Saturday 12 April 2014

K for Key West

I'm worn out dear reader. Aren't you? We have visited 10 dream destinations in 10 days, and still so many more to come. Today I feel the need to just lay back, close my eyes and see where the road takes me. Maybe I will not even end up somewhere, but just be on the way...

So, I close my eyes, and there I am, a passenger in a car, well leaned back in the seat, the music is on, and I feel that fresh breeze, sea breeze.Yes, I am in the middle of the sea, on the road, going to Key West, USA.

It has been a busy week, starting with lovely Leila's Faroe Islands, then The Golden Temple, then off to Hong Kong followed by The lost city of the Incas in Peru and then yesterday Jazz took us to her beloved Jamaica. Against all odds I managed to tear myself loose from the rum, grilled lobster and that reggae beach party (but they had to carry me screaming on that plane.. ha ha ) And here I am.

And travel is not only about the destination is it? Travel to me is also about, well, the travel itself, when you are .. not anywhere, when you're just going from somewhere to somewhere. Whether it is on a plane, in a car, in a bus, on a train, on a bike, walking or just traveling off in your mind. The journey itself can be memorable enough ( in many different ways...)

One of the most cherished travel memory (travel travel) for me was the drive we took down to Key West. That road and the bridges going on forever - in the middle of the sea was amazing. I remember sitting there, leaned back in the seat, seeing nothing but blue blue sea on both sides. Just that feeling of cruising along, and having this intense feeling of happiness: this is so great! For a sea-lover like me, this was simply The Ultimate Drive!

Yeah, yeah.. I know - not all travels are as pleasant as this. The amount of travel stories are many and yes, can cause a lot of stress for happy travelers just looking forward to get to their dream destination asap. But when the travel is good, it can be sooo good, and a nice opportunity to admire the scenery drifting by. Maybe that's why going slow - in trains, boats, walking-  appeals to me. I have had some good moments going slow somewhere, philosophizing on the way..

So, what about you, dear reader. Did you have any awesome travel-experiences... or some not-so-nice-ones?

Well, I can promise you that on Monday we will not travel slow. Because on Monday we are traveling far away again, to a place which is very close to my hearth. I am very excited to take you with me to... L.....

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs hereMy theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination On Monday. 

51 comments:

  1. Eli love your post same as everyday :) Most of all I liked is a common thought I have on each journey n doubt others do too. While traveling, the suspension of being this that or other, wanting, having to do, all franticness just seeps out of us. what a lovely state and that is a huge part of Wanderlust I feel apart from the joy of actually roaming about in a new place or old.hugs.

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    1. Thanks dear Sunila for sharing your thoughts.Seems we are on the same planet you and I:-) So appreciate it:-)

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  2. Very nice post, again Eli :) I like how you so beautifully invite us all to another travel adventure, and we just follow you as you keep revealing all the fun and interesting things about this new place. What a great virtual tour around the world it has been so far! And there are still so many places left to go :) Keep on leading us, friend!

    Beauty Interprets, Expresses, Manifests the Eternal

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    1. I'll do my best dear Beloo. Always get so happy to read your kind words, thanks a lot:-)

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    1. Thank you for coming along, Nabanita:-)

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  4. That does look like the ultimate drive. I like travelling only when it's stress free, maybe booked in a luxurious 5-star hotel, sprawled on the king-size bed with room service. Ok basically I am very lazy person :P

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    1. Ha ha ha - awesome - thanks for sharing dear Prasanna:-)

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  5. Wow!! Lovely place!!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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  6. Have heard and imagined Key West in many novels. Lovely place

    PhenoMenon
    http://throodalookingglass.com/2014/04/knives/

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  7. I had visited the place and the best part of the journey was the travel by the road with seas abutting on either side.
    There is interesting variety in your choice of places.

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    1. Thanks:-) - seems we enjoyed the same experience - pretty awesome:-)

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  8. Key West looks to be inviting...Road in the sea. Will have to plan on my next trip in US. Also you put a serenity in all your travels...That's attracts me more than anything...

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    1. Aaa, your kind words make me so happy Jayanta:-) Thank you so much:)

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  9. Just to look at sea - I would go all the way too. It helps that I have loads of family in Florida. Here I come, folks! ;)

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    1. Happy travels dear Corinne -. you will love it:-)

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  10. You are really an experienced traveller!

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  11. Love this highway that goes into the sea. Such a fab drive it must be!!

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    1. Yes, pretty awesome:-) Happy to see you here Shilpa:-)

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  12. It's a co incidence that today while planning for holidays we had a thought about a voyage and here you posted about it .....
    relaxation therapy....isn't it

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    1. hey, that's a coincidence:-) Happy planning - hope it turns out to something great:-) Hugs

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  13. I'm with you on this one, I also enjoyed the drive down to Key West. And I loved the city once I got there,

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  14. Dearest Eli,
    So you did make it all the way to Key West?
    We went there but once and I found the drive rather boring as you cannot drive fast. We need 10 hours to drive to Miami and those last 5 hours for going to Key West are really too much. Our stay was at the Hyatt Resort for 4 free nights in darly February and the wind was too much. The pool was heated but oh, if you got above the water. Having just returned from the hospital and you can read about it here, just click the hyperlink: {Our Citrus Aurantifolia - Key Lime}
    Wishing you a very happy weekend!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Thanks for sharing your memories Mariette, always so nice to read dear:-) Big hugs your way - popping over to your piece now.-)

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  15. You make that drive sound so tempting, Eli. My husband is born to drive. We once did a 10-hour road trip from Bangalore to Goa! And he enjoyed every bit of the winding forest roads! I love that picture of the bridge. Some day, I hope I can make it there :)

    ~Shailaja's latest A~Z post

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    1. It was really nice! A-born-to-drive-guy will def love it:-) Hope you get to go. Thanks for sharing and for your always so kind words dear:-)

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  16. Ahhhh. How nice is that? I hope to visit Key West next time we get over to Florida.
    Donna On Palawan @ Quintessential San Diego From A to Z

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    1. Happy to see you here Donna:-) Hope you get to go:-)

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  17. I never really appreciated the reality of Key West before! Looks great, I love the sea.

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    1. Me too Anabel:-) Happy to see you here:-)

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  18. That's such an inviting picture, Eli and your post makes me want to hop on a plane and visit one of my closest friends who lives there. I think I'll make her cancel her trip here and go visit her instead. Thanks for another brilliant one.

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    1. Aaa - hope you get to go Monica:-) Thanks for sharing - I'm sure your friend is eager to get over here too:-) Big hugs:-)

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  19. As much as your journeys are so interesting and your recall incredible, I am still a homebody. :}

    Are you going to share your worst and your best experience?

    Carol @ Battered Hope

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  20. I have yet to get all the way down to Key West, but I will. I will!

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    1. Hey - happy travels - I'm sure you will:-) Hugs Corinne

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  21. I am petrified of water so Key West will be visited only through your post :) Lovely destination once again.

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    1. Ok, then I'm happy you came along this way dear Sulekkha:-)

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  22. The place looks amazing!! I love all my travel adventures... mostly because it always has the surprise element. Kinda thrilling.

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  23. Lovely post as usual :) By the way, Eli, I nominated you for the Sunshine award. I hope you accept it. Please do :)
    http://mindbrewblog.wordpress.com/2014/04/13/more-sunshine-this-april

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind words Gauri:-) And thanks a ton for nominating me:-) A big honor and makes me very happy:-) Big hugs, dear friend:-)

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  24. How scenic a drive and a lovely place to visit! ♥

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    1. Yes, it was really something:-) Thanks Kathy

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  25. sometimes doing nothing on a holuday seems like an excel idea!

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  26. I love road trips and that looks like a spectacular drive! Key West is on my wish list of destinations. Ernest Hemingway used to live there and apparently there's a wonderful artists' community.

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    1. Hope you get there Debbie:-) Happy to see you here:-) Hugs

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