I did it. I did what I vowed I’d never do: Relocate for love. Through the years, I’ve seen so many disasters, I knew it would be best to stay steady and slow. But he was a Prince! Tall, dark, and handsome and so charming! He was the man I’ve been waiting for all my life. He was the reason why I’ve never married before now (I’m 52 years old). He flew up to meet me and we drove to Miami together to be together….. in his apartment. We laughed all the way down to paradise. How could it be that meeting your soulmate can take half your lifetime? How can we be from two very different cultures yet feel so connected? We started unpacking my SUV in front of his beachfront condo and my feet didn’t touch the ground. I’m back in Miami Beach – where I started my real estate career 21 years ago.
Surreal.
We walked into his condo and he immediately turned to me with a huge smile and outstretched arms, “Welcome Home Babe!” We embraced. He kissed the top of my head and said, “Now that I finally found you, I’ll never let you go.” I got goosebumps and said to myself, “Dreams really do come true!”
Not Exactly.
The very next morning the monster appeared. He kissed my forehead, bounced out of bed, started walking to the bathroom and ordered, “I need you to clean out the kitchen. I didn’t have time before I came to get you.” I laughed, “So am I your lady or your housekeeper?” He turned around and with a straight face said, “Both!” I kept laughing. I genuinely thought he was joking until he walked back to the bed, pulled the covers off, and said strongly, “Now!” I stared at him, got up, put on my running gear and headed to the beach without saying Goodbye. I returned to a note on the dining room table: The kitchen better be clean when I get home from work!
We had five days together. He was an animal. No, he was a Neanderthal. I was shocked that the CIO of a $500M telecommunications company with his MBA and a global business track record could treat me worse than any Arab man I’ve seen with his wife. I couldn’t sleep – told him I was working on a project. I couldn’t eat – told him I was trying a new diet. But there was light – he was leaving for a business trip for 4 days. I planned my escape.
With an early morning flight, he left the house at 6am. I pretended I was sleeping. “I love you, Buba. See you in a few days.” I heard the door close and I frantically started packing. I couldn’t pack fast enough. And then I saw my Shabbat Candle sticks and stopped. I can’t believe I brought those too! I was so convinced I was with the love of my life, I didn’t even give it a second thought to take them. My whole wardrobe. My books. My candle sticks. This was NOT suppose to be happening! But it was and I needed to leave urgently. But where was I going?
The Gem.
I jumped on hotels.com and found a hotel in another town called Bay Harbor Village. Everyone calls it the Gem of Miami. It’s a quaint little town just west of Miami Beach. With one strip of nice kosher/nonkosher restaurants, healthy cafes, gyms, salons, and clothing stores, Bay Harbor Village is a tranquil enclave surrounded by water yet, a 10 minute walk to Miami Beach and a 20 minute drive to South Beach. Why haven’t I heard of this oasis before?!? It’s so beautiful and so quiet, yet so close to everything, i.e. to enjoy the fun and hoopla of Miami is a 5-30 minute drive away (pending traffic).
The Gem Within A Gem……
The Altair.
I walked into this beautiful modern hotel with more luggage and bags than a rock star and still, everyone greeted me with a huge smile. I had THREE staff members help me to my room and they also helped me organized everything in my room! There’s 96 rooms, but it feels like a luxury boutique hotel. The Altair has been open since 2023 and has quickly developed a very loyal following. In fact, Antonio J. Llorens, Director of Sales, described in best, “You come as a guest, leave as a friend, and return as family.”
The staff echoed this sentiment repeatedly over my first week, “Ms. Aylah – this is your home away from home! If there’s anything we can do, big or small, to make you more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are 0 from your room phone.” I was so impressed with the first 24 hours of my stay, I sent a blast email letting me whole sphere know of my discovery.
There are several variables that make The Altair exceptional:
1. They cater to the Jewish Observant Community – a wonderful kosher restaurant provides for kosher dairy breakfast and kosher meat dinners. There is a synagogue on the property as well as a Shabbat elevator, separate swim times, community Shabbat candle lighting, and Shabbat room keys.
2. There’s an exquisite rooftop pool with gorgeous views, cabanas, and a bar.
3. An extensive gym will enable you to stay fit during your stay.
4. The Altair is on the west end of Bay Harbor Island, so it looks out to a canal – no matter time of day, it’s always beautiful.
5. There’s a hotel shuttle to bring you to the beach.
6. The diversity of guests is very wide with Jewish Observant guests from NYC, NJ, Canada, Israel and France, as well as Israelis, ladies from Altanta and NYC, a lady from Paris and everyone was using the opportunity to learn from each other’s culture! It’s so social and warm!
7. I spoke to one guest who explained last year his Observant friend invited him to stay and he was hooked, “Listen, I can stay anywhere in Miami Beach, but I keep coming back here because it’s so special. It’s like the staff and guests merge and we’re a big, happy diverse family! I’ll never stay anywhere else in Miami!”
Allow me to show you my new home………
and observant men from New Jersey.
Guess What? I found a home for my Shabbat Candle Sticks…… and me, for now. 🙂