Just a little over a year ago, was the last time a few of us saw the guys…. enjoy the video uploaded by Sharon.  🙂

Ok, as you have probably figured out by now, I was in Miami for the short performance of Il Volo on Friday, October 13.  Yes, Chris, Sharon, and I jetted off for Miami on Thursday.  Although it was on various Facebook pages, I stumbled upon it quite by accident.  I just kept wondering where this Estefan’s Kitchen was that Barbara and Piero kept posting from?  We knew they were in Miami, at their place, recording their new album, but were they like IN their private kitchen?  I just had to find out!  So, super sleuth that I am, I Googled “Estefan Kitchen” and what came up?  A website for a restaurant, run by the Estefan’s!  Upon further investigation, as I scrolled down, a headline link caught my eye “don’t miss the Italian singing trio Il Volo on Fri, Oct 13!”  What?  I looked further and saw it was free!  Of course, that was one of the most expensive free concerts I’ve ever been to!   Lol!  After booking the hotel, table, Uber rides, plane fare, etc.  🙂  However short their performance was, it was glorious to see them, yet once again, performing on US soil.

There are likely better versions of this video out on You Tube, as we didn’t have the best vantage point.  For some reason, they put all the paying fans to the side of the performance area.  However, the guys knew we were all there and made a point of at least looking our way a few times, as you will see from the video.  🙂   You also have to put up with my often off-key singing and various comments.  You will hear about the middle of the show, someone saying “is that really necessary?”  I just want you to know, it wasn’t about me.  The person in front of me moved her phone to a different spot, blocking the other person’s view.  I was literally, in the middle.  This is a totally unedited version, starting with me getting up from our table.

With the luck of Il Volo, it was a beautiful night – hot and breezy.  We were also lucky enough to attend the sound check, where they sang 2 songs – El Triste and O Sole Mio.  The guys didn’t come on until over halfway through, well after 8p.

I would like to give a shout out to the Estefan Kitchen!  Although we had to wait a bit for our food, it was excellent!  Even the leftovers warmed up the next day, eaten in our hotel room.   After 6 caffe/chocolate martinis, it was time to say goodbye on Sunday evening.  Chris and I said goodbye to our favorite bartender, Andres, and he was kind enough to take a picture with us.  The place has only been open since about April, but it is fabulous and the management and wait staff, superb!  The drinks, will knock your socks off!  The sangrias and caffe martinis were our favorites.  Our hotel, the Hampton Inn on Biscayne Avenue, is where we stayed and within walking distance of the “kitchen.”  (which we proved several nights in a row – even after coming back a little tipsy!)

We also had fun at South Beach Miami and Chris and I went to Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, which was also pretty cool.

When we arrived on the 3rd night in the row and sat in our now “favorite seats,” Andres wasn’t there right away and we thought he may have the night off.  However, a bit later, he did come around the corner and saw us.  He came over to me and held out his hands for me to take, like we were old friends!  Almost like Cheers, but I don’t think he knew our names.  I’m sure if we had been there longer, we could have asked for our usual and would have had it served promptly!  Oh, Andres, how I miss your martinis and only wish you could come and make them for me in my kitchen!  I would even let Chris and Sharon borrow you!

Chris and I came home on Monday, and Sharon on Tuesday.  It was short, but a pleasant, long weekend getaway – from the pre-winter doldrums, we know are coming!  Unfortunately, the guys had left Saturday to return to Italy, so there was no chance we would see them again before we left.

Oh, one more thing!  If you ever go to Miami, at least where we were, be very careful walking!  The city is not made for walkers, or drivers, for that matter!  You literally took your life in your hands when trying to cross the street.  Darned near had a heart attack after a few Uber rides.  After that, I sat in the back seat!

So, Ciao and Enjoy!  🙂 

(I tried in vain several different options to uploading/downloading this, finally giving up and uploading to Facebook, however, I couldn’t download it to my own computer!  I guess I’ll have to take the SD card out eventually!)  By the way, it says the link cannot be embedded, but if you click on it, it will take you to my Facebook page.  🙂  (ok, any techie person out there that can figure this out, please let me know….)

Thank you to Sharon for uploading this video on You Tube!