Today's post I thought I would share some pics from our trip to Miami. July was mine and Brando's 5th anniversary and it happened right at a time that we were about to leave to Utah for a few weeks and couldn't get off. So, we planned a trip around Labor Day, which worked perfectly as we could use that Monday (I am PTO challenged) and then I would be heading to Utah directly after.
Let me start with, I heart Miami. Actually, I heart southern Florida actually. You could put a big heart around it for me, I can find no wrong with it.
When I was little my Grandpa Ritchie gave me a subscription to National Geographic for kids. There were a couple prominent articles in there that captured my heart, the first being astronaut camp for kids and an article about the Everglades...both items in Florida. Are you seeing already why my love started early for this place??? Brando asked me what I wanted to do while in Florida and my first response was to see an alligator. Like any rational people, we headed through the Everglades and found the highest rated place on Yelp and stopped in. It was fabulous, absolutely fabulous.
As soon as we pulled up I knew we were in luck, I mean look who was there to greet us, match made in heaven...
We got our tickets and headed over to the line to save us a good place on the airboats. I will admit, I was a little bit nervous because we had just driven down the road and had seen the alligators just hanging out in the water on the sides of the road. I was convinced that one would come meandering out of the swamp and decide my ankle would be a nice brunch.
Once we got into the airboat, I couldn't resist reaching out and grabbing a lily pad, which the boat operator made sure to tell us not to do since that attracts alligators and would make them want to find out what is making the plant shake.
See those lily pads? Yep, those are the ones I couldn't resist touching. I was convinced they were just floating along the surface, drinking up water...nope, they're attached to some serious stems underwater.
This birdie is some prized bird...it was pretty, but not the most exciting thing on our boat ride.
Then, the excitement started. This little gator is 1-2 years old. Creepy little things, aren't they? Did I mention that the airboats are only oh...about a foot above the water? Yep, you are up close and personal with the critters.
With all of the little babies floating around it was inevitable that there was a momma around and I was not disappointed.
As soon as the boat pulled up, she came tearing out of her hiding place a little aggressively. She was right next to my side of the boat and I was feeling a little uncertain about it. In fact, it felt like she was staring me down and after a few minutes I started getting pretty nervous....don't animals think that if you look them in the eye its a request to fight?? I started shrinking into the boat, if she launched herself in, well then, she could land in Brando's lap. I later learned that miss alligator couldn't see me, they can't see directly in front of and behind them, but I was very nervous for a few minutes.
This picture is blurry since we were moving and the gator was moving, but it shows both a gator moving around and turtle, cleverly camouflaged like a gator, sunning himself on the rock.
Doesn't it look like a skunk ape could live in there? I promise all you Floridians that have claimed to have one in your back yard...I believe you!!! There are also signs every where to watch for panthers and panther crossings...I was hoping for something good to show up for us...like maybe a Werepanther ala True Blood style...but no such luck.
After the boat ride o' fun we headed in for alligator wrestling and other demonstrations of bravery.
As we were walking in they kept saying that they were scanning the audience for volunteers. I think Brandon was sweating bullets that they would ask him to be the volunteer. Little did he know I was plotting that if it came to that, I would generously step in and take one for the team. I would love to have alligator wrestling to put on my resume, who wouldn't? Luckily they never asked for volunteers, but instead performed some death-defying feats...or at least feats where you could lose your hand.
Then, we headed off to Naples, which is on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida. We have some friends from Utah attending school there, it was a great time seeing them, seeing where they get to live for a little while longer and meeting their little boy...(born in the time they've been gone.) Naples is beautiful, it reminds me of Key West.
Adam and Erica, the aforementioned friends. :) That night we were eating out at a delicious Cuban restaurant. Did I mention I could eat Cuban food most nights of the week? Cuz I could.
We spent the last few days of our trip in Miami, which was almost deserted because it is off season. We spent an afternoon walking along the beach and kept noticing the dangerous marine life flags were up on the beach. When we saw all of the jelly fish along the shore we figured it wasn't sharks. I will take my chances with jelly fish...maybe not with sharks. I waded out into the water (I'm not missing a chance to get in the ocean) and was a-ok until I was almost to shore. I had a jelly fish just touch the inside of my knee, it burned for about 30 minutes and left me with some little blisters but nothing bad enough to keep me out of the water later.
All in all, it was a fabulous way to celebrate 5 years! Miami, hopefully I will visit you again soon!!!
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