MIAMI HEAT

7/3

  

Hey there Campers;

We are still trying to get use to the Florida heat and humidity. We drove to sunny Miami to see the sights. We went to an online RV site that said we could park the RV for $15 a day and be near the beach. Mmmm… sounds fishy to have RV parking in a big city. However, we do want to tour the South Beach area. So we venture on. We tried our best to get to the street and site of the parking lot. Well we finally saw the parking lot after many gyrations. It was a parking lot. FOR CARS!!! I saw a police officer and asked her if she knew of RV parking at this site. She informs me that there never was RV parking here in. Again campers, sometimes you have to go with your gut and not look at the internet. Not to worry. You know Lo and I know how to work Walmart. We found one in Miami Gardens and parked the Hilton4 there.

We ventured back to South Beach to start our city tour. So we want to take the Double Decker bus tour. We go to their downtown location. We were told everything was full until 3:30 PM. So we decide to go to another tour bus. We walk down the street and see the same touring bus line in a store. We go in ask about the tour she books us and throws in the boat tour for $1 extra instead of the $39 for each. After we got the tickets (ok, we are no dummies) I had to just ask why she had tickets for earlier time and touring office didn’t. She said her station is like an online booking so she could book us anytime. Wow. I guess you just gotta know how this system works.

Well, we get on the tour and head to the art deco area.

Here are some quick facts:

Ø  Miami was founded by Julia Tuttles

Ø  Miami Beach was built in 1922.

Ø  The word Miami means fresh water.

Ø  Brickell is the Financial District of Miami.

Ø  Miami Beach is the only true island in Miami. All others are manmade.

Ø  There are 800 Art Deco buildings in South Beach. Miami

Ø   Miami has a colorful Childrens Museum

Ø  The Johnny Versace mansion is on Ocean Street. The family no longer owns it.

Ø  The Tides building was built in 1936.

Ø  ESPN studios shows current games outside for all to see for free.

Ø  The downtown trolley is free. What a deal. You can go anywhere locally at no cost.

Ø  Miami is built on a coral reef.

Ø  CSI Miami was based on Miami PD. (Go figure!)

Ø  Miami River is 36 miles long.

Ø  The Miami skyline is the 3rd largest in the nation.

Ø  Port of Miami is the largest passenger port in the world. (For those of us who have taken a cruise out of there they really have moving people around down to a science.)

Ø  Movies shot in Miami: Moonlighting, Bad Boys 2, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Bird Cage etc.

 

The tour took us in front of many famous people home. Serena Williams, Gloria Estefan,

etc. Many shaped high rise building are everywhere.

 

You got to go to Little Havana. This area is the heart of the Cuban world. There are over 

300,000 people of Cuban descent. They have everything you could want from cafes, art,

cigars, coffee, etc. They have their own Domino Park. This is where politics are

discussed.This park reminded me of family. No matter when we get together somebody 

is going to bring out those bones. (Slang for dominoes.)

   There are huge roosters on the streets. They were started by artist in 2002. They are like feathered ambassadors to the area. The roosters are supposed to be for good luck. Many people stop and take selfies. OK, I just couldn’t resist.

 

Talk about art. Look at the building that said Good Beer here. It is 3D. It is hard to tell if 

the windows are really sticking out or is it an illusion. Art abounds in Little Havana.

Our tour took us to the Bayside Marina Boardwalk to take our boat ride. Lo and I have 

been here before. While I am not a foodie, they did serve a great salad. Of course I 

headed to one of my favorite places. Yep. There is a Hard Rock. Guitar pin here I come. 

They currently have a 2018 special spinner pin that you can only get each café. Soooo.I 

am trying my best to get one at each place I stop. Got #2.

We say goodbye to the dock and head out to the Miami River. On our boat tour we see 

the American Airlines Arena where the Miami Heat plays. So are they going to resign 

Dwayne Wade?? Just need to know. He can join LeBron in LA. Just a thought. Ok 

enough about basketball.

I tell you talk about fabulous boats. Miami Beach has boats of every type. Can you say 

$$$$$$$$$$. The SeaFair Yacht was designed as a floating art gallery. It is now used 

for any type of venue you can pay for. 

 

 

We toured around Star Island. Guest who lives there.  Stars of course. Gloria & Emilio 

Estefan, Shaquille O’Neal, Antonio Banderas, Jackie Chan, J-Lo just to name a few. 

There are other rich people like Philip Frost (the Viagra dr.), plastic surgeons, 

developers, etc. They have beautiful homes.

 

Fisher Island is truly an Island. The only way to get there is by ferry. Before you board 

that boat you should make sure you can afford a room. They go for over $1,000 a night. 

A average apartment goes for $1,000,000. It has the highest per capita income of any 

place in the U.S.

This city has a little something for everyone. Colorful parking meters. Pharma in a Box if 

you are sick. Amazing.

At the end of the day as we make our way to the car guess what happens. Yep those

dark clouds gather and it starts to rain. Whew. Got in the car in time. Yep God is good all

the time.

  

Well Campers, until next time.

Lo & Bren