Meet David and Fernando

Meet our dear friends, David and Fernando. David grew up in Oyster Bay on Long Island in a special home that had been in his family for two generations. Later in life, he moved to Florida to work for a major airline company.

Fernando, originally from Colombia moved to Florida more than 40 years ago. It was there that life eventually brought him and David together, beginning the beautiful story they continue to share today. This June, the couple will celebrate an incredible 31 years together, including 10 years of marriage. Fernando runs his own handyman business and truly does it all, from electrical work and plumbing to tile and drywall. He works nearly every day of the week, which David lovingly jokes makes him a total workaholic. You might also recognize David’s friendly face from Saratoga Resort and Casino, where he often spends his evenings on the gaming floor keeping the excitement going. This was their very first visit to Howe Caverns, and it’s safe to say it left quite an impression. David and Fernando were amazed by the incredible scale of the cave and fascinated by the idea that something so breathtaking beneath their feet could be created simply by water over time. Their favorite formation was the Chinese Pagoda stalagmite. Above ground, they also had a great time gemstone mining. They shared a big laugh when they discovered a “miner’s finger” in their mining rough while sluicing. They loved the beautiful gemstones that they found and were excited to take them home.

In their free time, the couple enjoys going out to the movies or simply relaxing together at home, where they are happiest. They also share a deep love for travel and adventure. At one point during the tour, they even compared the beauty of the cave to the pyramids of Giza, which they were lucky enough to see in person. Later this year, David and Fernando are preparing for an exciting new chapter. They plan to leave the country and spend their retirement in Spain, settling in the beautiful coastal town of Vigo.

They left us with a thoughtful message worth sharing: “Be kind. Don’t belittle people. You are no better than the person who sweeps the floor or the person who works in the laboratory, everyone is the same at the end of the day.”

Congratulations, David and Fernando. We wish you both all the happiness in the world as you begin your next adventure together. Thank you so much for visiting us!