Well it's been 11 months since I started this blog and I've only posted three things. I really think that I don't have the kind of schedule that allows this so I'm going to try and force myself to post something every 3 months.

We just returned from a trip to Key Largo, Florida where we stayed on a houseboat. It was very strange reading the reviews for the houseboat when we were trying to decide where we were going to stay during our trip. I say strange because there were a lot of reviewers who were disappointed that the houseboat didn't live up to their expectations of a luxury hotel. I found this very confusing because #1. it wasn't advertised as a hotel, it was advertised as a house boat, and #2. it wasn't advertised as luxury, it was advertised as an adventure.

Beyond this, we had a good stay. It could have been better equipped for sure, but it wasn't even close to the description given by many of the reviewers.

I think that part of our success in traveling is that we are flexible. We enjoy things for what they are not what we think they should be. This goes for cultures as well. We are also not afraid to speak up with some cultural issue is stupid. For example, cutting in line is tolerated in some cultures, unless you cut in line in front of them personally. For me, I treat everyone with respect unless they stop treating me with respect. I guess I'm a bit like MSG. MSG is a flavor enhancer. If you have a nutty flavor and you use some MSG the nutty taste is increased. If you treat me with respect I'll change my day's schedule and help you fix your car for hours. If on the other hand, you do something to insult me or you disrespect me, I'll give your car some issues that will require you to spend the day fixing.

So, when we travel, if we are camping... we expect a camping experience. If we hire a boat... we expect a boating experience. If we stay in a hostel... we expect to lock up all of our belongings and to have a higher level of security than if we were staying in a luxury hotel. I don't think that a lot of people have figured this out. If you're staying in a really poor town and the local store only has 30 items, get creative and find something in the 30 items that works for you. I'm very forgiving in this situation. If, on the other hand you visit a store that advertising that they're the expert in a particular speciality and they only have 4% of what you would expect from an "expert", I'm going to have a chat with them about this.

With all this being said. We enjoyed our stay at the "Boatel". Get it... boat+hotel=boatel. It's easy to find on the internet. It was very different than anything else that we've done, but it was fun. It was relaxing. And every single morning we woke up with a huge hot-pink sunrise that slowly rose over the water and gently warmed us as we woke up. Also, the Boatel is right in the middle of all of the activities you'd want to see. We slept on a houseboat that was attached to a dock, which means that as the tide rose, so did the houseboat. When the tide went out, the houseboat lowered. This means that each time we would enter or leave the houseboat, it was at a different level, so you must get used to walking either up or down the plank that lead to the gangway. Simple enough.

I'll try and write a bit more later and I'll add some photos.