Florida Vacation

We have a glorious 10 days off work over the Christmas holidays. Work literally shuts down and everyone goes home! We decided to fly down to Florida to visit my parents and a few college friends, walk on the beach, drink smoothies, and be able to go outside in shorts and t-shirts again. It’s not very Christmassy, but after record cold temperatures in Washington, the record high temperatures out here are more than welcome. It was interesting to walk around Melbourne with my camera after being gone so long. I think I see more when I have my camera… I’d forgotten how colorful it is down here. It’s almost tropical, but not quite. They’ve really been working on cleaning up downtown, refurbishing and repurposing buildings and trying to make the area a place for people to go and hang out. For the most part it’s working. I can definitely tell a difference between Melbourne now and what it was when we were down here in college. It’s a bigger town than Port Orchard, WA. More people, busier people… and hanging Christmas lights on the palm trees just isn’t the same! Anyway, here are the photos from our walk yesterday:

They try so hard to make the beach into a winter wonderland.

too bad I come from the place where they grow the Christmas trees.... — too bad I come from the place where they grow the Christmas trees….

I got a similar picture of a wave on a building in Japan. The styles are different.

This is Florida downhill mountain biking.

Cute little puppy. Was its first time over the causeway.

Another guy fishing. Never seen anyone actually catch anything.

....and black and white — ….and black and white

Bike and pigeons outside Starbucks, where I learned to order an iced latte instead of a hot one.

Pink. Forgot about how colorful the buildings are. for better or worse I suppose.

I believe this is a fight to the death for these guys!

Wonder what they're trying to say here — Wonder what they’re trying to say here

This was the beachside ambulance sign. Good sense of humor.

Mural outside one of the trendy bars downtown.

There's still coffee even though we're far from Seattle. — There’s still coffee even though we’re far from Seattle.

Fake christmas tree downtown. looks out of place next to all the palm trees and colorful buildings.

I, unfortunately, chose no cupcakes. :( — I, unfortunately, chose no cupcakes. 🙁

...and again! because decisions are hard... — …and again! because decisions are hard…

No one else recognized this as a palm tree at first.

Interesting graffiti. No idea why there were numbered scorpions painted everywhere.

Dad likes to pick up coins on his daily walk. At the end of the year he essentially gets a free coffee. Whatever makes him happy.

More scorpions. Maybe I'll google it later. — More scorpions. Maybe I’ll google it later.

They've done a lot of work to downtown Melbourne, but there are a few places left still... — They’ve done a lot of work to downtown Melbourne, but there are a few places left still…

Electricity. These boxes always have interesting stickers on them.

these Townie cruisers are popular. Even my dad has one.

I also forgot about the thousands of tiny lizards running around everywhere

I took a ton of photos of the red firemain piping against the green paint.

It's a trap! Har har har... — It’s a trap! Har har har…

We got the team together to change dad's bicycle chain — We got the team together to change dad’s bicycle chain

Beach cruiser. Dad's is black. — Beach cruiser. Dad’s is black.

and now with less color.... — and now with less color….

Went to the bar for dinner with the parents and their friends.

My parents party harder than I do... — My parents party harder than I do…

Art truck at the beach. This was in honor if the Vietnam Veterans.

I really need to go back and take more photos of this truck... Every inch was covered.... — I really need to go back and take more photos of this truck… Every inch was covered….

Kind of speaks for itself... — Kind of speaks for itself…

Wonder how slow he has to drive so all the stuff doesn't fall off.... — Wonder how slow he has to drive so all the stuff doesn’t fall off….

Roving "biker" gangs — Roving “biker” gangs

Full dresser...bicycle — Full dresser…bicycle

These guys sure were having a helluva lot of fun

Merry Christmas historic downtown Melbourne

Guy in one of those jetski powered jet packs. He about caused a wreck on the highway playing with this thing.... — Guy in one of those jetski powered jet packs. He about caused a wreck on the highway playing with this thing….

The nomad cafe and a nomad... lots of them live under the bridge next door. — The nomad cafe and a nomad… lots of them live under the bridge next door.

This might be next year's Christmas card... — This might be next year’s Christmas card…

Well, it’s officially Christmas Eve! Jason and I had planned on going for a run to the beach this morning, but the weather changed and it’s 60* and pouring rain sideways outside… looks like I have time for another cup of coffee for sure… maybe two!

Roger Dutton January 3, 2014 at 6:52 pm

Amazing, incredible, perceptive photography! If the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear as it truly is: infinite.
Lawrence Mecklenburg January 4, 2014 at 1:18 am

Beautiful photos! My favorite? The chess match fight to the death!
I wonder if the scorpion stencils are part of some sort of treasure hunt or geo cache?

Advinspiration Advinspiration

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