Monday, April 30, 2012

A Trip to Miami South Beach


(click on photos to enlarge)
TD and I last week took a fun five-day trip down to Miami South Beach for some much needed r and r. We have been down several times before, and we always enjoy wide sandy beach and the surf of the Atlantic Ocean while being close to a lot of great restaurants and stores. It's an easy getaway. The flight is less than three hours and once we get there we don't need to rent a car because everything is within walking distance. We were on a 7am flight out of LaGuardia and swimming in the warm ocean by 11:30.
We checked into the charming Villa Paradiso which in one block from the beach, and were looked after by the helpful Anna.

At night we strolled around in shorts. A colorful Cadillac was parked in front of the Marlin Hotel; the car and the building go back in time.

South Beach was developed in the 1930's, and claims to have the largest collection of buildings featuring Streamline Moderne Art Deco architecture. I love the pastel colors and cubic lines of the apartment houses. It looks to me like Old Hollywood. I said to TD, "Can we move here?"

Voluptuous bougainvillea smothered a dusty pink apartment building at dusk.

At night we walked along Lincoln Road, a long pedestrian row lined with stores, restaurants, galleries and bars. In the 1960's Miami Beach architect Morris Lapidus designed Lincoln Road as it appears today, and I think it must be one of the great public spaces in the world. It is always crowded with visitors from all over the world, and offers great people-watching when you sit down to eat dinner. One night we had authentic Northern Italian pizza at Spris, and another night we ate at the lively Sushi Samba. On Collins Avenue we had a delicious Italian dinner at Spiga (sit on the porch) but the best dinner we had was at the newish Yardbird Southern Table and Bar (thanks Beth). Oh, I can still taste that fried chicken.

But mostly in Miami, we sit on the sandy beach and swim in the warm water. It feels like a relief to the body and spirit to be enveloped by tropical nature after a winter in the city. Even the clouds cooperate.

At the beach I am happy.

4 comments:

Bob said...

Glad your trip was the welcomed relief from the city. I could not have imagined 4 years ago that I would never see SB again. I'm now so disabled, but your pixs brought back the sights and smell of this playground for fun crowd. In my next life I want to spend more time in Florida and less in France. Thanks for the trip write up! Best, Bob

Bart Boehlert said...

Hi Bob, I am glad you enjoyed. Miami and France sounds like a good combination!
Best,
BB

Gail, northern California said...

Well, now you're just being a real smart-ass, Bart!

That was my initial reaction to this post since it seems everything you do is absolutely fantastic.

When I simmered down, I thought, "I shouldn't begrudge him a little R & R in Florida." So there it is, "I'm happy for you." in all sincerity, and without the knee-jerk sarcasm. ;-)

Bart Boehlert said...

Oh Gail that made me laugh!
Well I'm glad you came around. It was a well deserved vacation, and I wish the same for you –
Best,
BB