Apr – May 2018

Florida

Mainly Disney, but I get a week first Read more

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Trip start
April 27, 2018
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- Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 8:20 PM
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- United States Christmas 28.53667, -81.0183328°32’12” N 81°1’6” W
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Christmas!
April 26, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Arrived in Florida finally, picked up the car and driving to the first hotel... but on the way it was Christmas!
Wanda Johns Santa. Really!!
4/28/18Reply
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- Day 1
- Friday, April 27, 2018 at 7:51 AM
- ☀️ 19 °C
- Altitude: 15 m
- United States April Estates Mobile Home Park 28.55, -80.8533328°33’0” N 80°51’12” W
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Motel and IHOP
April 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Spent the first night in a motel on the way towards the space coast.

Alex wanted to try IHOP for breakfast. It was tasty but way too much food for that time of morning.
Wanda Johns Still on 4 sausages then Hywel. Pancakes look amazing
4/28/18Reply
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- Day 1
- Friday, April 27, 2018 at 11:24 AM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 12 m
- United States Cow Pen Creek 28.67667, -80.7716728°40’36” N 80°46’18” W
Blackpoint Wildlife drive
April 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Went for a really nice hike, but being in America we did it from the comfort of our air conditioned car.

It was really pretty and we saw so many things, lots of cool birds, alligators, snake, lizards, and even a bobcat.Read more
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- Day 1
- Friday, April 27, 2018 at 11:53 AM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- United States Cow Pen Creek 28.675, -80.7666728°40’30” N 80°46’0” W
Blackpoint Wildlife drive 2
April 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
More pictures of animals...
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- Day 1
- Friday, April 27, 2018 at 12:41 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 11 m
- United States Haulover Canal 28.73667, -80.75528°44’12” N 80°45’18” W
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Manatee viewing
April 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
On to the next animal we were hoping to see today, Manatees.

We were worried there may not be many here due to the time of year, but they were here. Sea cows doing pretty much nothing, where breathing every couple of minutes sound like too much effort. Then splashing around with each other. Was really good getting to see them.Read more
Wanda Johns These are ugly but beautiful too
4/28/18Reply
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- Day 1
- Friday, April 27, 2018 at 3:52 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- United States Castillo de San Marcos National Monument 29.89667, -81.3116729°53’48” N 81°18’42” W
St Augustine
April 27, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Arrived at St Augustine ahead of schedule, so we had time to visit the fort and walk around town for a while.
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- Day 2
- Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 10:30 AM
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- United States Saint Augustine Town Plan Historic District 29.89667, -81.3166729°53’48” N 81°19’0” W
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St Auguastine 2
April 28, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Spent the morning walking around St Augustine and visited the Pirate and Treasure Museum yarrr....
Traveler Looks like he's keeping the ship steady in a Hywel-ing gale.
4/29/18Reply
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- Day 2
- Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 1:38 PM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- United States Florida Museum of Natural History 29.635, -82.3729°38’6” N 82°22’12” W
Butterfly Rainforest
April 28, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Needed to visit somewhere on the way over to the west coast of Florida so we headed to Gainesville to visit the Butterfly Rainforest. It was cool being surrounded by butterflies. Less cool being surrounded by kids...Read more
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- Day 2
- Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 4:12 PM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 27 m
- United States Micanopy 29.505, -82.2829°30’18” N 82°16’48” W
Antique shopping in Micanopy
April 28, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Visited Micanopy which is famous for its antique shops. It was pretty there, antiques are not really our thing, but Judgy McJudgeAlex found something to buy. It's from the 1920's and probably sent people to jail or worse...Read more
TravelerFor great justice!
4/29/18Reply
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- Day 3
- Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 11:16 AM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- United States Weeki Wachee Springs State Park 28.51833, -82.5733328°31’6” N 82°34’24” W
The only city of live mermaids
April 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Visited Weeki Watchee state park and watched the mermaids show.

They did Hans Christian Andersen's Little Mermaid. It totally wasn't a Disney version rip-off at all. The Little Mermaid's friend was a Jamaican turtle for starters, not a crab.Read more
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- Day 3
- Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 3:33 PM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- United States Weeki Wachee Hills 28.52833, -82.6016728°31’42” N 82°36’6” W
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Kayaking Weeki Watchee
April 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
The real reason for visiting was to kayak down the river.

It was a beautiful place, although very busy. Casually kayaked following the flow of the river for about three hours. Saw another water snake and a manatee on the way.... oh, and a shark-dog.Read more
Traveler You could make this into a movie... Paws. >.<
4/29/18Reply
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- Day 3
- Sunday, April 29, 2018 at 7:42 PM
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 31 m
- United States Trinity Lutheran Church 27.77667, -82.6427°46’36” N 82°38’24” W
St Petersburg
April 29, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Staying in St Petersburg tonight. Went out for food to a vegetarian/vegan restaurant called meze. The first time this holiday that Alex has had any options when looking at a menu. Food was really good.Read more
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- Day 4
- Monday, April 30, 2018 at 11:30 AM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- United States Albert Whitted Park 27.76667, -82.6327°46’0” N 82°37’48” W
Dali museum
April 30, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Visited the Dali museum today. Don't usually enjoy art that much, but we like Dali and the museum was done well, showing some of his early work and how he progressed towards his surrealism.

Some of the names of the paintings were just as impressive, including 'Fountain of milk spreading itself uselessly on three shoes' (the fifth picture), and 'Dionysus spitting the complete image of Cadaques on the tip of the tongue of a three-storied Gaudinian woman' (the sixth picture). Say what you see I guess.Read more
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- Day 4
- Monday, April 30, 2018 at 4:36 PM
- ☀️ 29 °C
- Altitude: 17 m
- United States Tyrone Railroad Station 27.8, -82.73527°48’0” N 82°44’6” W
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Rest of the day...
April 30, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C
So for the rest of the day we had food at the local airport, walked along the seafront to the beach, visited a mall for Alex to do some shopping including getting a 'Pokemon Go Frappuccino', and did an escape room with some randoms. We escaped with 30 seconds left. Busy day but fun.Read more
Traveler OMG - its one thing going earlier than everyone else to the states, but getting a new Escape room team. That is beyond the pale!
5/1/18Reply
Alex Murphy Haha well you could have come with us ;)
5/1/18Reply
Alex Murphy Also we didn’t know they were going to pair us with other people
5/1/18Reply
Traveler Alas, I really couldn't have. Also the "I didn't know" defence is pretty weak.
5/1/18Reply
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- Day 5
- Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 11:39 AM
- ☀️ 27 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- United States Stephens Point 27.38333, -82.56527°22’60” N 82°33’54” W
Ringling Museum
May 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Headed south to the Ringling circus museum today. They also had some fine art there too but skipped that...

There was an impressive mini circus model made by one man, one very obsessed man I would guess. Then the museum had things like walking the tight rope, a clown car, and the train carriages they used to carry animals from back in the day.

It was fun, they had nice gardens too, although Alex quietly dissaproved at their use of animals back then.Read more
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- Day 5
- Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 2:41 PM
- ⛅ 29 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States City Beach Park 26.91, -82.0966726°54’36” N 82°5’48” W
Peace River Wildlife Center
May 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Next animal destination for the trip was a treatment and rehabilitation center mainly for birds and owls.

It wasn't huge, but there were plenty of birds that would have likely died if not for these guys. There were bald eagles including one who was born with one wing and had never flown for example.

There were also visitors who are healthy but just wanted some free food.Read more
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- Day 5
- Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at 7:24 PM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 7 m
- United States City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin 26.64667, -81.8716726°38’48” N 81°52’18” W
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Fort Myers
May 1, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Ended the day in Fort Myers.

Had food including a vegan burger for Alex and a key lime pie which was just stupid big.

Took a walk around the downtown area and along the seafront which had a nice sunset going on.Read more
Traveler I'm struggling to judge the scale of things in this picture
5/2/18Reply
Alex Murphy It was like 3/4 slices worth >.< We only wanted a small slice to say we tried it. Next time we shall ask how big it is!
5/2/18Reply
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 10:45 AM
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 19 m
- United States Royal Palm Yacht Club Marina 26.63333, -81.8816726°37’60” N 81°52’54” W
Edison and Ford winter estates
May 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
First stop today was Thomas Edison and Henry Ford's winter estates.

It was all about how they became friends and helped each other with inventions. Americans love when things are 'original' (only like 100 years old) and lots of it was about the houses. I even flipped an original Edison light switch.

It was interesting and we could have spent more time there in the museum, but we had to leave.

Side Note: Fort Myers water tasted and smelt almost fishy, like the seaweed smell. Meant we didn't drink much in the restaurants.Read more
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 2:01 PM
- ☁️ 30 °C
- Altitude: 9 m
- United States Ochopee 25.90167, -81.2966725°54’6” N 81°17’48” W
Skunkape and Post Office
May 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C
Drove down to the Everglades to see more animals, mainly alligators...

On the way we stopped at the smallest Post Office in the USA. There was a happy friendly man in the tiny building. Must be a bit of a boring job though...

Then went on to the 'Skunkape Research Center'. Expecting to learn more about Skunkape (the Bigfoot of the Everglades) and the sightings, we were a bit disappointed to find that there was just a shop and a small area of animals. Highlight for me being the Parrot that said hello. Alex found a cat.Read more
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 5:05 PM
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- United States Shark Valley Lookout Tower 25.65667, -80.7666725°39’24” N 80°46’0” W
Shark Valley
May 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Highlight of the day was a visit to Shark Valley (no sharks and not a valley).

We took a two hour tram ride into the Everglades with a really good guide and saw so many alligators and birds. We really enjoyed it. They really do have great national parks in the USA.Read more
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- Day 6
- Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at 5:30 PM
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 10 m
- United States Shark Valley Lookout Tower 25.65667, -80.7666725°39’24” N 80°46’0” W
Shark Valley 2
May 2, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
More pictures from Shark Valley...
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- Day 7
- Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 10:28 AM
- ⛅ 26 °C
- Altitude: 13 m
- United States Modello Wayside Park 25.5, -80.44525°30’0” N 80°26’42” W
Coral Castle
May 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
The last day of the week long tour of Florida before Disney.

First stop was Coral Castle. Something about a Latvian man who had his heart broken, moved to America and secretly built a castle at night only, dedicated to her.

He was also a really clever bloke based on how he built it (some people figure aliens helped).Read more
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- Day 7
- Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 3:17 PM
- ☁️ 27 °C
- Altitude: Sea level
- United States South Beach 25.78, -80.1283325°46’48” N 80°7’42” W
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Miami Beach
May 3, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
Next stop was Miami!

Visited Miami Beach, so much traffic, so many people. Meant we didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. Despite listening to Will Smith on the drive in.

We walked around looking at the Art-Deco buildings and strolled along the beach. Then visited one of the museums which had an exhibition on Soviet propaganda. Unfortunately it was more about the graphic design rather than the propaganda.

Long drive north after Miami and then tomorrow to get back to Orlando to start Disney. Feeling very tired from all the driving. Be nice to relax when we get to Disney...Read more
Traveler ...a bit more up market than 'love shack' I suppose
5/3/18Reply
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- Day 8
- Friday, May 4, 2018 at 7:11 PM
- ☀️ 26 °C
- Altitude: 23 m
- United States Boggy Creek 28.355, -81.6033328°21’18” N 81°36’12” W
Disney!
May 4, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
We are here and everything is great!

The room is really nice and our view is out on to the Savannah where we can sit on the balcony watching giraffes and zebras walking past.

Visited Animal Kingdom and the rides here are very good, only did a couple of them, so many more to do over the next two weeks...Read more
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- Day 9
- Saturday, May 5, 2018 at 12:59 PM
- ⛅ 27 °C
- Altitude: 20 m
- United States Bay Lake 28.38631, -81.5597528°23’11” N 81°33’35” W
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Disney - Magic Kingdom
May 5, 2018 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
So today was our first real day in Disney and it was time to meet up with the Bowen Party. So we used some of our snack credits (there are so many of them!) and off we went to Magic kingdom. I (Alex) had the brilliant idea that we should drive - I forgot the car park isn't outside the park so we had to wait ages for a ferry - whoops, but we got there!

We managed to do a few things before lunch : Meet Belle (where Hywel got chosen to play a knight!), meet Ariel and a few smaller rides.

Lunch time we all met up and tried "Be our guest" which is dining in Belle's castle. It was awesome on the inside but it was actually a quick service meal which meant people were walking around a lot. Hywel also purchased a fancy cup (cause he's fancy).Read more
Love the ears Alex
5/7/18Reply
Alex Murphy Thank you :)
5/7/18Reply
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