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VACATION IN PARADISE !!!!!!
June 30, 2002
We are here in the KEYS and it is pouring down
raining at the moment!!!!
I got connected and finally figured out to do the
AIM express....so I can talk! LOL
Food here is ridiculously priced....OMG a pot of
coffee this a.m. was $7.99!!!
DH and DD are gone now to find the KMART
(freelancer, Wendy, told me some great suggestions about Key West
before we left THANK GOODNESS!!!) to stock up on a
few supplies
the airport was a fiasco....in Orlando...the small
(and I mean small) plane that we took into Key West
DOOR BROKE so we had to wait until they fixed
it....the entire flight I just kept looking at that door and thinking
I sure hope the DUCT TAPE HOLDS!!! LOL
The water here is beautiful and the people are
nice. Kelly keeps saying how much she likes the accent
but ther are many accents she just likes them ALL!
:)
MANNERS of the waiters and workers here are
EXCELLENT
and I think that would be a nice thing to spread
around the country.....I just am not used to hearing so many "thank yous"
WOW!
In the airport in Orlando we met a few people that
were from our area in Richmond. That was incredible!
I just haven't met any freelancers yet....but who
knows? maybe I will run into one of you yet!
hugs to all
anjie
July 1, 2002
Hello EVERYONE!
greetings from "paradise" LOL
Just a note to fill you in on the "happenings"
here in the keys! I sent Marshall all of the "makings" for the
freelancebyu times so he will be putting together the deals and freebies and
news for ya in a bit. I just wanted to write a personal note and "keep" you
with me on vacation!
Key West is a Mini New Orleans to me....not at
all what I expected, but since I have never been here...everything is an
adventure. There is plenty to see and do....and partying in the streets.
It is cleaner and smaller but the "atmosphere" is very similar.
First of all there are not any real beaches here.
Lots of water with the gulf and the atlantic but not much sand.
Yesterday I jumped in the water at the SOUTHERN
MOST POINT of the 48 contingious states....cuz i just couldn't stand it any
longer...just had to do it! :)
They call Key West the Conch Republic and the
PINK CONCH is beautiful not to mention the "fritters" we had tonight are
wonderful, kind of like a cross between deviled crab and hush puppy.
The food is expensive but a good deal if you
compare how much it costs to have shipped to you. We went to the blond
giraffe for key lime pie (voted best on island) and oh man oh man....it is
SINFULLY good....cost here for an entire pie is $18....if you check their
website is $69.00 can you believe that????
Today we went SKI-DOING...rented right here at
the hotel. It was a blast, I think every family needs a ski-doo and wish I
could win one ....for use all of the time! We also bought snorkling gear
and decided to "practice" for our trip on Wed. and OMG I got "BURNED" by
some FIRE CORAL....it hurt terribly. at first they thought that I got
attacked by sealice but nope it is fire coral and feels like a chemical
burn. I took some benedryl and got some vinegar and some amonia and it is
clearing up nicely. What happened was I got in some shallow water behind
some coral and decided to GO THRU the "foliage" instead of around it and
that was a mistake! I am just very glad it was me instead of kelly. It
felt like I put my arm in a jar of about 1000 bees....I am ok...and a
valubale lesson was learned...OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For lunch today we had a "cuban mix" which is a
local sandwich with Pulled Pork and a "flat" sub roll...was absolutely
delicious. Of course the MIAMI VICE I had to drink wasn't bad either!!
We took a taxi tonight to a place called the
Rusty Anchor over on Stock Island which is another island only a mile away.
We had some great seafood....more of a "local" place to eat....I like to
follow my dad's directions for travel
WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO! LOL and this
is where they eat dinner and I have heard the LAUNDRY MAT is the best place
for lunch, can you believe that?
We haven't done that yet...but it is on the list!
Hemmingway House is here, we didn't go on the
tour but we did go by there and take a pic ...of the CATS on the porch!
Hopefully before we leave we will go in there and
the lighthouse too!
The sundown celebration is on the list for
tomorrow night...it is famous and everyone says not to miss that...so we
wont...rain or shine we plan to be there!
Well thats it for now! look for marshall's
rendition of the times in a bit!
hugs to all
more to come!
anjie
July 2, 2002
HEY EVERYONE!!!
today was an incredible day for us here in the
keys!
We stayed "chillin" (not exactly it was HOT) by the
pool having frozen drinks and snacks all day.....Kelly met two girls from New
York and one from GA...all her age...
We headed down to Mallory Square about dinner time
for the famous "sunset celebration" which was a lot of fun...more coco-coladas
and conch fritters....lots of photo ops....Unicyclists, the CAT MAN, man in
chains, musicians etc etc....was very unique and awesome ...we had a blast!
A cruise ship was docked close by so it was
crowded...but the scenery was incredible...sail boats and house boats
galore....all in the sunset.
After sundown we walked to Duvall St. (like a mini
bourbon street) and took Kelly and "georgia" (her name is alex...but we called
her georgia the entire time) to HARD ROCK CAFE...that was their choice of
dinner spots...we had the best waiter who (without prompting) pretended like
it was Kelly's bday and brought her a complimentary sundae and then yelled out
for everyone's attention and said it was her 21st bday (you know that is every
14 year olds dream) and then told them some haunted house stories from the
island. Now she wants the book he told her about. He said the TRAVEL CHANNEL
spent ALL of last week filming there (didn't find anything) but for her to
watch for it on cable.
Kelly just has that way about her...earlier a
trolley driver just randomly picked her to give her a coconut full of milk
too!
We took a taxi back to the hotel and met a guy from
RUSSIA..the taxi driver...ALL of our taxi drivers have been very awesome and
informative....telling us "lil" secrets about the island.
All for now from the Southern Most Point of the 48
contingious states......sending you hugs and smiles
tomorrow going on all day excursion w/ more
snorkeling...but this time I will stay away from the fire coral!
anjie
July 3, 2002
Helloooooooooooooooooooooo freelancers!
Wonderful today in Key West!
We got up at the crack of dawn and took the
YANKEE FREEDOM Boat to DRY TORTUGAS....which is another island that is home
to Fort Jackson. Almost the entire island is covered by a fort that was
built long ago on the island discovered by Ponce de Leon. This island used
to be name Las Tortugas (meaning TURTLES) because it is one of the largest
turtle beds there is. We saw some GIANT turtles in the CLEAR waters....man
it was awesome.
We went snorkling...but I was a little "gun shy"
or should I say "coral shy" LOL due to the run in w/ fire coral the other
day. It was fun and the ocean was like they say a "sheet of glass" it was
so smooth. I have never seen the ocean as calm as it was. The ride was 2
hours and they provided breakfast and lunch.....but the "goodies" on the way
back you had to pay for.
I was exhausted and fell asleep on the way back
and missed a GREAT TURTLE show I do understand they saw upwards of 200 of
them!
Kelly had her first "spook" of the ocean....she
was up close and personal w/ a large barracuda....she said she was never
going snorkling again! LOL but ya know what? She wasn't too scared to take a
Photo before she "ran"!!!! We also saw barracudas...but they were small and
they are definately NOT scared of you...they stare you down.
When I woke up from my nap...I had some wobbly
legs...and was disorientated...I put my shoes on BACKWARDS and tried to
"stumble" outside, tripping over our snorkle gear....it was very
comical....I promptly put my shoes on the correct feet and then ordered a
Miami Vice and enjoyed the ride.
In Key West they have a pick up and delivery
service they will do your driving for you....for just about anything...mail
your packages, pick them up, grocery shop, go to the drugstore...or pick up
your dinner....it is awesome ! There is $1.50 service charge and a $5.00
delivery charge and then you give them a tip....we took advantage of it
tonight because there is a restaurant that had been recommended to
us...local hot spot...but it has no air conditioner...and after a day on the
ocean we wanted AIR...so we did the delivery and got a FULL CUBAN
meal...delivered...complete with Plaintains, Black Beans and Yellow Rice as
sides to Pork MOJO, Shrimp Mojo, Oysters w/ avacado and cheese
etc...etc....we are stuffed and are calling it a night...
that is...if we can possibly drag Kelly from the
pool and her new friends!!!!!!
Happy Fourth !
Have a safe and fun Holiday...it is a very
special holiday this year....celebrate our Unity!
Hugs From Key West!
anjie @-->>--
July 4, 2002
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