kellan_the_tabby | Cheeseburger in Paradise: Sunday (Reply)

And the last day we were down there. I miss it...I always do.

early afternoon, Big Pine Key

Finally heading home.

Just missed sunset last night, since we headed back to the hotel for a few hours in the afternoon. Looked at the merchants, but didn't buy anything.

We did (earlier in the afternoon, before heading back to the hotel) go to the Shipwreck Historeum, which had some cool stuff from an early 1800's wreck, and a lot of information on wrecking culture of the time. It was clearly a for-profit museum, but still kinda cool. Then we got ice cream and went back to the hotel.

Updated LJ and generally sprawled around in the AC for a while, then headed out to Sunset. We got to watch the schooner America tacking back and forth a few times, then taking down her sails.

Very good Italian food for dinner. Ate too much, then bed.

later afternoon, stuck on the highway

This had better clear soon, or we're screwed.

We're off the Keys but only barely. I can see the lights ahead of us but not much else.

We just got passed by a fire truck ambulance, and two cops going the other way, so maybe it'll clear soon.

getting close to seven, Ft. Lauderdale Airport

We made it in plenty of time. This airport (which is a lot prettier than Philadelphia, but then apparently most everything is) has wireless, so

fosveny is deeply ensconced in his laptop.

All in all it's been a grand trip. I still love the Keys. But...just in the year and a half since I was last here, it's changed. Going more commercial, more elite, more touristy. Less real. It's a pity; in another couple years or decades, it'll be just like any other Caribbean resort. The water will still be that same lovely pale-blue-green and the rum will still flow freely, but the spirit which led to the formation of the Conch Republic and its secession from the United States will be gone.

We've got first-class, first-row seats again. This time I'm gonna be a bit more careful with the shortbread. Lewis got a rum and coke; apparently he's been relly stressed all day about making the flight. After last Tuesday I don't blame him. And if I'd known earlier that he was that stressed, I wouldn't have asked to stop to take pictures so often...

But I did, and we made it anyway. I got a lot of cool pictures, or at least I hope I did. Won't know until we download the rest of them.

We downloaded everything from the camera last night. I only got a quick look at them, but the ones I took earlier in the week look pretty good.

Every time I come down here I go home intending to take pictures more often, and every time I get there it doesn't happen. This time, for sure; once everything I took today is copied over I'm going to look them all over and see if I can crop them into something decent.

Idea: apply to be an intermittent travel reporter for the Morning Call, then travel with Lewis and report on the trips.

In any case, I want to keep photography on the list of 'things to do'.

We also stopped by the craft shops on Islamorada that we've been to a couple times before. No blue glasses, but I picked up wind chimes for

baronadhemar and a [prezzie edited until given] for

montuos. Also a couple of the little scallop-shell purses (anyone interested?) and a carved wooden pelican for the next person I know who deserves it. And we finally picked up small plates, nice pottery ones, though those are getting shipped home.

And we got to pet a big tuxedo cat who looked like Mooch (and liced his paw when you scratched his butt), and a little black girl-cat who was kinda skittery but friendly.

We just took off, facing east, and we're over the ocean. Just turned north, actually; with any luck we'll be able to watch the sun set. We're on the left side of the plane, at least. I want to watch the sea as long as I can, though.

We just got fed! I can't think of the last time I got fed on a flight without having to pay or something. It wasn't a lot, but it was pretty good. A half-sandwich, turkey with cheese and roasted peppers on a sort of roll with parmesan on top, and a little bit of pasta salad with tomatoes on lettuce. I even ate the lettuce, but I gave Lewis the cookies; they had raisins.

I have shortbread again. But only one.

And now it's gone.

Best. Sunset. Ever.

Lewis is getting some sleep and I'm just watching things pass by. I think we just passed over Cape Hatteras, but I want to check when we get home.

God, that's gorgeous. I wish I thought I could get a decept picture through all those layers of window.

Some turbulence coming up, apparently. Hope it's not bad, at least for the sake of the guy across the aisle, who hasn't looked happy this whole trip.

We managed to miss the turbulence, and got back on the ground fine. Got slightly lost in Philly when we had to get off of the Surekill but not for long. Yay for the zoo trip - helped us get re-oriented and back on the highway.

Pictures? Nope. Haven't unloaded the ones on the camera, and forgot to take it to Landsknecht. Might drag it out a bit today if I'm feeling up to it...

The plates still aren't here, and I'm getting annoyed.

Yeah, that was Cape Hatteras.