Everglades

Begrudgingly rolled out of our heavenly cocoon and got on the road. 

 Tried to find Fort Lauderdale promenade but it was raining and yucky so after driving down the main road we aborted and headed down to Florida City. This is what Fort Lauderdale looks like minus rain.

Arrived at our hotel which is sandwiched between taco bell, kfc and burger king and went to speak to the lovely lady in the visitors centre who assured us we’d be fine left to our own devices in the Everglades. We disagreed and went to the Everglades Hostel which has the nicest gardens but was a bit too hippy for our liking. They run half day tours into the Everglade National Park where you walk through the swamps of the Cyprus Domes.

En route to the park we saw 2 giant pythons on the side of the road.

Upon entry to the park we saw a couple of alligators on the side of the road – one of them a mama with a million little alligator babies.

 Just before we were about to set foot in the swamp our tour guide kindly informed us lots of snakes, spiders and alligators live in the Dome and we should keep an eye out for them. We chose to follow our tour guide very closely through the swamp and made him to promise to warn us if there was any snakes or spiders around.

Saw an owl in the trees above us.

An alligator in the swamp beside us.

A snake in the tree next to us.

Made it out of the swamp alive but wet and dirty. Next stop, Anhinga trail. The Anhinga is a big bird which stabs fish with its beak before eating them. It then sits in the tree with its wings spread to dry them.

Saw a tonne more alligators and lots of birds and vultures and turtles.

Got back to our hotel and went on a hunt for something that wasn’t a burger or bucket ‘o chicken. Found subway yay. Was delish. Then popped on a load of washing and had a quiet night in watching more Californication (we're up to season 5 now.)