The Everglades in Florida is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species including ubiquitous Florida alligators. On a cloudy day we took a trip on one of the Airboats through the waterways to find those alligators in the water. Seeing one swimming lazily towards the boat, eyes just above the water getting close and personal is quite an experience. It is quite exhilarating as the Airboat picks up speed and heads for the river of grass heading into miles of wetlands – thoughts of Miami Vice or CSI Miami entered my head, hoping we didn’t discover a dead body in the reeds. Our tour ended with a bizarre Gator wrestling match and seeing baby gators (with their mouths tied up). It wasn’t something I would repeat although the boat trip was fun.
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I can see the appeal of the boat trip, but I would skip the alligator ‘wrestling’.
That said, I have eaten alligator (or crocodile), but that was in London. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete. x
The wetlands go on for miles. Quite a strange environment.
I’d be with you on the boat trip, but would be looking for an escape from the wrestling!
Part of the tour I’m afraid.
Oh dear 😕
A fascinating place to visit as long as reptiles keep their distance. My BIL did a trip there in a canoe which I thought somewhat hair-raising. Now I’m wondering if that isn’t water hyacinth in foreground – dreaded escapee from South America.
I wouldn’t like to be in a canoe – that’s a bit close for comfort!
Interesting cloud formations
It was very humid in Florida even in September. Too hot for me to do much walking.
Getting to that over here now. Only in garden a couple of hours 8am to 10am then again 4 to 6.
Do you have air-con in the house?
Yes we have air-con in the lounge, but only use it when the humidity gets unbearable the house faces the ocean and we can open all the doors and get the refreshing easterlies blowing in from the ocean and through the house
Well that’s good and cheaper too!
And fresh air is better than air-con. Jack does not like it on as he loves the heat, maybe that is his Aussie genes/DNA
Some people can cope with humidity, I have never been one. Must be the temperate climate that we both grew up with. New Zealand would have suited me.
NZ did suit me, but it could get humid in January to February. I suffer through 4 months over here but the rest make up for it
Crocs and gators are my least favourite creatures, I was pretty close to some in Ghana and never again!
I’m glad we did it, but wouldn’t bother again. Florida is not my sort of place, although I liked the quirky Keys.
I would LOVE to do this, probably minus the alligators! You’ve travelled so widely.
Only due to the OH and his conferences! Now he has stopped we don’t go anywhere!
I suspect that seeing an alligator coming towards you is as creepy as seeing a crocodile. They are so prehistoric looking and their eyes are bottomless pits. Freaks me out a little. 🙂
They blend into the background very well. I can’t say I am keen on either species.
I am very scaredy cat when it comes to gators. They give me the creeps. 😦 😦
You’ll not be moving to Florida then?
I agree with you Jude that the Everglades are a very unique environment. I was thrilled by the airboat ride, but a little unnerved by the feeling of being lost and having no idea how I could find my way back if I had to …. through alligator infested waters!!!
Great photo! So much nicer than any I was able to take.
Agreed. Seeing those prehistoric shapes just under the water level was a little unnerving. Not a place to swim in.
{shudder}