This year's
Miami winter getaway was a true godsend – eighty degrees and mostly sunny for five consecutive days is nothing to sneeze at if you're a chilly New Englander.
As expected, Florida's tropical sights did not disappoint, and I was very fortunate to be staying at South Beach's famous
The Raleigh hotel, just steps from beaches, restaurants, shopping and nightlife.
This art-deco treasure was designed in 1940, and, even after a number of renovations over the years, it retains its uniquely shaped outdoor swimming pool.
 |
| The Raleigh's famous pool – no plain geometry here. |
This pool is where film star,
Esther Williams, cavorted in
The Million Dollar Mermaid (1952).
Decades before Synchronized Swimming became an Olympic Sport, champion swimmer, Esther Williams, made a splash in a number of Hollywood films, which helped popularize the sport.
 |
| Esther Williams photo in The Raleigh's elevator. |
I'm always taken by South Beach's
art-deco architecture, and each time I visit, I see details I hadn't noticed before. These are a few snapshots I took while out and about...
 |
Lincoln Rd. building –
frozen waterfall motif at top. |
 |
Building renovation on Collins Ave.
Fortunately, it looks like they're retaining the pastel facade. |
 |
| Gigante pink flamingo on Ocean Drive. |
 |
| Ceiling light fixture inside the Miami Post Office. |
 |
| Fountain in front of the Netherland Hotel on Ocean Drive. |
 |
Yes, like most large cities, Miami also has creepy child mannequins in store windows.
This one showcases a funny, if vulgar, sense of humor. |
 |
| Audrey Hepburn artwork inside Hotel Victor on Ocean Drive. |
 |
| James Dean artwork inside Hotel Victor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The highlight of my Miami trip was an excursion to the
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, located along beautiful Biscayne Bay on South Miami Avenue.
Vizcaya's main house was built between 1914-1916 as the winter estate of Chicago businessman James Deering.
 |
| Vizcaya – portion of rear facade. |
 |
| Vizcaya archway to gardens. |
 |
| Vizcaya rear facade pediment with finial and weathervane. |
 |
| Vizcaya steps to gardens. |
|
|
|
|
 |
| Vizcaya full rear facade. |
|
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
 |
| Garden room, looking from inside. |
 |
| Ornate transom in the garden room. |
 |
| Garden room, looking up from the outside. |
The
formal gardens, completed in 1922, are filled with geometric plantings, architectural follies and an abundance of sculptures.
 |
| Sculpture extravaganza. |
 |
| One of a pair of Sphinxette sculptures. |
 |
| More sculptures. |
 |
| Adonis lives here... naturally. |
 |
| Sculptural five-spout fountain. |
 |
| John Deering could see Venice from his house. |
 |
| Barge replica (Deering was apparently an avid boater) |
 |
| Barge detail. |
 |
| Barge embarkation steps. | | | | | | | |
|
 |
| Spiral staircase inside main house. |
For my last night in SOBE, I went out for a taste of
nightlife, walking up to
The Miami Edition Hotel, which has a swanky neutral-toned lobby with a plethora of light fixtures...
 |
| The Edition Hotel lobby. |
 |
| Edition lobby light fixture. |
 |
I had too much to dream last night –
took a spin on the ice rink, located in The Edition Hotel basement, next to the bowling alley. |
 |
| Think pink on your feet! |
Wish I was there again...
