Update: Ochopee, FL

After stopping by the Ochopee (O-chop-ee), FL post office the first time, it was closed so I had to return. Last week I did. Actually I returned twice because I had missed the mail carrier the first time and I wanted photos of him also. I had read a small write-up on this post office but I received a ton of information after speaking with Nanette Watson, the postmaster.
She only lives two miles away from the post office so that's not a bad commute. She's worked there for seven years. The building is approximately 8 feet by 7 feet and has been used since 1953 when a fire destroyed the general store in Ochopee which was home to the previous post office. Yes, that building has been the Ochopee post office since 1953.
"I almost see more German tourists than American," she stated. Apparently this post office is on all the travel shows and guides in Germany. She also said many people will drive by and hit the brakes prior to putting the car in reverse to stop by the place. "I've seen many accidents, luckily none have been too serious," she explained.
On my last post, I wrote that 2-3 people inside would be crowded. Two to three people inside WOULD be crowded, but customers don't actually go inside. The front doors slide open and there's a counter right behind those sliding doors where Nanette helps customers.
Leroy Fish is the contract mail carrier. His wife actually started as the carrier about 40 years ago. Leroy retired from his previous job and took over as mail carrier for the post office due to a medical condition his wife had. So between the two of them, they've been delivering the 138-mile mail route for the last 40 years.
What is the future of this tiny shipping shack? "We serve a lot of people and cost very little money to operate," Nanette said. With the florescent bulb, air conditioner, computer (laptop) and other small electrical devices, Nanette estimates the monthly electric bill at around $20 dollars.

Ochopee, FL

This is the smallest post office in the U.S. It's in Ochopee, FL. The cool thing is that it's still an operating post office. Story goes that the original one burned down so they used the next building they had which was this irrigation shed. From what I've read, it can fit 2-3 customers in there but it's crowded, it has a nice commemorative stamp collection and when the postmaster needs to use the restroom, the closest one is at the Subway three miles away.

Backyard

The cool thing about only being able to check the internet outside AND living in Miami is that one witnesses all types of mammals, reptiles and amphibians on a frequent basis. It rained tonight so that means every living thing in the yard comes to life. This frog jumped onto one of the banana tree leaves and was hanging out for a while. These types of frogs are nocturnal and can jump at amazing distances. They're the real deal. We also have jumbo slugs, a family (or maybe it's just a gang) of raccoons that passes by our cottage nightly (to avoid the blind (angry) Pomeranian dog our neighbor owns) and geckos, just to name a few.

a classic

I saw this beauty in a Wal-Mart parking lot. The photo was taken in Texas.

Good 'ol days

While walking around the St. Petersburg Times office, they had devoted a small space to the history of their newspaper, like a museum. It was strange to see things from when newspapers were in their prime, like the relic pictured here.

Sam Abell

This last weekend I attended Geekfest 2009 in St. Petersburg, FL. It was a really great experience and by the time the weekend was done, there had been an amazing lineup of photographers that delivered presentations. Sam Abell here, who shot all around the world for the National Geographic for about 40 years, gave a great presentation on Friday night, and was in attendance for most of the weekend. Sam puts an indescribable amount of thought into his photography and if anyone gets the chance to hear him speak, do it.

Banana Leaf

A leaf from the banana tree in the yard.

Down South

This photo is from the "Southernmost Point in the Continental United States". I took it during a short day trip to Key West.
Key West is about three and a half hours south of Miami. The place is about as laid back as a place can be. It's a place where the Piña Coladas are abundant and the free-roaming chickens cross the street with reckless abandon.

South Beach

This was taken while driving along the main drag of South Beach for the first time.

Miami

Miami

Lawnmower Man

Neighbor mowing lawn

Coconut

We've got plenty of Coconut Palms in the neighborhood so Moni and I grabbed this one that had fallen down the street from us.
Tom Hanks makes opening a coconut look easy in the movie 'Castaway'. This one took took us a bit more time. The coconut is actually the nut which is housed in a larger seed. Getting the nut out of that seed is a great challenge. I'm sure it's easier with the right tool but we just had a hammer.
The white part (coconut meat) is actually good. The coconut water inside is drinkable but I wouldn't order a glass. It's neat living in an area where coconuts are all around and don't taste half bad. Don't get me wrong, absolutely nothing compares to fresh northern Michigan cherries in the summer, but I'll take a fresh coconut since they're available.

Crusing

Nice car on a nice day.

The digs

So here's the place. It's in a great neighborhood. It still feels strange waking up to palm trees in lizards in the yard. It feels like a different country altogether.

Made It

I'm happy to say that Moni and I made it safely to Miami. I wish I could've posted stuff sooner but we received an internet connection just last night. We're staying in a small cottage behind a couple's home. Wireless internet is included in the rent but we have to go outside to access it. No big deal. We have a great patio on the front of the place. I'll post a photo soon. This chameleon wasn't in Miami, it was at Moni's grandparents' home near Tampa. However, there are loads of these things running around outside our apartment, keeping the bug quantities low. There's actually one sitting next to me right now as I write this.