Seaport Inn Key West

Here we are in Key West Florida, the southern most city in the continental US, and man is it hot. It has been in the upper 90's with super high humidity. We've have been finding some fun ways to stay cool. Traveling around in the van isn't one of them. It is so hot here that there is no way we would be able to sleep in the van, or even outside in a tent. So, it really is our "smaller vacation within in our vacation" as Jess likes to put it, we're living it up in another hotel ...

... mainly couples!) gazing out over the sea watching the sun go down with acoustic guitar playing in the background. Something we will never forget. We left Mallory Square and headed to a Caribbean restaurant for dinner. The setting was lovely, but unfortunately both Jim and I have got slightly dodgy stomachs and couldn't finish our food.

We headed back to the hotel for an early night ready for the drive back to Miami in the morning.

... there.

After the workshop, we made our way over to the lagoons where the dolphins were. Whilst waiting for the trainer, we spent some time watching the dolphins playing in the water. They were very curious of us and continuously swam by to check us out.

The trainer told us we would be swimming with a dolphin called Talon. I couldn't wait to get in the water and meet him. Jim was able to watch the whole time on a jetty, although he got a bit burnt standing in the 90 ...

... a ride down to Duval Street and that monument that is the most Southern point of the US. We of course stood in line to have our photos taken at the monument just like all of the other tourists here. Then we made our way back to the hotel to spend the day by the pool. It was all very relaxing, but by mid day we were saying we were ready to get back on the bikes. I guess the next adventure is calling to us. Today we rode so few miles that it isn't worth mentioning.

Key West Excusion
Sail and Snorkeling adventure - $39 per person

I
was thoroughly disappointed at the snorkeling part of this excursion
because well, the highlight of my snorkel was seeing a DORI (from NEMO
fish movie) fish. We were very far away from any real corals or any
kind of real underwater scenery. Plus, I felt like we were in the water
to snorkel and then they were immediately calling us back. Boo!

... eine festgelegte prozedur gibt - das reichtbis zum hände waschen (kein witz - dazu gab es ein video, ein training und einen schriftlichen "test"). man mag sagen, dass das ganze ein wenig übertrieben ist, letztendlich ist es jedoch nicht abzustreiten, dass durch diese präventiven maßnahmen eine große anzahl an schädigenden ereignissen verhindert werden (daten dazu existieren zur genüge). jede prozedur wurde heute angesprochen und musste dann vom neuen mitarbeiter ...

... up to this famous beach. A wooden walkway runs along the edge of the sand area but again the high rise is right up to the beach area only guarded by the wooden walkway. The sand was present at least, but a lot coarser than our Aussie Sand, grittier and a lot of broken shells. We walked along the water's edge, paddle a bit in the warm water, the sea was choppy so didn't entice us to take a plunge. The life guards have look out cubicles but they fly flags from these to explain ...

... It was then not without its moment of sadness that I later saw the magnificent bird of prey swoop past me, confidently clutching what could possibly have been the same plucky bird from before. Its a dog eat dog world make no mistake. It was really odd that Flamingo was so deserted as it looked function-able but it incredibly peaceful instead. Hoping to save on a few nickels and dimes (yes funds are getting that low) we ...

... choice! The shower eventually stops and the sky is blue again so, steaming, we return to the rooms and get changed - we had reasonably dried off during the walk back. Over 400 years ago there was a fleet of Spanish galleons set sail from the Caribbean for Spain, carrying a fortune in gold, silver, jewels and spices. They were soon overcome by a hurricane that drove them onto reefs south of the Keys. The Spanish were excellent record keepers so they knew what, when but ...

We arrived to Key West - cleared Immigration and then had to take tender boats to the shore. It was a beautiful day - not as humid as Nassau - which was welcome. (I am sure that those of you in the North are thinking you would take hot and humid right about now) We took Maria to a couple of bars for a couple beers, Conch Chowder and Oysters. We walked around a bit - then she ...