Who would think a Tuesday morning in Miami would be quiet?
Well if it is Christmas morning you bet it is quiet. Not many are stirring so early. Probably a lot of partying on Noche Buena keeping most in bed.
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| All is quite in the neighborhood |
Well a bike ride on the perfect South Florida day is a delight with barely any traffic, on a weekday. And not to mention a clear day with temperature in the high 50s who can resist.
Leaving for our journey from the Dadeland area Dixie Highway a/k/a US-1 is quiet today so it will be a piece of cake to cross to the west side to board Metrorail. We are biking to the Dadeland South Metrorail station to catch the train to our starting point downtown.
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| US-1 Dadeland Area |
Arriving at the Dadeland South Metrorail Station we were greeted by the security guard who helped us purchase the one way fare to Government Center which is the starting point for our ride south.
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| Boarding the Train |
Up the elevator, there were two trains to choose from. Hmm we just took the orange line train. We were not the only cyclists on the train as another cycler joined us.
Once on board we stored the bikes in the marked cargo area and waited for the train to depart, which was a while. We practically had the train to ourselves.
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| Virtually empty train except for the sleeping passenger on the left. |
Finally we were on our way north as the train slowly left the station. Looking out on Dixie Highway down below it was virtually empty.
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| View from the cockpit |
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| Looking East as the train crosses the expressway heading to Government Center Station |
About 18 minutes after we got started we arrived at Government Center. We were still the only ones on this car along with the guy sleeping.
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| Arriving at the Government Center Station |
After departing the train we looked for the elevator. Government Center fortunately had two elevators at train level, as the first one we tried was out of service. Once down the first elevator we had one more level to go before ground level. We found the second elevator to get to the mezzanine level where you can take the Metromover around the downtown area.
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| Mezzanine Level at Government Center |
Now where to? We had to find the last elevator down to ground level. It was behind the Service Center. Strangely all the elevators we traveled in today from Dadeland South to Government Center smelled like pine and better than usual. Wonder if this was an anomaly?
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| Elevator Number 3 |
Still in the building at ground level, we had to find out way out to the street for our journey down Brickell Avenue southbound.
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| The way out of Government Center |
We found our way out to the street to begin our ride south. Few people around today. On a regular weekday you can't find street parking. Flagler Street is somewhat deserted!
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| Flagler Street looking east |
We head east on Flagler Street, aptly named after Henry M. Flagler. Metrorail's tracks are somewhat parallel parts of the former Florida East Coast Railway, just elevated. Government Center is basically located in the vicinity of where the original Miami FEC Depot once existed.
Actually, a remnant of the tracks still exists next to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station.
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| Remnant of the FEC tracks at Dadeland |
Moving right along on Flagler Street we turned right on SE 2nd Avenue to head soutbound. This area during the week is clogged with traffic in all directions. Today traffic was sparse. Fortunately, we did not have to worry about the multiple speeders rounding SE 2nd Street for the I-95 ramp which we had to cross on our way to Brickell. Just 2 cars came through and it was safe to cross.
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| Heading toward Brickell before crossing the I-95 ramp |
Once across the I-95 ramp we were on our way down Brickell's commercial district where most of the buildings are tagged with financial institution names, Ocean Bank, Wells Fargo, Citi Bank, Chase, Northern Trust Bank, BB& T, etc...
But first we cross over the Miami River on the Brickell bridge replaced in 1995 after the original bridge became obsolete.
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| The Pillar of History column depicting Miami's first inhabitants, the Tequest Indians, on the Brickell Avenue Bridge |
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| Looking east from the Brickell Bridge over the Miami River |
Brickell is named after the Brickell Family that is considered one of the founding families of Miami. Brickell Avenue, US-1, was once a residential district, that over time has become Miami's financial center. Just west of Brickell Avenue, which retains some of Brickell's former residential character.
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| Historic Brickell Avenue portion of US-1 |
Since Miami's mid-2000s building boom, Brickell Avenue's commercial architecture has changed significantly. Prior to the mid-2000 boom most of the Brickell high rises were residential on the south end of the avenue.
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| Brickell's commercial district |
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| Looking south on Brickell Avenue in the commercial district |
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Negative edge pool foreground with an
Arquitectonica's residential design at 500 Brickell Condominium
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Heading further south towards the end of Brickell Avenue we approach the residential condominium district. Many of the unique building designs along the residential area are the work of Arquitectonica in the 1980s.
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Villa Regina to the left and Imperial Condominium to the right along Brickell's residential area.
Both buildings are designed by Arquitectonica in the 1980s. |
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The Atlantis, another Arquitectonica 1980s design that
was featured in the opening credits of Miami Vice. |
Leaving Brickell Avenue we headed towards Coconut Grove along South Miami Avenue, passing Viscaya. Viscaya was built by industrialist James Deering in 1916 as a winter retreat. The original estate was 180 acres and sold off to developers after Deering's death in 1925. Depicted South Miami Avenue southbound original part of the estate. To the right, not shown is the Miami Museum of Science.
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| South Miami Avenue through the original Viscaya |
This portion of our ride took us down South Miami Avenue to the Coconut Grove business district. Just south of Viscaya is Mercy Hospital on former Viscaya bayfront property.
Coconut Grove's high rises are a mix of commercial and residential. The Grand Bay Hotel, was once an elegant Michelin 5-star hotel with outstanding restuarants until it closed in 2008, is being demolished for twin tower condominiums. What will remain is the landmark Alexander Liberman sculpture.
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What is left of the Grand Bay Hotel soon to be demolished.
The red sculpture is by Alexander Liberman and said to remain as part of the new project. |
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| Meeting of the Commodore and Old Cutler bike trails |
The Old Cutler portion of the trail, although quite bumpy due to ficus roots, is a lush canopy providing shade necessary in the summer months when biking, jogging or walking.
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| Ficus a/k/a banyan trees on the Old Cutler trail |
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