In typical fashion, we packed as much as possible into our Florida anniversarymoon/road trip/wedding weekend. We are crazy and fully embrace that, but we also know that we might not be taking any vacations quite like that once a kiddo comes around so we wanted to make the most of it.
The Departure
The week actually started out on a sour note when we learned that we were bumped from our flight to Ft. Lauderdale...the flight we booked nine months ago and checked in 1½ hours early for! To say that I was pissed off would be a major understatement. However, Air Tran (yes, I'm naming names) quickly rectified the situation by offering Jon and I each two free round trip tickets to any of their destinations in the US and Caribbean. Umm, hello, 2010 cruise leaving out of Puerto Rico! Also, hello, Texas girls whom I've been wanting to visit since forever ago!
They were able to book us on a flight into Ft. Myers leaving a ½ hour later which was not a bad compromise to make except for the fact that they overbooked that flight too and guess who got bumped again? Yes, that would be us. Then they offered us another round trip ticket, plus an upgrade to Business Class (free alcoholic beverages!) on the next flight to Ft. Lauderdale which was four hours later. We got to Florida a bit later than expected, but hey, I'll take three round trip tickets (each!).
Key West
As you might have guessed from my tweets, I spent most of our time here drinking margaritas. When in Rome and all, you know? I really love that town, though. Gorgeous sunsets, friendly people and a clothing optional bar! Yes, you read that right. On our first night in town, Jon and I stopped into a bar called The Bull. It has three levels, including the top level which is on the rooftop. It was a beautiful night so we decided to head up to the third floor. When I rounded the corner to walk into the doorway, I noticed a bare-assed naked man standing at the bar. Saggy butt, gray hair...not the sight I was expecting to see.
I turned to tug on Jon's shirt as I whispered to him, "Jon! There's a naked man at the bar!". I never got a response from him because he was staring in complete shock at the dance floor where there was a nude dance party going on! Insane. The bouncer saw our gaping mouths so he laughed and told us it was clothing optional. Oh, and the name of that bar? The Garden of Eden. Appropriate, yes?
My parents joined us in Key West our last night there and we made it a point to take them there, though we didn't mention it was clothing optional. That was a hoot! My mom had quite the same reaction I did, but my dad was pretty calm about it. He just sat down at the bar (next to a naked man!) and ordered a drink. So hilarious!
We did a booze cruise one day (Danger Charters, thanks for the recommendation, Jess!) and had a wonderful time snorkeling, kayaking and, yes, drinking, in the beautiful and extremely warm water. We didn't see any sharks or other scary marine life, but we saw a lot of really cool birds. Another day, Jon humored me and took me to Ernest Hemingway's house where we just about passed out from the heat, but I'm so glad we saw it. I'm a nerd for stuff like that. We also met another young couple while watching the sunset from Mallory Square one night and had a fun-filled and crazy night bar-hopping with them. We always manage to make friends while on vacation!
On that same night, we ended up in a bar where they had an old man playing guitar who could sing and play just about anything. I had him play our song, "Can't Help Falling in Love", and enjoyed a romantic slow dance with Jon. I did a lot of dancing that night. An old man grabbed me to dance as soon as we walked into the place, but he was totally harmless and I ended up dancing with him to several more songs throughout the night. There was a big group from Maryland in the same bar and they kept sending us shots. Miraculously, neither of us had a hangover the next morning!
I think the thing I loved most about Key West is that everyone you meet is laid-back and happy and just there to have a good time. It's my kind of town. Also, amazingly enough, Jon and I both met people from our relatively small hometowns while there. It's such a small, beautiful world!
Me in front of the Hemingway House
Kayaking
Delicious conch fritters
And Key Lime oysters
Beautiful (albeit, sweaty) sunset
My margarita (and Jon's dirty banana) at the original Margaritaville
The Mile Marker (blurred camera from the humidity!)
Perfection
And one more sunset for good measure!
Coming next, my recap of Orlando and my cousin's wedding!
