The day started a wee bit later than planned which is ridiculous as I had so much sleep! As a member of the proud ginger nation the sun really takes it out of me though. We ate our cereal on the balcony and then waved goodbye to the Keys.
Our drive to the Everglades went through farm land and there were lots of stalls selling fresh produce at the side of the road. Just over an hour later we arrived at our first destination, Coopertown Airboats. It's amazing how many different landscapes you can go through in an hour. We had bought a sweet deal on Groupon before we came so we saved a fair bit of money. Before the airboat ride we watched a show about the gators which included seeing how small a year old gator is. It was pretty cool but I worry about these things being cruel to the animals. However, one of the really big gators had been rescued by them cos it had been eating cats and dogs in a residential area and was going to be put down otherwise.
Anyway, on to the airboat ride, it was AMAZING! It surpassed my expectations and I expected a lot. When you were going round corners it was like you were gliding on air. We saw about 10 gators, loads of different types of turtles and millions of different, amazing, birds. Our driver/guide was brilliant and had grown up in the area so knew all about everything everglades.
After the ride we continued through the glades on the Tamiami Trail. Our next stop was the Miccobukee Indian Reservation, we just stopped to have a look at the shop and they had some gator related information which was good. Back on the Trail there was a river running next to the road the whole way and it was filled with wildlife. I started off saying "gator" everytime I saw one but there were so many of couldn't keep it up. I must have seen over 100! Obviously, the gators were the main attraction but the birds were amazing too.
We stopped at the Big Cypress Oasis Visitors' Centre and there was a boardwalk next to the river which was good as K couldn't see as many gators as me from the road due to not crashing the car. It was amazing and I genuinely got excited everytime I saw one even when I'd seen millions.
Our next visitors' centre was the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Centre, again there was a boardwalk and I was excited to see some gators but then the family next to me pointed out there were MANATEES in the water! I was delighted but my camera was in k's bag and k was hiding in the shade so I had to run back and get her. It was amazing to see the manatees but the photos are terrible! Oh well another thing off my to-do list for the trip.
We were starving at this stage so we pushed on to Naples for some lunch. It was pretty late so we just wanted something quick so we decided to go to Rib City. We both had the lunch platter of thin cut smoked beef, chips, coleslaw and garlic toast, it was amazing and only $7! We were earlier than we thought we'd be so had time to visit the town centre of Naples. We wandered down the main street which was super affluent and full of fancy old people. We walked down to the beach which was lovely but really busy so we just walked back to the car on the other side of the street. We stopped for an iced coffee (me) and freshly squeezed oj (k) at a nice place called The Brick cos we needed some air con time as we were far too hot. Our next stop was Barnes and Noble where we bought some magazines and browsed the books before pushing on again. Finally, after a super packed day we checked in to tonight's motel. Luckily we noticed that the sun was starting to set so we jumped into the car and headed for the beach (we're on the east coast now) not sure if we'd make it in time. We got there and the parking lot was full! K selflessly got me to jump out with the camera and waited in the car. The beach was packed but I got a good spot and took loads of photos (I imagine I'll be in a lot of people's photos cos I was at the water's edge).
We came back to the motel to regroup and decided to go to the mini golf across the road, I needed to try and regain some mini golf pride! I failed. It was a brilliant course over loads of levels and had a safari theme. We both got a hole in one so that was good but sadly k beat me by one shot! I'll get her next time! (probably not)
It is Aidan's birthday today so as we can't be with him we had pizza tonight in his honour. Really delicious, thin, chewy crust pizza. It was a New York style pizza place and we shared some garlic knots and a 14 inch white pizza. The garlic knots came first and they were amazing, really, really tasty. The pizza was amazing too so happy birthday aidan, we really had a delicious meal for you! Wish you were here!
It was after nine by that stage so we just headed back to the hotel, via publix obv, cos we have an awful lot to do tomorrow.
That was the BEST DAY EVER!! Omg so many gators, do they ever go for people? And... Manatees too, Wtf. I wouldn't fancy being a manatee in the gator infested waters. I know what you mean about worrying those kind of places are cruel to the aminals - stevo paid to hold a baby Croc in Australia and it's mouth was taped shut. You have to do it though, it's once in a lifetime stuff. the plane ride sounds awesome too, hope there is pics. Now - the main event - amazing pizza, wow! I'm so jealous. New York style pizza no less. Mmmmmm. Thank you both for honouring me x x x
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