We’re into the second half of winter now. The days are starting to get a little bit longer and the sun is inching higher in the sky around midday. Still, we’ve just had another good wallop of snow and we’re starting to think about our next ski trip and whether to combine it with visiting friends upstate.
But that’s getting ahead of the story. Jeannie and I took a nice break from the winter weather. Took in some warmth and sunshine and got to rest and recharge. Every year this feels like more of a necessity. After maintaining complete focus on work and all my other tasks the entire month of January, I was ready for a break.
This year the destination was south Florida. We flew out early on Saturday morning and got into Fort Lauderdale mid-morning. Our first stop was Key Largo, and we were there on the seaside by lunchtime. They upgraded our rental car to a BMW convertible roadster. It was a very powerful car and alot of fun, although we could only fit one carryon-sized suitcase in the trunk. The rest went in the back seat, which was just as well because it was too small for passengers.
Anyway, we were at our hotel by lunchtime. It was a charming, sleepy kind of place right on the ocean, with a garden and pool, and surrounded my mangrove forests. Our room wasn’t ready yet when we arrived, but right next door was a beach bar and restaurant. So we got a table outside and enjoyed some frozen drinks and yummy seafood dishes. My favorite drink was made of bourbon and peaches and crushed ice, with jalapeño salt crusting the rim of the glass. Ah, perfect. Jeannie was enjoying Key Lime Coladas. They had a guy singing and playing guitar, and it was only two or three songs before he played Margaritaville.
That afternoon we went on a boat cruise around the Florida Bay, out among the mangrove groves and sandy shallows covered with seagrass. Saw some dolphins and lots of different kinds of birds, and an amazing sunset. Afterwards we went back to the restaurant next to our hotel for dinner. One of the specials on the menu was a whole fresh caught snapper, complete with corn on the cob and taters and veggies. It was yummy, but they should have warned us that it was sized for two people! No matter, I ate half of it and we had the rest for lunch the next day. That evening they had a full rock band, who were excellent, with strong vocal harmonies and great guitar player, and songs from bands like Santana and Sublime. I had a dream about Martin that night, waiting for him to come home but he never showed up. Very sad.
Sunday we went on a kayak trip out among the mangroves, up a channel into progressively smaller bays and inlets until we ended up in a swimming hole, which was lots of fun too. Saw some sharks and more different kinds of birds. That afternoon we put the top up on the car and drove all the way out to Key West on the water highway. Got the car up to 100 mph on the seven mile bridge. It was a long trip, almost two hours; Key West is closer to Havana than Miami. Key West is a cute little boating and tourist town, good for walking around in. We went to the southernmost point in the continental U.S., visited the aquarium – sharks and sea turtles were the top attractions, watch the sun go down over the Gulf of Mexico, and had dinner in a place that used to be the original headquarters of Pan Am Airlines, which got its start in the 1920’s flying to Cuba and back.
Monday we visited the Everglades. Took a boat tour around the swampy backwaters, saw lots of crocodiles and yet more birds, as well as lots of different kinds of mangrove trees and other plants. We went on a couple hikes in different parts of the park with different ecosystems, including a knot of forest in a sea of marsh grass. All in all a fascinating place, I dubbed it America’s ultimate swamp walk.
From there we drove back to Fort Lauderdale to spend some time at the beach. We got to the hotel well after dark, but they had a tiki bar right out on the beach that was perfect for dinner and drinks. Next day we spent the whole time lounging about, going back and forth between the ocean and the tiki bar, with a side trip to the pool. Aaah, vacation! That evening we went out the Benihana, which was just up the road, for Jeannie’s birthday.
Wednesday was our last day, and we had to check out of the hotel in the morning but our flight wasn’t until the evening. So we decided to go check out Miami Beach. Miami is a big city with lots of freeways, and the vibe is alot like the New Jersey turnpike. But once we got there it was great for walking around, another beautiful sunny day. South Beach, Ocean Boulevard, all the old fancy art deco hotels, even a little art gallery. There’s the beach with a park and bike path, and a beautiful botanical gardens a little ways uptown.
The flight home was smooth and uneventful. I feel like we’ve had a run of good luck flying the last few years. No major mishaps in the last dozen flights. Of course we came home into freezing rain turning to ice, and woke up the next morning with snow on the ground.