Tuesday, October 17, 2017

HOPPING ON AND OFF

Since time in this charming city was brief, we decided to be typical tourists and view the sights via a double decker Hop On and Off Bus. The stop was just a two block walk from the hotel. Interesting sign at the bus stop as you can see from the photo. Zoom in if you can.
All set to go with lots of sunscreen, water, hats and shades we clamoured aboard to the top. The first leg of the trip took us through the Miami Beach area, renowned not only for its expansive sandy beach and warm waters, but also for the Art Deco architecture. Many of the buildings dating back to the early 20th century had become ramshackle and were slated for demolition. However, the federal government stepped in with a heritage preservation order preventing the destruction of countless buildings. Most have completely renovated interiors with the exteriors preserved in the original states. The cost for renovation is astronomical and the value of the properties is well beyond our budgets. 

This Art Deco exterior is being refurbished to reflect its original beauty 
and the interior is completely gutted and will, when complete, 
feature upscale modern amenities.

Each Art Deco buildings displayed unique characteristics, all of which we thought were remarkable in their beauty.
                                                
Old Miami Beach City Hall, now a theatre

 Magnificent views from this stately building

Cadillac- the favoured hotel for ELVIS
It is difficult to capture the charm and beauty of the architecture in Miami Beach. It needs to be seen
in person. 
Just a block from our hotel, this beauty was one of my favourite 
Art Deco buildings. Should we return the plan is to visit the elegant
Oyster Bar located in the glass block silo portion of the structure.

The photos reflect only one portion of our tour. More to come another time. We have a ship to board. Bon Voyage.
A friendly wave from the Hop ON?OFF Bus

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