...Florida...

Saturday 2nd of December 2006, Tammay and I travelled from Heathrow to Miami, landing around 4pm. We checked into the Sagamore and explored some of the local area.

South Beach

Sunday 3rd. We woke early and walked along the beach behind the hotel.

Ocean Drive

We walked along Ocean Drive, passing Lummus Park and...

Ocean Drive

...the Versace Mansion.

South Beach

We walked along Collins Avenue, Washington Street, Espanada Way the "Spanish pedestrian street", and Lincoln Road. We had lunch at the Cafetaria.

South Beach

In the evening we watched Casino Royal at a cinema in South Beach.

Monday 4th. We picked up our hire car – a 4L V6 Ford Mustang, and drove to Sawgrass Mills for some retail therapy. We got horribly lost on the way there but managed to make up for it! The mall had a branch of Legal Seafood. That evening we had dinner at the News Cafe on Ocean Drive.

Everglades National Park

Tuesday 5th. We headed out of Miami and drove into the Everglades National Park. We took a trolley tour, seeing alligators, birds and trees.

Everglades National Park

As part of the tour we stopped at a lookout tower. While at the lookout we saw some idiot who decided it would be a good idea to get up close to an alligator at the side of the track and pull on its tail! Our guide proceded to tells us about a person he had seen place their todler on he back of an alligator... I'm sure that would have made a nice snack!

Everglades National Park

We made our way to Chokoloskee via a slow dirt track loop road.

Everglades National Park

From Chokoskee we went on a 'Ten Thousand Island' boat tour hoping to see manatees but we only saw 1 dolphin. We had dinner at Joe's Stone Crab.

Florida Keys

Wednesday 6th. We had an early check-out from the Sagamore and drove south to the Florida Keys. We made our first stop at Islamorada and happened upon a beautiful 'picture perfect' beach. The perfectly combed sand was a clear indication that it was a private beach. We headed a little further south and stopped at Anne's Beach, as mentioned in the Rough Guide... we were very disappointed, it turned out to be a thin strip of sand about 50 feet long! I'm guessing it may be a lot nicer at low tide.

Florida Keys

After a few minutes we were back on the road and heading towards Marathon where we stopped at Leigh Ann's coffee house (which had the nicest carrot cake!).

Big Pine Key

We drove further south to Big Pine Key and the National Key Deer Refuge visitor's centre. We drove along Long Beach Road and walked around the 'Blue Hole', eventually seeing a deer at the roadside.

Island City House

We arrived in Key West after dark and checked into the Island City House.

Island City House

We had dinner at Foggarty's.

Key West

Thursday 7th. We went on the Conch Tour... We were by far the youngest people there and our guide 'Engineer Dave' would have been lost if he was not allowed to say 'here on the island...'.

Key West

We had lunch at the Grand Cafe on Duval Street.

Artist House

We walked along Eaton Street, looking at the houses, including the 'Artist House' seen here.

Key West

Southernmost Point

We walked back along Fleming Street and Duval Street, past the lighthouse and to the Southernmost Point. Tammay at the Southernmost Point.

Southernmost Point

Me at the Southernmost Point.

The Calvin Klein House

At 712 Eaton Street.

Key West

Despite racing back to Mallory Square, cloud on the horizon meant we missed out on the best of the sunset. The square was filled with street performers, including one guy desparately trying to generate interest in his sword swallowing act. We had dinner in Blue Heaven – a great surf and turf!

Key West

Friday 8th. The weather had changed, bringing in a cool breeze. We walked through the 'Presidential Gates' into the Truman Annex. We looked at all the nice properties and the 'Little White House'. Walked on to Fort Zachary Taylor State Historical Park, although we didn't go in.

Key West

Hemmingway Museum

We walked into Bahama Village and to the Ernest Cafe for lunch. The Cafe was right across the road from the Hemmingway Museum.

Hemmingway Museum

We took a tour from a rather excentric chap, seeing the house and Hemmingway's cats.

Hemmingway Museum

Tammay at the Hemmingway Museum.

Hemmingway Cats

The Hemmingway Museum is home to the 'Hemmingway Cats'. These cats are the desendants of Hemmingway's own pets and about half of them are polydactyl, ie have extra toes. I think this one was called Charlie Chaplin.

Hemmingway Cats

This cat's extra toe is clearly visible.

Key West Lighthouse

Key West

Festive decorations. That evening we saw The Holiday at the cinema.

Bahia Honda State Park

Saturday 9th. Checked out of Island City House and went for a walk along the marina just off Caroline Street. We then left Key West and made our way to Parmers Resort in Little Torch Key. We had a walk around Bahia Honda State Park and onto the old Flager bridge.

The Old Flager Bridge

Tammay on the the old Flager Bridge.

The Old Flager Bridge

Florida Keys

Parmers Resort

We went back to Leigh Ann's coffee house for lunch. In the afternoon we went back to Bahia Honda State Park and walked around the Silver Palm trail.

Parmers Resort

The evening saw me winning at mini golf for a change. Tammay was eager to eat at No Name Pub on Big Pine Key but we got there just as it was closing. We ended up eating in a lovely Bar & Grill instead.

Seven Mile Bridge

Sunday 10th. We checked out of Palmer's Resort and headed north towards Miami, stopping at 7 mile bridge for a walk.

Seven Mile Bridge

The Mustang!

Seven Mile Bridge

While we were at Seven Mile Bridge this racoon wandered past.

Seven Mile Bridge

Anhinga Trail

We had pizza near the ocean in Key Largo. We then decided to take a detour to the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades and ended up staying all afternoon. We checked back into the Sagamore and had dinner at Pacific Time on Lincoln Road.