Part VIIII It's the final countdown, going home

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Checked in to my final room close to Miami airport. There's a free airport shuttle and I have to return the car a day before my flight so they can pick me up and drop me off again the day after. The room was great. I heard planes flying over (just like I did in Orlando) but none during the night. And the fridge and A/C were noisy. But hardly used the A/C and turned off the fridge at night like on most nights during my trip. I didn't do all that much here. Chill, repack, went to a mall, finished my final book, took a bath.

Part VIII Meeting family & friends

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Went back to a daily routine, mornings at the pool! Finished my 3rd book today and went back down to the room around noon and from outside the door of the room I could see the car in the parking spot below. I then saw that the crack had become twice the size/lenght overnight. And so I decided to file the damage report before leaving the hotel and send an email to my creditcard company to check if I was indeed insured for part of the costs and if so, to send me the form so I could fill it in when I get home right away. Picked up my cousin after that, gave her a big hug and took her back to my hotel to chill and catch up at the rooftop pool together for a bit with some snacks and beers we got at the seven eleven before getting to the hotel. We then went to a Goodwill store to drop off my Dutch books, but she then told me she wanted to keep them in case she learns Dutch at some point. I told her to just keep the 2nd one because I didn't like the last one too much. Handed in the 3rd book and we walked around the store for a bit before meeting my uncle for dinner at a Sushi boat place. I'd never seen that before, just the 'sushi trains' on conveyor belts. It was fun! Also fun to catch up with my uncle for a bit. 

Part VII From the best day to the worst day? Nah!

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Packed up all my stuff again and checked out! The reason I was here was for the J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife refuge.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. 

After yesterday, I kind of had high hopes but also didn't know if it would top that! In the end it didn't. It was a nice drive and stopped a few times on the one way drive going through here. Saw a few cool birds again, but nothing like yesterday! I did see a manatee come up for air a few time (see video). And again, there was almost nobody else around. But again 3 out of the 4 walks/boardwalks were closed due to hurricane damages. But another peaceful area!

Part VI White beaches & Myakka River State Park

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Oh and click on the pictures to enlarge them and on the videos to play them :-)! They're worth it!

Next stop: Anna Maria island. One of my Lyft drivers in Orlando told me about this being one of the best beaches down here and even though I was a bit tipsy after the beer spa, I wrote it down. After checking my own notes from months ago when I looked into Florida and before I changed my mind a hundred times, it was in my notes as well. And so, next stop: Anna Maria island.

Part V Caladesi Island & Sunken Garden

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Today's program? Island visit!!! I'm glad I sorted out some stuff before getting here since so it only took little effort once I had kind of an idea of where to go to sort out the rest. Drove about 15 minutes to Honeymoon island to get the ferry to Caladesi island where I wanted to walk the nature trail. They told us about hurricanes and fire damages but I figured I'll go for it anyway. And I was the only idiot going. First sign I saw (and they also told us about it on the ferry) was Caution rattlesnakes. F*** me. Haha it would soon turn out that my worst enemy would be mosquitos though. And whatever else bit me on my head and also next to my elbow that made a pretty big bump appear haha. Going over my head with my hand felt like I had hit a branch or something which I was sure I did not or did I? Mosquitos was new as well, they usually don't bother me but since I was the only idiot walking down here in probably a long time and so they must have seen a buffet walking and all thought: ATTACK!! Haha also my flipflops gave me a blister. These cheap, a bit over sized flipsflops that give me a blister each time. Got them in Australia last year for a few bucks as an temporary solution. That's it. I need new ones!!! The rest of the walk was so so, I did see a beatiful white great egret in between some palmtrees. It looked like an angel and I wondered why it was there instead of near the water. Finished the walk and went after the beach, where I was fascinated by these birds that kept diving into the water. Sometimes they caught a little fish but mostly nothing. Read my book for a bit and took the ferry back.

Part IV Homosassa Springs, Dunedin & Little Greece

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My first stop and a close one was Homosassa springs. Another spot to look for manatees, swim, kayak, etc. but I only wanted to visit the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park for a nature walk. It was an easy walk and was called 'wildlife walk'. I soon learned that all the animals there were rescued. Most birds couldn't fly and/or walk but some were sitting in trees so not sure if they just flew down there or what was up with them. And then there were gators, bears, wolfs, etc. that had lost their fear for humans and/or were mistreated by humans and not able to return to the wild. They also held manatees, saw them up close this time. It was sad though, cause again, all of the manatees were injured in some way. The one I saw was hit by boat propellers and had a baby. Baby was unharmed but mom had visible scars. Boats often don't see the manatees and so it happens quite often apparently. It's why they started doing all these protected areas and starting november 15th a lot more is going into lock down so they can get away from people and tours. It's one of those, beautiful to see places and see the local animals but also sad why I was able to do so.

Part III On the road again!

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It's funny how familiar everything feels down here. Also one of the reasons I didn't mind not doing that much in Orlando. I still kind of feel like a local, and locals don't do touristy stuff right? Haha. 

Part II Daily routine in Orlando & Beer spa!

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Booked two nights close to the airport and extended it with 2 more once I was there. I am picking up my rental car on friday from the airport so easy peasy. Didn't do that much here, which was just what I needed. Breakfast was included so am taking a break from vasting cause, well, it's free haha. My daily routine, breakfast, pool and read. Then go for a swim once the sun is around the corner. Go back to the room in the afternoon for a bit, watch some of my all time favorites, Reba and Golden Girls :-). And then whatever I want. Go for a walk, go to the movies, go to International Drive, go to Walmart. Last two by Lyft or Uber. And out to dinner every night! Not used to eating a lot for dinner so I was full most nights and happy to go for a walk after! Oh and took a bath or two, or three if you include the beer spa!!! 

Part I Zero inspiration, zero motivation but on my way to Florida :-)

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Monday October 6th late at night is when I finally booked a ticket. Europe, Thailand, Florida? Zero inspiration, zero motivation. But I had to go, get away for a bit and distance myself completely from work and home. And so Europe was already pretty much out of the question but it was still in the back of my mind, visit my brother, go to Italy, Greece. But then I talked about Thailand and how I would always start and/or end my Asia trips there and I decided on Thailand, going up North and maybe visit a few islands in the Phillipines. And yet I'm on my way to Florida atm haha. Going back to what once felt like my 2nd home and recharge with the help of my good old friend, the Florida sun :-)!