27 Sept - Mid Keys, Fla

27 Sept - Key West

On the way to Key West, at a dive shop we met 'Engine Eddie' who wrote this book 'Letters from South-East Aemageddon'  about his time in the services.  He had some amazing scuba stories and we're looking forward to reading the book at some point.  He works in this dive shop now and sized us all up for snorkelling gear. Engine Eddie and his book furthest point south in the USA

17 Sep 2011 - the eagle has landed

After what seemed like a 3 day long flight - or as Andy measured it, about 4 movies - we landed in Miami Int'l Airport.  The kids were great until passport control.  Few issues with tired grumbles - first time we've had to convince immigration control that the child sulking 50 feet away is ours and we aren't trying to kidnap him - luckily all 3 are color coordinated with their red hair and blue eyes, would be difficult not to know they're a set... even if Justin and I look like the adoptive parents.


The drive from the airport to our Miami beach hotel was interesting.  Aside from a bars-on-windows dodgy neighbourhood near the airport where we nervously eyed the door locks, the rest of the way was beautiful, green, green, green, beautiful art deco buildings surrounded by waterways everywhere.  I never realised that Miami is not so much a coastal city as a city built on water ways and small islands and peninsulas.


On the Miami Beach island/peninsula we passed through South Beach first .. very posh area, great people watching, fashion following and a definite gay contingency.   Art deco buildings continued through the hotel district.  Our hotel had a pool and backed onto the beach, which was a huge bonus - and the upgraded us to a junior suite, so we got a sofa as well as the 2 double beds ... our sleeping arrangements have been quite cosy, good prep for the REAL cosy living arrangements to come!

We were shocked by the crystal clear blue water - both pool and ocean were like bathwater!!  In the ocean, schools of little silver fish with yellow tails followed us around like puppy dogs, nibbling on us occasionally.  We saw a jellyfish about 12-inches diameter in the water.  The children and I spent ages observing it with a snorkelling mask .. it was so fragile and graceful, rippling in and out. We  then set off for Key West and arrived  yesterday evening .. we unwittingly managed to plan our visit here at the same time as a bikers event this weekend, over 10,000 Harley riders expected this weekend ... and it sounded like all of them were in our hotel last night :-O The swimming pool was 'bikers stew' and the kids have learned all sorts of new words... I think even I have! We chatted with a few who are quite friendly, but look like they'd rip your heart out in an argument ... I've just been nodding my head a lot. Going in search of ear plugs for today... The motorcycle  event was  http://www.motorcyclemonster.com/key-west-poker-run.html Ben and Justin are heading off today to do ocean fishing.  Andy and I will do some homeschool before setting off for downtown key west and the interactive sealife  eco-center.