HOW THE RICH AND FAMOUS (AND DEAD) LIVE

Took 2 tours with our visitor that we might not have taken on our own. The first was a boat excursion past secluded waterfront homes of the rich and famous on islands offshore from Miami's skyline. Isn't it amazing that people pay to see other people's wealth??  The obscured red tile roof is Rosie O'Donnell's. The home with the big gray powerboat is Shaquille O'Neil's. (Both O'Irish??) Can you see the statue of a rabbit on the lawn of the mansion? That was Elizabeth Taylor's---- the rabbit was a gift from Michael Jackson, to symbolize her hopping from one husband to the next! Others belong to Gloria Estefan and the guy who made billions from Vigara ---- his palm trees are particularly straight.

The second narrated tour was a walkabout in the Art Deco district. Miami Beach in the late 1960's and early 70's was a decrepit crime-infested slum, according to guide Kenn. The whole area almost got bulldozed down, but local visionaries led an inspired campaign to save and restore what is now the most concentrated art deco architectural neighbourhood in the world. Bravo, Barbara Capitman!

We learned to identify the 3 major eras of style and design here. Surprising to find out that both the iconic pastel colours and the fabulous neon signage are NOT original aspects (the purists are not impressed by these additions but we are!!). A quick step into the Essex hotel to see an original depiction of the Everglades. Can you spot the alligator that supposedly kept early tourists away?

And every hotel had a casino, even though they were illegal. Staff couldn't give you directions to a room that didn't exist, right? So the instructions were "Just look down at the floor...."

Along the way, a stop at the iron-gated mansion where famous fashion designer Johnny Versace was shot dead on his steps in 1997. Now the most-photographed spot in Miami Beach. Maybe he should've looked down at the floor?!