I've always thought it was beautiful.

However I'm perpetually amazed by the peculiar stuff that happens there.

If crazy shit didn't happen in Florida, we'd never have Carl Hiaasen or Tim Dorsey novels to enjoy.

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He is currently driving north. [img][/img]

heat and humidity, big, big bugs and high crime. I lived in South Florida since I was 6 years old. I now live in North Georgia and would never, never go back there. My daughter lives in South Florida and if she wants to see me, she must come up here because she knows I won't go down there ever again.

and some of that stuff could happen in my neck of the woods, too.

It's, well, inspirational, to say the least.

Going to St Augustine, to search for the Fountain of Youth. LOL!

I love gators, I love the bayous an everglades, I love the beach, I love the crazy tourist stuff, I love the Keys, I love the bright colors and the old, old, old cities.

Yeah, the politics are crazy. But that's changing so fast it's fascinating to watch.

We'd vacation there on a regular basis.

Enjoy St. George Street!

The St. Augustine "Fountain of Youth" is kitschy, but cheesy fun. It's not to expensive, so you don't feel all that ripped off.

If you want another Fountain of Youth, try De Leon Springs State Park near DeLand. And don't forget the pancakes!

I was quite young when I went there, but I only remember the bad sunburn I got from being on the beaches there. I wish I could remember more than just that. Ever since than, I always brought sunscreen with me, especially when I was in Tahiti. Love the Coconut smell!!!

I remember finding a starfish in the sand on the beach around Mayport.

The more south you travel, the stronger the sun gets. People don't always realize that.

So Fla is nice, don't get me wrong. But there's no escaping the big urban island from West Palm to Miami.

Love, love, love the North Florida countryside.

And the springs.....well, they speak for themselves.

An alligator as big as the one at the door can easily climb up and over a 6' chain link fence.

Sooner or later, just about every body of water bigger than a puddle will have an alligator in it, if only for a short time. They show up in the most unusual places.

How has Obama's reelection restrained anybody? The wingnuts are out in full force and haven't slowed down the crazy for one second since the election. It may have seemed like a lifetime, but Obama was only reinaugurated 5 months ago. The first two years flew by so fast, but since the election time seems to be swimming upstream against a torrent of molasses.

because nature sometimes comes to visit you in your living room.

of 16 months before I said good-bye to my family and got out. Detested it.