If I haven't already said this, let me just state the obvious: that we felt like we were being treated like royalty. Two professional artists and independent businesspeople were taking a day out of their schedule to show us around the cigar spots of Miami, taking us back scenes where others may not get to go, introducing us to the people who make things happen. I don't know how the others felt, but I just could hardly believe it. All I could do was go with it, take it in. Wow, this was fun.
So we arrived at the Guayabera Lady's shop. And our time there was just more of the same. There were glasses of wine for all of us. Every little detail was pointed out to us. We asked questions. Not only were all Berta's wonderful designs there, men's clothing on one side of the shop and women's on the other. But also there were numerous unique collaborative designs between Berta and Emilio, one-of-a-kind works of art. For example, a beautiful white scarf on which Emilio had painted all in black. Breathtakingly beautiful things. A pair of boots on which he had painted designs.
In the middle of the store was one of the few things NOT created by Emilio and Berta: a custom-made domino table. We kept our wine glasses there while we shopped and talked. We were told we would meet the man who created this table later. And there was another handmade table hanging on a wall without its legs, which was decorated with a photo of Emilio's painting of the Guayabera Lady.
And yes, people were shopping. Kevin bought a Guayabera for himself and something for his wife. Ade bought two Guayaberas, a black one and a charcoal gray one. Anthony tried one or two on, but decided not to buy. I was tempted, but decided I want to be a little slimmer before I get one so it will look better on me, and fit me better.
All this time, we were getting tantalizing glimpses of Emilio's art - after all, Berta's shop is filled with his work, including the original painting he did of the Guayabera Lady. And he presented us with a very special gift - posters of one of his paintings from a Miami exhibit, signed by him. Wow! That all just whet our appetites to see his gallery nextdoor.
It was just one large room, but three walls were filled with his paintings, and we were enveloped in the feelings that his art brings to you. His art is warm, it is vibrant, it is sensual, his paintings all have a very sunny disposition, they are full of energy and strong colors. We were all really lucky to see these paintings all hanging in one place like this. You know, so often, you see art and you know you're expected to go "ooh" and "aah" and talk about how much you like it, when you may not be feeling it at that moment. Well, it was easy to ooh and aah over Emilio's work, because it was a joy to see his sensual paintings of flowers and animals and beautiful women and all the stereotypical Cuban iconography that fill his canvases.
OMG, we were already late for lunch at Cuban Crafters! But what was time for us, really? You could have left us for hours anywhere along the path of our journey and we would've been happy. Our senses were overwhelmed with the wonder of everything we were seeing. So lunch is next? OK, let's do lunch. We were ready for anything. And we knew that no matter how much we had done and seen, there was more to come!
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