Well, we just had the most wonderful weekend in Florida keys.

We went down there on Thursday evening and returned Sunday evening. We spent three nights at The Lime Tree Bay Resort in Layton, Long Key just south of Islamorada.

I've just spent almost an hour trying to upload photos but again I'm having a problem. A handful have uploaded but they don't really give you a good idea of what it was like. I'll keep trying though.

Friday we drove down to Key West. We headed for Duval St, which is probably the place that gets shown on all the news clips that you see from Key West. It's full of unusual and not so unusual shops. Some are very individual as are many of the bars, kiosks and restaurants dotted along the road. There are musicians sat on corners, hair braiders, people riding decorated bicycles, just so many things to see.

We took a trip on the Conch Tourist Train. (pronounced Konk) this taught us more about the area and gave us a good look around Key West. There's a large gay population in Key West and this added to the atmosphere.

Conch is the slug part of the big shells that you blow into. Conch is a delicacy here and conch fritters are very popular. ( not for me though...yuk, yuk, yuk!!)

We spent most of the afternoon wandering through the streets in blistering heat. Eventually we went back to the car just to sit and cool off while we waited for the sunset. Just after we turned on the air con, it started raining, Florida style that is!

Everyone comes to Mallory Square and watches the sunset in Key West. There are crowds of people and lots of street entertainers as well as food stalls etc. The rain came down as the crowds began to gather but it didn't deter anyone. The clouds cleared for a while and we saw the sunset from the pierside but it was a very cloudy one unfortunately.

Saturday - Happy Birthday Tony! - we spent the day at Bahia Honda State Park. There are the most beautiful beaches there... the kind you dream of in a tropical setting. Well, it took some courage but I was finally persuaded to snorkel. I saw a spiny lobster, loads of little fish but apparently I missed the four foot grouper that swam right below me -thank goodness! Along the side of the beach were a couple of large covered seating areas that you can rent for parties and gatherings. We were invited to lunch there with a group of people who were barbequing. We eventually wandered over and were given hot dogs, burgers, salads and cold drinks. It was a church group and we were a bit apprehensive as we sat down but we were welcomed and not once did anyone talk to us about religion. One of the church members was baptised in the sea whilst we ate burgers and watched them from the benches. So, there is such a thing as a free lunch! Beautiful day.

Saturday evening we ate at a restaurant called Little Italy which was right next door to the hotel. We got chatting to the waiter, Daniel, and told him we were thinking about trying to see some dolphins while we were in the Keys. He just happens to work at The Dolphin Research Centre and told us all about the work going on there to help the Dolphins. It was also the site where 'Flipper' was filmed and some of 'Flippers' grandchildren are at the centre.

So on Sunday, we took a drive ten miles down the road to the centre. You can have general admission to walk and wander around for as long as you like, or you can upgrade to various packages including playing or painting with a dolphin, meet a dolphin or if you have lots of money, swim with the dolphins. We decided it would be nice (and not too expensive) to meet with a dolphin. Daniel saw us and he took us to a pontoon where we had a private meet with Talon, grandson of Flipper. That was wonderful, just wonderful. The dolphins do perform shows but they are kept in large pens which if they wanted to (and occasionally do) can break through the enclosures and get into the open sea. Those that do always go back. It was very different from going to a general dolphin show which is so commercialised.

Sunday afternoon, we took a slow drive back up through the Keys and eventually found ourselves at John Pennekamp State Park Key Largo. We spent an hour or so there at a small beach and Tony snorkelled around the remains of an old shipwreck.

From there, we wandered back up through the Keys, past Miami and headed home. We were both exhausted from what can only be described as a wonderful weekend. I can't wait to go back ;)

Love d x