In my head I’ve been doing my blog forever, so it surprised me the other day when I realized I had no posts about Pensacola even though we lived for 18 months before moving to Jacksonville (and starting le blog).
I don’t have a whole lot to say about Pensacola itself, but Chris and I managed to find some of the best parts, I think: Gallery Nights, frequent festivals, Skopelos (surprise–now closed), oh and of course…PENSACOLA BEACH!!! 
We moved to Pensacola less than a week after our honeymoon. This outing to the pier, which I think is the longest one in the Gulf of Mexico, was three years ago in October 2006. Doesn’t it look chilly? Oh right, it’s Florida. 
From the pier you could watch people catch fish and jellyfish, or look for dolphins, OR watch for schools of sting rays! When we’d study at the beach—no—when Chris would study at the beach and I got bored with whatever I was doing, I could watch the stingrays leap out of the water—sometimes a good three feet or so—and crash back into the water. 
According to this article about a woman being killed by a leaping stingray in the Keys that’s quite common: “They jump from the water for non-aggressive reasons — often to shake off parasites, give birth or avoid predators such as sharks.” Airborn birth? Too bad I never saw that.
Anywho, this is the only time we ever went out on the pier. Most of the time we were down in the sand sipping mojitos with cocktail shrimp and lime bars or Coronas with chips and salsa. Or at least I was. Chris was studying. Studying on the beach was one of the best things we did in Pensacola to get out of our tiny apartment and see the best the area had to offer.
Bonus: after watching the sunset, watching the moonrise. It’s interesting to think I watch the same moon rise over the runway as I scoot around the flightline. Hi Moon! Say hello to the beach for me.
ALOHA, BABY!
See You Later, Alligator (Tacos)! or: How to Cook Alligator
Malaysian Adventure: Kuala Lumpur
Nightfall at Fushimi Inari Shrine
I love this post! I miss Florida a lot and it is weird to think the same moon that rises there, rises all over the world. I would often think about that when Jeff was gone!
I cannot wait to move to Pensacola when I see stuff like this! Thanks Mari! I will miss you bunches though