Aloha to Miami - Vizcaya Musuem and Gardens (part 1)

During my recent trip to Miami, I dropped off my son and his friend at South Beach ... and I headed over to the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.  It's front entrance is unassuming ... hiding a gem within. From its website (link),

The planning and construction of Vizcaya lasted over a decade, from 1910 to 1922. Deering modeled his estate after a centuries’-old Italian country villa. This involved the large-scale purchase of European antiques and the design of buildings and landscapes to accommodate them. At the same time, Deering a modern businessman, incorporated twentieth-century building methods and technologies at Vizcaya, and established agricultural facilities relevant to his background as a manufacturer of farm equipment.

Before entering the house, I noticed activity behind the garden gates ... 

... a fashion photo shoot!

Vizcaya is perfect for haute couture!

The museum does not allow pictures inside the house ... 

... the remaining pictures focus on the gardens. 

The gardens feature French, Italian, and Spanish architecture ...

... with Greek, Roman, and Persian influences!

The Roman god Janus enjoys views from the front and back!

This stairway reminds of China in which the Emperor walked in the center aisle with his advisers to one side and generals to the other. 

No garden is complete with a waterfall.

I found another photo shoot ... Quinceañera!  

Notice what she was wearing under her fancy dress!  She reminded me of the bride who wore sneakers under her wedding dress in Steve Martin's FATHER OF THE BRIDE. 

What are your favorite brand of sneakers?  Mine is New Balance. One randomly selected commenter from this week's posts wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, June 4, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, June 5, at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit n Charm City

My office bag engages in Roman philosophy ...

Aloha to Key Biscayne - Stiltsville, Sailboats, and Coconuts

 

I found this display a short walk from the Cape Florida Lighthouse, "Homes that hover".  From the National Park Service (link),

Seeming to float above Biscayne Bay's shallow seagrass beds, Stiltsville has a colorful history that dates back to the 1930s, when "Crawfish Eddie Walker" built the first shack on stilts above the water. Over the years more buildings were constructed, and the area took on an aura of mystery. Accessible only by water, the area was the place to see and be seen when visiting the winter resorts on nearby Miami Beach. Stories of illegal alcohol and gambling led to several police raids on the Bikini Club and Quarterdeck Club. At its peak in 1960, there were 27 structures on the flats, but hurricanes, fires and the ravages of being in such an exposed place made every building relatively short-lived.

Creative Commons (link)

In 2003, an agreement was reached to establish a non-profit organization called the Stiltsville Trust. The agreement is intended to preserve the structures so they can help showcase the richness of the Biscayne National Park's marine resources. The Park has a cooperative agreement with the Trust to rehabilitate the buildings to support educational and interpretive services. Possible uses include community meeting spaces, a National Park Service Visitor Center, research facilities, an artist-in-residence program and satellite park offices that could provide the National Park Service with a presence closer to South Florida's population center in the northern part of the park.

Sailboats enjoy the aqua blue open sea.

The Cape Florida Lighthouse guards over the golden sand.

Downtown Miami looms in the distance. If you could live in Stiltsville, what would you call your home? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog posts wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 28, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 29 at SOS Aloha.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Miami - The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables

Last week, I visited my "home town" of Coral Gables, a suburb of Miami. I lived in Coral Gables until high school ... so this was a trip down memory lane. First stop - the Venetian Pool.  From its website (link),

The pool was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry, where much of the original coral rock was used to border and further accentuate the pool. It also features two large historic lookout towers, with a view to the City Beautiful.

The 820,000 gallon pool is fed with spring water from an underground aquifer. In the spring and summer seasons, the pool is filled and drained daily!

Of course the aquifer is not the only feature that enhances a visitor’s experience. There are two waterfalls that provide a scenic backdrop as well as the cave-like grottos which provide a fun experience for swimmers.

The Venetian pool was opened in 1924 as the “Venetian Casino,” which was part of the Grand Plan George Merrick had for the City of Coral Gables. His vision for his city was to embody a sense of true hometown living.

George Merrick envisioned creating a City with Mediterranean features such as grand entrances, plazas, and Mediterranean style homes. The limestone which was taken from the Venetian Pool quarry pit was used to create some of the original neighboring buildings.

With the efforts of George Merrick, artist Denman Fink, and architect Phineas Paist, the pool was transformed into a paradise that today is included in the National Register of Historic Places, the only swimming pool to have such a designation.

In its early days, the “Venetian Casino” was the destination for many celebrities, including such movie stars as Johnny Weismuller (above) and Esther Williams. The pool was also a site for orchestrated concerts, in which the pool was emptied of its 820,000 gallons of water and the orchestra would perform on the pool bottom. Many years later in 2001, this scene was duplicated as a concert which was held on the bottom of the pool to commemorate the City of Coral Gables’ 75th Birthday.

I spent many summers at the Venetian Pool!  Do you have a favorite watering hole? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog posts wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City