We have been in Miami for the last few weeks and I have a question about Little Havana. What is the deal with all the rooster statues? They all all dressed in different costumes. I asked but could not find anyone that spoke english. If you get a chance to go, it is great down there. Good cuban coffee and food.
Molly

A couple of years ago, the Kiwanis of Little Havana commissioned local artists to paint these rooster statues. After a certain period, they were sold to businesses, many of which still have them on display. I think the idea came from bulls in Chicago (or was it New York?), Coral Gables followed the trend with flamingos and then Little Havana with roosters. Roosters are a special animal in Cuban folklore. Little Havana is definitely an interesting and unique place.

Thank you and my teenager was right. Now I will have to go and tell her

They did the same thing in Naples with alligators.

Roosters are actually religous symbols. As in voodoo. Maybe santeria but I'm no expert. And who knows what their meaning is on Calle Ocho.

Personally, I like a good rooster. If I could have one barnyard animal it would be a rooster. I'd get rid of my alarm clock and p--s off the nieghbors all in one fell swoop.

Don't bother with little havana, you will sit in traffic to get there. There is a cigar store, one very junky gift shop and a mcdonalds, that's about it. I thought I would see a lot of stores and hear some good music. NOPE.

It has deteriorated terribly since the original exiles from the 1960s lived and owned businesses there. Now what is left is people from Central America, mostly, imo.

Still, there is Versailles, the most authentic Cuban restaurant in town.

Tandoori girl..you have ONE crazy mind!!

It reminded me of a place I live in Miami....beautiful building...I was on the 14th floor, but the area was near a ...well neighborhood in "transition" and somewhere down there was a f&(^^ rooster, which at the crack of dawn every freaking morning holidays included..used to cockadoodle its crazy head off!!! It drove me nuts...even though I was on the 14th floor, it was as if it were on my balcony!!!

At one point I was thinking of getting a sniper rifle with a good scope and supressor...but suddenly one day...it stopped...and I assumed either it met its fate in a chicken tikka masalla or someone beat me to the assault rifle!

Anyway...if anyone has travelled in Latin america, or Puerto Rico...it is quite evident how important the rouster is in their culture....including cock fighting which is everywhere...ahhh including Miami.