From the lie to MM 0 and the weather

Well-rested (haha, at least not for at least 2.5 years), showered, had breakfast and packed, we drove by car to the most photographed attraction of Key West - the 'Southernmost Point of the USA' = MM 0. We couldn't miss that. So off we went, walked around 3 corners and made a long face. The most famous buoy in the USA stands lonely and abandoned on a small corner on a sidewalk and there was already a queue at 10 o'clock in the morning to get a photo with the shapeless thing. Marius already asked if I really wanted a photo... OF COURSE!!! If not now, when then?? So we lined up, kept Frederik entertained, negotiated with the family in front of us to take photos of each other, smiled nicely, and that was it. Shortly after that, another head-shaker about this fabulous buoy: It's not the southernmost point of the USA (of course, from the mainland perspective without Hawaii)!!! The southernmost point is just around the corner on a military base. Of course, nobody is allowed there. But not everyone knows that, they just take photos, like us, of the buoy with stripes.

Well, still a nice memory :)

Into the car and onto Highway 1 heading north - all the islands back in reverse order until our two-night stop in KEY LARGO - almost back to the mainland. It felt strange to leave something behind that we liked so much, that we hadn't seen and experienced enough of, and yet knowing that it's highly unlikely that we will ever visit there again. I was a little sad....

The drive continued this time with a lot of wind and even more rain. We had been lucky so far. The forecast predicted at least 80% chance of rain every day, but except for cloudy skies, there was nothing. But now on our onward journey, good weather and sunshine were supposed to be our companions... well, that was far from the truth. The bad weather continued until the afternoon.

Only one wasn't bothered by that:

Then we ventured out into the now even more humid climate. There was only one solution - go to the water!

First, we inspected the small access to the sea. Other hotel guests told us that manatees often appear there and like to lay in the shallow water, and one can admire them very well. Then Frederik spotted the canoes and couldn't be distracted with kind words or diversion tactics.

But he quickly forgot his annoyance when we made exciting discoveries by the pool: six iguanas strolled leisurely across the lawn and upon closer inspection, there were a few more colleagues sitting in the banana palms around. Exciting and a little eerie.

Still, we splashed in the water until it was time for dinner.

On the way to the car, Frederik once again got in contact with other people, this time an older Austrian couple (Edda and Eric from Vienna), who have been flying and driving around the USA for 7 weeks. We started talking and because it was so nice, we went to dinner together. Frederik loved it and ate so much in new company that we thought he would fall asleep any moment. But no, back at the hotel, he nibbled on an apple and drank his milk. For that, he slept quite well ;) and so did we :)