Florida Keys – Post #7 the final one

This is it, the last post of our time in the Keys. Good thing! As I’m writing this Hurricane and/or Tropical Storm Elsa was expected to pass over the Keys. Let’s wrap this trip up.

First two things were new to me!

One ask before leaving home was a request was to jet-ski. Another one of those things on my ‘bucket list’. I don’t want to buy one, but just do it at least once. Possibly repeat the experience if I like it.

Pre-planning found several businesses that would rent them but one in particular talked about an eco-tour – sold. Reservations were booked several days in advance, now we just had to wait.

The previous tour was soon in sight and started landing the jet-skis. Once paperwork was completed, we suited up and got on our designated machine.

REALLY hard to take photos while on the jet-skis – just saying. After some free-form traveling, we followed the guide through mangrove islands. BTW – that’s Adrienne in front of us.

And now Adrienne was behind us as we entered other mangrove islands.

• 

• 

As you can see Eric is driving and I’m sitting in the back. That’s wasn’t exactly the original plan. Their website indicated you would get off the jet-ski about halfway through, stopping at a sandy beach to see more of ‘natural’ Florida. At that point I was going to drive. Yep – that didn’t happen. I might be a big disgruntled. Yes, we will be repeating this, probably on a lake.

Several said that it wasn’t as easy as you would think. Part of our route was through boat channels and water was choppy. We also had two of the jet-skis take a ‘short-cut’ and got hung up – sorry Adrienne. In her defense, she was the last jet-ski and was following the one in front of her. Bummer.

Here’s the second new thing we did………….

Driving down earlier in the week we saw one of Hard Rocks’ most unusual hotels & casinos. Tried several times during the week to get a good deal on a room, but no luck.

We did the next best thing…………walked through the casino and got a drink.

Eric did a little gambling with the slot machines. The little (and I do mean little) money he won was quickly lost.

Driving around the Miami Beach area, saw this young lady along-side three lanes of traffic. Really? Not sure I would have ridden a bike in the bike lane, let alone in-line skates.

Even in the south of Florida can’t get away from some Disney magic. Actually, this ship was the Disney Wonder.

We drove a few blocks along the beach and WOW saw all the cruise ships anchored off shore. BTW – the area flagged in the sand………..a sea turtle nest (read the preious post).

We had three interesting meals after leaving the Keys: a breakfast, a lunch and a dinner.

N.Y. Deli ‘A little Taste of New York in South Florida!’

LOVED my granola French toast with fruit. We’ve got to add granola the next time we make it at home – the extra crunch took it over the top.

Eric went a little more (NY Deli) traditional and enjoyed his selection of lox and eggs with a hash browns.

We had to bring a few bagels home with us. 🙂 Plain and Everything were the bagels of choice.

Poke House – rated the best in South Florida.

We both enjoyed our poke bowls and was a total change of food for this vacation. Mine (left) had grilled chicken, advocado and small hunks of fresh pineapple – delicious!

• 

• 

The Tipsy Boar Gastropub – yep that was our evening meal.

Our table top was tiny and we ordered a LOT of small plates to share. Let’s see if I can remember them all (top left, clockwise) Fried duck wings, lamb croquettes, drinks, guacamole (loved the plantains for dipping – who knew) and goat-cheese stuffed dates wrapped in bacon.

And if that wasn’t enough……………..dessert. Apple cobbler on the left and bread pudding on the right.

• 

• 

I’m going to close with this photo of the white sandy beach, the softly blowing palms, blue skies, white fluffy clouds and blue water – that’s why we live in Florida.

Ginny