So we had time to kill in Miami and came across the tiny Little Havana Gift Shop. What struck me–besides the free samples of delicious, strong Cuban-style coffee (sugar, always), and why anyone would want a realistic-looking vibrator/butane lighter combo ($11). (And yes, I bought one FOR A FRIEND. BECAUSE IT WAS FUNNY, OKAY?) is the amount of hand-hewn souvenirs from Cuba: Toy cars carved out of wood, wooden keepsake boxes adorned with colorful seeds and shells, ingeniously upcycled cans tuned into toy trains, trucks and motorcycles. There was also a statement hat made from Heineken cans that only your crunchiest of granola friends would ever dare wear, but, yay for creative recycling.
I was so glad to see an alternative to crappy plastic tchotchkes. Because it’s Cuba and everyone says it will lose its throwback charm quickly, get them while you still can.
Little Havana Gift Shop is at 1522 SW 8th St., Miami, FL 33135.