Miami - it needs an explanation

by Bob Wonders on 23 Dec 2009
For those who have never visited Florida's southern cities, it is probably desirable to point out a few facts.

Miami and Miami Beach; Miami Beach is not the beach at Miami!

Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities, each with its own council, its own police force; they are about a 20 minute cab ride (depending on traffic) apart.

Much of Miami Beach is built on a series of islands, linked to the mainland by bridges and causeways.

The two cities are very, very different.

Miami Beach is the destination favoured by wealthy residents and the tourists and is home to many of the region's attractions, such as the famous art deco hotels, the beaches, the five-star hotels, nightclubs and restaurants.

Miami is much more like a city, and has the normal downsides associated with a typical city such as slums, ‘street people' and a crime rate well in excess of Miami Beach.

Miami has been labelled 'America's most un-American city.'

The reason for that is the influx of Spanish-speaking citizens, manly from Cuba and Puerto Rico; there is even a fairly large area of the city known as ‘Little Havana.'

I recall about 20-years ago, one of my early visits to the city, and the lead story in the press and on the electronic media centred on an ‘Anglo American' who was knocked back for a job on the grounds that he couldn't speak Spanish.
Several sections of the community were upset, to say the least.

That's Miami!

Frankly, I find it an interesting place to visit, although I don't imagine I would ever want to live there.

I have been to Little Havana and found it quite a fascinating experience and discovered that Cuban food and cooking was definitely appealing to my palate.

Because of the convention centre, most of my time is spent in Miami Beach and it is an equally interesting place.

It can be ‘party town' at the drop of a hat and there are well-known restaurants (such as Joe's Crab House) where it is virtually impossible to get a table during boat show time.

For the history buff, Miami Beach has its attractions, too.

Having once been a regular reader of gangster novels, I went to take a look at the waterfront mansion on Star Island once called home by the legendary crime boss Al Capone; a few months ago it was up for sale, a snip at USD$16.5 million.

Ol' Scarface died in the home, but there's been no talk of it being haunted.
Just a few doors along from Al's, still on Star Island (on the water, linked by causeway, about half-way between Miami and Miami Beach) is the former home of basketball superstar Shaquille O'Neal.

He sold it for about USD$16 million to the boyfriend of supermodel Naomi Campbell.

That home is almost next door to the spectacular mansion which ‘starred' in the Al Pacino movie, ‘Scarface' (no connection with Al Capone).

The very same island also features a very nice, actually quite conservative waterfront home once owned by Frank Sinatra, while another close by is owned by the Parker family and if you're wondering where that family made its money think pens!

Other celebrity homes nearby include that of Julio Iglasius and Ricky Martin and both are very impressive ‘piles', complete with tennis courts and marinas.

Another piece of history I came across will no doubt impress movie fans; on the façade of a hotel near the convention centre was a plaque informing all that a team of West Point cadets were stationed there during World War II ‘under the command of Captain Clark Gable.'

Movie buffs would also appreciate seeing many of the hotels which have featured in Hollywood ‘blockbusters', such as the Fontainebleau, where much of the James Bond Movie ‘Goldfinger' was filmed.

Miami or Miami Beach, take your pick, they're well worth a visit and I'll rate it in advance that it will be a visit you won't regret.