Miami is one of the most expensive, glamorous, and popular cities in the world. And one of the most non-English speaking parts of America. The descendants of Indians, conquistadors, black slaves, gold miners, Cuban and Haitian settlers have mixed here. Their shared home is like its inhabitants - contrasting, diverse, spectacular.
The metropolis is crowded not only with people, but also with landmarks. Some are in plain sight, evocative and enticing, while others are best sought out in the company of an experienced guide. Walk through the streets of the financial center with its loud company names, stroll through parks and embankments, visit art galleries, take pictures of skyscrapers against a clear sky – and marvel again that a century ago there was a village and citrus plantations.
The atmosphere of the city is a blend of relaxed resort and bustling business center, bohemian and uncultured entertainment, joie de vivre and willingness to take risks. Today, Miami Beach and its «little cousins» are teeming with vacationers, white-water yachts cruise the waterfront, and beachside bars and clubs buzz with excitement. Tomorrow's thunderous warning leaves the streets deserted, the waves pounding the seawalls, and the gale force winds rending the palm trees. Tropical storms don't diminish the city's popularity with tourists or the desire to live there. It's part of its willful ego.
Excursions outside the metropolis promise a thoroughly fulfilling experience. Cruise Biscayne Bay with its private islands, ocean liners and seabirds? Or escape to Orlando, the entertainment capital of the world, to get it all out of life? Or maybe infiltrate NASA's space center or the reservation to visit the Indians? It's a tough choice, but it's Florida.
