Welcome to Miami on pre-Election Weekend

y host Edmundo has had me ‘on the run’ here in Miami since I landed from Chile on Friday morning.

Finally I get to see Edmundo's extensive renovation of his new Coral Gables apartment

Welcome parties on ‘pre-election’ weekend could have been rather dangerous affairs. But I find that most of the guests, Republican or Democrat, have already cast their votes for . . . . . Hillary. “The devil you know” seems to have been the underlying sentiment.

Politics was verboten at the luncheon gathering at the Key Biscayne home of Tere Benach on Sunday, but Aperol Spritz cocktails loosened tongues. Thankfully, respectful and restrained conversation let me understand different points of view while thoroughly enjoying the ‘Arroz con Pollo’ (a delicious Cuban chicken and rice dish) that Tere had made especially in my honour.

Hostess Tere specially prepared Cuban Chicken and Rice with plantains in my honour

At a gathering of old friends at Edmundo’s home from our time at Lake Como , the case of Taittinger didn’t quite make it to the end of the evening, but a quick dash to the cellar to find more bubbly saved the night.

Edmundo, Mark, Jorge, Michael and Michael I

David, Anna and Regina more than kept up with the thirsty guests

dmundo has a new toy – little 2016 Chinese Red Fiat 500 Abarth. Out driving, he loves engaging the ‘Sports’ control button that makes such a terrible noise. Meanwhile I’m admiring the streets of ‘Mediterranean Revival’ Coral Gables with their shaded canopies of mature oaks, and the masses of bougainvillea and pink Bauhinia trees.

Edmundo's noisy little 2016 Chinese Red Fiat 500 Abarth