Fort Lauderdale FL - Winter with palm trees

The sun was out but otherwise it was cold and the gusts coming from the north made for one miserable morning for a walk.  

Got to have the experience of geckos falling from the trees and laying frozen along the sidewalks - even got hit by one on its way down.  More geckos on the sidewalks than people out walking for sure.  

Got back and could see from the balcony that a couple cruise ships had come in - what a surprise to come back to the cold.  Great segue for me as I was flying back to MN later in the day.  

Fort Lauderdale FL - We are not alone

Interesting week in lots of ways.  Drove back from the Keys and arrived to roughly 90F.  With all the humidity that can come with that in Florida.  

Not that nice the rest of the week but still a busy and full week for me.  Today, I wandered off in a general direction I knew but then swerved a new direction and I guess it was just meant to be.  I wandered in to the local protest against ICE and all the crazy that is being brought on MN - and elsewhere. 

I stood in the middle of it all for quite a bit of time - interesting to watch them march around and around the corner.  And as conversation flowed I said I think you need to hear this helps all of Minnesota to start feeling "we are not alone" in this.  We had a bit more of OMG about it all but some "sunshine" for me on a cloudy and pre-winter day coming in to Florida. 

For a moment I felt a bit of home but ready to get back to my people.    

And the winds have come in all day and it will be COLD here in the AM - 32F before the windchill.  And based on the wind blowing tonight it will be nasty around here in the AM.   

Hollywood FL - Hard Rock Casino and Hotel

I realized that the tall structure I can see in the distance from my apartment that flashes all colors in the night was the Hard Rock.  Hard to miss as you drive around the area.  And the inside didn't disappoint either.   

Homestead FL - Coral Castle

On the scenic route back I stopped by the Coral Castle in Homestead.  Amazing story and fascinating to see.