Two more days of St. Pete, FL. I've been here since 6/18/21. And, this was a test.
Nice little neighborhood, amazing Airbnb. Minimal, but everything I needed. Lovely natural light. Windows in every room, shining natural wood floors, cabinets, and doors. Just perfect. Where you sleep is a big deal. When I traveled for work, I stayed in places that filled me with joy and places that weighed me down hard in the center of my body. No other way to describe that - it filled me with dread to come back to the place after work. I'm pretty particular about it - if the place itself is only so-so, there's got to be something amazing going on right outside the door, or it's a no for me.
St. Petersburg itself is a cool place. A lot bluer than I expected, which for me is great. Walkable to a point. Great museums, beautiful parks on the water. Pretty little historic neighborhoods. Good food. The beaches are lovely. State parks are pretty cool too, they have a real sense of preservation for their natural lands here. I did some kayaking, which I feel I could do every day. So much to explore.
I'm absolutely addicted to fish spread and have tried it in at least four different places. I think Ted Peters was my favorite. It was old school, like something my mom would've made. I think my father probably loved it, and I know when it comes to food, I take after him a lot.
Just looking at the photo of this fish spread at Ted Peter's makes me crave it. The beer and the hot sauce are the perfect combo. I am going to admit to having key lime pie afterwards. I couldn't resist.
The beaches are absolutely gorgeous. Sand white and fine, water a soft seafoam green. Warm, sometimes there were waves, but often not. Like a bathtub. I don't like to think about how people use it as a toilet 😬. Giant clouds sometimes brought wonderful thunderstorms, which I've missed living in Los Angeles.
So, why was it a test? It was a test to see how I'd do if I didn't have access to a washer/dryer for ten days. It was a test to see how I'd do alone again, as I haven't been for four months. I think I'm ok. There are moments when I feel a little less than ok, but overall, I feel like I can do this.
Florida has always intrigued me, though many people who know me didn't really understand why. It's a place where no one cares what you do - a place where someone could disappear if they wanted to. I always had that feeling about it, the transience of it. Having spent more time here than I ever have before, I still feel that way about it. There's a dog-eat-dog cruelty about it, too. I feel sad for some of the older people I saw who didn't seem to be doing so great. It's an assumption I'm making based on appearances, but my heart clenched a little. The USA is terrible about taking care of the poor and the elderly, as if they are disposable.
In the summer, it's brutally hot and humid here. Unless you're sitting right in front of the ocean, it's miserable. I sweat a lot and the mosquitoes eat me alive. So there's that.
Next time I come to FL, I'm going to explore the Keys - in the winter.
This is the link to the great Airbnb in St. Petersburg:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/39177960?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=2d2aca7b-8aa8-489b-9246-1e2b26a82dcd
