Friends! and Florida

Last month I spent a week in Florida. I went down for a good friend's (my Canadian family) wedding, but got to spend most nights at my awesome friend, Whitnie's house. We had a marvelous time together: drinking coffee, late night talking and praying, eating awesome food, laughing and taking pictures. She's been a marvelous friend over the past six years I've known her. I was sad when she moved out of Alaska last summer, but it's one friendship that has stayed strong across the miles. 

Whitnie was able to get a day off work while I was there, so we set out for a day adventure in Mobile, AL. First on our list of places to see was the U.S.S. Alabama, a battleship used in the Pacific during World War II. We skipped the guided/numbered tours and just set out to explore the ship ourselves. We wandered around finding all kinds of nooks and rooms with cool stuff in it. It was pretty amazing. It was hot that day and I was getting dehydrated, so we didn't stick around to explore the submarine, but next time we will! 

love the USA!

thanks to the random guy who took our picture

Outside the entrance was this giant, mock shell that I just had to hug. I did get something all over my arm and shirt because of it. :( but it still needed that hug. Haha. There was also a big bell in the front of the building. Not sure if you were supposed to or not, but they did leave the metal ringer thing inside it..... so yes I rang the bell. :) 

And Whitnie rang the bell too! Love her expression below. :D It was a pretty epic day. After the Alabama, we wandered around downtown Mobile, where we met a couple from Austria. We chatted with them for a few minutes, during which I invited them to Alaska and they invited me to Austria. :) Then we went to a small cafe for shwarma and kebabs! It was Whitnie's first Mediterranean food. It was pretty tasty! Tho' I have to say the falafel I can get here in Alaska is way better!