Antarctica--A Stopover in Miami Beach

Saturday, January 12

To warm up (literally) for our voyage to Antarctica, we stopped over in Miami Beach for a couple of days on our way.  We stayed at the Riviere Hotel in South Beach, one of many 1930's vintage apartment buildings that have been converted to small hotels.  We were a block away from the beach.

Riviere Hotel

We spent the next two days wandering South Beach.  If you like Art Deco, South Beach is a dream.  If you don't, it's still a nice beach. Here are a few shots from Saturday afternoon.

Looking down Ocean Drive in South Beach

Cardozo Hotel

Leslie Hotel

A tourist on Ocean Drive

On the beach

After our partial Art Deco tour and beach walk, we met our cousins for dinner at Joe's Stone Crab (my cousin apparently thought I was paying for dinner).

Eat at Joe's

About $50 worth of stone crab

Sunday, January 13

After breakfast, we walked around and took in a few more art deco gems.

San Juan Hotel

The Berkeley Shore

Old timers may remember this as the former Wolfie's Delicatessen

 Eventually, we got to the Lincoln Road Mall, which is one of the first pedestrian malls in the United States.

Lincoln Road Mall

At the Tesla dealership on the Lincoln Road Mall

The Fillmore, formerly the Jackie Gleason Theater

Next, we went to Espanola Way, a street lined with restaurants and bars, and enjoyed $12 margaritas while watching the 49ers pound the Panthers.

Espanola Way

Looking from Espanola Way to the beach

After dinner, we wandered around and took a few night shots.

Nightlife on Espanola Way

A view from the beach

Loew's Hotel

Winter Haven Hotel

McAlpin Hotel

Carlton Hotel

Monday, January 14

In the morning we continued our Art Deco tour, this time concentrating on the southern part of South Beach.

View down Ocean Boulevard

Breakwater Hotel

Pelican and Casa Grande Hotels

After lunch, it was off to the airport and our flight to Buenos Aires.

Next: A Day in Ushuaia