My last stop before a return to civilization was supposed to be Miami from where I was flying home, but after a week in NoLa I fancied getting away from the big city for a bit.
I flew into Miami but jumped straight onto a bus to one of the best hostels I stayed at during the whole trip! The hostel was set about an hour south of Miami on the edge of the Everglades National Park and was a great base for exploring both the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
After the heavy week I'd had in New Orleans I was ready to get out and about and do some exploring. The best was to explore the Everglades was on bicycle and luckily my hostel hired them out!
The Everglades although a fascinating wetland environment, by its nature has little shade and so the cycling was definitely warm in the 35 degree heat! Even so I managed to see some amazing wildlife including several wild alligators! Although by the most impressive thing I saw all trip the the biblical thunder store that chased me back...
So here is the gator:
and here is the storm...
I did make it into Miami for a day where I again hired and bike and cycled along Miami beach. I wasn't overly taken with Miami but I think a lot of that was just being sick of cities. All I could think of as I was winding my way through the marina full of multi-million pound yachts was Grand Theft Auto Vice City..... Which probably says more about me that about Miami!
All that was left now of my trip was a visit to the Florida Keys. I actually made the trip down twice. The first trip was to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo where as well as a key lime pie, a relaxing swim and a wander through the the amazing forests of mangroves, I booked a trip glass bottomed boat trip over the coral reef itself... something I missed out on in Australia.
The second trip on my last day was as far as I could make it down the Keys to Marathon where I spent my last day visiting a somewhat neglected Crane Park Museum and Nature centre which was a lovely way to end and amazing trip.
All that remained was one last bus trip back to Miami before the long flight back to London and real life.
So thats it, better late than never....
JT out
X
I flew into Miami but jumped straight onto a bus to one of the best hostels I stayed at during the whole trip! The hostel was set about an hour south of Miami on the edge of the Everglades National Park and was a great base for exploring both the Everglades and the Florida Keys.
After the heavy week I'd had in New Orleans I was ready to get out and about and do some exploring. The best was to explore the Everglades was on bicycle and luckily my hostel hired them out!
The Everglades although a fascinating wetland environment, by its nature has little shade and so the cycling was definitely warm in the 35 degree heat! Even so I managed to see some amazing wildlife including several wild alligators! Although by the most impressive thing I saw all trip the the biblical thunder store that chased me back...
So here is the gator:
and here is the storm...
I did make it into Miami for a day where I again hired and bike and cycled along Miami beach. I wasn't overly taken with Miami but I think a lot of that was just being sick of cities. All I could think of as I was winding my way through the marina full of multi-million pound yachts was Grand Theft Auto Vice City..... Which probably says more about me that about Miami!
All that was left now of my trip was a visit to the Florida Keys. I actually made the trip down twice. The first trip was to the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo where as well as a key lime pie, a relaxing swim and a wander through the the amazing forests of mangroves, I booked a trip glass bottomed boat trip over the coral reef itself... something I missed out on in Australia.
The second trip on my last day was as far as I could make it down the Keys to Marathon where I spent my last day visiting a somewhat neglected Crane Park Museum and Nature centre which was a lovely way to end and amazing trip.
All that remained was one last bus trip back to Miami before the long flight back to London and real life.
So thats it, better late than never....
JT out
X
