District?
The Moore Building in Miami's Design District
Mai Tardi restaurant in the Design District
8. I can’t wait to take a drive into downtown Miami at night, while marveling at the Miami skyline..before having an amazing night on the town..Segafredo, Blue Martini, River Lounge..here I commmee!
Brickell Avenue at Night..the perfect view before an amazing night on the town..
Happy Hour at Segafredo - Brickell, Miami
Live music at Blue Martini - Brickell, Miami
9. I can’t wait to go to the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center to see Pandemonium, a performance from the creators of STOMP!
The Adrienne Arsht Center - isn't it incredible?
Pandemonium by the creators of Stomp - I can't waiiiit!
10. I can’t wait to (and I know my Mom isn’t going to believe this one) take a boat ride through the Everglades! I haven’t done that since I was about 10!
Everglades - Aerial View..
the Everglades..
But most of all, I just can’t wait to be back home!
Wish me a safe flight! 
Enjoy! Looks fun… I should really make sure at one point I go to Miami.
Have a safe flight
Wow! This post makes you wanna go to Miami like now now now.
Will definitely bookmark this one in my favourites
Enjoy
Writing it made me realize how truly amazing my home is!
Thanks for all of your comments Simon! I always look forward to reading them!
Disfrutate!
Do you mean disfrutar? If so, then thank you, I will enjoy it!
disfrutar is the verb (To have fun). Disfruta-te means (Go have fun!)
But you’re from Miami, you should know that
.
I would die to try that cuban and Trinidadian food!
Have a safe trip..
Yes yes, you’re right! It’s been a while since I’ve heard or spoken any Spanish, and the word is missing an accent, i guess that was why I was thrown off – DOI!.. Thanks, I will enjoy!
Well hope you complete everything on your to-do list and let us know what’s happening! Have a nice trip!
I hope so too! I will try my best to keep all of you in the loop – I think it will be fun!
wow! I’d really like to discover all that myself!
Sounds really amazing!
Have an amazing time!!
Thanks Gaby..
Bil Salameh and Have fun! Will wait for you to come back ya 3azeezitna
Thank you!
Sounds like you have a lot of things to do. Great pics as well… Yallah enjoy it and try to keep us posted via your blog / twitter…
Have a safe trip.
There is so much to do! (It took forever finding all of the pics I wanted, haha) I’ll keep you posted!
Can i come with u
Sure, but you didn’t take me with you to Germany or Paris! hmfff.. hhaha yalla come!
Impressing, sounds like i have to plan a trip to Miami next summer…
and cold stone is always on top of the list, i think it was the best ice cream i ever had….
Have a safe trip and hope u can do it all
Such a neat post. Took me down memory lane. I used to live in Miami Beach for 16 months on Lincoln Ave, and I had my daily breakfast at Puerto Sagua, the Cuban restaurant which I believe is still there, and you could get Cafe con leche and breakfast for 2 dollars 15 years ago..
waiting for your next posts from there!
haha..two dollars?!?! Yeah that doesn’t exist anymore haha! I wonder what Miami Beach was like 15 years ago..did you like it, or love it? haha I will keep you posted from the MIA.
cool! i’m planning a visit to the us next year, maybe miami should be on the list.
oh, try the Kayan Mojito
Celine, it HAS to be on the list..let me know if you go, so I can make you an even longer list of things to do! and I will try Kayan when I come back!
Having been stuck here for 9 years, you made me travel through your text and beautiful pictures.
Wishing you a wonderful time amongst your loved ones.
Wow, thanks for the kinds words..and I hope I continue to do so with my photos and words!
ur blog has been added to my blog roll!
Have a great time, don’t forget about us! You gotta post while you’re there! All the best & safe travels, seeya when you get back.
and see YOU when I get back! we have to catch up! thanks for the well wishes!
Wow! I didn’t know all this about Miami! Makes me want to visit. The Vizcaya Gardens look just like Italy! Also, I used to always take my little sister to Cold Stone when I came home to visit and she did think I was the coolest for doing it
Though she still likes to complain about how I would only let her get the kid size (but at the time she always said she was glas I made her get that size because it was just enough). ha ha
haha..kids man..I tell you, never happy! But the kids size is just fine, the ice cream is so rich that they almost never end up finishing it, I do! haha..Yes, I tried hard to show different sides of Miami..it isn’t only about clubbing and partying..although a lot of people think it is..and yes, Vizcaya is absolutely gorgeous..I’m sure you would love to take pictures there..my cousin got married there a few years ago, and I think it is easily the most beautiful place in Miami!
Hope ur enjoying Lebanon and Hamra!
the Design District sounds DIVINE!
Can’t wait to go there someday!
Have fun back home Dani
It is dude..you would love it..so artsy and full of design! I’ll try my best to take some pics for all of you!
Thanks for being so “generous” to me in your comment about taking the kids to Coldstone – I think I’ve taken your brother and sister only ONCE for the year … and we pass by it several times a week! You are right, that is one of the many reasons they think you are the best big sister and are dying for you to come home!! Isabelle is reading a book based in the Florida Everglades and looking forward to an airboat ride too!! See you in a few hours:-)
So happy to be home MOMMY! Love you!
Dani Girl!
This read is superb with my BB muffin this morning.
I already miss you…
haha,,still on ur muffinss muffin lady! I miss you so much already!
OMG, I can’t the picture of the ice cream out of my mind!
Other than that, these pics look incredible. Did you take them? Hope you have a safe flight
HAHA..no I didn’t take all of them..I scoured the internet to find them! But I’m hoping I will be able to take my own once I’m here..and yes,, Cold Stone Ice Cream is the BOMB!
OK….
I always knew that Will Smith couldn’t have sang about a town without it being special…
And I knew one HAS to visit the town of Horatio Cane (“Youuuu… Are Welcome… Anytiiiime)…
But now… Miami is DEFINITELY on my travel list!
hahahah you are too much Rabih!! Miami should have always been on your travel list,,it is aaamaaazing! I will try to show you as much of it as I possibly can!
wow, looks like you’ve got a full filled schedule ahead of you! have a blast, and keep writing!
Thanks Nour, and trust me I will..Check back!
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This blog post made me want to cry of homesickness! Those are all my places and that is all my food, hehe. Hi, I’m Mokhtar’s cousin Yasmin, the one from Miami, the one who moved to Beirut at about the same time as you and the one who is going to go back to visit at about the same time as you (Nov. 6) can’t wait! Anyways, love the blog, and I can totally relate : )
Yasmin! I’ve heard so much about you from Mokhtar! We both went to the same university, and I think studied the same thing – Int’l Business..would love to meet you when I get back! After 9 months in Beirut, I was soo homesick and ready to come back to Miami, as I’m sure you are..Well, I hope I get to do everything on my list, please let me know if you need anything!
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This post makes me want to go to Miami too. Can I join you?
haha, I already went!
The photo at Blue Martini is of my cousins’ band, Libido!!! LOVE IT! Watching them perform is probably #1 on MY list for when I go home next month, haha!!
hey, loved that post…i was on my balcony (on Brickell smoking an arguilee of course.. representing
) and was checking ur blog and ur post on ur experience with pharmacies in Beirut. I stumbled on this post that caught my eyes when i saw “miami”. I would be curious to know how you would compare your experience ( in general… not only pharmacies lol) in Beirut to Miami? I ve been in Miami for 10 years now… i go back to lebanon every year… and always feel empty before boarding the plane back to Miami. Dont get me wrong …love Miami but Beirut will always be Beirut for me.
PS: Just got back from Blue Martini in Mary Brickell Village. People say hi
Blue Martiniiii! That was one of my fav’s! I’m sure the ladies in Blue keep you coming back..
I wish my Economics teacher partied at Blue Martini! I HATED Econ at FIU – which is where I went too btw. Well,,to know more about my experience here in Beirut, compared to my life back in Miami you will have to read through my blog. I make a lot of comparisons between the two cities.. (nightlife, salaries, dating, …..etc etc) Well, your family is in Lebanon I imagine…and let’s face it, Miami doesn’t really have a “culture,” so it’s normal to come back to Miami with a heavy heart. Thanks for reading! BTW,,tried to find you on Linkedin, but your profile didn’t come up. How was growing up in the Ivory Coast?
well i see u visited my website as well, so i guess thanks are in order.
yeah i guess im a pretty cool economics prof. i dunno if my students will share ur thoughts on the matter. ud have to ask them. I ve been browsing around ur blog since yesterday and yes, i did read some articles that would answer my question. i also saw that u graduated FIU in international business… so that means we were going to FIU at the same time! lol been there since i landed in miami for the first time. regarding linked in… i do have a profile but as many lebanese my name is found on the net with many spellings. I even lost track myself. try “mohamed nassereddine”. best !
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