Miami River Walk and Local History Class
View from Manny's restaurant on Biscayne Boulevard at the mouth of the Miami River. This would've been roughly the same location of Flagler's Royal Palm hotel in 1897. It is amazing that a two thousand-year old archeological site is just across the river bank!
NEWS FLASH! Downtown's Miami River walk is really cool! News to me, even though I've been living here for donkey's ages.
Well, yesterday, I took metrorail from South Miami to Miami Dade Community College's Wolfson Campus to enroll for a Miami History class with Dr. Paul George, history teacher and tour guide/historian for the South Florida Historical Museum. If you've been following my local writing elsewhere, you know Dr. Paul George from my Miami River article as well as Gus Moore's piece on Stilstville.
Anyway, Dr. George helped me register for the class, which I will be auditing for personal enrichment. He was very generous with his time to help me register for the course, since I'm not a traditional, degree-seeking student. He also gave me some copies of articles to read! Call me a geek, but I am so excited about this class, some of which will involve about half a dozen tours -- most of them focused on the eastern part of Miami's historical core.
It's a real steal as an educational experience. My Florida resident tuition was $237 for the entire semester and that includes the tours, which normally run about $30 a pop. Additional tours are $10, if you're a student registered in his class. Parking is free downtown if you're a student (must get an ID or show proof of registration).
There is so much to learn about Miami. Plus, I want some of whatever Dr. George is taking. Oh wait, it's not a pill and it doesn't come in a bottle -- it's called doing what you love for a living! His enthusiasm for his work is one of a kind and he generously shares it with everyone. I can only equate it to the enthusiasm of Gary V, who's mantra is just that: do what you love.
It's rare -- and great -- to come across people like this in life.
In any case, afterwards I walked on my own from Bayside to Met One at the mouth of the river. It was very pleasant and beautiful, enhanced by the same cool easterly breeze we've had all week on the bay. I used to hate all the damn condo overdevelopment and while I still have mixed feelings about it, I must say that it's quite energizing to be surrounded by the bay and the tall buildings in the glow of a winter sunset. You know Miami CSI photoshops its sweeping aerial vistas of downtown, but seriously, when the light is that warm, you don't need to touch up anything!
I really look forward to my Miami "see it like a native" learning process in the coming weeks and sharing it with all of you.
The video below is of the mouth of the river and the boardwalk. It was always a dream of mine to see a great boardwalk here. Do I have to thank the Miami River Commission? I know its part of their vision too.
