Boy, did we choose a good time to leave town. Michael and I are sitting in Ottawa, tracking a storm the size of Texas as it slowly closes in on Florida. Experts still aren't certain on where it will land, but over a million people have been told to evacuate. This is the first time in 50 years or more that 2 storms like this will hit Florida at the same time. Frances is already a category 4 creeping up close to 5... just as fierce as Andrew was but over twice as big! Broward has been put into a state of emergency...county agencies, including the libraries, have been shut down. Guess this means they owe me a couple more days vacation :)
It's weird watching it from so far away. On the one hand, you're kind of divorced from the whole thing. On the other, you're on edge hoping that your home won't be destroyed while you're away. I'm pretty far inland; Michael's apartment, however, is on the main floor and only 4 miles away from the evacuation line. Makes me very, very glad we could travel together this year! On top of this, given the state of emergency and possible hit from the storm, we're wondering if we will even be able to get back when we planned to, or whether the airports will be closed! Not exactly the way that I'd choose to get an extended vacation.
As to our Ottawa trip, it's been nice and relaxing so far. We've been walking around downtown Ottawa, the embassies and Parliament. We also took a drive this afternoon into the Gatineau Park and saw William Lyon Mackenzie King's estate. Tomorrow I go to pick up my passport, and we may drive into Montreal on Saturday.
No comments:
Post a Comment