I remember always someone that didn't talk about their Christmas, off to the side at work, someone that was silent, just went to work, did their job quietly. I never really understood their quiet. I do now, Christmas was hard this year, and as I go to write it here the phone always jumps to Chris as it's the phone's first guess at what I'm trying to write. Maybe is a good thing, but really doesn't feel like it right now.
We went to Key West for Christmas Eve, I had planned to go Christmas day, but thinking ahead the thought of driving there and back same day didn't excite me, so I booked a Airbnb for the night close to where I thought we would be able to walk about easily. We were both excited to go.
The drive was nice, road was busy, but we were in no hurry, so pulled over every once in awhile, checking out a shop here, a beach there, and finally stopped for lunch off the beaten path, through a gate that was knocked down, reminded me of the pit at home, where the young went to party. We saw remnants of fires, and the tracks of someone doing donuts in the sand. Nobody here, and ocean water in the pools close to the gravel/coral surface here. Perfect place for lunch.
Polly got the cooler and made a few sandwiches, we had a few non alcoholic beers there too. The wind was cool, but the Sun was warm as we sat inside looking out at the beautiful water here.
Lunch was good, we packed up and off we went for our last 1/2 hour to Key West. It was busy getting into town, but the GPS on my phone helped find the place easily. After calling Dave, we got all our stuff up the stairs, then checked out our room, was nice, nothing fancy, but nice. Had a balcony that we could sit on later which we like to do.
We laid on the bed for a little while, Polly got the TV working right away as I parked the truck. Was nice to be here, away, even if was still Florida, and cool out, we were away. After a bit we went for a walk, Polly had no jacket so we had a mission, didn't take long she found just what she wanted across the street.
After a short stroll we came back to the room, and watched TV for awhile, just numbing our mind's. Polly had bought a bottle of wine 🍷 the day before, a big bottle, and was about 2/3rds left, so we took this and our glasses Polly had packed to the porch and joined another couple that were out there from Kansas City, trying to get the football 🏈 game on their laptop. Kansas was playing the Seahawks, we said Seahawks, that's the team we are fans of! Well they informed us Seahawks were loosing. 😳
Oh well, looking like no playoffs for them. After awhile Dave the guy that showed us in came out, we all talked, then after awhile I was topping up Polly's wine, and talking with Dave as Polly talked with the couple. Was an interesting time, Dave was well read, and knew so much about history, we talked it up for a few hours. Polly was also having a good yak up with the couple.
Finally the wine ran out, and we decided to go back to our room. Was a nice way to spend a couple hours. We sat in the room and warmed up a bit before dinner, watching TV, then as my stomach rumbling started I said wanna go to dinner, Polly was almost going to sleep, but up she got, and off we went to a Cuban restaurant that Dave had recommended.
On the way there Polly was cold, the wind was not our friend this Christmas Eve, and Polly let me know. Brr she said, as we walked. The restaurant was packed when we got there, but we were asked how many, and after a couple minutes we were seated and given menus. Surprised we were, our drinks ordered and food orders taken in 5-10 minutes, great! The noise of so many people was joyess, was nice to be where so many were so happy 😊😀
I ordered another glass 🍷 of wine, Polly says ice tea, no more wine, LoL. We talked, and watched people, just really enjoyed our time here. Then food arrived, that was great, and really good food, something different. Yellow rice, they called it, looking orange to me, really good, and beans in a different dish, small dark brown, I had grooper, Polly had chicken & shrimp, Mmm 😋 good. The topper was plantiene, neither of us ever had this before, and it was Mmm 😋 good.
After dinner we sat awhile, the waiter brought to-go box and a bag to pack it in. The bill was less than I thought, and the service great, and food fantastic, made for a very nice evening. The cleanup guy found my keys for me, and Polly's phone for her, that deserved and extra tip. All in all was a very good experience.
Polly is up now, sitting next to me playing her game on her phone, grr, ahhh, all the frustration she gets playing, I'm laughing. LoL lol. 😂🤣😅
We walked home, looking at the different decorations as we went, some very different than anything we saw before. Was a nice walk for me, still Cold for Polly.
Angels horn of Peace on the rooftop
Was a very good evening, home to our room we went, and sleep was good, bed was hard.
In the morning I woke early as per usual, coffee ☕ was available,
I made a cup at 5am, sat and looked at my phone till Polly wake at 6. We talked, I got a coffee ☕ for here & another ☕ for me. TV on now. At 7 I went for a walk about, I love this time, streets are bare, only a very few out this early on Christmas day, some were the hard done by, some I saw later we the exercise type, but mostly nobody.
As I walk I like photos, so much new to see here, different sight's. I walked along looking for the beach on the point of the key, but no beach, just fencing all along, a naval base here
and all closed off, even the state park has a huge fence up. I'm not used to this, as in Canada we do have more freedom when it comes to public lands, at least where I'm from, BC. I am noticing the changes coming there too though, more gates, and no trespassing signs. Always brothers me, reminds me of the song. "Sign Sign, Everywhere a Sign"
I walked for about an hour&1/2 was a good walk, took many photos, then on the way back I stopped in and got a couple chi tea lattes, and 2 chocolate croissants, and a couple fruit tarts. Polly was surprised, she says "didn't do good for the waistline, but was Christmas 😆"
After our breaky, we took a little time to walk about, but shopping was out for today, although all the stores were open by 9am, we decided to make our way home slowly, we checked out by 10, packed our foods to the truck, and we're heading home along the south shore where we discovered the best beaches are, long beaches, with parking all along. We now know where to go when we return.
from Cuba regularly.
On our trip home we stopped at Bahi Honda state Park, wanted to take a look around here, maybe get a campsite for the future, LoL, not likely, all booked on line, and only way to get one we were told was keep refreshing your screen till you get lucky and someone cancels. LoL, yea right, like that's what I'm going to do!
Was nice to see the place again, but wind got even stronger now, so we didn't really get to looking around too much, well come back again.
The rest of the way home was slow, and we liked it like that, always a few that want to go fast, so I let them by so they can catch up to the next guy and pester him.
Was a nice trip, will do again when warmer. Warmer is coming tomorrow, looking at the forecast I'm thinking AC going to be on again, I know now to enjoy the Cool for today, will be nice and warm tomorrow.
Getting back to what now? I think plans, that's what I remember from my last time I felt like this, make plans, set plans on the calendar, make some interesting possibilities for our future.
That we have done, and will continue to do as life can get you down, but it's up to you to pick yourself up and carry on, that's just the way it is, you gotta take care of you! That's life!
As Memere used to say "Life is Life."
I say let's get going, cause time doesn't slow for anyone.
😊😀😁 🤗❤️
