Miami Beach

Miami Beach conjures up jet-set sun bathers and cool dudes with big shades, something like the photo.

 It’s a long, wide beach, of which there are three, with fine, white sand. All are open to the public, even including that lady in the foreground wearing the kiss-me-quick hat who’s thinking about going for a paddle. She says it’s not a patch on Skegness- there’s no bingo, candy floss or fish and chips.

Bathing in Paradise has a few drawbacks, like this jellyfish. I’m not sure if this type is a stinger, but a few days after our visit a swimmer was badly bitten by a shark.

The beach is separated from the town by a grassy promenade, complete with dossers. The first few rows of buildings along the front are all Art Deco design, built mainly in the 1920’s. Many of our UK cinemas are Art Deco design as they were also built in the 1920’s.The photo looks at the seafront buildings, from the promenade.

Here’s another typical Art Deco building, of which there are hundreds, chosen not just for the architecture but also for the two classic cars outside.

There were an immense number of restaurants along the front, most somewhat off-putting not so much from high prices but from loud music and odd menus and drinks served in chamber-pot sized glasses with contents to match. We found a café round the corner with Miami ambiance, but without the yuppie bits.

We found Miami Beach an interesting time capsule because the architecture was almost all of the same elegant type, and was well maintained. The beaches were huge and uncrowded, and the town had a classy feel. I suppose that film and TV programmes about Miami Beach lead one to expect something more, something unique and fabulous, which we didn’t see in it, but It was still a splendid day out.