I was really looking forward to the Everglades. When I think of Florida, I picture the famous airboats and alligators in expansive swamp landscapes. Everglades National Park consists of tropical marshland and is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 60km wide waterway, which flows at 1 meter per hour, is often only a few centimeters deep. It's too shallow to navigate the Everglades with normal boats. That's why there are airboats (swamp boats) powered by propellers. These get quite loud when accelerating; many passengers covered their ears at high speeds (55 km/h). Some of the water is used to supply drinking water to neighboring cities like Miami. The park is home to the only wild flamingos in the USA, and it's also the only area on earth where both alligators (freshwater) and crocodiles (saltwater near the coast) live. In the swamps, you can see wading birds, pelicans, cormorants, storks, black bears, snakes, alligators, American crocodiles, manatees, cougars, and turtles. 350 different species of birds, 300 species of freshwater and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles live here.

To explore the park, we took a bus to the Everglades Holiday Park. One-hour guided airboat tours are offered here near Fort Lauderdale. We saw three alligators and enjoyed the ride through the swamp landscape. After the ride, we were able to take photos with snakes and baby alligators. Afterwards, there was a presentation by the "Gator Boys Alligator Rescue." The trappers catch alligators that stray onto private property and release them back into the park. The group was part of the TV show "Gator Boys" and is committed to protecting this endangered species. There was a small show where they demonstrated how they capture alligators and how they communicate with them in an enclosure with several alligators. A great experience!

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on the southern tip of Key Biscayne. It can be reached by bus from Miami, which passes by Miami Beach. The historic lighthouse there was built in 1825 and is one of the oldest lighthouses in Florida. There are beautiful hiking trails and beaches here, where, unlike Miami Beach, you can be alone for a change and enjoy nature. I paid $2 as a pedestrian; otherwise, you pay $4 for a car with a driver, or $8 for a car with a full load. Very inexpensive and, especially if you don't have time to visit Key West, a lovely place to enjoy a bit of untouched Florida nature.

In Miami Beach, I visited the Rooftop Cinema Club South Beach. The film "Scarface," set in Miami, was playing there. Scarface is one of the great classics of the mafia genre and deals with a gripping historical episode in Miami's history: the Mariel Boat Crisis.

In May 1980, Fidel Castro opened the port of Mariel near Havana, Cuba, to reunite Cuban and American family members. Boat owners traveling to the United States were forced to bring along opposition figures, criminals, and the mentally ill. 125,000 people came to Florida, corresponding to 1.3% of the total Cuban population. The US was now faced with the challenge of determining who was a welcome anti-communist and who was a criminal. According to estimates, this number was 25,000. The criminals were involved in the drug trade, among other things, and by trafficking cocaine, they damaged the reputation of the many Cubans who wanted to build a living in Florida through honest work. The film established the modern gangster film with colorful, loud images and modern music. Watching the film on the roof of a Miami Beach building, with the Miami skyline in the background, was an unforgettable experience. There are cocktails, popcorn, hot dogs, and burgers. I ate popcorn, drank a delicious cocktail, and enjoyed the warm spring night.

Miami South Beach is what many people think of first when they think of Miami. Miami Beach is a separate city with 82,000 residents, which is part of the Miami Metropolitan Area but not part of the city of Miami with 442,000 residents. When I first stepped onto the beach, I was truly amazed. A beautiful, clean beach and clear, warm water. I loved swimming here. I was happy to recognize filming locations from the movie "Scarface" and to visit the Art Deco district from the 1930s and 1940s on the beach. The restaurants here are very expensive, so you should bring your picnic from a supermarket. The beach chairs are also very expensive; we paid $70 for two chairs and an umbrella – you don't pay per hour, but per day, even if you don't plan on spending the whole day there. So it's best to bring chairs and food with you, otherwise it will be an expensive beach experience.

Miami was long known for attracting students from all over the US to celebrate spring break on the beach. That era is now over, and Miami has declared war on spring break tourists. Among other things, they have released a video to discourage tourists:

https://youtu.be/nz3T20EXDdo?si=XWNPONRrh4VTT3cG

In fact, in the evenings, police cars are parked every few meters to prevent people from gathering on the beach. Anyone who wants to party has to go to the expensive clubs and bars. Public partying, which is completely common in Berlin, is no longer permitted here. There are many car and alcohol checks, and overall, it felt very repressive in the evenings. We had hoped to meet other young students here, but public parties are no longer available here, and the clubs were too expensive for us. Florida and Miami were long known as a retiree's paradise, but the spring break festivities made them attractive to many young people. Now it seems to be turning back into a place for the rich and the retirees, who see the young people partying at the stand as a nuisance.

The Miami Beach Boardwalk is 6 kilometers long and stretches from South Beach to Mid Beach. Hotels, restaurants, and clubs can be found here, and the Miami Beach Architectural District features many Art Deco buildings. It's fun to stroll here; one day I even jogged along the boardwalk. My tip: Buy your food and drinks before you get to the beach, and maybe bring an umbrella and a seat. Otherwise, a day at the beach will be very expensive!

Alvin's Island Miami Beach is a very large souvenir shop. They have a very large selection of beachwear, souvenirs, and water sports accessories. I stocked up on summer shirts and pants here, as I hardly had any suitable summer clothes. Anyone looking for affordable summer clothes that don't have to be brand-name will find plenty of stylish shirts, pants, t-shirts, and hats here.

Miami Mountain isn't a mountain, but a public artwork by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, which has been located in Collins Park in front of the Bass Museum of Art since 2016. It's a colorful sculpture made of stacked limestone blocks in vibrant colors, reminiscent of balancing stones. The installation is part of a series of "mountain" sculptures. Each of the limestone blocks weighs between 15 and 30 tons! The blocks are held together by a steel core, so no one has to worry about getting hit on the head by a block during a storm.

Anyone who knows me knows: I love fried chicken and am always excited to try new variations. The "Raising Canes" chain from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializes in chicken fingers. For $10, you get the box combo: four chicken fingers, crinkle-cut fries, One Cane's sauce, Texas toast, coleslaw, and a Coke. The chicken is delicious; if you're at the beach and fancy some fried chicken, you should stop by!

Opened in 1987, Bayside Marketplace is a large shopping center in Miami on Biscayne Bay in Downtown. Numerous shops, from Cuban cigars to international cuisine to the Hard Rock Cafe, can be found here. Prices are quite high, however, so it's worth buying food and drinks at the supermarket before heading downtown. Nearby is the bridge that connects cars to Miami Beach. Bayfront Park is a great place to enjoy views of the harbor and luxury yachts, and to take boat tours. There's a stage with live music in the evenings, giving you the feeling of being in the Caribbean.

The memorial is dedicated to Miami Beach police officers who died in the line of duty. It stands next to the headquarters of the Miami Beach Police Department—a separate police force independent of the Miami Police Department. Interestingly, it honors not only officers killed in the line of duty, but also those who retired after their careers:

"It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived"

 A great idea! They helped many people and saved lives for decades. I think more memorials should honor people who didn't die in the line of duty but still contributed greatly to the community.

In the past, I've changed my running shoes every two years. Usually out of necessity, because my daily 5k runs had caused holes and tears. I wanted to use my vacation in Miami to treat myself to new shoes and break them in. During my research, I came across the store "iRun Miami," a specialty store for running shoes and running apparel that specializes in advising and equipping recreational and competitive athletes. In addition to sales, the company regularly hosts running meetups and events for the local running community. They gave me advice and recommended the "Hoka Bondi 9." I ran on the treadmill in the store, and the experts observed my running behavior. In the end, I left the store very satisfied with the shoes. At $170, they're quite expensive—but they feel significantly better than my old shoes! The shoes are a little higher, so I exceed 1.80 meters in height. The soles are very cushioned, and I noticed a very positive impact on my running.

The website advertises the shoes with the following features:

• 3D-molded upper

• Super-critically foamed EVA

• Engineered mesh with 55% recycled polyester

• Reflective details in the upper

• Extended heel tab

• Smooth MetaRocker (a curved sole design supports the foot during a smooth transition from heel strike to toe-off. This curved sole, similar to the runners of a rocking chair, promotes an efficient rolling motion and reduces stress on the foot and muscles)

• Rearfoot-oriented Active Foot Frame (designed to securely support your foot by raising or lowering the midsole walls)

• Molded EVA sockliner (a cushioned HOKA midsole ensures a smooth foot strike and bounces back up. It acts as a powerful shock absorber without adding weight. The cushioning can be adjusted as needed to achieve the optimal level of performance and protection). ensure)

• Durabrasion rubber outsole

Key West is an island at the southern tip of Florida, six kilometers long and two kilometers wide. Miami is 266 km away by car. The island is located 153 km north of Cuba and 171 km northeast of Havana. It is the southernmost city on the U.S. mainland (which it is considered to be because it is connected to the highway by numerous bridges) and was the landing point for many Cubans during the Mariel Boat Crisis. The main street, Duval Street, is 1.8 km long. It is a tranquil town with beautiful beaches, charming shops, and an atmosphere conducive to leisure. President Harry Truman spent the winter here in the "Winter White House," and Ernest Hemingway made his home here. I particularly enjoyed visiting Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, a Civil War-era fort. The fort was used intensively during the Spanish-American War (1898), World War I (1917-1918), World War II (1941-1945) and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962).

Key West is home to the "Little White House." It served as the winter residence of former U.S. President Harry S. Truman. The house was originally located on the waterfront when it was built in 1890 as the Chief Officer's Quarters at the U.S. Naval Base. The first president to visit the site was William Howard Taft in December 1912, before sailing to Panama to inspect the canal then under construction. During World War I, Thomas Edison lived in the house and contributed to the war effort by perfecting 41 underwater weapons. The house remained a command center during World War II. In 1948 and 1949, General Dwight D. Eisenhower held a series of meetings that led to the creation of the Department of Defense. He returned as president in December 1955 and January 1956 to recover from a heart attack. President John F. Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan held a one-day summit here in March 1961. President Kennedy made a second visit in 1962, immediately after the Cuban Missile Crisis. In January 2005, former President Bill Clinton and his wife, then-Senator Hillary Clinton, spent a relaxing weekend at the house. Today, the Little White House is a museum offering a glimpse into the 1940s and the Truman presidency.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is definitely my highlight in Key West. The entrance fee is very reasonable at $2.50 for pedestrians and $6 for a full car. It's a large fortification from the mid-19th century that served to defend Key West. The fort was used intensively during the Spanish-American War (1898), World War I (1917–1918), World War II (1941–1945), and the Cuban Missile Crisis (1962). During the Mariel Boat Crisis, the nearby Naval Air Station Key West was used as a landing point for many Cuban refugees. In 1968, work began to excavate many cannons, weapons, and military items buried in the sand. The results of the excavation led to the fort being listed as a National Historic Landmark. Not all parts of the fort have yet been uncovered due to a lack of funding. Apparently, Civil War reenactments take place here annually—I would have loved to see that. There's still a lot to discover here, though! Right next to the fort is a wonderful beach, considered the best beach in Key West! It's also very popular with divers and snorkelers because of the excellent water quality here.

A colleague who was in Miami before me recommended we get a rental car. I should have listened to her. We were frustrated by delayed or canceled buses at least twice a day, which often left us stranded and forced us to take long detours. We always allowed an hour's buffer for appointments, which was absolutely necessary. There are no display boards or announcements telling you when the bus would arrive, at least not in Liberty City and Little Haiti. Google Maps is very inaccurate here; sometimes we waited for half an hour and the app told us the bus had just left, even though it never passed us. Or it showed stops that weren't actually in service anymore. If you don't live in the city center or on Miami Beach, rent a car. That way, you can drive freely to the Everglades or Key West and not be dependent on buses. Our best moments weren't in the city itself anyway, but in the Florida countryside.

The Torch of Friendship in Bayfront Park was erected in 1960 and symbolizes the friendly relations between Latin America and the United States. The torch also symbolizes the acceptance of immigrants from Central and South America, guiding them on their way to the United States. A plaque commemorates the importance of openness and international relations. In 1964, the flame was rededicated to commemorate John F. Kennedy. In the 1970s, the flame was damaged by angry Cubans, once even with a bomb.

We stayed at the Bunks Bed Miami Central in Liberty City near the border with Little Haiti, which at $25 was pretty cheap for Miami. There were two 8-bed rooms, each with a bathroom with a toilet and shower. The guests weren't tourists, but people who seemed to have come to Miami to work. The first people were already asleep at 6:00 PM, and the first people were up at 4:00 AM. It was difficult to sleep in or hang out and relax. The other guests also showed little interest in chatting; everyone was very self-centered. Theoretically, it's well connected, as there's a bus stop 5 minutes away. But especially at night, getting from here to Miami Beach or Little Havana, or getting back, is pure luck.

Downtown is the economic and cultural center of Miami. Here you'll find many high-rise buildings, banks, museums, and shopping centers like Bayside Marketplace, where you'll find interesting, albeit unaffordable, shops. You can see the high-rise buildings from the train when you arrive from the airport. There are many museums, theaters, libraries, churches, and bookstores here. I didn't spend much time here, as I mainly wanted to relax in nature.

Since Melli, a student, and I, a volunteer, don't have a large budget, we chose one of the cheapest AirBNBs. Our recommendation: spend a little more money and avoid getting a room in Liberty City or Little Haiti. We stayed at the Bunks Bed Miami Central in Liberty City, near the border with Little Haiti, which, at $25, was pretty cheap for Miami. There were two 8-bed rooms, each with a bathroom with a toilet and shower. The guests weren't tourists, but rather people who seemed to have come to Miami to work. The first people were already asleep at 6:00 PM, and the first people were getting up at 4:00 AM. It was difficult to sleep in or hang out and relax. The other guests also showed little interest in socializing; everyone was very self-centered. Theoretically, it's well-connected, as there's a bus stop 5 minutes away. But especially at night, getting from here to Miami Beach or Little Havana, or back, is a matter of pure luck. The buses are very unreliable; once, after several buses failed to show, we decided to walk for half an hour instead. Liberty City and Little Haiti are very poor neighborhoods, predominantly inhabited by African Americans and Haitians, respectively. Many houses are in poor condition, the typical chain-link fences have numerous holes, and drug addicts roam the area in the zombie gang known for fentanyl. One day, when we wanted to eat our ordered food in a park, we discovered that every single bench was occupied by a homeless person and that numerous people were camping there. We finally found a bench on what turned out to be a public sports field belonging to a school. Older students coached younger students there in the afternoon, and numerous parents were also there to cheer the children on. On the way to the AirBNB, a dog barked at us. After a while, we turned around and realized that the dog had apparently escaped through a hole in the fence and followed us for some time. Several police cars were parked at one house, bathing the street in blue and red lights. It's not a place you'd want to walk through at night, because there are no buses to take you home. It's better to invest a little more money and stay more centrally, or rent a car if you live on the outskirts.

A great ice cream parlor that makes a lasting impression, even with its ice cream-shaped facade. Since 2011, it has been serving delicious Cuban-inspired ice cream flavors like "Abuela Maria" (vanilla ice cream with guava pieces, cookies, and cream cheese) and "Mantecado" (a Cuban vanilla version). The ice cream is homemade and delicious! Those looking for unique flavors are sure to discover new ones here:

• Abuela Maria

• Café con Leche (Cuban Coffee & Oreo)

• Domino (Oreo Cookies & Cream)

• El Mani Loco (Vanilla Ice Cream, Butter Cookies, Reese's Cups, and Peanut Butter)

• Mantecado (Cuban Vanilla)

• Platano Maduro (Sweet Plantain)

• Willy Cherino (Bourbon Ice Cream with Dark Cherries)

• Elvis (Peanut Butter & Banana)

• Beam Me Up (Bourbon & Heath Bar)

• Dulce de Leche (Caramel)

• Toasted Marshmallows with S'mores

• Mulatica (Cinnamon Ice Cream with Oatmeal Cookies)

• Guinness Chocolate

• Key Lime Pie

• Balsamic Strawberry

• Frenchie (Banana Pecan Sandies)

• Berry Good Fandango (Mixed Berries)

• Cuatro Leches (Four Milk Cake)

• Caramel Flan

• Rum Cake with Walnuts

• Salted Caramel

• Freshman 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream, Marshmallow Swirl, Peanut Butter, and Oreos)

• Coconut

• Cookie Monster (Ghirardelli Chocolate Brownies and Chocolate Chip Cookie in Rich Vanilla Ice Cream)

• Burn in Hell Fidel (Chocolate Ice Cream with Cayenne Pepper)

• Chusmeria (Banana Ice Cream, Chocolate Chips, and Peanuts)

• Coconut Flan

• Corn

• El Cochino Baracho (Jim Beam Ice Cream with Candied Bacon and Maple Syrup)

• Lemon Basil

• Violetas

• Bourbon Buns (Jim Beam Ice cream with cinnamon rolls from Knaus Berry Farms

• Red Velvet with Oreos

We were visiting the Little Havana district, where many Cubans settled after the Mariel boat crisis (see the section on the Rooftop Cinema). It is the most famous community of Cuban exiles in the world. While we were there, the famous Calle Ocho Festival was taking place. It is part of Miami's Carnival celebrations and conveys the typical Caribbean atmosphere. The festival is one of the largest in the world, with over a million visitors annually. While trying to walk from one end of the carnival to the other, I passed numerous stages (there were supposedly more than 30 stages!), hundreds of food stalls, dancers, and bands. Reggaeton, salsa, bachata, and merengue music is played here for the many visitors. I left the festival after 2.5 hours, but the festivities seemed to continue for several blocks. A huge street festival where you can sample the food of various Central and South American nations. I'm a huge churro fan and found a wonderful churro shop and tried Cuban Frita for the first time (more on that in my Miami Highlights). You can tell the nationalities of the visitors because many people are wearing different cultural clothes, grouping together, and dancing traditional dances together.

Ever since I first tried churros at Lollapalooza 2019 in Berlin after Billie Eilish's performance, I've been a huge fan not only of Billie Eilish, but also of churros! In addition to classic churros, they also offer filled versions with dulce de leche, chocolate, or vanilla cream, as well as creative combinations with ice cream. The portions (between $10 and $13) are so large that I couldn't finish mine on their own. Every churro fan will find their paradise here.

• CrispyMania

Delicious freshly made churros, with sugar for the traditional versions and with cinnamon for the less conventional versions.

• TwistMania

An irresistible combination of freshly made churros, glazed with the most delicious topping of your choice.

• BigMania

Churros filled and glazed with your favorite filling.

• ChurroBites Crispy

Bite-sized, crispy churros with an explosive flavor, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

• ChurroBites Filled

Delicious churro bites, coated in sugar and filled with your favorite topping.

• CHURROMANIA Ice Cream

Ice cream between two crispy churro spirals.

• Crispy Sundae

Ice cream with crispy churro pieces and a delicious glaze of your choice.

• ChurroDog

Delicious salty churro with sausage, glazed with the sauces of your choice.

You can also order the churros "Musicmania." The churros then resemble a musical note and can be sprinkled with sugar and toppings of your choice. Churromania's sales support the Miami Music Project, a non-profit organization that uses music as a tool for social change, helping children and young people learn values ​​and realize their full potential. By learning and performing music, they positively impact their communities. The project offers free after-school programs to students regardless of background or economic status. To date, it has reached more than 31,000 children and youth throughout Miami-Dade County, making it one of the largest socially transformative music initiatives in the United States. In addition to musical training, students also receive snacks and tutoring. Music education accelerates brain development, increases academic success, and promotes important lifelong benefits for those who have access to it. Furthermore, it transforms students, in one way or another, into agents of change who can contribute to a more just, peaceful, and cohesive society. A very worthy initiative!

El Rey de las Fritas is a Cuban burger chain specializing in "fritas." Fritas are Cuban hamburgers. The burger consists of a seasoned ground beef and pork patty with chorizo ​​seasoning (sometimes chorizo), topped with sautéed onions, served on a Cuban bun, and garnished with julienne strips or potato sticks. The patty is grilled in a spicy sauce. Many people eat the fritas with egg, but you can also order them without if, like me, you don't like eggs. It's a bit like a burger with long, thin fried onions. The fritas are super cheap (around $6) and delicious!

https://mitu.tv/whats-good-in-your-hood/el-rey-de-las-fritas