The “Kikita’s Alone in Florida” saga continues . . .
After the Chinese food debacle (ok, so I should have known better, but I’d been traveling all day and I was tired), I decided my first order of business should be to venture out and find the nearest grocery store, preferably Publix. This choice came primarily because after dinner last night all I wanted was chocolate and there was none to be had, but does it really matter why I made the choice? No, it doesn’t.
The point is, I needed mass quantities of chocolate and I needed it fast . . .
Boy, did I get more than I bargained for!
After a careful study of the maps in my room, I found the nearest grocery store WAS, in fact, PUBLIX! HOORAY!!
I waited out the multiple downpours, then finally escaped (and by that time I was hungry again). After a couple of wrong turns, I found Publix. I was so delirious to have found it, I couldn’t really remember why I had needed it so badly the night before. I was kind of disoriented and not sure what to do, but not wanting to look like I didn’t know what I was doing there, I grabbed a cart and started walking down the first aisle I saw . . . it happened to be the BABY aisle. Remembering previous trips to other Publix (one located somewhere off of Flagler), I thought I might score some Royal Violetas . . . I thought wrong. Now I was really feeling out of my element, so I just started cruising with my empty cart hoping inspiration would hit.
Well, before inspiration hit, my first dose of “chocolate” did, in the form of the guy stocking the fruit.
“Hey sweetheart, how you doing?” asked the 16yr old child in front of me. I was SO NOT READY for this. It takes a lot for a male to render me speechless, and this kid did. I smiled and kept walking. Luckily, I walked right into the bakery section. And after a careful search I found pastelitos, and my world was on its way to being balanced again . . . UNTIL . . . I caught another mocha-choca-latte mister ogling me from behind the counter. I dove down another aisle. Yes! Bottled water! Just what I need!
Shoot! Another stalker stocker! Smiling at me!
(You must understand, I am all for smiling back and being polite – especially if he’s cute, but nothing about the way these people were smiling at me inspired neighborly feelings)
I grabbed the water and kept walking, towards another counter with another set of chocolate eyes. It was as if Stocker #1 had radio-ed everyone in the store to say, “Alert! Alert! Blondie with Booty! Aisle 7!”
Perhaps you think I’m kidding, but my antennas were up and I noticed the managers being extra friendly towards me and accidentally being in every other aisle I walked down. Coincidence? I think not!
WHERE, OH WHERE, WAS THE REAL CHOCOLATE?!?!? (or at least a real Cuban to smile back at?)
I went up and down every aisle and was about to give in and speak to one of my many admirers when . . . there. it. was. In the exact place where I’d started. The chocolate I’d been looking for was in the BABY aisle and I’d missed it!
I found an IRISH bar across the street…so sad it wasn’t Cuban.
I know, I’m in serious trouble. I’ve been here for over 24 hours and I haven’t had a Cuban ANYTHING!
Sometimes, it’s hard to be me!
Kikita — except they have a great deli with fabulous maduros, moros y cristianos and yuca. Maybe avoid the produce dept and go straight to the deli? The produce is overpriced anyhow, although at least it’s not all wrapped in plastic so you can’t tell if there are bruises the way it is at Publix. And what if you don’t want four oranges? I hate the Publix produce dept.
Kikita,WHERE ARE YOU AT GIRL!!!!! I’m sadden to hear that you have not experienced anything Cuban yet!!!!!
Publix??!!!! And probably by the beach I suppose?!!!!
You’re not going to find Royal Violeta there!!! You
need to get closer to calle 8 or Hialeah. There you will find these things….but I can’t say you won’t get the admires. Your such a beautiful woman!!!!
Ody,I’m planning a trip down to Calle 8 on Wednesday for the much needed Violetas and to go on a hunt for Cuban cds that they don’t carry in Southern California. If you have any suggestions of good places to buy music, I’m all ears. And at least it will be Cubans admiring me!
Besos,
Kikita
Of course you realize this ALL changes tomorrow when MAMI arrives.SINVERGUENZA!
Yes!!! Try “Sentir Cubano” the address is 3100 SW 8th St. 4 block East of Versailles. Looky there, guess it’s lunch at Versailles!!!!! LOL!!!!!
Viva Ireland!!!!!!! Kisses! (Irish Kisses that is) ;D
I’m getting out there on Thursday and I’m bringing my GPS so we can navigate our way around. We can search any kind of cuisine you can imagine!
The Agua de Violetas (is that the same thing?) is at the Winn Dixie on Coral Way. They also carry all the turrones at Christmas. That is also the same grocery store where the produce guy will whine about being a produce guy to you repeatedly and where you will finally say, “Why don’t you take some classes so you can do something else with your life?” He’ll tell you he tried but it was HARD and so he QUIT and you’ll snap, “Then quit your complaining. I don’t want to hear any more. You made your decision.”Then he’ll ask you to come over to his house to meet his parents.
LOLSo, note to self: Do not go to the Winn Dixie on Coral Way.
Thanks for the tip, c-f!
I will never want four oranges.
Exactly! What if you want just one? Or three? Why can’t I pick out my own oranges, Publix? THIS IS AMERICA!
You guys crack me up!!! Too bad the day is so awful.All I want to do is curl up in bed and watch a nice movie as I listen to it rain.
Kikita, have your mom e-mail you the e-mail I sent her about the long dress I have to get for a wedding I have in Orlando this weekend. Otherwise, I would be hanging with you and your mom in calle 8 on Thursday!!!!
Stay dry, 😉
Ody,I DID stay curled up in bed listening to it rain!
kikita,i’ve been a reader for a couple of months now. i love this blog because I recently moved out of miami (i am a cuban american born and raised in miami) and this blog brings me a piece of home on a daily basis. i moved to north carolina, so you can imagine…i’m probably the only cubana in this town! ah!
but anyways, you can find agua de violetas in navarro pharmacy. you may find it at some publix’s..but not all…i know you can find it at the publix on coral way and 147th ave. but you can surely find it at any navarro pharmacy! :o) hope this helps!
enjoy miami…and the rain!!! miami+summer=rain!
Erika,Thank you for reading!
I am now making it the goal of this trip to find the violetas. I will definitely check out the Publix on Coral Way and 147th.
I’ll keep you posted!