A Tour of South Florida

Over the course of a few days, Jim and I traveled from Sarasota across the Everglades to Fort Lauderdale. South of Fort Lauderdale, and away from the coast is a wonderful patchwork of small farms. This is quite different from the tomato wastelands I had heard dominate lands to the west. It was an area of tiny and very diverse little nurseries and row crop fields. White folks here are in the minority. Towards lunch one day, we stopped at this beautiful road side stand - Placita Los Girasoles - and had some of the best tamales I've ever had. Later that day we made it to the Fruit and Spice Park in Homestead Florida. This is an absolutely awesome place. Two green thumbs up. For someone accustomed to temperate fruits of the north, this place is a wonderful spectacle of bizarre, odd, taste treats from all over the tropical world. My favorite fruit to try was the canistel or egg fruit (not egg plant). The consistency of the fruit is like the yolk of a hard boiled egg, but that is an overly simplified description. It is exquisite really. Also, there is an old relic of a tractor unlike any I've ever seen before. Just what is was once used for I don't know. If anyone knows leave a comment.

I also, wish to report that we made it all the way to Key West. It takes much longer to get there than one would expect from looking at a map. Sadly, it has not kept hoards of people from descending on its beaches. Key West is a bustling little 'San Francisco' of the Gulf type of town. Charming in a way, but much too crowded for me. You couldn't walk the beach without tripping over sunbathers. It also has a feel that everyone there is in some state of drunkenness. Though I had a great time meeting local beach entrepreneur 'Coconut Larry', who sells coconuts he gathers each morning. A few quick cuts of the knife and a straw makes a great drink.