How Sweet It Is

Well that just about sums it up – see you next blog entry!


OK – details, details. These are two of the fine $500 mojitos that they serve at the Biltmore Coral Gables Miami Hotel. It took several days of bed-making and leaf-blowing to earn these puppies. (Actually we are quite grateful to Val’s magnanimity)

The Biltmore was built in 1926 and was the epitome of luxury for that era. Trains left major cities in the north with Biltmore – Miami as their listed destination.






Their swimming pool was the largest in the world for several years:


Notice the statuary between the columns on the right, very decadent. Johnny Weismuller was the resident swimming instructor and set a world record for freestyle swimming here. Aquatic shows were their source of survival during the depression featuring “…synchronized swimmers, bathing beauties, alligator wrestlers and the four year-old boy wonder Jackie Ott, whose act included diving into the immense pool from an 85-foot high platform.”

The grounds and spaces are just spectacular. It is currently home to a world-famous Sunday Champagne Brunch ($75 apiece – maybe next year) splendiferously arrayed in a gorgeous courtyard:



Coral Gables is quite the neighborhood. Our friend Paul (of Paul and Gregg fame) had a great house here when he first moved to the Miami area. Chip loved the pool and was a bit upset when Paul said he was selling the place. As you have seen where Paul lives now (“Gini and Paul Take A Walk” – Feb 2009) Chip quickly got over it.

Here is Coral Gables version of a public swimming pool:



It is in the National Register of Historic Places This is the Venetian Pool. Built in 1924, its 800,000 gallons are drained daily in the summer, every other day in the winter, and replenished by underground artesian wells. Formerly known as the Venetian Casino it also was the site for the likes of Esther Williams and Johnny Weismuller to cavort and frolic. Over one hundred thousand swimmers a year bathe in its splendor.

With Rich and Val the current guest stars the flavor changes once again. These two are experts on Miami Beach, its history and architecture. So the Biltmore and Venetian Pool were a must-enjoy when they arrived.

We also returned to the New World Center off Lincoln Road and took a tour of the facility. The interior definitely bespeaks Frank Gehry’s touch:





Chris was the duly appointed elevator operator for the tour. It helped cover expenses.

Rich Beaubien is a photographer extraordinaire. You can view his work on: http://www.intheviewfinder.net, Flickr and Facebook. Much of his day was spent roaming the beach looking for photo ops. Val and Gini juggled the pools, hot tubs, Lincoln Road, wine purchasing and walking. Chris just tried to keep up.

Chris provided some chauffeuring as the ambulating trio had set the Fontainebleu Hotel as their destination. When he arrived to pick up his charges he was met with:


James Bond is in the background on the balcony with Jill Masterson foiling Auric Goldfinger’s dastardly tactics in gin rummy.

The Fontainebleu is a real retro trip. It has recently been redone. We definitely enjoy the ‘bow tie’ floor of the lobby:



Also of some note is the Cheese Wall fronting Collins Avenue:



Richie is running around somewhere up there trying to get the perfect shot. Here he is in flagrante:



Next door is the more modern but equally elegant Eden Roc.



Its lobby is actually a beaucoup cool lounge:







Again, you can click on any of these photos to view them in a larger and more detailed context.

So just as the opening photo sort of summed up this week we have a parting photo for your viewing pleasure that depicts our heroes demonstrating their attitude toward the larger than life ambiance of the Fontainebleu lobby:



And awa-a-a-a-y we go!!