The Keys: America's Tropics 🏝 🇺🇸

Following is a guest post:

For about 15 years, I have been planning my vacations and trips independently, never interested in the States, much to the dismay of others. Then, it took a WhatsApp voice message and the flight was booked. The main thing is being on the go. Out of the first twelve weeks of the year, I spent 5 weeks in the sun. Can't do worse. Flo is doing even better. Now Flo had Lippe to deal with, as Flo's mom put it.

After both of us failed to fully understand the big hype about Miami, we decided to explore Florida.

Checked out hostels, decided to tackle the massive leak in our travel budget only in Germany, and booked the cheapest rental car. To get the biggest car in the garage. It's called Ford F150. It's called Nice Free Upgrade. We don't know why. And as soon as we see the car day after day, we burst out laughing. The car is incredibly huge and usually costs three times as much. Driving it? Fun! The perceived savings calm our conscience, even though there is no actual savings. We'll check it ourselves.

Day 1:

Stopped and stayed overnight in Key Largo. Really good accommodation with a beachfront location, with kayaks, spare ribs, burgers, and beers. Good mood is guaranteed under a palm tree.

Day 2:

180 kilometers across 43 islands and 42 bridges to Key West. With a stopover on Ismaraldo Key. This unfortunately private beach is probably where the term 'paradise' was invented, other travelers found it too man-made. And we also saw the 7-Miles Bridge. Flo thinks he saw dolphins... Key West is home to the southernmost point of the USA, 225 kilometers from Cuba. Tourist lines form for a photo at the corresponding platform (concrete buoy). Not my way.

Otherwise, there is a Caribbean flair with white sand, palm trees, and turquoise sea on all Keys. Chick! Mallory Square offers the most beautiful sunset in the States. Everyone told us, everyone recommended it. We missed it... new acquaintances at the hostel and familiar sympathies for Cuban liquor. At some point, we went to a city club. Day 3 started with the question of who is now responsible for steering our ship. Island 4 was waiting. At Bahia Honda Key, the state park invited us to linger.

Conclusion: sunny island hopping, cool beaches! And just the drives over the open sea are worth it.