Florida part one

12.23.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 26th May 2007

Now the wedding is over I thought I would report on the first part of our Florida adventure. For just under two weeks Victoria Marsom, Dave Radcliffe, Chris Leaman and I did a mini tour of south Florida.

Sadly I arrived quite ill, I got a chest infection before leaving the UK, which lasted all through the first week and most of the way through the second week. I was quite surprised Virgin let me fly and the US authorities let me in (though I left them fingerprints and and an iris scan!).

Chris and Colin on the boat at Fort Lauderdale

We started by going out east to Cape Canaveral and then on the Space Centre (views slightly spoilt by the smoke from the raging forest fires). A beach stop followed on our way south - Fort Lauderdale was our first major city - it was really nice with lots of very expensive homes on the canal-front - there was also an art gallery that was supposed to be shaped like a piece of pie - it was so not!

Miami was next, with a hotel room - up to now we had been camping! I liked Miami although we didn't see much, it came alive at night - as I was dying in the hotel room. After Miami we went far south down to Key West - again a nice place wasted on me - in Key West Dave and Chris ate dolphin - yes you read that right - I was suitable outraged.

See the Gator?

The Everglades came next, Chris got bit a lot by the mosquitoes but it was great to see this area of natural beauty, we had a guided tour and a bit of 'gator spotting.

Miranda and Colin at the Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Then on to Venice, taking in the Dali Gallery which was very impressive and then the Tampa Bay Devil Rays losing the ballgame to the Marlins.

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