It's Over

I'm not sure about you, but I am GLAD 2009 is over. Good riddance!

Ho Ho Ho

Merry Xmas, everyone who cares to celebrate it.

Last Minute Frenzy

The day before Xmas 2009, The local BrandSmart store on South Dixie Highway is packed with last minute shoppers.

New Year A'Coming

Every year, including this one, the celebration for a new year needs to be promoted early. It's business...

Crossing the Miami River

This is no Danube, but this is our Miami river running under NW 17th avenue Southbound. At the distance you can see the Miami downtown skyline and the Doplhin expressway (836 going East-West) rising over the river and the local neighborhood. The Miami river has many local on the water restaurants. When my ship comes in, if ever, I'll go over there to take some photos.

Crossing Miami River

Stuck

This is a miserable morning for commuters. There must be some accident happening somewhere in town. Me? I am having a wonderful day as I am going against the flow, so liberating...

Liquidating

This BlockBuster is "busted!" More jobs down the drain.

Miami in December

It's 3PM today in Miami and it feels like summer. Where is the cool weather? Hello?

Private Health Plans

Here in West Kendall is a new location for the Leon Medical Centers. If you are in the US healthcare these days, you are supposed to make lots of money. This is a new 70,000 square foot facility that now is in addition to the five other locations catered only their members.

P.O. Box

When you send your mail to a US address addressed to a P.O. Box, it gets to one of these rentals boxes in a local post office.

Holtz Children’s Hospital

Named for a gift by Fana and Abel Holtz, Holtz Children’s Hospital at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center is one of the largest and most respected children's hospitals in the US. Holtz's Pediatric Transplant Center is one of the largest in the entire nation. It is the only center in Florida capable of performing every type of transplant, and is one of three centers in the country specializing in pediatric multiple-organ transplants. Most nobly, as part of a public hospital dedicated to serving every person in need, Holtz is also South Florida’s number one source of medical care for children without financial resources. Go Holtz!

What U Gonna Do?

This sign spells out what fast food places can be found in the Food Court of this famed Dadeland shopping Mall. I am truly tired of being told NOT to take pictures here so I got a bunch of pictures here today. I don't think there is much they can do about it. What a stupid policy, don't you think? What are they thinking, these single digit IQ policy makers? Call the cops, send this guy to Guantanamo bay? Fi!

This Food Court is slowly being invaded by fast food chains. SubWay and Tony Roma's are new here. Business is going strong today at lunch time.

Car Wash

This car wash is on US-1, close to 37th avenue. It used to do very well and long lines form on weekends. It is no longer the case and you can easily see this art work on the wall. I guess people do not want to pay US $20 or more to clean their cars too often. I wonder how long this business can stay open. I am thinking of blogging "dirty cars" in the streets of Miami, to begin with mine. What do you think?

Biting the Dust

Another store closing its doors. I see two reasons for this: the lousy American economy, and the advance technology. Blockbuster stores were doing brisk business renting videos. But I think not too many persons rent today. Here, movies are produced so plentiful on DVDs they are dirt cheap and it does not make much sense renting the old movies. Worse, movies can be watched freely on the internet, and on demand from the comfort of the couch. This is one way jobs disappear in Miami.

Too Slow

This looks like another "crappy" shot, but I am kicking myself for missing the draw bridge in the open position. It's already down when I managed to get my camera. This place is the ramp on NW North River Drive (that's the Miami river,) looping back onto 17th avenue where you see the traffic getting stuck because the draw bridge opens to let the boats through. It's a big nuisance to us automobile drivers, and this "darn" bridge is always in the up position when I get here. NW South River Drive is just across the river and you can blend into the Doplhins East-West expressway to go West toward Miami International airport.

Palmetto Interchange

One thing you can definitely say here in Miami is that they know how to build things: highways, bridges, buildings ... This Palmetto interchange is progressing very nicely. An earlier photo of this is here. This looks to me like it is hurricane proof. There is no way any hurricane can blow this down. Luckily we have no earthquakes so this overpass is here to stay. I still do not know where this leads to, but will try when it's done.

Xmas in Red

Along with the traditional Christmas tree are these bright red poinsettia potted plants. They are everywhere in town at this time of the year.

Happy Soul

Caught on the Air Port Expressway today is this very very happy person. Top down in this balmy weather, she is singing her heart out a la "KaraoKeing" with her radio. She paid attention to no one and I was keeping a good distance away from her car, ready to take evasive action if I must.