Ginny's Journeys Miami Winter Number 5

South Beach Jan 2, 2010

Almost everyone who comes to Miami wants to see the beaches and buildings of South Beach in Miami. It is a district where the rich and famous party and cruise Ocean Drive at night, where tourists lay out on the beach next to their hotel, and where hotels, restaurants, and upscale stores abound.

Jeanne drove her cousin, Ed, his fiancee, Sarah, and I to South Beach for the afternoon. Ocean drive was closed to traffic, making it a pleasant walk on the street instead of amongst diners eating outside at tables on the sidewalks. We looked at the distinctive architecture and designs and colors that make this area called Art Deco.

At the end of Ocean Drive, we wandered on to the next street and came to the Blue Door, a hotel/restaurant designed and owned by Madonna. Out next to the street is a tall hedge with a blue door that can be walked through to enter the grounds, but most drive or walk up the driveway to the front entrance - as we did after viewing the door. Jeanne didn't know it was a working door, but I checked it out. this is a hard place to describe by me, who isn't so good at words. very tall ceilings on the first floor, anyway, tall furniture and curtains to go with it, a unique bathroom sink that took me a while to figure out (there's a button on the floor for the water!), and a restaurant on the back "porch". We had lunch here and I was surprised that the portions were as big as they were - enough for 2 meals for me, so I took the leftovers with me!