Elegance to Everglades

It can rain in Florida! The skies opened up and the rain came down while we were eating lunch in a shopping mall. I tried to capture the extent of the rain, but it's hard to do with a camera.

Perhaps the best illustration is what poor Tom had to do to get us out of there and back in the car in time to get to our Everglades excitement. Here he is, running out into the monsoon -- shirtless and with a bag over his head! It was the best we could do since the rain poncho was in the car. He was too fast for me to get better shots. :)






The rain continued off and on while we were on a tram trip through the Everglades at Shark Valley, but it didn't diminish our enjoyment of this very different countryside. First of all, it is a total prairie -- flat with tiny hillocks here and there. This is really a very slow moving river of fresh water and it supports all kinds of wildlife.



This is the road we took on the tram.


We were so fortunate to see quite a number of alligators. The tram would stop so we could get a good look before the alligator slid off the roadway and back into the water. They are quite shy and you have to be quick to get a photo.

This is a mother alligator and her open mouth suggests that she did not like our being around there one little bit.

We also saw a juvenile alligator, but it was in the weeds and I couldn't capture it at all.

So back to civilization! Most of these pictures were taken from the moving car, so the quality is not great, but the memories for me are really great!

Here's a "modest" little home along the road in West Palm Beach, but, there are hundreds of huge apartment buildings like those below. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people all living in little compartments in these huge 40 to 50 story buildings along the beach and along the road. We mused about what life would be like living in that environment. On the one hand, there are gorgeous views and interesting little stores and boutiques along the street in West Palm Beach. On the other hand, there are so many similar yet separated accommodations that it seems unlikely that a person could feel connected yet separate. I don't think it would be the lifestyle for me, but apparently it's what many, many people choose.

Some of the really upscale homes along the waterway have their own parking for boats while others have to use marinas and "boat parks".

Here's a much more modest home and a typical looking neighbourhood shopping center.

Palms can be seen everywhere along the roadways and highways. There are so many different kinds and sizes that it bears a little study -- something to do when I get home.