Days 6 & 7...
I'm writing this after I wrote Day 8, and because I haven't written in a coupla days. But mainly because since I've started chronicalling our vacation in South Florida, I sorta feel obligated to cover the whole thing, at least for me.
So I combined two days. Big deal, right?
We went alligator hunting on Friday. And lest you think most of this vacation has revolved around Cody, we did so because Cory wanted to see alligators. Cory has a fascination with alligators and sea turtles. Several years ago, Cory's grandfather and uncle began regailing him with stories of wild alligators they see regularly at their vacation home in Hilton Head. After several trips there ourselves, we have yet to see the same. In fact, for the most part, and to Cory's chagrin, our alligator sightings have been limited to visits to a place called the Crab Shack on Tybee Island, which not only sports maybe the best outdoor ambience of any restaurant I've ever visited, but also a bevy of captive alligators, which can be fed by the restaurant-goers. It's a must-visit for Cory.
So, being as we are so close to the Everglades, we went alligator hunting, the term "hunting" being used here lightly, as it consisted of us paying an airboat operation to take us and several other tourists less than a mile into the glades to see the wildlife.
To make a long story short, we REALLY enjoyed the experience, and we REALLY got to see some wild gators, to Cory's delight. But the alligator "wrangling" demonstration we got to see at the end as part of the package was really the coolest part, as a young, volunteer, bare-footed female did indeed wrangle a gator that was equal to, or even slightly bigger than, she was. When she started off her presentation by asking the on-lookers if we wanted her to wrestle a more calmer and experienced gator, or the more feisty, rambunctious gator, we, of course, cheered for the rambunctious choice, me thinking, "OK, she has to ask that to make it more interesting." Well, I can only believe that either she's telling the truth -- that indeed some were more tamer than others -- or that they're ALL feisty, and she just makes the comment for effect, because this was one grumpy gator.
And while she did all the same gator-wrangling tricks one often sees that seem somewhat hokey on TV, I can tell you that this particular gator was NOT interested in being wrangled. The small, young lady was in the pit by herself, with all of the other gators looking on, and she truly wrangled into submission this gator who was more interested in getting in the water. When you see some big bruiser climbing on the back of some gator and he gets his head chomped on, you're sorta pulling for the gator. But I found myself definitely rooting for the girl in this exchange, and I really enjoyed the show.
Later, at Cody's request (surprise) we went to Hooters in Ft. Lauderdale for his "birthday" dinner. (It's not until Monday.) I have to admit, for a restaurant, the ambience at Hooters isn't bad either. {Said the author, without a hint of sarcasm!}
That night, me and the boys went to see the new movie Argo. If you have not already, and you're sorta into political thrillers, go see this one. A very good movie revolving around the Iranian hostage crisis.
Yesterday, things got downright exciting as Campaign Romney has rolled into town. Turns out, Monday's presidential debate is just a few miles up the coast from us in Boca Raton, and Mitt and his team have arrived to prepare, and word is he is staying in the Marriott hotel which is literally one block away from us. US Coast Guard gun boats have been patrolling the shore line right in front of us since yesterday morning, intercepting any boats they deem are too close to the shoreline and ushering them further out to sea. Talk on the sidewalk last night was of the secret service snipers now perched on top of the hotel. We've seen the motorcade go by a couple of times. Kinda cool, really, except that I was planning to visit the roof of our own building before we left, and now I believe that excursion might be ill-advised. I will update you if I get to see the man I hope will be the next President of the United States.
Otherwise, we've been trekking out to get something to eat, and I can tell you the local community is very quaint and laid back. Delray Beach seems to get less attention than say, Boca Raton to the south and Boynton and Palm Beaches to the north, which makes it a nice place to hang out without huge amounts of people. The shops are small and reasonably priced, and within just a few miles, you'll find more of the national chains of shops and restaurants if that's what gets you going.
We leave in just a couple of days. It's gonna be hard to go. A guy could get used to a place like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment