Tuong Vi P.
Yelp
If you are visiting Miami and want to get a true taste of the local flavor, you will be more than satisfied once you make a stop at Máximo Gómez Park. This time was my second visit to the park and without my Cuban boyfriend to shield me! (So kidding!)
I was in the area, getting ice cream from Azúcar Ice Cream Company, which is on the other side of Calle 8. I was wandering around, wondering if I should get in the car and go home or use up the hour of parking that I had already paid. I crossed the street and walked east and ended up here. I was a bit nervous, seeing as I don't really blend in. But shortly after I got there, a bus full of tourists stopped in front of the park and a tidal wave of non-natives poured into the park.
They came in, walked around, took some pictures. Don't get me wrong, I, too, snaps some flicks. I'll load them up later. But after the tourists left, I was left standing there, like the crazy chinita. After watching a few rounds of dominoes, I noticed that each player got 10 pieces but I didn't understand why there was pieces at the corners of the table. After watching a bit more, I gathered up courage to ask someone who was standing by, waiting for a turn to play. He explained it to me, but I think I need to read up a little bit more. They were all in shock when I opened my mouth and were so warm once they knew that I could talk to them in their language.
I told me to get my Cubano to teach me to play and to come back to get in on a round. I think I will do just that.
I felt completely safe here, listening to political banter and occasional grunts of annoyance from those playing. I noticed only one woman playing, as well as a table of chess players. But the rest were playing the national game of Cuba. Go and have a glance, but don't break their concentration or annoy them. While they are a tourist attraction, the players here come to really play, not to look pretty.