Ciao

Turtle

Not the prettiest of Turtles, perhaps that is why it seemed so agressive..either that or it doesn't like tourists. I think it is the Florida Softshell Turtle.

Typhoon Lagoon

Love or hate Disney someone there does have a sense of humour. This was at the end of another sunny day, the colour just as it was, just time for a photographic momento from Typhoon Lagoon. Must have been a hell of a typhoon to put the boat up there :-).

That boatTucked away in the water park is Shark Reef where you can snorkel in the fish pool, with the harmless small sharks...they were less of a concern than trying to get to the other side holding on to two small daughters, one on each hand...without sinking.

Miami Beach

"Miami Beach at last" ....some (usually stupid) things stay in your head for the rest of your life and that quote from a very famous character (in a 1949 movie) always comes to mind with views of Miami's South Beach. Also memorable in one of the best bond films "Goldfinger", looked very glamourous back then in the 60's.

These lifeguard huts are just two of the many on the beach, works or art to rival the Art Deco hotels that overlook them. Only in Miami could you get away with being male and looking cool as a lifeguard in a pink building.

Banyan

I really like the Banyan tree but it is slightly creepy...you get the feeling that if you get too close it will gather you in with its roots. They have been known to grow to 800m around the perimeter. This one was in Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.

Pigeon Key

Looking the other way along the old bridge. Pigeon Key lies ahead, after walking the 2 or 3 miles along the bridge a charge of $7 dollars each awaits if you want to step onto the island. This is a popular place to watch the Florida sunsets, although getting back from the island after the sun goes down and before it gets dark is a challenge for the non-joggers.

Road trip

Looking back towards Marathon, this is the old 7 mile bridge, completed in 1912. It was damaged by Labor Day Hurricane in 1935 and then Hurricane Donna in 1960 so they built the new 7 mile bridge next to it and closed this one in 1980. Just as well because Arnie came along and destroyed it with missiles from his Harrier in 1994 . As you stroll along the half that remains you have to mind out for the joggers on their daily run...thought this was Florida not New York !
As it used to be
From the Satellite

Lifeguards

The beach Lifeguard huts are works of art, even though this is plain in comparision to others it stil has charm. I never realised that the lifeguards were volunteers, but then who wouldn't want to sit around in these, look cool in the beach buggies and do heroic deeds in the surf ? Perhaps not quite so surprising that there are no vacancies then !

Red bird

Still in Disney but not as you know it. No idea what type of bird this is but the colours were almost unreal. This was taken on "Discovery Island", which no longer exists as it was closed in 1999 after the opening of Animal Kingdom, which is a real shame as it seemed to be the most un-Disney place on the complex...nothing for sale, no "characters", peace and quiet, no rush, animals in their natural habitat, I guess that is why it closed. Strangely it seem to be a favourite Disney place for those who visited.

Monorail

At the end of a very tiring, exciting, noisy, expensive, fascintaing, fun day at the theme park the still (just about) space age way back to the "hunt for the car" parking is the Monorail. Still warm even though it is evening but without any energy left in the legs....never again...well not until tomorrow.

Iguana

One of the fascinating things about travelling is that an exotic pet at home is the natural wildlife somewhere else in the world. This iguana was sitting in the wall in Key Biscayne, Miami, it's tail must have been about a metre long. Apparently they have been "scaring folks" , but then it appears they have been know to bite a finger off and are fond of eating the flowers.

Annies Beach

The drive down the Keys is very scenic, with the Gulf Coast one side of the road and the Atlantic Coast the other. Despite the great views it is a slow and tiring drive so at Mile Marker 73, near Islamorada, is Annies Beach. Just pull off the road and park, fall out the car and into the sea, shallow and warm. What a great way to take a break. The Broadwalk on the previous post runs between the highway and this beach.
Satellite view