Winter escape in Sunshine State

Hi all!
As briefly mentioned already in the previous post, we flew to Florida to spend the last days of 2009.
We first picked up our car, a Sebring convertible which according to the rental agency is a "Mustang or similar". Well I said it also has 4 wheels, but the similarities end there. Anyway even though as most US made cars it was made 99% from cheap plastic, it was fun having a convertible for a change.

Then we headed exploring Florida (see the linked map for the rest...best view fullscreen, press F11)

If you are getting tired of reading our boring stories again, simply jump to the pictures:

USA - FLORIDA

P.S. Hold on, another map and other, even more amazing pictures from our Caribbean cruise will follow shortly (I love these vague relative terms).
And don't forget: there will also be challenging quizzes with real prizes to win!

The Everglades

Upon our return from the warm Caribbean, Florida welcomed us with literally freezing temperatures. This did not stop us from going on our planned airboat tour in the Everglades:

From USA - FLORIDA

To warm herself up, Emese gave a hug to Jack, the alligator:

From USA - FLORIDA

Miami Beach

We enjoyed Miami Beach a lot, spending some time
- cruising on Ocean Drive lined all way long with palm trees

From USA - FLORIDA

- admiring the view from our room:

From USA - FLORIDA

- and the most obvious: the beach:

From USA - FLORIDA

After a few days spent in Walt Disney World and Florida Keys, we returned to spend the New Year's Eve on South Beach, enjoying the great atmosphere and the fireworks:

From USA - FLORIDA

Key West

After the incredible ride on the overseas highway, we reached Key West, just in time to catch one of the most amazing sunsets we have seen:

From USA - FLORIDA

And to enjoy the so-called "Sunset celebration" that followed:

From USA - FLORIDA

The next day Gulliver took us to the Southernmost point of continental US (the second Southernmost point within a year after Sentosa) posing for a picture with his belly still full from all the Cuban food from the restaurant last night (see his belly sticking out under his shirt?)

From USA - FLORIDA

We continued the day with an adrenalin-packed, 2h jet-ski tour around Key West, experiencing both the smooth surface of the waters of the Golf of Mexico and the rough "Mother Atlantic".

From USA - FLORIDA

Overseas Highway

Driving to Key West on the Overseas Highway is an experience by itself, a lot more then just getting from A (Key Largo) to B (Key West).
On some occasions you feel like the road is taking you onto the ocean:

From USA - FLORIDA

the highway connecting hundreds of small islands like this one behind:

From USA - FLORIDA

...just to continue again floating above the waters:

From USA - FLORIDA

Gulliver in Walt Disney World

We have long been promising Gulliver to take him here, he was so anxious...
He met all of his friends, from Mickey and Minnie,

From USA - FLORIDA

to Pluto

From USA - FLORIDA

Donald.....

From USA - FLORIDA

and Goofy:

From USA - FLORIDA

But the highlight of the day was getting his picture taken with the "old man" holding Mickey's hand and with the Cinderella castle in the background:

From USA - FLORIDA

A few hours later at the same place we all enjoyed the fireworks:

From USA - FLORIDA

Downtown Miami

Exploring Downtown Miami was great... after we managed to park the car:

From USA - FLORIDA

We took the so-called "people mover" which was great not only because its free, but also because it offers the best views:

From USA - FLORIDA

From USA - FLORIDA

The mix of palm trees and skyscrapers reminded us of Singapore last year.

From USA - FLORIDA

A nearby neighborhood, Coral Gables seemed to us just like a place perfect for a little house to buy for spending the winter months:

From USA - FLORIDA

Unfortunately when we returned to Miami after our cruise 10 days later, the weather changed "a bit", actually we kinda' froze...

From USA - FLORIDA