Returning to Florida didn't put my Florida-love behind me, but it did put it into perspective and made me see that a lot of it is about escape and the difference between that tropical place and where I live. I could actually sum it up in just two words: palm trees. But beyond that, there are many other things about Florida that I could share. In places it's not the most elegant (although Naples is beautiful), it can be rough around the edges and it was packed with people at weekends. BUT...this is what it did have:
Warmth that makes your bones feel good. Clear, crazy-warm water of the Gulf. Hibiscus flowers. Tiny lizards that scurry across your path. A lot of shrimp to eat. Not to mention fish tacos. Glorious pink-tinged sunsets. Cold, cold beer. 'Publix' supermarket which sold more types of breakfast cereal than I could even imagine. I am sure if an American came to 'Waitrose' here they'd get the same vibe; there is something about travel that gives a glimpse to how other people live and it's an interesting glimpse.
That humidity every time you step out of a building from the air-con inside. Dolphins - yes, we saw them just frolicking in the bay and off the beach. This does not happen here. Shells of every kind and even better, trashy shell shops that sell white-as-white sand dollars (there is probably some environmental disaster associated with the removal of sand dollars but for now, just humour me; they are so pretty). All the ones we found in the sea we put back undisturbed.
But the palm trees - I heart them. I can't describe it, there is something about palm trees that are so different to trees in England. They represent lushness.
It was a happy holiday, spent doing new stuff with old friends.
Still love Florida...
...because it has palm tress and flags...
...because every day, despite the thunderstorms, there is a fresh beach...
...because it looks like God lives in the clouds there...
...because municipal things are adorned with palm trees (or dolphins)...
...because the water is turquoise and the sand is white...
...because there are picture-perfect houses like this; white and mint...
...because there are crab shacks that serve cold beers, where you legs stick to the chair but you don't care...
...because you can wear a palm tree sarong and feel right at home...
...because 'Nigel Pelican' from Nemo is around...
...because on my morning run at 8.00am there are beach-goers with rainbow umbrellas...
...because it feels like it's miles from anywhere that is in rural Sussex, England...
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