Christmas in the Keys

Currently overnight in Naples, FL
Headed to Siesta Key tomorrow!

We had so much fun in the Keys I did not have time to update this blog.  Forgive me!
So, here goes a long one.

First, here is what greeted us in Marathon.

There is still a lot of clean up going on in the Keys.  Much of the tourist sites have been cleaned up, but houses and some businesses are still being restored.

Cate and Brian were able to join us for the holiday.  Johnny and I slept on an air mattress on the pull out couch and Cate and Brian had the back room.  It was cozy, but we made it work!  They were real troopers.

Once we had a late lunch, we took a sunset cruise.  It was a beautiful evening.

The next day we headed to Key West for a guided kayak tour of the mangroves.

The ladies relaxed while the guys did most of the paddling.

Even the old folks were having fun!

















Our guide pointed out all of the plants and animals native to this area.  We paddled by Jimmy Buffet's old house, too!



The mangroves are plants that create little canals in the water.  There are so many small canals that it is easy to get lost.  The mangroves were used by pirates to hide from the British, as well as by gangsters during prohibition to hide contraband.

We saw these old nuclear towers that were used to hold missiles when the US was defending itself against Cuba.  The missiles were removed years ago.

We saw this pelican perched on this post.  It reminded me of my dad's favorite comment about these birds - "his bill can hold more than his belly can!"

We headed into Key West for a tourist visit.  The weather was beautiful so we were able to walk to the Southern Most Point.

We had a drink at Sloppy Joe's (Ernest Hemmingway's old hangout).

Then it was on to Mallory Square to watch the sunset.  This place is something else!  Lots of street performers before the sunset.

Man jumps over trash can

Bongo drum player

Mermaid playing ukelele

Sword swallower

Finally, the sunset!!

After Mass on Christmas Day, we opened gifts.  Here is Christmas Dinner in the Keys!

Cate and Brian left mid afternoon and Johnny and I returned to San Pablo Catholic Church Christmas evening to walk through the prayer garden.  It was full of Christmas lights and had carols playing in the background.  There were several statues of saints, a small lake, and an area to say the rosary along a pathway. Stations of the cross and and area to honor the gospels were also along this path.   Pictures cannot convey how beautiful the prayer garden is, especially when decorated for Christmas.  

I loved the grotto made of shells.

Then we made it back home to our RV - all decorated for the holidays.

While we were in Marathon, we were able to visit with our friends the Hofmeyers who were in Florida for the holidays.  They came to the RV for a visit before they treated us to a wonderful dinner at John's bother's condo in Islamarada.

We had a terrific time in the Keys.  Good-bye Marathon!