With pomp and circumstance

On Friday and Saturday, we decided to have a bit of adventure. However, separated from each other, as we wouldn't have been able to supervise Frederik otherwise.

If you have the Everglades right around the corner, you shouldn't miss an AIRBOAT TOUR. AMAZING!!!! It feels like a mix between riding a motorcycle and flying, but on water. Racing through the mangrove forests at speeds up to 60 km/h, you feel like the boat could tip over at the next turn. Thrilling!!! It's very loud, but doesn't smell like gasoline (unlike some other boats).

So on Friday morning, I got in the car alone and drove about 45 minutes to the Everglades, in order to go to the first Airboat Station for practical reasons.

The first time driving alone here - I was a little nervous. But well, who dares, wins. Even though there are some traffic rules here that you always have to keep in mind: As soon as road workers are present, the penalty for traffic violations is doubled, during school start and end times, different speeds apply in marked zones (instead of 50 mph it's 30 mph - it makes a big difference, even though it's the same road), at intersections where all sides have a stop sign, the right of way goes to the one who arrived first, and it continues according to this principle (and almost every second intersection is regulated without traffic lights in this way). Although there is a right-hand traffic rule, you are allowed to overtake as you please. Not to forget: turning right on red lights is expressly allowed after a brief stop. And those were just a few regulations. I'm pretty sure I don't know them all.

At the second intersection, I turned the music up loud and sang along, and already felt much more 'American' in the large car surrounded by even larger cars.

Once I arrived on site, everything went pretty quickly, and after signing that I wouldn't make any claims for compensation in the event of my death, etc., I sat on the yellow Airboat with two other families, had the ear protection on, and off we went.

At two wider areas, the captain (or whatever an Airboat driver is called) stopped the engines and we could hear the alligators' calls in the mangroves, splashing here, splashing there, birds tweeting - WONDERFUL! At these stops, he intended to answer our questions and show us alligators up close. So I asked questions in my gibberish-hand-foot-English about things I had read before. Of course, that made me the German know-it-all, but when else do you have the opportunity to ask on-site? Presumably, the expected alligators were already being fed long before and always appear when they hear the engines... But well, we had already seen enough alligators in their habitat in the days before, so I wasn't very sad that not many showed up on this trip. Marius told me about his trip the following day, where the captain threw marshmallows to the alligators. 'What happens on the boat, stays on the boat'. Of course, because otherwise he would have to pay a $250 fine and the animals would be shot. But we tourists want to see something for our money. :(

The second stop was supposed to be the last one for our boat. It just wouldn't start anymore. At first, we thought it was a joke and part of the experience. But then a second boat had to come and we switched boats. During the waiting time, we stood on a free water surface surrounded by mangroves, the captain tried to salvage the situation and said that the alligators were probably too hot, so they sank to the bottom (about 2.50 meters deep) and cooled down there. And suddenly, at that moment, we saw movement in the water on one side, and right after that, another.... Oh well, here came two colleagues swimming towards us, and the boat was neither high nor fenced off from the outside. When I asked if he had anything for defense (just in case), he simply said: I'm your protection. Well, in this situation, you probably just have to accept that. The alligators swam a few laps around our boat but kept their distance when the second 'rescue boat' arrived. They were probably waiting for sweets. ;)

The boss personally took a closer look at the animal. Meanwhile, I climbed onto his elevated seat. :)

When the ride was over, we could admire and touch baby alligators. However, I was somewhat divided about that because my questions about them were not answered to my satisfaction. You could also hold a 2.5-year-old alligator on your arm. I was very tempted to do so, but then I decided against it. So I left the group and headed back home. I took a photo of it.

This baby is about 9 months old.

Back with my guys, I took advantage of Frederik's nap and typed up the previous report.

After lunch and playing, hiding, and catching all over the apartment, we had to go shopping.

After that, Frederik didn't want to ride in the car anymore, nor go to the beach, nor into the paddling pool. So we scrambled around inside and found things to do until it was time for the little one and then for us big ones to go to bed.

So Saturday was Marius' big adventure day, and he came back just as impressed as I was the day before. We exchanged information about everything there is to know about the Everglades, the alligators, and the airboats.

Frederik and I spent the morning tidying up the house, including all that entails. What needs to be done, needs to be done. It's practical when you have a toddler who has a great interest in all available cleaning utensils (unfortunately also in cleaning products and you have to keep an eye on everything). Especially the long brooms and mops captivate him, and he uses them as horses, hopping through the apartment. Preferably behind me, and thus directly through the piles of crumbs that I had just swept up (there is no vacuum cleaner). They are then merrily spread again, he laughs uncontrollably, and I sigh, explaining that he should ride a different way and repeating the whole thing until I'm about to lose patience. I probably don't need to describe how it goes with mopping. It's probably enough to mention that despite slipping several times, he has to gallop over the wet surfaces and follow me again.... Many will know that feeling. ;)

As for the age-typical popular interest in smearing and splattering, it has proven to be really practical. Frederik had great fun persistently applying sunscreen to my slight sunburn, constantly asking for more cream. Unfortunately, for him, the experience also includes the mouth/taste. Which leads to him either smearing the cream around or trying to lick it off again. Very funny! :) :) :)

Well, otherwise our Saturday was rather unspectacular. Except for the UEFA EURO 2016 match!!! That brought us a bit of excitement. :) We hope you too, despite the late hours! :)