A Guided Tour of Coral Gables

A few posts back I alluded to a brief visit I had made to the Miami community of Coral Gables. Today I went back there and this time I received a [superb!] guided tour by my new friend, Monica.

Here are two shots of the old Coral Gables Water Tower, disguised to look like a lighthouse. You can read a fascinating history of the structure here, written by Bob Terwilliger. Note: I didn't actually need to mention the author's name but how many times do you get to say "Terwilliger"?! I love the way those syllables roll off one's tongue!

The Biltmore Hotel

We went for walk in & around the Biltmore Hotel. I thought it was impressive looking from the front but my oh my, I couldn't believe how palatial and extravagant it was by the pool and inside the lobby! Hopefully these photos will give you a small inkling of what it's like to stay there.







This is a shot of the inlaid wood paneling on the lobby ceiling.

The Venetian Pool

I finally got the chance to take a close look at the famous Venetian Pool. The water is supposed to be sooooo cold but on a hot day, could you envision a better place to be inside a city?

The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables

To get away from the "crowd" at the apartment (future posting) I went for a drive to Coral Gables. I accidentally came across a magnificent old hotel called The Biltmore. You can view an aerial view of it here. It was built in 1926 for a mere $10 Million, as part of the luxury Biltmore Hotel Chain. From WW2 until 1987 it served other uses but has been a hotel again since then. Though money doesn't buy happiness, I sure wouldn't mind staying here for a few days!

Chinese Food in Miami

Being away from Vancouver for nearly 1.5 months, I've really been craving Chinese food, something I have quite often back home. I did some research online and came across an interesting "hole in the wall" restaurant called "Gourmet Gourmet" in the nearby neighbourhood of Coral Gables. It's more of a take-out / delivery place than one you'd dine at. But the food was excellent and it quenched my pangings!