**Coral Gables, Miami, FL**

Danny · #1 Posted **Oct 16, 2012, 6:08 PM**

Hello everybody!

Last month we travelled to Florida, and I can say we enjoyed it very much. This was my third time there, but it was really the best of all.

In this first thread I show you my shots taken in Coral Gables, Miami.

This pretty neighbourhood was developed by George Edgar Merrick during the Florida land boom of the 1920s. The city's architecture is almost entirely Mediterranean Revival Style. Merrick designed the downtown commercial district to be only four blocks wide and more than two miles (3 km) long. The main artery bisected the business district. Merrick could boast that every business in Coral Gables was less than a two-block walk.

Granada Gate. A George Merrick fantasy, with references to Spanish-Moorish architecture, in this case nodding to the Alhambra in the Iberian mountain town of Granada.

Alhambra Water Tower. The water tower was built in 1924, and it was used as part of the city's water supply system.

Coral Way, Coral Gable´s main road.

George Edgar Merrick´s house, in 907 Coral Way, maintained as a historic house museum.

Althea Fink Merrick, George Merrick´s mother.

Part of the scenic Coral Way in Coral Gables with its old oak trees.

Venetial Pool, created in 1924. Unfortunately, it was empty of water because it was being cleaned.

Coral Gables Congregational Church, first church in Coral Gables, built in spanish baroque style.

The famous and luxury Biltmore Hotel, the most famous building in Coral Gables. Built in 1926.

Biltmore´s Hotel pool, where Johnny Weismuller beat several world records.

One of the patios of Biltmore Hotel.

The tower of the Biltmore, inspired in La Giralda of Seville, Spain.

A pretty street beside The Biltmore Hotel.

Elegant colonial houses in Santa Maria Street.

French Country Village.

San Vicente Street. French Country Village.

Chinese Country Village.

Hope you´ve enjoyed.

Greetings from Madrid, Spain.

Private Dick · #2 Posted **Oct 16, 2012, 6:20 PM**

Pretty place. I used to live there!

Go Hurricanes!

MplsTodd · #3 Posted **Oct 16, 2012, 7:43 PM**

Looks beautiful! I spent a week in the Miami area a few years ago, and we went through Coral Gables several times. The architecture seems to be the embodiment of "old-style" Florida, with the spanish tile roofs, stucco homes and lush landscaping (vs the high-rises that characterize modern Florida). The Miracle Mile in their downtown also is awesome.

Thanks for posting!

ColDayMan · #4 Posted **Oct 16, 2012, 8:38 PM**

Beautiful job!

jd3189 · #5 Posted **Oct 16, 2012, 9:18 PM**

Beautiful.One reason why I'm trying to get into UM.

Expat · #6 Posted **Oct 17, 2012, 2:13 PM**

Absolutely lovely!

xzmattzx · #7 Posted **Oct 17, 2012, 7:05 PM**

Nice pictures! The info was helpful.

For the record, Coral Gables is a separate city from Miami, rather than a Miami neighborhood. But it's all the same when you're just driving around.

brickell · #8 Posted **Oct 17, 2012, 7:20 PM**

Nice little tour.
Re: the themed villages. I believe there were supposed to be 12 of them originally, scattered around the Gables. They were an attempt by Merrick to stimulate interest (and sales) in different parts of the city and showcase what he thought was possible. They were the model houses of their time.

Sadly, Merrick himself lost everything and died more or less broke.

bobdreamz · #9 Posted **Oct 18, 2012, 9:03 AM**

Probably one of the most prettiest suburbs in all of the Miami area. I have a older cousin who bought a house there in the late 1970s and paid around $55,000 for a 4 bedrrom house on a large lot. Her property is worth about 10 times for what she originally paid for it!

Llyod Banks · #10 Posted **Oct 18, 2012, 9:31 AM**

Nice pictures, some of those areas remind me of neighborhoods in Houston's Rice Univ/Rice Village area.

simms3_redux · #11 Posted **Oct 18, 2012, 11:51 AM**

My parents lived there (actually moreso Coconut Grove) until I was born. Sad they raised me in Jax, but the neighborhood I grew up in was waterfront and looked very similar anyway (FL land boom neighborhood of the 20s), hah! Beautiful area, have several family friends that live right there.

PS: JD3189 I wouldn't choose UM just because technically it's in Coral Gables city limits and you can bike through the residential neighborhoods and eat dinner on Coral Way or in the Grove. The university does not itself look at all like the neighborhood and it's sort of on the edge, but I'm sure you know that

dave8721 · #12 Posted **Oct 18, 2012, 1:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by simms3_redux

My parents lived there (actually moreso Coconut Grove) until I was born. Sad they raised me in Jax, but the neighborhood I grew up in was waterfront and looked very similar anyway (FL land boom neighborhood of the 20s), hah! Beautiful area, have several family friends that live right there.

PS: JD3189 I wouldn't choose UM just because technically it's in Coral Gables city limits and you can bike through the residential neighborhoods and eat dinner on Coral Way or in the Grove. The university does not itself look at all like the neighborhood and it's sort of on the edge, but I'm sure you know that

UM actually is much more connected physically with South Miami than Coral Gables. The campus abuts downtown South Miami on the west side of campus which is where many students live. Few students live in Coral Gables who do not live on campus. My old building in South Miami was teeming with UM students, especially grad students.

simms3_redux · #13 Posted **Oct 18, 2012, 11:37 PM**

^^Yup, agreed.

Austinlee · #14 Posted **Oct 19, 2012, 5:25 AM**

You come from Spain to this? hahaha. That's funny. Nice pics though.

Danny · #15 Posted **Oct 19, 2012, 11:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Austinlee

You come from Spain to this? hahaha. That's funny. Nice pics though.

Yes, for that and to visit Miami, Miami Beach, Kennedy Space Center and several parks in Orlando.

Thanks for all the comments.

I hope to post a new thread very soon, when I´ve enough time.

Greetings from Madrid, Spain.