Florida Keys - Bahia Honda State Park, Florida

To escape from Miami, with the evening traffic is never easy. The sun, barley over the horizon, creates beautiful tones of red in the sky already colored of blue cobalt. But after around a little more then ten miles, I find myself in a complete new scenario. To reach Florida Keys you must cross the east section of the Everglades Park, what is left of the swampy part of Florida. To tell the truth I’m not a grand impassioned of reptiles or similar, so I’ve never visited this natural area. But passing threw it around the sunset time, is alarming and stimulating at the same time. Alarming because while you’re leaving Miami the concentration of traffic on a one road street is impressing surrounded of swamps and ponds; stimulating because during your traveling on the road every mile you see signs advising to be careful because it possible to met alligators crossing. In that moment I don’t want to think of having a flat tier to change! Over all it is stimulating, while you’re driving the colors in the sky fade away slowly reflecting in the swamp light effects never seen. It would have been nice to take pictures, but not recommended especially because there are not stopping points. The existence of view that can’t be immortal, you must only enjoy them traveling.

In the mean time the night, even if only seven pm, has been taken over by the sunset. I don’t know if it happens to others, when I arrive in a small town with the sun already set and find all the hotel, restaurants with all the neon signs lit, I don’t get a great feeling with the place. It’s like that with Key Largo. Not much significant, built from a main artery that completely crosses threw. I’m sure that arriving at night after a flight crossing over ocean make thing a little bitter. Fortunately we have an excellent hotel waiting for us, with rooms that are like apartments. The tiredness has arrived but not ready to end this day. I leave my mate at the hotel room and go for an exploration outside around the hotel. As soon as you leave your suitcases in the room and realize you have a roof  you can count on, things start taking an other form and color even if dark outside. The dreary neon you saw before suddenly becomes more inviting. The smile comes back on your face and is really time to get to bed; tomorrow will be waiting for us, this day should be one of the most suggestive of America.

That morning we wake up early, curious and full of fear to know if the sun is shining or not. I open the door and the sun is hot, it takes me back six months, the tempter is mild like June. Going out in shorts seems strange, but as soon as I cross other guest of the hotel I realize its time to live the reality of Florida: sun, entertainment and beach. Pack our luggage, but not before have taken a tour of the classical American super markets, to orient yourself (remember where only at Key Largo) you need a map. And now we leave towards Key West. To be honest the first island of Florida keys don’t offer much as views, only houses, and motels along the street boarder; still visible the effects of the last hurricanes that hit the golf zone. Lot of palm trees inclined and bulldozers every wear, gathering leafy branches and plants already dead. Even though wounds of the climate are still recent it’s impersonating the organization of the local authority. Obviously truism is their bread, there are more gardeners working then residents. The areas I saw still suffering of the hurricane while passing, during my return back looked already like new; just like being on a move set were the scenery change by turning over. My Complements!

One step back, I had promised myself for the morning to go visit a sea park, considered very nice, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, but the desire to leave Key Largo and arrive to our destination Key West was very strong. It’s a pity, because I read that Key Largo is the principal port for boat excursions towards the Coralline Barrier reef (the only one in all North America) the apex of the area is Dry Tortugas. The view of all Key Largo the near Tavernier is a bit boring if it isn’t for the site of the sea every so often. But when you arrive to Islamorada the scenery changes, the houses get less frequent to leave space for the first long bridges that seam to end up in the ocean. Around us there is an alternating of country houses with private piers and palm trees, constantly moved by the Caribbean breeze. Traveling with a convertible is really great; slowly while the sun raises the tempters raises, always remaining dry and pleasant. Thinking that hours before we where battling with rain mixed snow at the Bologna airport, this seam like in a dream. Its impressing the effect of the sun how relaxing and pleasant it is in full winter, only a few hours in Florida and it seams your there from always.

The street slips away calmly with the view of the sea on both sides, at the point that the waves break very close to the street board. The Upper and Lower Matecumbe Key, sign the spectacular beginning of the (real) Florida Keys, a sea paradise with succeeding bridges closely to the sea, palms that hug the coast, seagulls that fly in the sky.  You should stop every land by to immortalize the incanting view of this street, the Route One East. By the side of this street their runs an old bridge, practically UN used, although permits to see the effort of those who challenge the golf ocean, to connect the islands of Florida. To arrive in the area of Marathon, the soul of Florida Keys means the vision of at least ten small islands in the bay, all with curious names like Conch Keys, Duck Key, Grassy Key, and Boot key, Crawl Key, Pigeon Key and the longest Long Key. From this last one you enjoy the view on the bridge that seams to dive in the emptiness. Even if the most famous and charming one is the “seven miles bridge” that leaving from Vaca Key arriving to Bahia Honda Key, one of the most beautiful islands of all.