Trip to Florida part 2

We are incredibly grateful for all the comments on the blog under the previous post, as well as the numerous messages on our Facebook and Instagram regarding our impressions after the trip to Florida. We didn't expect such a large response from you. It’s very kind and motivating to continue working, writing, and fulfilling ourselves in blogging. Today, we will show you what we loved most about Florida. We hope that the vibrant greens and rich color palette will inspire you to the max and fill your hearts with a little joy and optimism. Let’s get started!

CLOSE TO NATURE

During most of our stay, we managed to visit quite a few parks, nature reserves, and botanical gardens in the area. It might seem that looking at trees and bushes could get boring quickly, but for us, each park and garden was unique and absolutely special. We completely fell in love with the wilderness, the palm trees, and the ever-present little lizards that kept the bugs at bay. In Emerson Point Preserve, we could admire mangroves and various types of plants. There were tons of people kayaking, some even with their dogs on board. We admired their courage because we were a little afraid that an alligator might pop out at any moment, but we never saw one.

In Florida, you can find signs everywhere warning about the possibility of alligators being in the area. Instead of signs prohibiting walking on the grass, you have to be careful everywhere to avoid running into these reptiles. I really wanted to see an alligator in the wild, but during both of our trips, we didn’t encounter any. We visited a lot of parks, including Rothenbach Park, Urfer Family Park, Robinson Preserve, Oscar Scherer State Park, Bayfront Park, Sunken Gardens, and Historic Spanish Point. Everywhere, we admired the power and beauty of the surrounding nature and soaked up the magic of these places like a sponge.

At Rothenbach Park, we had a chance to do a pre-wedding shoot with Nikki and Will. Just look at how beautiful it was there! There’s a funny story tied to their session, but we’ll definitely share the details when we publish the entire set. We were, of course, enchanted by the "hair" hanging from the trees, the wild oranges, or whatever they were, and the beautiful trees twisted in all sorts of directions. It was absolutely amazing!

On Florida, you can spot squirrels everywhere. They differ from ours because they are gray, which allows them to blend in perfectly with the background, making it sometimes hard to notice them.

We are absolutely in love with these strange "hairs" hanging from the trees. They’re called "spanish moss," or *Tillandsia usneoides*, which is a type of bromeliad. These unique plants live on trees and feed off the air and rain, as they have no roots. I remember, ever since I first saw the movie *Forrest Gump*, the iconic scene where Forrest is running away from the mean kids stayed in my memory. In that scene, you could see huge, beautiful trees covered with these "hairs." When I saw them for the first time in real life, I couldn’t believe I was finally seeing them with my own eyes. Another beautiful feature of the landscape there is the massive oak trees that stretch across entire streets, like the one by my parents’ house.

COLORS OF THE CITY

Besides exploring the bush and jungle, we also got a taste of the city vibe. What we love most about Florida is, without a doubt, the color! Something we crave so much in our own dull, gray everyday landscape. Houses, hotels, shops, restaurants, and even rental spots catch your eye from afar. You'll see a true explosion of colors, from vibrant turquoises to soft pastels. Every time we saw them, we couldn't help but smile from ear to ear. We tried to capture as many colorful houses and stunning, thriving plants as possible at every turn.

We explored Sarasota, both its downtown and its lesser-known streets. We visited the monument inspired by the iconic photograph of a sailor and a nurse by Alfred Eisenstaedt. According to history, the photo was taken in Times Square on August 14, 1945, at the exact moment they heard the news of Japan’s surrender and the end of World War II. Both the photo and the monument symbolize joy and hope, so of course, we couldn’t resist taking a picture there.

Practically every street had something interesting to discover. My outfit, completely by chance, turned out to be the perfect complement to the photos and the surroundings.

Sarasota has direct access to Sarasota Bay, which it shares with neighboring Bradenton, as well as Tampa Bay and the entire coastline. The entire coastal area, stretching miles inland, is crisscrossed by a dense network of canals and inlets. Almost everywhere here is accessible by boat, making it possible to live without a car—something unheard of in most other parts of the U.S.

Thousands of people on both Florida coasts live permanently on boats or yachts. With just over 53,000 residents, Sarasota is a small city by Florida standards, especially for a coastal town. Still, it’s the second most important cultural hub on this side of the peninsula, right after Tampa. There’s no shortage of restaurants, shops, boutiques, and various attractions.

We especially loved the cozy outdoor cafés, where live music often added to the atmosphere. For us, Sarasota didn’t feel like a small town at all—but of course, American standards are a whole different story! :)

The white lines you see are the local crosswalks—it took us a while to get used to them.

BEYOND SARASOTA

One day, we took a trip to St. Petersburg, or simply Saint Pete. It’s a place where you can experience art in many forms. The city is home to the famous Salvador Dalí Museum, and its streets, stretching for miles, are adorned with countless murals.

We managed to photograph only a few of them since we arrived a bit too late. I was especially disappointed that we couldn’t find one particular mural of Tesla, which I had really hoped to see.

During our trip to St. Pete, we also stopped by another botanical garden—Sunken Gardens—where we got to admire flamingos up close and even had a little chat with some parrots. The signs listed their favorite words, and they actually responded to them!

A stunning rainbow eucalyptus—as you can see, even the trees here are colorful!

On our way to St. Pete, we made a stop near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which truly gives the impression that you’re driving straight into the sky. The most breathtaking view is from the very top, where you’re surrounded by endless blue—water on both sides and the sky stretching above you.

It’s the longest cable-stayed concrete bridge, with around 20,000 cars crossing it daily. We photographed it from a nearby fishing pier, which offered a perfect vantage point. Florida is a true paradise for anglers! Pelicans strolled lazily along the pier, happily accepting food from passersby.

We also took a trip to the town of Naples, which is said to be one of the wealthiest cities in the U.S. We definitely felt like Hollywood stars—though we didn’t spot any celebrities!

We were in awe of the stunning mansions, architecture, lush greenery, and the almost unreal cleanliness of the streets. There were also pistachio ice creams and a quick photoshoot under neon lights. A charming elderly gentleman struck up a conversation, saying the pictures would turn out beautiful. I’m not entirely sure if they’re the best photos of my life, but it was a great time! 😄

Naples is also home to the famous Naples Pier, which we absolutely had to see. What we didn’t expect were SUCH HUGE CROWDS! We also ran into an incredible number of fellow Poles there! 😄

Our new hobby unexpectedly became mini-golf, and we spent a lot of time on it. It turned out that I’m the worst player in history, but despite that, I had an amazing time.

In addition to sightseeing and exploring, it was mainly family time. Like everyone, we were caught up in the holiday frenzy—cleaning, cooking, and wrapping gifts. We spent many days simply at the house, with our only outing being a visit to Walmart. The neighborhood where my parents live has a gym, a pool, and a grilling area, so we didn’t complain about boredom. Every day felt precious to us. When you're separated by thousands of miles from loved ones, the time spent together is always incredible. You truly start to appreciate so many things.

We openly admit that we completely succumbed to consumerism there. As a result, my parents had to give us their two largest suitcases for the trip back. Even then, we were still unsure if we’d be able to pack everything. We barely managed... The stores and sales there are something else! After our first trip, we knew that bringing tons of clothes was totally pointless. You can shop like royalty for really low prices, even when converted to Polish zloty.

TO SUM UP - HOW DID WE LIKE THE USA?

What are our impressions after visiting the USA? WE’RE IN LOVE! You can say that America is overrated, that its golden days are long gone. Many people get annoyed that everyone is so nice and smiling, claiming it’s just a façade. Honestly, we wish we had such a façade back home in Poland, where we walk into a store, say "good morning," and are met with complete silence. During both of our stays, we didn’t encounter a single, even slightly unpleasant situation with strangers. On the contrary, everyone was incredibly helpful and genuinely interested in where we were from. We really liked the overall laid-back vibe. Sarasota isn’t New York, so there’s no rush—something that’s an essential part of life in a big city. Everything moves at its own pace, people are relaxed, friendly, and open. Add to that the sunshine, palm trees, lush greenery, views that take your breath away, and bay waters that are 21°C in December. You can say whatever you want, but we totally fell for it, and we’ve become even more convinced of all our beliefs and decisions. 😄

We hope we've given you enough evidence to support our observations and conclusions that Florida isn’t blue—it’s definitely GREEN!

Trip to Florida part 1

The trip to Florida and the USA, in general, was not just an ordinary tourist excursion for us. The United States has been woven into my life for as long as I can remember. These visits were primarily a special time with my parents. It was about experiencing firsthand whether it’s truly as I imagined. Whether this country is really worth the hours spent on a plane and if the American Dream would amaze me or rather disappoint.

Our first trip to Florida took place two years ago in December. We spent a total of 13 hours on the plane. We flew first from Warsaw to Frankfurt, and then from there to Tampa. This was our first long-haul flight. Marcin handled it quite well, but I, unfortunately, struggled a lot more. I didn’t sleep a wink during the entire journey. I only managed to doze off for a few minutes here and there. The worst part for me was constantly looking out of the airplane window and seeing the same view every time – the endless ocean that seemed to have no end.

I’m not someone who is terrified of flying. I have a mild fear, probably like most people boarding a plane. Trust me, knowing that you’re flying over water for several hours, with no land in sight, gives you quite an adrenaline rush. The last three hours were critical for me. Everything hurt. I also wasn’t prepared for how cold it would be on the plane. I had three layers of clothes on, the airplane blanket, and a wool poncho, but I was still freezing.

After getting off the plane, we had to stand in a long line for an interview with an officer, whose decision determined whether we would even be allowed into the United States. Imagine a situation where you haven’t slept at all during the flight, your head is spinning, you’re barely standing, feeling nauseous from exhaustion, but you still have to stand in line for another hour or two. It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but we knew it was part of the procedure, and there was nothing we could do about it.

Luckily, the line moved fairly quickly, and everyone at the airport was very helpful. After a brief chat with a Customs and Border Protection officer, we got the stamps with our visas in our passports and headed to my parents' place. Yes, that’s right! It’s only after you arrive in the U.S. that the officer decides whether and for how long to grant you a visa. What you receive at the embassy or consulate in Poland is just a visa promise.

The moment we saw my parents was absolutely special for me. After all those hours of struggle, we were finally here! We could hug, be together without Skype, and spend two magical weeks. I still couldn’t believe I was finally in the United States. I had dreamed of this my whole life! During our first visit to Florida, we could only afford a two-week trip because of work commitments. It was sort of a trial run for us, so that we could come back the next Christmas – this time for well over a month!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

What struck us first was, of course, the temperature and the exotic plants at every turn. The huge cars, roads, and open spaces were a sight to behold. Additionally, we were amazed by the ubiquitous Christmas decorations. Despite the warm weather, the holiday spirit was everywhere. People really go all out decorating their homes and don’t hold back on the decorations. They even decorate their cars, wear festive clothes, and sport holiday accessories. We kept seeing people of all ages wearing things like reindeer ears or typical Christmas-themed shirts. We even saw Santa Claus riding on a sleigh made from a modified, decorated lawnmower in the parking lot of a Walmart!

People are very laid-back and have a great sense of humor. They are super open and positive. They're always striking up conversations with everyone – whether in a store, on a bus, or on the street. At first, we were quite shocked by it. We knew that Americans are masters of small talk, but we didn’t realize that we’d experience it everywhere we went. Pretty much everyone asked where we were from, complimented our clothes, our language, and Poland in general. Everyone was incredibly friendly. I joked that I’d never received so many compliments from strangers in such a short time!

GREAT BLUE

For most people, Florida automatically brings to mind blue waters, beaches, palm trees – you know, Miami and all that. By the way, we had a good laugh when many friends, and even others, asked if we were in Miami :D You know, this simple equation: Florida = Miami. Just like Poland = Warsaw. Well, we weren't in Miami, but yes, Florida mesmerizes with its blue. There are plenty of beautiful, vast beaches, water attractions, and opportunities to spend time by and in the water. You can choose from water skiing, paragliding, all kinds of boat tours – whether it’s for fishing, dolphin watching, shark spotting, or simply admiring the beautiful scenery.

We didn’t manage to visit all the beaches, but out of the ones we went to, two particularly stood out. The first one was Siesta Key Beach, with its vast beach, colorful lifeguard stands, sky-high showers, volleyball courts, and a pavilion with all kinds of gadgets and food.

The second beach we liked was Coquina Beach. It had a more intimate feel, with a slightly narrower beach, but it had a nice grilling area with a beautiful view of the bay. There was also a typical tiki bar with a thatched roof, like in Hawaii, where they served pretty good lemonade and snacks. Unfortunately, we don’t have any photos from this spot. We noticed that taking photos while eating, drinking, or shopping is not really our thing, and we do it very rarely :D

What sets the beaches there apart from others is the SAND! It’s exceptionally white and fine. It never heats up or burns, always staying cool regardless of the sun and air temperature, and walking on it feels like stepping on down feathers.

Neither of us are fans of sunbathing or spending time lying on the sand, so we didn’t spend many days at the beach. Everyone laughed when they saw us after returning because our tan was barely noticeable. We definitely belong to the group of people who can’t sit still. We love sightseeing, walking, and exploring. Sunbathing and lying flat is pure torture for us, which is why we dedicated a grand total of ONE DAY to it during both trips. Instead, we had plans to visit several places we had found online. We started with the mansion of people whose lifestyle makes the Great Gatsby look modest :D And we’re talking about John and Mable Ringling.

WITH STYLE AND FLAIR

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art (shortened to The Ringling) is a state art museum established in the late 1920s as a private gallery by the collector couple, John and Mable. Imagine over 10,000 works of art gathered in one place. Paintings by the greatest masters such as Rubens, Velázquez, Antoon van Dyck, and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, tapestries, sculptures, and furniture within your reach, without the long, exhausting queues that stretch for hours.

The pink Renaissance-style palace, shaped like the letter U, houses as many as 21 galleries with collections from great masters.

Below is a bronze copy of Michelangelo's David from the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.

Mable Ringling was a lover and collector of exotic trees, so in addition to the artworks, you can admire masterpieces of nature at every step. On the 26.4-hectare grounds, there are, among other things, 14 banyan trees.

It's the banyan tree, I don't know how you feel about it, but those hanging roots are quite impressive!

The museum is located on a property of about 26.4 hectares, right by the Sarasota Bay lagoon. In addition to the Art Museum with its art collections, the area also features the Circus Museum, the Ringling family residence known as Cà d'Zan (which boasts 41 rooms and 15 bathrooms!), an 18th-century European theater that was transported to Sarasota straight from Italy, a guest pavilion, and a garden.

Below is the stunning Cà d'Zan residence

Right behind the estate is a beautiful terrace with a view of Sarasota Bay lagoon. The Ringlings really had a life to envy!

We only visited the Art Museum, the Renaissance-style garden, and the pavilion, and it still took us about 3 hours. John Ringling was one of the richest men in America, and his story is truly fascinating. If you have time, make sure to read about this guy. Generally, we're not big fans of museum visits, but this was something absolutely unique and different. The sheer size of the estate, its wealth, and diversity were all astonishing.

Being able to imagine how wealthy people lived in the "Roaring Twenties" in America was mesmerizing. The wealth, opulence, and scale of everything exceeded our wildest expectations. To truly understand it, you simply have to see it with your own eyes. The biggest regret is that we didn’t take any photos inside the Art Museum, especially near the paintings by Rubens, but we weren’t entirely sure if it was allowed. Despite the generally relaxed vibe in the US, there was a certain formal atmosphere in the gallery that threw us off a bit. Anyway, we definitely need to go back!

GREEN PARADISE

The second place that left a big impression on us was the Marie Selby Gardens. It’s a vast botanical garden located right on the Sarasota Bay. You can admire incredible tropical plants, ferns, flowers, and trees straight out of a fairytale. There, you’ll find various types of orchids, as well as an impressive collection of bonsai trees. The botanists at Selby Gardens have discovered or described over 2,000 plant species previously unknown to science. As with everything in America – it's done on a grand scale!

The gardens are located on the site of the former home of Marie and William Selby. Another incredible couple with a fascinating story. An oil magnate and a talented pianist, who fell in love with each other in school. Childless, with a huge zest for life, they created a small piece of paradise in Sarasota.

P.S. Did you know that Marie was the first woman to drive across the United States in an automobile?

The garden is divided into various sections. The most impressive to us were the massive roots of the banyan tree and the wish tree with colorful ribbons.

Each color represents a different area of wishes. One in particular moved me deeply: "Help for my mom in her fight against cancer, happiness for my brother." The atmosphere in that place was filled with a deep sense of peace and melancholy.

As you can see, we all had a great time – my mom was over the moon!

In the kids' zone, we felt a bit like Indiana Jones, all because of the rope bridges. What's interesting is that even my phobias disappeared in that place. As someone who suffers from arachnophobia, I wasn't afraid of the funny little spiders that looked like stars. We saw them quite often in various places during both of our stays in Florida.

W Marie Selby Gardens, weddings are also held. I don't think we can even imagine how extraordinary these ceremonies must be.

Pioneers and a bit of history

One day we decided to visit the Manatee Village Historical Park, which is a sort of open-air museum. It features the Wiggins General Store from 1903, a shipyard, a pioneer farm from 1912, a smokehouse, a sugarcane mill, a barn, a church, a school, a courthouse, and a locomotive.

The museum was created thanks to the hard work of volunteers who saved some of the buildings from being forgotten. This place operates solely through donations and voluntary contributions from donors, with no entrance fees. Additionally, there is a Whistle Stop shop where you can purchase various souvenirs, such as jewelry, craft sets, decorations, and books about Florida and local history. The proceeds from the sales go towards maintaining the museum.

It was there that my mom and I were able to immerse ourselves in the roles of pioneers from the early 20th century. There were various props that we could use for photos. In addition to the shop, we really liked the charming little church, where ceremonies such as weddings still take place. The old school and courthouse also left a strong impression on us.

The pioneer house also put us in a Christmas mood, even though it was around 30°C outside.

Did you notice the two huge oaks on the museum grounds? Apparently, they're over 100 years old! I could easily imagine two lovers swearing their love for each other there, for better or for worse. A dream! Who knows, maybe one day it will be us?

We hope that through these photos, you could at least briefly transport yourself to the magical state that is Florida. What we've described and shown is just a tiny piece of what we managed to see there. Let us know how you liked it and if you want to see more!