The flowers here are gorgeous. The entire island is covered in blooms. Not all of them are scented beauties. Still, we have stumbled across some gems. Our temporary housing is owned by a master gardener. I was thrilled to wake up and find creamy, sweet oleander blossoming next to our front door, the scent growing stronger as the sun rose. And then on an evening walk, I discovered a plumeria tree down the road from us. It is the most gorgeous scent ever created. The fallen blossoms on the ground were collected and I kept them on the kitchen counter until they expired.
Another thing to love: Cuban coffee. It's strong. Sweet. Cheap. It's not sophisticated but there's something perfect about it, white styrofoam cup and all. It's also available nearby, just a short walk from our back door.
Fashion-wise, it's a huge change. One must adapt quickly or drown in a pool of their own sweat. Sundresses, caftans, shorts, I'm in warm weather heaven. Many people here wear jeans without one drop of sweat on their foreheads. I attempted to and within half an hour it felt like I had thrown on jeans straight out of the washing machine. Eric wears jeans and seems okay.
Presently, the weather is quite nice. There's something about warm, humid evenings that just make us feel so happy. It's peaceful, especially sitting next to the water while the breezes blow. When a winter cold front blows through, you can easily be outdoors and enjoy low 70s and cool breezes. We've been warned the summer is absolutely brutal here, though. The sun is as intense here yearend, as it was in Estes. That surprised me. We are both various shades of brown because of it. However, I am endeavoring to stay in sunscreen whenever possible.
The ocean is lovely. I know, I know. That's an easy one. But it's quite true. We can't wait to be certified to dive. Snorkeling is on the list as well. The tropical fish we've seen in the canals is amazing.
Every meal we have tried has been delicious. Most of the restaurants here are gourmet feasts. We still have yet to try local fish. We're pretty certain we'll like it. Key Lime pie is so good, it is one of the few foods I can honestly admit to wanting to eat every single day. The fresh citrus is divine, and easily found at the grocers. Granted, I was shocked to see California clementines nestled next to Florida grapefruit in the grocery citrus stand. Irony? Sacrilege? Humorous? I have no idea. The grapefruit made it home, the clementines did not.
The friendliness we've encountered here beats the Midwest. People here say hello, wave, and embrace you in warm hugs and kind words. Eric's coworker had us over for steak dinner and then, since he and his wife had found out it was my birthday, they baked me a cake, and sang me "Happy Birthday." We left with arms full of leftover cake and steak, and sea treasures they had given us.
We saw our first manatee last weekend. They already hold a special place in my heart. They are gentle creatures, and do indeed remind you of cows.
The most hilarious prize goes to the chickens. It is definitely like some faraway island. Chickens run free all over the place. They are quite chatty and make nice neighbors, except for when they poop on your front step.
And finally, there is a Home Depot, TWO Walgreens, TWO grocery stores, and an outlet store. If you have ever lived in a small town with limited access to anything, you will understand our celebration. I have to remind myself I can just take a quick drive to Walgreens for toothpaste.
In case you thought we lived in a magical world, time for some less than favorite things.
Bugs are not only everywhere, they are ninjas. The no-see-ums are literally impossible to see. Their bite leaves a welt that itches for days. There isn't a cream or oral histamine that relieves the itching and pain. It also takes several weeks for the bites to heal. Don't forget there are mosquitos and cockroaches. Locals tell us they stop biting you after you live here long enough. (They must not be kidding us. We here that from everyone.) In the meantime, use bug spray.
The one thing I am repulsed by are iguanas. They are ugly, their feces carry salmonella, and they eat every flowering and fruiting plant here. They are everywhere, too. Surprisingly, they are not native to the Keys. Like any insidious, invasive pest they have taken over the islands. They reproduce faster than mice. Eliminating them appears to be futile.
The jellyfish float down our canal in hordes. So far we haven't been stung by them. While they are interesting to watch, they only reinforce my fears of being stung when I walk on seagrass beds out in the flats.
Perhaps the hardest concept to grasp is that it is always warm here. I still think, wow, it's warm outdoors, when I step out in the morning. The evening winter breezes are cool and I do find myself wanting a light shirt or jacket. It's hard to wear long sleeves outdoors during the day. I was wearing light jackets on my walks that to avoid sun exposure. But it made me sweat too much and I was experiencing some mild dehydration.
This is just some scattered, random things noted. Nothing fancy, no stories to be told yet. Writing takes time, and there hasn't been as much of that due to all the unpacking, moving, and working. Not only that, I have not been entirely disciplined about it either.
