As Europe has been closed for quite a while (glad it is opening), Carolyn and I have taken four short trips in the U.S. this year; New Orleans, one to Las Vegas and Utah, another to Williamsburg VA and we have just returned from Miami (in July? Are you nuts)? Well, I had a free trip from a company and decided it was an excellent opportunity to revisit some haunts that we have not seen in a number of years.

Now summer is not exactly the primo time for visiting Miami; it is hot, humid, subject to hurricanes and can be quite buggy. Aside from that, it is terrific. So, we decided to make the best of it, and we stayed at the beautiful Ritz Carlson in Coconut Grove, just a block from the bay. The hotel only had about 25% of its staff and was 30% full, so it was great; the staff was friendly, no hassles about getting pool time, etc. Dewey, one of the front door men was a fount of information and tips on sites to see, restaurants, etc. He made getting back into the Miami mindset easy and fun! A real pro! He was not alone, as the friendliness of Geovanny, Evan, Pilar and many others made us feel right at home. Of course, the hotel itself is beautiful but there are numerous interesting places to stay in Coconut Grove, which is a small island of nice shops, restaurants, etc. without the glitter of South Beach. Think of a warm, smaller Carmel. Plus, it is in easy reach of some of the wonderful places to visit, such as: