Travelsmartplanet

Miami, FL Exit 1B: Little Havana is a true reflection of Hispanic culture. As you approach the heart of the neighborhood at SW 8th Street—known as Calle Ocho by the locals; the geographical, historical and emotional heart of the Miami Cuban exile community,  you may feel you’ve been transported to another time and place. Go there for authentic Cuban fare, a strong cafecito, a good Cuban cigar, Latin festivals or a fierce game of dominoes. From salsa-dancing and art exhibits, to a historic movie theater, concerts, Little Havana uncovers a thriving arts and culture scene with a distinctly Cuban flair.

Experience Little Havana by partaking in the Cuban culture at Viernes Culturales (Cultural Fridays), Little Havana’s popular vibrant art and culture festival, taking place on the last Friday of every month, from 7 to 11 pm on SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho) between 13th and 17th Avenues. It promises to be a fun-filled event for the whole family.

Enjoy live music, dancing under the stars, discover works by local artists and artisans in and around iconic Domino Plaza on SW 8th Street and SW 15th Avenue, contemporary and historic artworks at the many fine art galleries, domino games, cigar rollers, local arts and crafts, all while taking in the flavor and ethnic diversity that Little Havana has to offer.

Get the sense of this tight knit community by taking advantage of the Free Little Havana Walking Tour.  Dr. Paul George has developed 12 different tours of the surrounding neighborhoods and this historic walking tour experience brings a unique and different audience from all parts of South Florida. Meet in front of the Tower Theater (1508 SW 8th St.) @ 7 PM, Free, no reservations required.

Free Trolley Service : The City of Miami takes you for free on the Miami Trolley leaving from the Mary Brickell Village and the Brickell Metrorail/Metromover Station to the heart of the Viernes Culturales festival every 15 minutes, starting at 6:30 pm.

Location: Along Southwest 8th Street from 13th to 17th avenues, Miami, FL 33135
Date: Fri, June 30 2017 (Later 2017 Dates: 7/28, 8/25, 9/29, 10/27, 11/24, 12/29)
Hours: 7 – 11 pm
Tel: 305-643-5500
viernesculturales.org/mainvc/
For Regional Accommodations, Restaurants & Attractions: miamiandbeaches.com

By the age of 21, Iosif Dzhugashvili (Stalin) was a revolutionary and proved adept at raising funds through robbery, as well as smuggling guns and explosives. In 1902 he was arrested for the first time and later exiled, beginning a cycle of arrest, exile, escape, revolutionary activity and arrest again which would continue til the 1917 revolution. In 1913 he chose the name Stalin as it meant, ‘man of steel’, and became editor of party newspaper Pravda.

He was a very astute man within bureaucracy so by the late 1920’s he wound up a feared dictator of Russia. He started the process of collective ownership and also the process of not allowing people to speak their minds – they were sent to the Gulag if they did. Conservative estimates of population he had killed is from 10- 20 million people.

Stalin was so feared that when he suffered a stroke in 1953, everyone was afraid to go to him. As usual at night, he had given order not to be disturbed, so they didn’t go in fearing they would be “purged” if he recovered – or  – were accused of killing him. The best doctors who had been treating him were now in prison as he had purged them.

So Stalin was left rolling on the floor in his urine, partially paralyzed, breathing with difficulty and vomiting blood. He lay there for 5 days until he died on March 5th.