I enjoyed reading your post about your experience with your first digital SLR camera. It sounds like you had a great time taking photos on the beach, even though the weather was hot and humid. I can imagine how the salty air would have been a challenge for your camera, but it's also clear that you were careful to protect it.
I'm also glad to hear that you're still using your Canon EOS 350D, even though it's been broken for a few years. It's always nice to have a piece of history like that, and I'm sure it brings back a lot of good memories for you.