Inside the Park

Welcome to Everglades National Park! You've made it past the horrible Florida drivers and the ugly pavement wasteland that is US Rt 1, not to mention Homestead "We-Love-Fast-Food" Florida, and now it's time to enjoy the beauty and bounty of South Florida. So again, welcome:

Quickly after entering the park you will see some helpful signs to ensure you're safety on this adventure of yours:

But today we're going on the leisurely Anhinga Trail, located at the Royal Palm Visitor's Center, only a few miles into the park.

More helpful signs, creatively designed to translate for all our non-English speaking visitors. Do you need me to explain further?

Those aforementioned vultures, chillin':

And a baby alligator! So cute...but where's mommy? Eek...

The Anhinga trail is pretty relaxing, despite the heat, and for some reason the plank walkways remind me of Cape Cod. Weird, I know, but it was a beautiful day when I went so I decided to indulge in some landscape photography:

Please notice the dragonflies in the left upper corner of this image (double click to enlarge). Dragonflies are your best friends in the Everglades because they are plentiful and keep the nasty mosquitos away.
Could be in the Cape, no?

Oh wait, swamp instead of sand...

But still pretty.
A bird. At this point, I'm getting desperate for some interesting wildlife to show you all up North (and yes, at this point, you're all up North from where I'm currently located).

Still pretty, but give me something good Everglades! I need to show the folks...BAM!
An alligator! Right below my feet!

I decided to follow him, all stealthy, on the boardwalk. Thankfully no one else was around cause I was creeping like a mad Pink Panther movie...

He was on the move...

Sorry, I got a little carried away with my following.

So here I am all excited to have found some up close alligator action for ya, when a family of four rounds the corner complaining about not seeing any alligators:

Me: Look! There's one!

Mom: Look honey...

Dad: *Stupid alligator call*

Kid 1: One? There's only one...there were like 200 of them here last month. *gives me a look that says my enthusiasm is pathetic*

Kid 2: Yea.

Dad: *Stupid alligator call*

I decided to continue on my way...and so did the alligator.

While walking back I spotted this funny looking bird, name to be determined. He was eating:

And the poor fish tried to get away but to no avail.

And then, I think this might be the coolest thing I saw all day...swam away! Looking for some more food.

So, that was my little walk. Thanks for coming along with me. More to come including my wild night of python cruising in the Everglades, snorkeling off of Key Largo, sunset kayaking and much more!