Florida July 2004

More retrospective holiday memories…

We left Chicago and flew down to the sunshine in Florida to continue our road trip.  After leaving the Mustang behind in Chicago, we swapped it for a SUV – just as well as the Mustang boot was tiny and barely big enough for our ever-expanding luggage (due to the fantastic Independence Weekend sales!)

The 4th July was spent in Miami, staying on Ocean Drive in one of the Art Deco hotels – The Beacon.  Next door was the location where scenes from Scarface were filmed.

…Partying went on until about 4am in the morning, plenty of posing and cruising going on.

After taking in Kennedy Space Centre (more recognisable film scenes from Armageddon!) and the massive Vehicle Assembly Building (which apparently gets clouds forming in the top of it?!), we spent some time in the Keys, taking a seaplane to Dry Tortugas to do some snorkelling.  This was fantastic we practically had the whole island to ourselves but for the additional 6 people on the seaplane.

The views from the sea plane of the beautiful jade water punctuated with the odd shipwreck and lone turtle bobbing peacefully along stay in my memory now.

Driving through Marathon I was reminded of the set of Manhunter (or Red Dragon) by Thomas Harris and it was just how I pictured it when I read the book.

Swaying sea grasses, sunbleached jetty’s and a little bit removed from the rest of the world.

Gorgeous dolphins at the Dolphin Research centre

The Dolphin Research Centre was a highlight, I chose not to swim with them as I don’t feel that animals are here for our entertainment and this place seemed to be the best place to see dolphins as they are  dedicated to helping injured dolphins and learning more about them with a view to helping the species thrive.

Dry Tortugas

Ocean Drive, Miami Beach