14 years ago I visited Miami on our babymoon trip. Five months pregnant, I waddled my way through Ocean Drive, during a Hip Hop Conference in the city (who knows it’s a thing?), the ladies flooded Miami Beach in the tiniest bikinis and the biggest boobs, and the gents in convertible cars with music banging that I could feel my placenta was vibrating.
Fast forward, the baby I carried 14 years ago is now also strolling Miami Beach with me, standing a couple of cm taller than me 🤣 This is not good for my age awareness syndrome (maybe I should coin this term).
We decided to explore the Everglades National Park - with two things on our to-do list. To go on an airboat and to spot some gators in their natural habitat. Checked and checked.
The temperature in the Everglades during this time of the year is perfect. Not too hot (as in during the height summer) and it’s dry season. So we had the honor to be under the clear blue sky while walking the trail as well as while gliding our way in the swamp.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida calls the Everglade their home. Our airboat driver is part of the tribe. I am overly curious to hear his point of views of what the development around the Everglades meant for their tribe. As usual, there is more than meets the eye, and I am glad to hear this firsthand from a tribe member.
Back to our to-do list...the airboat was AMAZING! We stopped by a small island. In the old days the islands were covered by grass and were hidden from the main waterways. The tribes used to live and hide here, hide from the Americans.
Gators are quite easy to spot in the Everglades. I thought we had to walk in the swamp to spot them, but that’s not the case.
This guy was just gliding in the water quietly minding his own business. We also spotted baby gators along the trail. I know the mom is probably somewhere closeby 😅
After an amazing full day in the Everglades, the next day we ventured Miami Beach. It’s quite a chill place being oceanfront and all, and I didn’t at all feel overstimulated in all senses like in NYC, for example.
So chill that even with 7 police cars chasing (god knows what), then they all of a sudden stopped in front of the restaurant we had dinner at, but that didn’t budge anyone. All patrons but two ladies just stayed on their tables continued enjoying dinner. The two were in slight panic and moved inside the restaurant. Later on they came out again to grab their wines 😂 and went back in for safety.
We definitely didn’t hear much English being spoken here, unless for English speaking tourists. It definitelt feels like we were in a bigger version of Ciudad de Panamá. Love it!
Comments