Miami

South Beach views, Miami 2018 

Recently I visited Miami as part of my travels. I blindly arrived with a mere knowledge of it's renowned beach culture and party lifestyle but I was amazed to discover it has much more to offer. It is a major port city with a vibrant demographic, hosting an amalgamation of various cultures, it almost felt as though I had left America behind and reached a new destination entirely. But I guess that is part of the wonder about travelling through the USA, each state has it's own cuisine, character and attractions.

Spanish is the primary language spoken by residents, roughly 60 percent,
whilst approx. 30 percent speak English. I have read that there up to 128
languages spoken across the county. 

I stayed in North Beach but I was lucky to explore Miami by car and foot (I always like to see what I stumble upon this way)! On numerous occasions throughout my visit to the county, I was able to explore the South Beach area. I was surrounded by the beauty of the Art Deco Historical Quarter with its much loved, architectural delights spreading through Ocean Drive, Washington Ave and Collins Ave. The sun soaks into the forms of the white and pastel-coloured stucco buildings, particularly across the ocean front. There are hundreds of restored historical buildings across the area, unfortunately I was not able to see them all but I would definitely recommend a visit if you are in Miami!

The Art Deco scene first appeared in the 1920s, it then spread across Europe and the USA in the 1930s. Art Deco is the shortened form of Arts Décoratifs, a development of many 20th Century art styles including Cubism, Constructivism, Futurism and Art Nouveau. The influence reached not only architecture but furniture, jewellery, household items, fashion and cars. Painter Paul Cezanne influenced the Cubist movement towards a simplified impression of forms, relying on the use of the cylinder, sphere and cone. This simplified geometry is apparent in it's effect on the Art Deco movement. There were many direct influences upon the style, ranging from lifestyle, art, history and architecture. 

Iconic Hotels are spread across Ocean Drive 

Pastel coloured buildings with strong forms are noticeable across the area

Life beyond South Beach. I was particularly captivated by the colourful murals of the Wynwood Arts District. An urban utopia of colour, expression and statements for lovers of art. It is often described as an outdoor museum of art, free for all to see, exactly as it should be!

Wynwood Art District. The pavements are adorned
with artistic messages  

Wynwood, Artist unknown

The Wynwood Walls - murals encompass the internal courtyards, artwork covers a myriad of once blank walls, breathing life into its' neighbourhood, see http://www.thewynwoodwalls.com/ for more information.

  

Live Fast Die Fun, Artist unknown

And ofcourse it was every social media fanatics dream, to capture some great photos!

And to end on... something sweet!

Fresh Pineapple sorbet and Fresas Con Crema, Oh Mexico Restaurant in Miami South Beach

This is just a quick post to touch on some of my favourite things from Miami, I found them to be inspirational and I hope they have done the same for you. Thank you for reading!