Atlantica - 01.01.2004, Page 16

The first thing that hit me, aside
from the warm Florida breeze,
was how small it actually is. South
Beach, with its world-renowned Art
Deco neighbourhood, stretches over
three and a half km2 on the southern-
most point of Miami Beach. In a way, it’s
a little like those famous movie stars: a
lot smaller in reality than they appear
on the big screen.
But that’s exactly the charm of South
Beach, otherwise known as “SoBe” to
the locals. This tiny spot is a melting pot
of different cultures where past and pre-
sent meet, and tourists from all corners
of the world gather to enjoy the endless
tropical summer by a snowy white beach
and an azure Atlantic ocean, as well as
wonderful restaurants and 24 hours of
nightlife, culture and shopping.
"I call it SoHo by the sea," says Steven
Giles, an English designer who has been
living in South Beach for over a decade.
"This is such a small community of peo-
ple from all over the world, and the
heavy tourist influx makes it a very
vibrant place to live in and of course
visit."
Steven's view is shared by the millions
who make Miami the third most popular
American city for international tourists
after Los Angeles and New York.
While families head for Orlando and its theme parks,
Miami Beach is a real Disney World for grownups – the per-
fect winter escape with endless summer weather, fabu-
lous nightlife, great restaurants and shops. Jón Kaldal
experienced some easy living on South Beach.
SoHo by the Sea
Photos Páll Stefánsson
014 Atl 104 Florida -14.ps 17.12.2003 18:11 Page 14