February 23, 2009

Welcome to my first blog while actually on vacation - one advantage of using a blog in place of email. Although I wasn't able to figure out how to download pictures from the camera directly into the PC so that will have to wait until our return. We flew into Miami on Friday with all of our flights working - had a nice little layover in Philly that allowed us to grab one of Philly's pretzels which brought back good memories. After a bit of a delay at the airport with getting our Avis rental car we were off on Route 1 to Key West. We had a nice drive down enjoying a beautiful setting sun - imagine a really nice sunset shot taken from the car by Jo leaning out the window. We arrived in Key West around 8:00 and managed to find our hotel with no difficulties. It was everything we hoped for. After dropping everything in the room we headed out for a bit of dinner at Finnegan's Wake. Saturday we used our morning run to explore the Key - fortunately when the islands are this small we can do a pretty good job of seeing the whole island in a single run. The rest of the day was mostly enjoying the pool deck and hammocks as Joann tried to recuperate from 3-4 hours of sleep Thursday night. She flew in from Mexico City arriving home around 1:30 and we had to get up for the airport at 5:30.

Needless to say, it is wonderful to be enjoying temperatures in the 70's after the winter we have had so far. Sunday we took a nice bike ride in the morning to breakfast, after our run, and then around parts of the key we hadn't seen completely during our run - the "Southern Most Point in the US" (although Joann and I are a bit skeptical about that claim as it seemed like there was another location not 50 feet away that looked more southern to us), Fort Zachery and beach, and the local housing situation. After that, as you might guess, it was to the hammocks for a nap! Today we got nice long massages and then after some lunch we spent the afternoon reading so that I can keep up my pace of completing several books this trip.

Well that's it - tomorrow is our last day in Key West and then we head up to Key Largo for three days where we are hoping to hike the Everglades and do a bit of kayaking among the mangroves. Then Saturday it is home to the cold and snow.

Have a great week - it is warm here!!!!