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Dolphin Show
Sea Lion Show
Entrance
1935 hurricane monumantSince it's considered 'the...
Since it's considered 'the Sports Fishing Capital of the World,' I guess you should go fishing if that's your thing. For me, it would be to just get out on the water, be it snorkeling or kayaking. Of course, sunsets are the hallmark of the Keys, so do enjoy them, preferably with a Runrunner or Pina Colada. It was just a short paddle, but that wasn't the point. It was about two people trying to find a common ground. I had met Doreen in Munich, on her turf, and a city I predominantly associate with beer. Sure, it was fun, but I had to show her the things that mean more to me than the finer side of malted beverages. I had to show her nature as it flows through my veins. I wanted to take her hiking but it was Florida after all, and any lover of nature knows that you have to get in or on the water to enjoy the best the sunshine state has to offer. We had done a walk the day before along a path known for golden orb spiders and I was surprised at her curiosity of an insect she had an inherent fear of. But the kayak trip to a bird rookery was to be our first real test. We secured a double vessel from Papa Joe's, a local outfitter, and soon found ourselves rounding the rocky outcropping and paddling out into the Florida Bay. The turquoise waters glistened in the sun and the rookery was in plain sight from the onset. Doreen enjoyed the hypnotic motion that propels a kayak but her arms tired once or twice so we took a break to enjoy the lush scenery. In no time the island was upon us, and we paddled around it to reveal a flock of majestic seabirds basking in the sun. We enjoyed them from a distance, careful not to intrude on the nesting colony and then circled behind the island, where a mangrove tunnel soon became apparent. I asked Doreen to remain motionless as I gently guided us through the tight opening, where we were suddenly engulfed in a deafening cacophony of chirping that made us feel in a National Geographic special. She turned with the biggest smile but whispered despite the loudness of the tweeting. I knew then I had someone who had a feeling for nature and how to fit in rather than try and be the center of it. We remained a short while more and then paddled out of the cove and back to the marina. And she wasn't the only one smiling.
