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California Miami Rio Carnival

April 15, 2015 by David Herd

It all started in Sydney

California Miami Rio Carnival

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok, it all started in Sydney in January 2005. Next stop was San Francisco, on to Miami before flying down to Rio de Janeiro. Make no mistake Rio Carnival is the greatest show on Earth. I then met my friend Simone in Natal in North East Brazil, we travelled 300 kms by taxi to Recife stopping at Praia da Pippa for a few days on the way.

I said au revoir to Brazil where it was 35 degrees and flew to Paris to be greeted by a temperature of 3 degrees,

My Sydney friends

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Lunch with friends at Wildfire restaurant at Sydney’s Circular Quay.

Aquarium of the Bay.

California Miami Rio Carnival

Aquarium of the Bay is a public aquarium located at Embarcadero and Beach Street, at the edge of Pier 39 in San Francisco, California. The Aquarium is focused on local aquatic animals from the San Francisco Bay and neighbouring waters.

David Herd at Fisherman’s wharf

California Miami Rio Carnival

Lunch at Fisherman’s wharf is a “must do” in SFC. 

How many movies has this Miami deli been in?

California Miami Rio Carnival

The Architectural District (also known as Old Miami Beach Historic District, and the more popular term, Miami Art Deco District) is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on May 14, 1979) located in the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings. In 1989, it was listed in A Guide to Florida’s Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.

South Beach Miami

California Miami Rio Carnival

The fabulous art deco towers are unique examples of this form of architecture, they along the eight and a half mile stretch of  Beach. All told there are twenty five towers guarding those who use the beach. At once functional and decorative, they contribute beautifully to the overall aesthetic of this Floridian resort city. A great example of Art Deco South Beach Miami.  

Welcome to Rio David

California Miami Rio Carnival We have been waiting for you all year, where have you been. 🙂 The beautiful on the left is Samantha, her blonde girlfriend was around 6′ tall.

David Herd with the bird.

California Miami Rio CarnivalI’m at a big warehouse where they store many of the Carnival characters and floats.  

The Sambadrome

California Miami Rio Carnival

The Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí is centre stage of Rio Carnival, the host venue of the annual parade of Samba Schools. It is important to note that Rio Carnival, popularized around the world as the greatest party on the planet,is about much more than drinking and partying. At its heart, Carnival is an exhilarating combination of competition and camaraderie as organizations called Samba Schools battle for the title of Rio Carnival Samba Parade Champions. For Cariocas, the local residents of Rio de Janeiro, is a time to show the world the product of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication. All the magic ofRio Carnival — the beats, songs, dances, floats and costumes — are the product of well-orchestrated machines called Samba Schools.

Meanwhile out on the street

California Miami Rio Carnival

  The whole city goes crazy for Carnival, this was my 2nd experience, I returned in 2008 for my 3rd Carnival.  

Copacabana beach

  California Miami Rio CarnivalThere are many reasons to love Copacabana, this is one of them. 🙂  

 Dave Sommer RIP

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokTwo of my friends from 2005 are not with us anymore,  Dave Sommer  lived & worked in Sao Paulo,  Sadly he was brutally murdered on January 11 2015. I remember the great day we spent together visiting the Samba school with his girlfriend, they were both preparing to participate in the parade.

Doug Roarke also passed away

California Miami Rio CarnivalDoug Roarke was a lovely guy who lived life to the max, after battling a long illness he passed away around 2007. Danielle was his gorgeous long time girlfriend in Rio. I remember sitting in a bar in Rio Di Janeiro with Dave Wylie & Doug Roarke, (RIP) and when I asked what was their favourite place in Brazil, Doug briefly considered the question before saying “Praia de Pipa”. Until that moment I had never heard of the place, but on Doug’s recommendation I planned my trip. Pipa Beach quickly became one of my favourite places in the world.

 Praia de Pipa

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokThis will always be one of my favourite photos at one of my favourite places.  

Fresh for dinner tonight

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokFresh fish, what fresh fish? I don’t see any fresh fish. 🙂  

Ah! here is the fish straight out of the ocean

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Fresh fish and lots of chips.

Simone Cristina Oliveira

  California Miami Rio Carnival  My lovely travelling companion Simone Cristina Oliveira was living in Uberlândia in Minas Gerais at the time, she now works at a bank in Sao Paulo, after all these years we still keep in touch on Facebook.  

The coast around Pipa.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Towns built on sandy soil.

Low tide at Pipa

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Low tide and the children play.

Happy hour? In Pipa it’s always happy hour.
California Miami Rio Carnival

Local Pipa bar.

 Morro do Careca (Bald Hill) Ponta Negra.

  California Miami Rio Carnival Ponta Negra is close to Natal about 80 kilometres from Pipa.    

The beautiful city of Olinda.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok Olinda is a city in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco. It hosts one of Brazil’s most famous carnivals and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its XVI and XVII-century buildings. Many bars, restaurants, artist and craftspeople studios add charm to the old-town setting. Olinda is just across the river from Recife.

My friend Simone & her cousin Pedro

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Sightseeing in Olinda.

California Miami Rio Carnival Recife

California Miami Rio CarnivalA big modern city in the north east corner of Brazil, Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the country with 3,743,854 inhabitants.

California Miami Rio Carnival Porto de Galinhas

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokThe origin of the name is well known. Porto de Galinhas means “Port of Chickens” in Portuguese. In the second half of the 19th century, the Brazilian government imposed restrictions to the commerce of slaves, which were widely used as manpower in the sugarcane farms around Recife to circumvent the prohibition, the “black ships” (which transported slaves from Africa to Brazil) looked for other places to harbor, far from Recife.One such place was in the bays around Suape and Ipojuca, about 60 km to the South ofRecife. When a ship arrived in town, as it was prohibited to mention slavery, the word spread as “there are new chickens in the port”; hence, the place gained its name Porto de Galinhas.

Porto de Galinhas

California Miami Rio Carnival

This city was a real surprise packet.

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok Farewell Brazil, hello Paris, as I said earlier  Brazil  was 35 degrees and I flew to Paris to be greeted by a temperature of 3 degrees. Here is my friend Malvina who I originally met in 1999 in Mexico City.

Dinner with Australian friends

California Miami Rio CarnivalI met up with Gavin & Cheryl Kernot in Paris and we spent a few days wining and dining. Cheryl was a very well known Australian politician who enjoyed red wine from Bordeaux  almost as much as I. 🙂

Did I mention how bloody cold it was in Paris? 🙂
California Miami Rio Carnival

What a shock 3 degrees after enjoying 35 degrees in Brazil.

Get me to Thailand in a hurry please.

  California Miami Rio Carnival Paris BangkokAt last I’m back in Bangkok, you can now call me the spy who came in from the cold. 🙂   

I feel right at home

California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok

Nana Paza Bangkok, let the games begin.

Sade - Smooth Operator 1984

Next stop Pattaya

California Miami Rio Carnival Hi David, where have you been? Your car is waiting.  

Greg Clee at Heaven Above in Walking St

California Miami Rio Carnival Greg is an Aussie who is the major shareholder in Heaven Above go go bar, always has a good venue for young go go dancers. Coincidentally when I moved to Thailand in 2011 we lived in adjacent apartments at Markland Condo in Beach Rd.  

Walking Street Pattaya.
California Miami Rio Carnival
Thanks for visiting my California Miami Rio Carnival Paris Bangkok photo blog.
 
For great Pattaya hotel rates just book through THIS LINK.
 
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That’s all folks

1g Duck

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South Beach Miami

November 22, 2013 by David Herd

Art Deco South Beach

South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami was the attraction for me, and the Clay Hotel 1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach was the perfect location. Far less expensive being 3 or 4 blocks back from the beach.

Hotel Shelley South Beach

Art Deco South Beach Miami

One of the many iconic hotels on South Beach Miami.

South Beach Miami

Art Deco South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami is one of my favourite people watching locations in the world. The cars, the gorgeous women, the bikinis on the beach, its got it all, throw in lots of great bars & restaurants and what else do you need?

How many movies has this deli been in?

South Beach Miami

The Architectural District (also known as Old Miami Beach Historic District, and the more popular term, Miami Art Deco District) is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on May 14, 1979) located in the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings. In 1989, it was listed in A Guide to Florida’s Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.

The famous life guard towers

South Beach Miami

The fabulous art deco towers are unique examples of this form of architecture, they along the eight and a half mile stretch of  Beach. All told there are twenty five towers guarding those who use the beach. At once functional and decorative, they contribute beautifully to the overall aesthetic of this Floridian resort city. A great example of Art Deco South Beach Miami.

Quintessential South Beach Miami

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Such well known landmarks that is quintessential South Beach Miami.

The local sheriff

South Beach Miami

He is exercising his 2nd amendment rights. 🙂

Beautiful white sand on South beach.

South Beach Miami

Certainly one of the world’s best beach scenes.

Lots of bars & cafes opposite the beach.

South Beach Miami

Lots of cafes and restaurants along the strip.

Finnegans Way.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Finnegans Way 1344 Ocean Dr,  was a good lay back Irish bar, as it was on the way to my hotel I could never walk past without calling in for a drink.

Drinking JD on South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami

Drinks with the manager of Finnegans Way on South Beach.

South Beach Miami, river cruise.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

A good way to see the sights  including some beautiful homes is to jump on a boat and cruise around the harbour.

Open the bridge, we are coming through.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

A boat cruise is a great way to see the city and surrounds. 

Huge condo block.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Luxury hotels and condos are everywhere in Miami.

South Beach Miami, condos on the beach.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Living on South Beach Miami can’t be all that bad. 🙂

Nice little runabout.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Beautiful classic timber runabout.

Nice big runabout.

South Beach Miami

No matter how big your boat is there is always somebody with a bigger one.

Very nice little shack.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Obviously there is lots of money in Miami.

Nice big shack

Art Deco South Beach Miami

It seems like a small boat for such a huge home. 🙂

The Versace home

South Beach Miami

 Gianni Versace was shot dead here on the steps of his home in 1997.

Thanks for visiting my South Beach Miami photo blog, next stop Rio de Janeiro.
 
Pattaya Hilton

Pattaya hotels, Hilton & Holiday Inn

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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               Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book
                  through these links below.  Book now & pay later.
Free Cancellation. 
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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 
 

Beautiful samba dancers in Brazil

 

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