Nicole Marie Ranz: Florida; The Sunshine State

Now I know it has been a very long time since my American holiday but today I have found myself reminiscing on the good times I had on holiday.

Since I got home from my holiday at the beginning of the year, life has slapped me with reality and the harshness of the world has become clear.

I believe travel makes you grow as a person and visiting Florida was no exception. We spent some time in Miami and during this time I came across many homeless people but one in particular caught my attention. There was one man who seemed young enough to be just a little older than me and yet he was sleeping on the side of a busy road, ignoring everyone that walked passed just like everyone walking past was ignoring him. My first instinct was to help him. So we went back to our hotel and gathered all our food and gave it to him. Small acts like this make me feel like I have done something good but then again, I feel like it is never enough.

For me, Florida gave me a lot more than just that experience. I conquered some of my personal fears in Florida. I went on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas which I was terrified for due to my proneness to motion sickness. Although I was sick for most of those 3 days, I look back on the experience and smile. I smile because I experienced life on the water and got to visit one of the most beautiful resorts ever built. This memory takes over the memory of feeling nausea and weakness for days straight.

I also was faced with another fear of motion sickness when my family and I went to the alligator park and went on the airboat. Now in no way did I enjoy this experience but it will always be a reminder that I survived it. No matter how much I disliked riding through the wind at a fast pace in water full of alligators, I survived.

We stayed at South beach in Miami and this brought me another new feeling. It made me relaxed and peaceful. Watching the waves crashing on the sandy shore during the day and walking the streets full of restaurants at night. I can only describe this wonderful feeling as 'being on holiday', and I constantly find myself craving this feeling.

Here are some of my favourite photos taken while in Florida/Bahamas/Cruise, I hope you enjoy.