Monday, December 3, 2012

Coral Gables

I just moved to a different part of Coral Gables and I wanted to share the city's breathtaking beauty through some personal photos I took on one of my many walks through my new neighborhood.  This romantic city was built in the 1920s by George Merrick.  Merrick wanted to create a city that blended perfectly with the rich, lush environment it was built in.  He definitely achieved that!  What other city would let snake-like trees grow over it's sidewalks?  





Can't you just imagine a dashing Douglas Fairbanks acting out a daring sword fighting scene on these steps.  Why are these steps there?  Where do they lead?  The mysterious architecture is all part of the romance of Coral Gables.  



These beautiful trees attach to the ground creating a amazing curtain!  

I adore 1930s architecture! This beautiful house reminds me of an ocean liner.  The circular, "port hole"  windows remind me of Shirley Temple singing in a scene in the movie, Captain January.





This beautiful house is completely made of the famous coral rock Coral Gables is named after.  




Venetian Pool was originally the quarry used to build Coral Gables.  In 1924, Denman Fink, an artist, architect and uncle of Coral Gables founder George Merrick transformed it into an amazing pool.  The gorgeous Esther Williams swam here, the talented Paul Whiteman and his orchestra played here and the pool was even drained once so the Miami Grand Opera Company could perform in the pool's basin.  









The famous George Merrick house hiding in the lush Coral Gables landscape.  






I hope you enjoyed the tour of my new neighborhood!