Key West

There's three things to do in Key West - watersports, shopping, and be entertained, so we did all three. We went parasailing which was excellent, we were suspended above the sea on a 500' line. It wasn't at all scary even when they slowed down to dip us in the water, but when you are 500' up that rope looks very fragile!

We also went snorkelling 6 miles off the coast:

The best thing about Key West partying is the Mallory Square sunset, where crowds of people congregate to watch
the sun go down while being entertained by various street performers - it's a very festival like atmosphere and we loved it.

The sunrise is almost as spectacular  and a lot quieter

Swimming with dolphins is something I've wanted to do ever since I saw it on Jim'll fix it when I was - well, when I was younger :-) It was fabulous. The Dolphins are kept in natural sea water rather than in a sterile environment. They are separated from the sea by a wire mesh which keeps them in their "houses" as they were called, while allowing other fish to swim in and out. Apparently there are lobsters in there too which the dolphins love to play with; luckily the houses are deep enough that humans aren't likely to come into contact with them - phew! We were with another couple and shared two dolphins, Cosmo and Julian. The other couple went first and Julian was being naughty and wasn't really interested in playing so they had to do all the activities with Cosmo. By the time it was our turn Julian had decided to join in so we were lucky enough to interact with a dolphin each. After stroking the dolphins from the side of the pool we could get into the water with them, and the first thing they did  was to go and find us a present. Zane got a big bit of weed from Cosmo
but all I was brought was a tiny little leaf stalk - apparently Julian doesn't like putting things in his mouth!
It didn't matter though, I was already smitten, and I brough my leaf stalk home with me - not many people have a present
given to them by a dolphin! Zane rather ungratefully left his seaweed behind.

It was time to head off to Key Largo and our final destination. We had a Dolphin swim planned so I was pretty excited, although it also meant the end of our holiday was drawing near. Nowhere has an atmosphere quite like Key West, but Key Largo is just as beautiful. Zane asked me what I'd give up to be able to go and live there. I said "Work"!

Finally it was our last night. We sat on the beach and watched the sunset with a bottle of wine, and for the second
time that holiday I cried my eyes out - we'd had such a lovely time and I just didn't want to go home. It was the best holiday either of us have  ever had and we've got so many fantastic memories...but then we've got the rest of our lives together to look forward to, so it's not so bad after all!

It’s very tiring watching all these sunsets!