rosie
 4257 Posts
Joined: 14 May 2004
Status: offline |  Posted - 20 Jul 2005 : 18:25:53  
| Day 5 – Thurs June 30th
We left our hotel in Naples just after 10am on our trip down to the Keys, another first for Al & me. It was great being with the CDV’s as they have loads of knowledge of the whole area.
The boy’s shared the driving again, with me and CDV sat in the back chatting amongst some of the extra bags from our shopping trip yesterday. Although it may have been a bit boring for the Mr & Mrs CDV to do this drive yet again, as newbies we loved it, and I was constantly watching out the window for any signs of wildlife along the way. Just as well I had picked up some books to help me recognise some of the flora and fauna we were passing.
We reached the information centre for the Big Cypress Swamp and decided to pull in and stretch our legs for a while (also meant I could have a ciggie too). The temp was up in the high 90’s and it was glorious yet again. We wandered into the centre and bought some insect repellent as we had forgotten to bring some with us. Also got the obligatory fridge magnet for the villa.
Outside there is a long viewing platform and we took a walk along to see if any critters where brave enough to come out in the midday sun. We were rewarded by the sight of a gator lazily making its way up the centre of a stream, closely watched by a bird on the bank, also keeping an eye on the water for its lunch. (Photo’s in the gallery, Linda) After some photography it was back into the car to continue our journey. Just settling down again and the brakes went on sharpish to avoid a turtle crossing the road. We saw lots more turtles, gators etc during the journey, it was great to see wildlife literally in the wild and up close.
We skirted the Everglades promising ourselves we would stop on the way back and do an airboat ride. When we reached a crossroads at the point we were to turn south, we stopped for drinks and a Subway. I have no idea what roads we were on, can you tell I’m not a driver yet…
Heading south now we passed loads and loads of plant nurseries and we both kept asking the boys to stop so we could buy some palms for the villa. They were having none of it, though in honesty I had no idea where we would have put them.
All too soon we started our journey across the Keys. At Key Largo we stopped again for a drink. The temp was still rising and the blues and greens of the water was so inviting.
Islamorada, Long Key, Grassy Key and on to Marathon and the Seven Mile Bridge. This is the bit I have waited years to visit and cross. On a clear day with the sun shining down, it is impossible for me to describe adequately how fantastic this is. The sea was a shimmering mirror of hues of blue and green. Sand banks in the water were clearly visible, at times indistinguishable from the sky. I must have looked a picture sat in the car with my mouth wide open and agog at the beauty of it. The pictures we took just don’t do it justice.
Running alongside the road bridge is the Flagler railway bridge, an awe inspiring feat of engineering in it’s time and all the more remarkable as it was completed during the 1920’s in under 4 years. Now unused, several sections have been removed to allow large ships to pass underneath, and other sections opened for public access, and all along these sections were rows of men with fishing rods, no doubt going home with tales of the huge one that got away.
Onward to Key West, the top end of the island is new compared to the old historic district. The Spanish name for this island is Cayo Hueso, meaning "island of bones".
Being only 90 miles from Cuba you can certainly feel the Spanish influence the closer to the Old district you get.
Our hotel was in Simonton Street, one block up from Duvall St (the main tourist street). We checked in around 4, threw the bags in the room and all dived into the pool to cool down. CDV got settled in the spa and I stuck my hand in to feel the temp, it was hotter than I would have my bath water, I couldn’t get in it, so stayed put in the pool for a couple of hours.
Suitably prune like we went to our rooms to get showered and dressed for dinner. The one thing more than any other I wanted to see was the Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. We checked the time of sunset (8.15ish) and decided the mile and a half walk was best tackled at a leisurely pace because of the heat.
We walked out the door of the hotel just after 7pm to make our way to Mallory Square. We had got no further than 200 yards down the road when my feet were sliding in my sandals from the perspiration running off me (sorry for the graphic description, but hot just isn’t the right word here) It was roasting and by the time we reached Mallory Square the blisters on my feet were the size of golf balls, our clothes were dripping and we looked like we had just stepped out a Turkish bath.
A quick stop to grab frozen Margarita’s and we wandered along the boardwalk stopping and taking in the entertainment that takes place nightly. This is such a vibrant place and feels so unlike the USA we are used to, it’s very bohemian and almost has a beatnik feel to it. So laid back and relaxed that it is almost comatose while still heaving with people of every description.
It is worth the car journey to visit, for the glorious sunset if nothing else. I am rapidly running out of superlatives to describe everything….. Just make time to visit it sometime and experience it for yourself.
After the sun had set, we were still wandering along and said we would meet up with the CDV’s after we finished at the boardwalk. Well we never found them, despite walking the entire length a few times so headed back to Duvall St to maybe bump into them along there somewhere. There were so many people around that it would have been a miracle to have found them, so just before 10pm we headed off to Hard Rock Café as CDV had mentioned eating there on our way past earlier in the evening.
We sat at the bar with a drink to wait for our table hoping they would appear. No sign, so when we were shown to our table we had all but given up hope. We had no sooner sat down then who should appear at the door….. They came and joined us and we had a lovely meal together.
After dinner I was so shattered and uncomfortable I just wanted my bed, so we headed back to the hotel while the CDV’s headed next door to Fat Tuesdays.
The long walk home felt endless with blistered feet and it was still in the 90’s at 11.30pm but we arrived back at the hotel, I peeled off my clothes, jumped in the shower then fell into bed.
More to follow………
Chapter 4 http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_22587.asp
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Rosie
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Edited by - rosie on 21 Sep 2005 21:16:39 | | Report this post to a moderator |
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Windies head West Part 3
