#21 Swim in ocean

The sea is beautiful - Pacific, Atlantic and even my beloved Gulf of Mexico, where the water is always brown, sandy and warm.

Is there anything more relaxing than swimming in the ocean?

It’s like a massage, for free. And there must be some fish in my genes. My grandmother, even in her 90's, loves to go in the surf. Her father would row out on the Gulf and swim in the deep.

In South Florida, I am always amazed by how clear the water is. (This time I took a dip in the Ft. Lauderdale beach at dusk.)

# 100 Go blonde

This is as blonde as it gets.


(Thanks to out-of-control summer highlights.)


I can't go more blonde, unless it's a wig.

# 46 Hear Latin jazz & #83 Watch show at Arsht Center

This was a show I didn’t want to miss back in the spring.

Eddie Palmieri and his band – including sax, bongos and timbalis – headlined at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts.

The show, dubbed Piano Latino, was part of the Jazz Roots series.

I was really curious to hear the debut of Alfredo Rodriguez, a 23-year-old virtuoso who was discovered by Quincy Jones and recently left Cuba. His music was interesting - a step beyond jazz into almost complete post-modern musical deconstruction. He even plucked the strings from the open piano.

Some of my favorite music at the concert ended up being Michel Camilo, a Dominican pianist and Grammy winner. His piano playing was so smooth, emotional and playful at the same time.

And I was glad I was up in the paraíso, near a big group of high school students on a field trip, I think. They ratcheted up the energy vibes from the music a few notches.

Yes, people danced in the aisles.

#3 Dance tango

It had been many moons since I had danced. I realized exactly how long and thought: I cannot continue without dancing.


So, I went to a milonga in Aventura. It was a bit of the viejito lonely hearts club, but fun.

I was nervous I'd trip on my feet and stumble on the giros. Luckily, dancing tango is like riding a bike. You just hop back on.

Dancing brings so many emotions - joy, sadness, peace. And many memories of Buenos Aires, friends far away, tango buddies. In my head, I hear the voices of my last teachers -- Valencia y Dina y Luciana en Villa Malcolm.


I feel like I'm back in Buenos Aires. But the song ends, and I'm here in South Florida and want to be there.


Years ago, Enrique Santos Discepolo said tango is a sad feeling that is danced. Maybe instead of sad feeling: nostalgia, danced.

#6 Walk in Coral Gables

I love walks. They are so relaxing, even when it's hot and steamy.


I have three favorite walks in Coral Gables.


One: walking around the youth center, where almost always there's a pick-up basketball, softball practice, or soccer game going on. It's also the lazy, short walk.

And the trees along the street are amazing: huge and prehistoric.

Two: The walk to the Biltmore, the historic, elegant hotel that's millions overdue in rent.

I get to stroll through the lushly green neighborhood.

And there are always lizards scurrying from my path.

And finally, three: the extra long walk around the Coral Gables golf course.

Can you see the steam?

#50 Eat at Versailles & #55 Eat ropa vieja

Versailles is an institution on Calle Ocho - even if it feels kitschy and over the top with all the etched mirrors that line the walls.

Recent example: Gloria Estefan was here when she led the solidarity march in Miami for Las Damas de Blanco a few months ago. So I had to take my friend F. there on her recent visit.


And the food is good. I had the ropa vieja - another Cuban classic of shredded meat - with rice and beans and plantains. It was so tender.

There are a lot of stories of how ropa vieja - meaning old clothes - got its name. One reason is that the meat is so tender it can be shredded into a pile of rags.


A more romantic one: A very poor man has nothing to feed his family. So he grabs his old clothes, cooks them with his love and it becomes delicious meat stew. I like that one better.

# 76 Have a cortado

I love café cortado, or cortadito. It's the perfect combination of espresso with a bit of milk to cut the coffee. My friend F. says it's the Argentina in me. And there's a machine in my office. 

So I can have one for 75 cents every day.

I don't mind the paper cup. Again, a very easy one to cross off the list - again and again.