It's hard to believe that 54 years ago we
took excursions from Miami Beach to Hollywood Beach to spend a day in
the country and/or go to the Diplomat Hotel to see the top stars of that
time--heck, it's hard to believe I was ever 20!!

Last Wednesday I went to the Hollywood Beach boardwalk for the first
time in, maybe, 20 years and/or least since they redid the whole area. I
know 'season' is over but I don't ever remember seeing
the beach so quiet and deserted not even back in  the 50s when it was
all 'country'. It was almost like a ghost land. I gave
every excuse I could from it was a cloudy day to the fact that most of
the French Canadians, who fill up the hotels and motels, will be back I
had this eerie feeling that the economy had really hit this area.

What happened
to the people? The pigeons? Where were the hunky dudes, the girls
flaunting their bodies in bikinis? Why weren't there any kids playing in
the playground? Hopefully it was just an off day and when summer comes
rolling around it will be hard to find a parking place, the band shell
will be filled and trolleys standing room only!

Hollywood Beach Broadwalk---THE WAY IT SHOULD/WILL
BE!

(THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE)

Named one of America's
top ten nostalgic promenades by USA
Today, the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk is more than 2 miles
long, featuring a
brick lined pedestrian promenade that combines dramatic coastal views of

award-winning Blue Wave beaches with the nostalgic feel of a Main Street

thoroughfare.

Hollywood's oceanfront Broadwalk offers miles of
car-free
enjoyment. Walkers, runners, bicyclists and rollerbladers set their own pace
on
this path, which is bordered by six miles of Hollywood's famous
coastline,
boutique hotels, charming shops, cafés and places to eat facing the
ocean.

Gear up for a game of
sand volleyball or beachfront
paddleball. Clear your head
with group yoga or Tai Chi
classes. When the sun
sets, cool tropical sounds can be heard at the outdoor Beach Theater that hosts
a full season of live musical performances, festivals and cultural
events.

Still, the most popular pastime on the beach is
simply
savoring the charming character of this truly unique setting.
Comfortable sun
beds and cabanas are available for rent, so reserve a day for relaxing
to the
sound of soothing waves. The fresh ocean air will carry you into a state
of pure
bliss.