Paris1972-Versailles2003

Looking at my vault, found some older pictures about Miami not in my blog and they should. This allows me to show in my blog places of nostalgic memory as never to forget. I am updating with new text links and pictures. Nostalgia sets in and here I go on the curiosities of Miami !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

The Miami International Airport, known as MIA ,located at 2100 NW 42nd Ave, Miami,  This is the first air gateway between the United States and Latin America, one of the largest air gateways for South America , due to its strategic location which allows the connection of air traffic between North America, Latin America and Europe, Base in south Florida this was our airport to get to France every year from 1990 to 2003 ! My family last visit was in 2009 (pics my my dearest Dad Elio and wife Martine (RIP) and I on business in 2015, Also, living there my trips to Latin America were from here too for many years,  The Miami International Airport : https://www.miami-airport.com/

The Miami airport opened in 1928, and at that time, it served as a base of operations for Pam Am (took it and worked for its credit union in blue lagoon dr ! ) In 1934, Eastern Air Lines began flying, followed by National Airlines in 1937 (frequent flyer on both and my first visit from NJ to Miami was with National in 1972!). With the bankruptcy of Pam Am and Eastern Air Lines in 1991, which until then had been the main airlines in Miami, United Airlines and American Airlines recovered their connecting platforms.(flew once with American) United Airlines would eventually withdraw in the 1990s, leaving its air routes to Latin America to American Airlines (co-founder 1934 by the founder of my Univ see post), The MIA is expected to handle 77 million passengers and 4 million tons of cargo annually by 2040. To meet such demand, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved a $5 billion improvement plan on 15 years and ending in 2035. The comprehensive plan includes optimizing concourses, building two luxury hotels on site and expanding the airport’s cargo capacity. So there will be work going on for a while, Again, memories forever !

While visiting with the family in August 2009, we stayed at a fairly new appart hotel near the airport area, Glad to have found me pictures of it in my vault !! Memories forever and a great place to stay for you all !! This is the Homewood , It is call Homewood Suites by Hilton Miami – Airport West located at 3590 NW 74th Ave,  It is off Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826), Also, 10 miles (16 km) from Coral Gables., next to the Blue Lagoon drive, and the Tamiami Trail (SW 8^th St or SR 41) is 4 km away.

Nice facilities such as free hot breakfast, Outdoor pool , Fitness center ,Airport shuttle if needed, we rented a car, Free parking, 10 minute ride to the airport, Free WiFi, Connecting Rooms , we had one for all 5 as my father stayed with his sister in Miami Lakes,It was nostalgic as it was near my former job as well as my dear late wife Martine and been off the Palmetto expressway easy to get to friends and family quicker in that year, I am told trafic now is unbearable !  The official Homewood Suites Airport West : https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/miawthw-homewood-suites-miami-airport-west/

We love to have lunch at Applebees’s Grill resto at 9815 NW 41st St, then in Miami,later in new town of Doral and now gone, Here for the memories of always, I even had work lunches there with collegues !  pic is from visit in 2009! with my dear late wife Martine .RIP At least we have some pics from RestaurantGuru reviews : https://restaurantguru.com/Applebees-Miami-3

A landmark passed several times but never went in, this is the First Presbyterian Church located at 609 Brickell Avenue inMiami. It was built in 1949, The congregation dates back as far as the city of Miami, 1896 with the original building on another property being funded by Henry Flagler in 1900. The building represents a late example of the Mediterranean Revival architecture, popular in South Florida earlier in the century. It sits on a three-acre property surrounded by high-rises, In 2023, a proposal moved forward to build an 80 stories supertall skyscraper on the waterfront behind the church, replacing a surface lot, while the church would be preserved and partially expanded into the new tower. The project is call 609 Brickell Avenue – The Skyscraper Center.

The Rickenbacker Causeway is a causeway that connectsMiami to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay ,The causeway is a toll road, owned and operated by Miami-Dade County. Which has gone up since my times from 50 cents to over 2 Usdollars ! In November 1947 the Rickenbacker Causeway , 1.2 miles (1.9 km) of bridges and 2.7 miles (4.3 km) of roadway on fill  finally opened, Named after Eddie Rickenbacker, the American WWI flying ace and founder and president of Miami-based Eastern Air Lines, The causeway provides access to the Miami Seaquarium, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, MAST Academy, Virginia Key Park, and Miami Marine Stadium on Virginia Key, and to Crandon Park, the Village of Key Biscayne, and Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on the island of Key Biscayne. A paradise in my times a bit down now,

I came back on a business trip to attend a conference and my cousin was able to pick me up and give me a ride on the old area! The last day got pickup by my cousin again and given a ride in the laberinth of roads and tolls the area has become, really change felled big and different already. Saw the new Marlins baseball stadium, the  Lincoln Road Miami Beach area, and the bridges before finally depositing me at Miami airport for the trip back home. A nice nostalgic if short trip to what was once call home ::)

Open air Lincold Road Mall on Miami Beach: https://lincolnroadmall.com/

The State of Florida tourist office on Miami : https://www.visitflorida.com/places-to-go/southeast/miami/

The Miami and the Beaches tourist office on City center/downtown Miami : https://www.miamiandbeaches.com/neighborhoods/downtown-miami-brickell-area

This is Miami a city never lived but worked while in South Florida, Many trips many visits and family time with several still there and another nostalgic spot in my world map. Again, hope you enjoy the post on the curiosities of Miami as I,

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!