While in Tampa we stopped at an amusement park run by a beer company. It was pretty much what you'd expect. Endless crowds and screaming mitigated only the availability of malt liquor. The animals were nice though. We spotted lots of birds and reptiles. Here are a few pictures.
From the highway, Key Largo looks like a cross between a truck stop and a strip mall. The bays and beautiful beaches are all hidden from view. We stopped here for the night and found a beautiful motel tucked away from the road behind a screen of palm trees and vegetation. While the pictures fail to capture the beauty of the place, this was truly one of the nicest spots we visited. We were able to sit out on the dock in the evening under the moonlight and stars, listening as the manatees breached the surface coming up for air. The next day we went out in a paddle boat but didn't spot the mammals. We saw loads of fish though.
Here is a close-up of our tiki hut. These things are everywhere.
We went for a late night swim in the hotel pool. I must admit that the palm trees looked very atmospheric and noire-ish in the moonlight.
The view from our hotel room in Key West.
A blurred shot taken from the car: the beginning of Highway 1.
An indigenous tree--name I can't remember--the roots are above ground.
A former bank built of imported brick.
An unfinished clapboard house in the old part of town.
A view of the bay from the bow. My trusty companion was enjoying a break from paddling.
A port view of the beach from the kayak.
The remains of the old railroad out to Key West, which was destroyed by hurricanes in the 1930's.
This picture was taken in the hotel pool area near the bar in Key West. We decided since we were on holidays to enjoy a beverage or two. The cuba libre nearly knocked me on my ass! This is truly one of the most relaxing places I have ever visited. 
Cockrels roam throughout Key West. Apparently, while in residence, Hemingway used to referee cock fights.
This snap was taken while driving through the heart of Key West. The city is built on coral, so there are no basements and the cemetery is above ground. It's just too hard to dig through.
A view of the Keys from our convertible. I believe this shot was taken on the 7 Mile Bridge, but I may be mistaken. The colour of the water is amazing.
By all accounts winter is the best time to visit the Everglades. In summer the humidity is too high and the mosquitoes are fierce. We stopped here only briefly, but we found it to be a beautiful and relaxing spot. The sawgrass prairies reminded me of home. As the pictures indicate, there was no shortage of wildlife in the park. The birds were amazing, but the alligators, once you got over the initial shock of seeing them up close, were quite boring. I would love to camp here.
