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| A Woman's Directory For Travel and Life. WAVE Journey is your one stop online resource for women oriented businesses and services around the world. WAVE Journey is for every woman to enjoy. If you love to travel, cook, read or revel in outdoor activities this website is for you. If you are looking to connect with other like-minded women or if you are interested in finding businesses or services that cater to women, WAVE Journey is your number one online resource. |
| WAVE Journey |
| Women's Adventures, Vacations, Experiences ~ Your Journey Starts Here! |
The Biltmore in Coral Gables is royal luxury for the soignée body
and soul ~
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
and soul ~
Article & photos by Lucy Komisar
The Biltmore in Coral Gables, just south of
Miami, is one of those hotels that you visit
even if you're not staying there. A friend who
has lived in Coral Gables for many years took
us there as a highlight on a tour of the area.
We could see the tall cream-colored spire of
the large Spanish colonial style red-tile roofed
building from many blocks away. The Biltmore,
in Mediterranean Revival style, was inspired
by the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.
Miami, is one of those hotels that you visit
even if you're not staying there. A friend who
has lived in Coral Gables for many years took
us there as a highlight on a tour of the area.
We could see the tall cream-colored spire of
the large Spanish colonial style red-tile roofed
building from many blocks away. The Biltmore,
in Mediterranean Revival style, was inspired
by the Cathedral of Seville in Spain.
Among the people who have lodged at this very distinctive hotel are Bill and Hillary Clinton,
the Dalai Lama, British Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher and President Mikhail
Gorbachev of the former Soviet Union, as well the presidents of Columbia, Peru, Spain,
Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and individuals from the royal houses of Spain,
Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco. Also a fellow named Barack Obama when he was U.S.
Senator from Illinois. Various Bushes, too. And a few dozen theatrical royals.
In 1994, President Clinton hosted 34 heads of state from the western hemisphere at the
Summit of the Americas at the Biltmore’s Conference Center of the Americas.
the Dalai Lama, British Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher and President Mikhail
Gorbachev of the former Soviet Union, as well the presidents of Columbia, Peru, Spain,
Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and individuals from the royal houses of Spain,
Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco. Also a fellow named Barack Obama when he was U.S.
Senator from Illinois. Various Bushes, too. And a few dozen theatrical royals.
In 1994, President Clinton hosted 34 heads of state from the western hemisphere at the
Summit of the Americas at the Biltmore’s Conference Center of the Americas.
We drove up a long drive-way and walked inside an
ornate lobby dominated in the center by outsized
mahogany and green marble birdhouses with singing
finches. At one end of the grand hall was a small
afternoon tea restaurant where people chatted to
background music provided by a pianist at a baby grand.
At one place, high vaulted ceilings were painted blue
and dotted with stars. At another, the ceiling was
covered with painted wood panels. Greek columns
marched down a lengthy expanse. You have the sense
of being in a European palace.
ornate lobby dominated in the center by outsized
mahogany and green marble birdhouses with singing
finches. At one end of the grand hall was a small
afternoon tea restaurant where people chatted to
background music provided by a pianist at a baby grand.
At one place, high vaulted ceilings were painted blue
and dotted with stars. At another, the ceiling was
covered with painted wood panels. Greek columns
marched down a lengthy expanse. You have the sense
of being in a European palace.
A few months later, we checked in to the Biltmore
for one of the most memorable hotel experiences
we have had. Our junior suite was divided into
sitting and bedroom areas by a double-sided ceiling
high shelf unit with drawers on the bedroom side
and a desk on the other. The canary yellow walls
were set off by a bright pink and yellow flower
painting and an old map of Cuba and the
Caribbean. There was a comfortable couch and
glass coffee table of green wrought iron. The tiled
floor was in different hues of gold. Through the
window we could see a huge azure pool edged by
a café on one side and row of cabanas on another,
and further in the distance the golf course and club
house.
for one of the most memorable hotel experiences
we have had. Our junior suite was divided into
sitting and bedroom areas by a double-sided ceiling
high shelf unit with drawers on the bedroom side
and a desk on the other. The canary yellow walls
were set off by a bright pink and yellow flower
painting and an old map of Cuba and the
Caribbean. There was a comfortable couch and
glass coffee table of green wrought iron. The tiled
floor was in different hues of gold. Through the
window we could see a huge azure pool edged by
a café on one side and row of cabanas on another,
and further in the distance the golf course and club
house.
We quickly made our way to our cabana. It was in of a line of luxurious outdoor rooms
with one side open to the huge pool that curves past the open air Cascade Grill, but
privacy was afforded by a screen of palms, hibiscus and bougainvillea. There was an
Egyptian cotton covered couch, a ceiling fan and a sideboard with plates and glasses. We
brought some work, plugged in our computers and enjoyed the wifi connection.
with one side open to the huge pool that curves past the open air Cascade Grill, but
privacy was afforded by a screen of palms, hibiscus and bougainvillea. There was an
Egyptian cotton covered couch, a ceiling fan and a sideboard with plates and glasses. We
brought some work, plugged in our computers and enjoyed the wifi connection.
The cabanas have their own waiters. When
you want something, you press a button on
the phone that rings on the server's cell
phone. We had lunch of delicious halibut with
rice and beans and a pepper and eggplant mix.
Our favorite Mojitos turned out to be made
with vodka, not rum. We tried a mango Mojito,
but decided that the sweet fruit overpowered
the mint. To get some sun, we repaired to the
two white chaises longues on the private
terrace in front of the cabana. You can use the
cabanas for day or evening. A double cabana
includes a table and chairs and more chaises.
you want something, you press a button on
the phone that rings on the server's cell
phone. We had lunch of delicious halibut with
rice and beans and a pepper and eggplant mix.
Our favorite Mojitos turned out to be made
with vodka, not rum. We tried a mango Mojito,
but decided that the sweet fruit overpowered
the mint. To get some sun, we repaired to the
two white chaises longues on the private
terrace in front of the cabana. You can use the
cabanas for day or evening. A double cabana
includes a table and chairs and more chaises.
It's perfect for parties.