Alligators!

We rented a car and headed west on the early side (at least considering the three hour time difference we were still adjusting to) for our big day of Florida sight seeing.

On the airboat

First stop was an airboat ride through the swamp. We chose Erv's, near Everglades City, from the many options, and it was really fun. Here's how Max described it in his journal: "Today I went on an airboat. (Now I know why it's called an air boat!) The airboat can go on land, water, and sometimes air! I saw two skulls stuck to a tree. Sometimes it went fast and there was no brake. To slow down, you needed to hit land (which he did) or put the boat opposite to the current. When I video taped it, the clouds looked like they were drawn."

Boar skulls in the tree

For lunch, we ate fried Florida alligator, which all of us liked.

Afternoon was devoted to alligator watching. From Allen's journal: "The alligators looked very peaceful. True zen masters. Maharishi (of blessed memory) would be proud. They didn't move for what seemed like hours. Then a yawn--showing big teeth, except not realy a yawn. A mouth left open. Maybe they were chanting some TM mantra or just hoping a stray pet would jump in, wanting to be devoured by such awesome 'peaceful' masters."

Pelicans

Wildlife viewing

Alligators