Today started bright and early.
On the bus by 9:30 and shuttled off Miami beach, up through Miami proper (past two islands where the rich and famous live, which also had the house used in Scarface) up to the indian reservation that encompasses the everglades. The reason we were here was simple: fan boat tour to see some gators. This was one day trip that had some serious bite...(Cue CSI Miami YEAAAAAAAH!).
So we hopped on a massive open steel boat with about 15 rows that seated maybe 6-7 each. Was close to full. Tour guide fired up the two massive fans on the back and off we went. Toured out through the glades, saw a couple gators and returned. What surprised me is that the everglades are not all waterways through tight forested areas (though that is some of it) but rather mostly what look like flooded grasslands. Average water depth ranges from 10-17 inches apparently. The gators we saw tended to be in the closed-in treed areas and shied away from the boat as we approached.
We all filed off the boat and went into a little hut that had a glass viewing area of several alligators. A handler came in, spoke about the animals and fed them. Then he got a 2 year old gator and we got to hold the little sucker and take a photo. It was a couple feet long and not very heavy but it still felt like a bad idea to have a gator that close to you. Once the group got their photos, we went inside and ate some alligator bites. A bit weird to hold one then eat one... And just as people say, it tasted like chicken. For all we knew it was chicken though, as it was battered and deep fried and looked like chicken nuggets. However I think it was a bit more rubbery; sort of like calamari. Overall though, with a squirt of lime and some hot sauce to dip it in, it was downright tasty.
Took the bus back to Miami Beach and grabbed the car. Swung by a Checkers for some true American food (fast food burgers). It was okay. Then we headed off south to the Florida keys, which are a chain of little land masses connected by 30-some bridges. Passed through Key Largo (mentioned in the Beach Boys song Kokomo) and went about halfway to Key West, which is the southernmost place in the keys. Stopped for a dip in the ocean just off the roadway, where dozens of locals were BBQing and swimming and kite boarding. Very cool island vibe. Hopped back in the car and back up to Key Largo for dinner. Fresh seafood and fresh key lime pie. Can't beat that meal. Back into the A/C paradise of the vehicle (the humidity hits you like a wet blanket every time you are outside) and back to the hotel. Figured out our next couple days of travel and hit the hay.
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