Writer gains new appreciation for nature

DRY TORTUGAS, Fla. — My trip to the Dry Tortugas National Park started at 4:07 a.m. on Nov. 3. Although I was still half asleep, I was excited to be making the trip. It was my first time to visit Key West and my first time visiting a national park, so the excitement was high.

While it is a long trip to Key West and on to the islands of the Dry Tortugas by ferry, the visit was worth it. It was an experience I will never forget. The beauty of the blue sky that matched the ocean, the perfect weather with no clouds and a bright shiny sun, the visit to the Dry Tortugas National Park was like a dream. I spent five hours on the island, touring historic Fort Jefferson, taking pictures, having lunch with a view of the ocean and taking in the beauty of nature and what this country has to offer.

After going back to Key West and having dinner at one of Key West’s most recognized spots, Sloppy Joe’s, the time came to head home. It was  when we were driving back, around 9 p.m., that I got to enjoy, in my opinion, one of the best sights a person can observe — looking up at that stars and actually appreciating them.

I gazed up to what felt like forever, but it was because I had forgotten how beautiful those little white spots were up in the dark sky. I knew I had loved them for a reason and that night I confirmed why. I’m not an outdoors type of person, but at that moment I wished I lived in a place where the stars could be seen with such ease. As much as I love living in a city like Miami, it is easy to forget to take the time to admire what Earth has to offer.