Barley passed 4 am on a freezing morning of December; outside is still dark, but a pale light of the moon shine lets you glimpse that the ice has covered the cars parked outside. But today is the grand day; finally I’m leaving for the states. I have only a few hours sleep on my shoulders, the emotion of leaving is so strong that the tiredness isn’t felt. Still present in my mind the memories of last summer, when for a few problems I had to cancel my trip to the south east of the states the day before departure. These passed months were like living in a limbo, waiting if something unexpected would come up, but today everything must go straight. After almost ten years returning to Florida, the ill-treated land already at that time (my first trip with my actual mate) left me unforgettable memories. It doesn’t have the glamour of California, don’t have the views of south west, not even the lights of New York, but has the sun… thing strongly felt in this cold, stiff preannounce worst then usual winters. A couple of weeks with a very simple tour projected quickly.
Our first directions straight to Key Largo, where we will pass our first night; to continue towards Key West were to relax for a few days. Next stop Miami, where I alternate a lot of sun and beach with some visits to the city. Then change versant, towards the golf of Mexico, to Naples. As usual when your start planning the tours your craving to see all, but this has to be a relaxing trip to get enough sun to last till next spring. I finally close my suitcase and with my mate leave towards the airport of Bologna. The darkness is still present; we will only see the sun rise during our flight to Paris, directed towards Miami. I’ve never left during the winter for hot climate and the idea keeps me upside down. The temperature out is about -5, but within a few hours we should find (at least I hope) around 25 grades. How too dress not to freeze at Bologna and Paris and not seam an Eskimo at Miami? I think the best is dress sportive with a feather lining jacket to put in your suitcase when arriving to Miami.
During the trip to Bologna my mind travels asking if we forgot something at home? Or will we find good weather? But the darkness and sleepiness leave these questions during your run true the highway towards the airport. Finally we arrive. I start waking and alert I have entered at the check in and can say “my vacation has started “. And like every other time I like to dream trying to understand what moves so many people towards the most desperate itineraries. The airport of Paris makes me amplify this thought: flood tide of people of the most different features moving from gate to gate like a designed project. Are they going on vacation, or simply to work or maybe going to visit far away relatives? Thousands of faces crossing my eyes and never be seen again. Life is very strange at times, it makes you meet or travel shoulder to shoulder with people with different lives, origins, thoughts so different, but for now are all together. The flight to Paris goes straight, leaving to my eyes a nice view of the light fog opening to the point of the Tour Eiffel with a thin veil over the metropolis that is just awaking. Very stimulating! It’s a pity that the increased restriction for the security has made so that you must stay on endless lines for your passport controlled. Imagine hundred of people waving their passports to the air, tightly pressed in long hallways of the Charles de Gaulle.
It’s easy, for many to risk to loss their flight. But with a little calm we all manage to reach the Airbus and with a pleasant and quick (less then nine hours) flight we are on the coast of Florida. My mind goes back to the terrible meteorological events of last year on the Golf of Mexico. And ask myself if the American efficiency has fix up grand part of the things destroyed. Well now we are here, let’s just think of enjoying our stay. Almost forty gates to the passport control full of passenger from all over; the funniest thing to see is that who was wearing quilted jackets before is busy trying to place it in the suite cases, remaining in jeans and short sleeves shirts. In that exact moment you understand that its reality “the escape from the big cold has finished”. After an hour and a half still on line for the costumes control “please pass by the scanner, right and left “, pass for the webcam picture and finally the entrance for visa. The procedure of costumes control is much longer now with the scheduling passengers one by one for security. It’s probably a sensation of mine, but even after ten trips to the USA every time I wait for my visa stamped I hold my breath. Every time afraid that their may be some thing wrong or not regular and then can finally start breathing again... Well lets go, were already late and must drive at least for two hours towards Key Largo and the sun is already setting.
As soon as the doors of the airport open you find yourself in the usual American chaos. Taxies calling private buses, rented shutters. Without any problem we find our transport straight to Alamo. During the transport we were stunned by the hectic traffic of Miami; never seen so much traffic jam all at once in a city of America. But at the same time I’ve never seen so many gardeners actively working on palms and bushes. The driver explains a few days ago there was a shower flood, fortunately not the level of a hurricane. My mind flew directly to the desire of sun and beach; if it starts raining where finished. Fortunately we had very limpid weather for the whole vacation and the tempter went from 18 at night to 30 grades the day. Really fortunate, but deserved it after what we went threw last summer. At Alamo a full line of people on line waiting for a car; I understand that I must jump my first sunset on the sea shore of Key West. My normal reservation for a compact car quickly turns for a small flaming convertible Chrysler. Saving on other from your budget, but enjoy (during the winter) a cabriole on the streets of Florida. You can not imagine what it’s like crossing the Florida Keys bridges with the sun in your face and the wind in your hair. It is a vacation in the vacation. Finally our vacation begins; direction Keys in our cabriole with the sun designing in the sky fantastic tones of red and blue. America is spectacular. |
