Book Tour Days 20 & 21 – flavored Cuban

It’s hard to believe that the official part of the CHAINS tour is almost over. It has been a remarkable four weeks; I know I’ll be thinking about all the readers and booksellers I met for months to come.

In a little while I’ll check out of this hotel and give a writing workshop to teens courtesy of the Miami Book Fair. After that, I head to New Orleans. And after THAT, I head home and prepare for all the National Book Award hoopla and the NCTE/ALAN conference.

When Thanksgiving arrives, I will have so much to be thankful for, the food will be stone-cold by the time I finish saying grace.

One of the things I am thankful for today…..

Cuban coffee. Dark, sweet, thick and heavenly.

It is served in thimble-sized cups after a meal. It is elegant and yummy. If I can find a way to make it at home, I may never touch another Red Bull.

I was introduced to Cuban coffee by Michelle, a Miami-Dade County administrator and second generation Cuban immigrant who graciously drove me around yesterday. In between two school presentations, she found a little corner deli (properly called paneria y dulceria) so we could eat lunch. She explained to the woman who ran the business that I wanted to try some Cuban food.

The choices were mouth-watering.

On the left is yucca, which reminded me of potatoes a little,. In the middle is fried plantain – I will never look at bananas the same way. That pastry is filled with guava paste, which I loved, though Michelle assured me that fresh guava fruit tastes a million times better. I also had some smoked pork that I forgot to photograph. And then the aforementioned coffee.

Enjoy the palm trees while I drool.

I’m still drooling. Look at the pretty fishies found on the wall of the Miami airport.

OK, I have to stop thinking of food. Here is a photo of Vivian, the principal of Elkins Pointe Middle School in Roswell, GA. She is standing in front of a HUGE world map in the lobby that is surrounded by clocks showing the current time in cities around the world.

These are just a few of the national flags hanging in the lobby. Vivian explained to me that the flags represent the birth country of every child who has ever attended Elkins Pointe.

One last photo – this one cracked me up. The upper school students at Somerset Academy are in the middle of preparing for their Winter Ball and decided to hold an election for a Snow Ball Queen and a Snow Ball King. Even though they live in Miami.

TOMORROW’S EVENT: Friday, November 14 at 4:30 pm: Octavia Books 504-899-7323