Florida

In April, we had a week's holiday in Marathon, Florida, which is about half-way down the Keys chain.  We hired a huge house with our friends Marc & Zoe (flying in from England) and Andy & Kate (from Toronto), with their little ones Ava (Ruth's age) and baby Molly.

Ruth and Ava looking for dolphins

We spent most of our time splashing about in the lovely pool, or hanging out on the balcony admiring the view and enjoying a beer over a board game or two.

Al fresco Dominion

Sundownders

We ate outside every night

We managed a few excursions, one morning Pippa went on a snorkelling trip with Marc and Zoe who were diving.  The water was warm and filled with huge bright fish who were very bold.  I was sad that I did not see the turtle that another couple spotted, but also happy that I missed the 10' hammerhead shark that swam below one of the other guys.

Another day, Pippa went fishing with Marc and Andy.  We caught 18 grunts and torros, all on the small side but collectively enough for dinner!

https://picasaweb.google.com/rickard.marc/20110426FloridaFishingTrip02?authkey=Gv1sRgCJnWw5yL8KDZeQ&feat=email#
Thanks to Marc, who took photos of the fishing trip.

... and on the last day, we hired a small motor boat and went put-putting around the key.  Under seven-mile bridge to Chiki Tiki for lunch.

More Florida photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/gawley/114Florida?authkey=Gv1sRgCOXm9c7hgbqzXg#

Thanks guys for a great trip.  We'll be back...

The 808 state

Back in February we made our first trip to Hawaii. Hopefully not the last. It was lovely.

We went as part of a Google jolly, so we were staying at the Sheraton Waikiki.  Any qualms I had about being a travelling sell-out soon faded in the beautiful warm patio, with nice people bringing drinks, watching Ruth happily playing in the pool complex.

Ready for the pool!

Waikiki was very touristy and busy, but the natural beauty of Hawaii still shone through.

We visited Pearl Harbour, which was really interesting.

Oil still escaping from the hull of the Arizona

Inside the Arizona memorial

The highlight of the trip was hiring a plane for the day and going on a tour of four of the islands - Molokai, Maui, Linae and Oahu.  The weather was a little overcast, but the islands were still spectacular.  We saw more than two dozen whales, frolicking in the water.  So cool.

More photos here: https://picasaweb.google.com/gawley/112Hawaii?authkey=Gv1sRgCK3GxJjSrOGHcg#