Grant’s Super Bowl LIV diary: Days 1-3

Day 1.

Deary Diary,

Just landed in Miami for the Super Bowl. Never been here, but I feel like I have because I played Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in high school. 

Took a Lyft to South Beach Monday morning to pick up my credential, and the driver was playing Waiting For A Girl Like You by Foreigner. Used to hear that song in Vice City when I would steal a car and the radio was tuned to Emotion 98.3. Just goes to show how much people love ’80s pop tunes in Miami.

Picked up my credential and checked Foursquare for a place to eat. Most people use Yelp, but I don’t like that app. It’s a bunch of one-star and five-star reviews from people who were too excited or too mad about their experience. Yelp shows what people THINK they like or don’t like. Foursquare shows what people REALLY like, because it spies on you and tracks which places get the most return customers.

Foursquare recommended a place called La Sandwicherie, gave it a 9.2 rating of 10. It’s a hole-in-the-wall Italian sandwich joint run by French people. Exactly what you would expect to eat in Miami. Forty people were standing outside eating sandwiches. My sandwich had ham, salami, prosciutto, provolone, lettuce, onions, green peppers, jalapenos, black olives, cucumbers, cornichons and French Vinaigrette. As Ferris Bueller would say, it was so choice.

Walked to the beach. Didn’t expect to see such cute, little waves. They were six inches high. Adorable.

Took a Lyft home and asked the driver, a Puerto Rican lady, where I should visit while I’m here. She mentioned different “Icelands” that were pretty. Huh? I only know one Iceland. Eventually, I realized she meant “islands,” and smiled. I like her version. It’s charming and phonetic. I probably won’t make it to any Icelands, though. I don’t have a car.

Day 2.

Dear Diary,

Took a bus to downtown Miami for the 49ers’ media availability. Downtown Miami almost looks like San Francisco — all those big buildings on the water. And there’s a river. I like a good river.

Took a shuttle home. Wrote an article, recorded a podcast with my dad and filmed a video for YouTube. Finished working around 11:00 p.m. Consulted my brother, a food connoisseur, about where to eat. He recommended Versailles in Little Havana. Foursquare recommended it, too. Gave it a 9.2. I only eat at 9s and up.

My hotel doesn’t offer shuttle service to Versailles, unfortunately. And I definitely didn’t want to purchase two Lyft rides just to get a $7 Cuban sandwich. So I walked two miles at midnight through Little Havana. Passed by a CVS y mas! Arrived at Versailles. Ordered the Cuban sandwich. Best I’ve ever had.

Also ordered a glass of Ribera Del Duero, which was delightful.

Then I walked two miles home.

Day 3.

Dear Diary,

I love Miami. It doesn’t feel like the United States. It feels like an Iceland in the Caribbean. So many people don’t speak English. When I speak English, I often get looks like, “Dude, where do you think you are?” So cool. Makes me want to improve my Spanish.

Heading to the hotel bar for a burger. Promised my wife I wouldn’t walk through Little Havana at night anymore. I don’t know what the big deal is. I’ll have more adventures tomorrow.

This article has 20 Comments

  1. Diary of a madman
    Walk the line again today
    Entries of confusion
    Dear diary, I’m here to stay.

  2. Grant, if you find out where they keep the hanging chads, let me know. It’ll save me time when I get there.

  3. Grant:
    Have a great time in Miami.
    How’s the weather? Will it effect the players at all?

    Only passed thru Miami once a long time ago. Went jet skiing on a water way in the city, it was a blast, I highly recommend it.

  4. Grant— Michael’s Genuine, Design District: Go to their bar at Happy Hour. Top Miami restaurant that practically gives their food and drinks away on their Happy Hour bar menu. Also a quality local people (read: women) watching locale.

  5. Good for you Grant for not letting other people opinions stop you from enjoying a night time stroll.

    1. Grant, you listen to your wife. I am sure there are some people who will target the Super Bowl crowd.
      .
      I do not want you to become a statistic. Please be safe.

  6. Have you been to Porto’s in Glendale or Burbank in so cal?
    Try their Cuban sandwich or Cuban foods like the potato balls.
    It’s divine.
    You cannot have enough neon in Miami.

  7. “Took a Lyft home and asked the driver, a Puerto Rican lady, where I should visit while I’m here. She mentioned different “Icelands” that were pretty. Huh? I only know one Iceland. Eventually, I realized she meant “islands,” and smiled. I like her version. It’s charming and phonetic. I probably won’t make it to any Icelands, though. I don’t have a car.”

    I got a laugh off of this one. I knew what she was saying before reading on.
    Sounds like my mom to this day. She’s lived in the states for over 40 years now, and the accent although has diminished a bit, still has its words that will never change for her.
    I can hear my moms voice saying the same with a “make sure you dry your feets off before getting in the car.

    Glad you’re having a good time down there Grant.
    Hope you’re enjoying some other Latin culture down there. We’re not all California Mexican and S American Latinos. ?

  8. Dear Diary,

    I’ve met a woman named Rosa Maria. We are running away to Cuba……just kidding

    Enjoy your time Grant, sounds like a lot of fun.

  9. Miami is a great place to visit, as you are finding out, Grant. But of all the places I traveled when I traveled a lot for work, Miami is the only place I ever had my AmEx number stolen and used. So, be careful.

    Oh, and I am quite envious about the fantastic looking Cuban sandwich. I love Cuban food in general, but a good Cuban sandwich is at the top of the list.

      1. I know you’re wearing your white pants, open up buttoned shirt, slicked back hair and big sun glasses there….Miami Vice style; )

  10. Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was an amazing game. In fact, it wasn’t until the most recent Grand Theft Auto that I found a Grand Theft Auto as enjoyable.

    1. Grand Theft Auto soured me on Miami.

      Also had a friend tell me downtown wasn’t safe after dark–he used to live there but that was long ago.

      Perhaps its become gentrified like most American cities, therefore, Grant is able to enjoy himself w/o getting jacked up.

      Glad your having a good time Grant. Appreciate you sharing with us. My brother did the same when he went to Capone’s in Chicago, then to a jazz joint (that looked like a brick house) and he bought a CD from the band, then headed to the Cubs game next day after enjoying a Chicago style deepdish.

      Have fun. Go Niners!!!

      1. I have been able to enjoy myself for without getting jacked up for 32 years, knock on wood.

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