Lil' South Beach (sans the beach)

I have already professed my undying love for all things art deco so naturally we had to take a drive out to the East Rand to check out two art deco gems we had heard about, Springs in Ekurhuleni and the Rand Airport in Germiston.

Downtown Springs has been likened to South Beach in Miami or Old Hollywood because of its large number of small art deco buildings built during the mining boom days of the 30's. I get the similarity. There are a large number of low-slung art deco shops and businesses, and people in Springs do seem to prefer to live in Hollywood deco style bungalows.

And there are royal palm trees lining the streets adding to the South Beach feel. But sadly, no beach and no ocean.

But Springs does have the really cool deco Central Fire Station with its porthole windows ...

Rand Airport on the other hand really looks and feels like a Hollywood movie set from the 30's. And in fact, it has been used as the film set for a number of movies set in that era, such as The Amelia Earhart Story with Hilary Swank and Richard Gere.

All the vintage aircraft flying around and sitting on the tarmac adds to the throwback feel too.

And like the Grand Central Airport in Midrand, they also have a Harvard Cafe for brunch and lunch. This motorcycle makes it look more like a scene from Top Gun.

At one point I actually saw a vintage pink plane flying up above in the azure blue sky. Now that is very South Beach!