More Miami Beach

Miami Beach
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Yesterday I showed a picture looking North from Collins and about 25th in Miami Beach. Today's shot is from the same position but looking south toward the heart of the Miami Beach area.

Will Need those heavy blankets...

Miami Beach
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Here is another photo taken on my business trip down to Miami in November, 2007.

The day before I went out and took these photos I watched the weather report and the weatherman said that everyone should put on their heavy blankets because it was going to get down to 75 degrees that night. I guess if you live in that weather all the time that 75 would start feeling cold but...

The next day when I took this photo even though it was 9:00AM or so, the mercury was up to 80 degrees with humidity to match. I was almost tempted to stay inside the hotel but then again there was too many pictures to take and this was my last day in Miami.

This photo was taken at Collins and approximately 25th in Miami Beach looking south.

Marlin Hotel in Miami Beach

Marlin Hotel
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

Remember in the film days, you would have that roll of film that you meant to get develop for some time but it just seemed to sit and sit way beyond the expiration date?

Well with digital photography we do not have to worry about expiration dates anymore but there still seems to be those photos that just sit and sit and then one day after much procrastination you finally decide to do something with them.

Well that is where this photo comes from. In November, 2007 I did a presentation at Railvolution which was being held in Miami Beach that year. I did my presentation on Saturday November 3rd and by noon I had the day to myself.

My hotel was outside downtown Miami so since I had taken the bus over to Miami Beach, I figured I might as well just take a nice walk around the area and get some pictures.

First of all I look way out of place because I did not bring a change of clothes with me and I was still in my suite (at least I was smart enough not to wear the coat!)

Here is one of the pictures I captured that day which is of the Marlin Hotel that sits on Ocean Blvd. As many of you probably know I love to take pictures of transportation but one of my other interest is architecture and Art Deco has to rate at the top so I was in heaven during my Miami Beach stay.

You can see more of my photos on my Facebook or Flickr pages (there is more on Facebook).

Miami MetroRail Ghost Platform

Miami MetroRail Ghost Platform Government Station
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

In downtown Miami the main transfer station between the MetroRail heavy rail system and the downtown people mover system called MetroMover is at Government Station.

The station is four stories however, the first one does not have any Metro activity. The second floor has the platforms for the Metromover along with Metro Dade Transit customers service and various shops and fast food places.

The MetroRail platforms are located on the fourth level.

The oddity is the third level of the station. While 99% of the people that ride the system everyday just ride the esculators pass the third level in order to reach the fourth, few venture to see this other MetroRail platform.

While the MetroRail line is generally a north-south affair with some east-west jogs, there was a plan to build a actually east-west line that would pass the airport and come into the Government station at this platform. The plans for that east-west line are long dead so it looks like this "ghost" platform may never see an actually passenger.

So if your travels every take you to Miami, be sure to check out this unusual sight.

New Condos Everywhere....

View from Miami Radisson Hotel
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

While in Miami to do a presentation last November, I stayed at the Radisson Hotel which is located on the north side of downtown.

This shot was taken from my 9th floor window looking toward the north looking at 5 new condominium projects that were under construction at the time.

I only had my little Kodak C743 camera with me but I was pretty impressed with the pictures it took.