The Florida Everglades

Today was Jude's 40th birthday and of all the things he could have done in Florida on his birthday he wanted to: 1. take an airboat ride around the Florida Everglades, and 2. relax at the pool for an hour or two with a beer or three.

So here is Marguerite in South Florida just before she embarked on Everglades adventure. At this stage she's thinking to herself, 'Are we bloody nuts doing this, will we live to tell the tale?'




So there were lakes nearer to the hotel they could have did an airboat ride on, but 'as usueral' (as Emma would say) Jude had did his research. He didn't want the wee piddly local lake, he wanted the Everglades, the wilderness, the real McCoy. Unfortunately for Henry the taxi driver, he had quoted $65 return trip in the belief that it was the local lake they were going to even though Jude emphasized, 'Are you sure squire, it's the Everglades we are going to not that toy lake down the road?' Henry's early morning chirpy smile soon disappeared when he realised the destination was somewhere between Miami and Tampa Bay and nowhere near the place he was used to carting dopey tourists too!!!! To his credit he insisted on sticking to the $65 quoted which was nice as this was easily a $150 trip.


Jude and Marguerite got parked up nice and early by nabbing a good seat at the back of the auld airboat. Poor Henry the taxi driver was kinda flustered at this stage as he was so far away from home/base he didn't know whether to come or go. However he was quite taken by the beauty of the scenery in the area.......so what did he do?......






...........he only parked himself up beside Jude and Marguerite and came on the Everglades trip too. There he is sitting beside Jude. He's on his mobile telling folk he can't pick them up because he's on an airboat in the Everglades. Folks you can't make this stuff up, it was funny. Marguerite and Jude obviously tipped him well that day and as they do have a little bit of a conscience they continued to use Henry for each taxi trip they used on their Florida holiday (and continued to tip him well). Good auld Henry, he was some craic!!!!


This place was spectacular. There were more bald eagles, storks, vultures and alligators than you could shake a stick at. Check out that stork flying across the middle of this pic.

The tour guide was a font of knowledge and he knew all the cool places to spot the wildlife.

Meanwhile Henry is on the mobile telling his missus, 'I'll not be home for lunch, I'm in the Everglades, yeah the bleeding Everglades, like near Miami, yeah seriously Miami like, I can't believe it either, like why would I be joking, listen to the roar of the boat woman, see you later'.

Marguerite looking cool, calm, collected, sophiscated, charming, beautiful, stunning.....ok that's enough...pass the bucket!!!!!











.....and then just a little windswept as the boat takes off at speeds up to 45 mph.....cool.







Marguerite being the culture vulture she is, really enjoyed the scenic surroundings. Here she is checking out this class tree growing out of the water with all those roots coming out over the water (for air!!!!).









Seeing alligators in their natural habitat was really cool. This one here was about 12 feet long and it really was quite a sight. You defintley did not want to dip yer wee toes into this water.

See ya later alligator!!!








Even just scooting around on the airboat was class. It was like a speedboat as it took the corners really fast.







The boats are designed to be flat underneath and propelled by a fan therefore meaning no wildlife or plants get damaged. The boat kept flying over these only to see it all emerge unscathed out the back.










Beep, beep!!!!!!












The Everglades trip was through the most beautiful wild lands and was certainly one to remember. Here the ferry/airboat thingy driver gives a wee wave.










It was full speed ahead to the finish as the tour neared it conclusion.













'Hey Jude, can I take this one home?'

'Jude do you think my da will be impressed when he finds out that I caught this alligator in the Everglades?'

'I think he will be Marguerite, that sure is one big alligator', replied Jude.

Suckin diesel!!!!! Later that day and good auld Henry has shipped Marguerite and Jude back to Disney. Jude worked up a thirst in the Everglades so he found this wee Irish spot for a nice glass of water and a bucket of Irish chips which were about as Irish as Budweiser (if you get what I mean).

Meanwhile Marguerite, Mickey and Minnie get aquainted.....

......before Jude joins in too.

The sign says 'Long haired freaky people need not apply'..........eh, sorry it actually says, 'Welcome to the Lake Buena Vista Palace'.

In this pic taken on the grounds of the hotel - let's play spot the Marguerite. Can you spot her?












The Lake Buena Vista Palce was a great spot altogether. Here is the view from the room of the pools, tennis court etc. The pool to the left was nicely heated so Jude took the opportunity of scooting down there every morning for a wee dip while Marguerite gently eased her self into the day.

So after the Everglades trip Marguerite asked Jude, 'What else do you want to do on your birthday then?' 'Sit around the pool and have a couple of beers', was Jude's response. So that is exactly what they did.


Check this out, sure it's enough to turn a funeral up an entry!!!!! What's he doing now? Is this a photo shoot for that new magazine, 'Rare Looking Men'? Is he waiting on a bus? Maybe it the afternoon beers making him act all weird. Sure he's like a pint of Guinness.....dark on bottom and white on top....... wha?

Jude 'Michael Phelps' dives in like a fish.

And this time he actually posing for a pic.

'Hey Marguerite, hurry up and take the pic, I can't possibly stand like this for much longer', shouts Jude.

Did I say Michael Phelps?

Marguerite invents a new version of the backstroke!!!!! It involves just laying there and looking at the sky while trying to get a tan.











Sure what else would ya be doing on a Monday afternoon in October? Marguerite relaxes in the pool.











The Lake Buena Vista hotel was in a perfect location as it overlooked Downtown Disney. Here is a late night view from the hotel room of Downtown Disney (with class shot of moon included free of charge).

The Disney World Florida trip also included a day at Universal Studios but unfortunately Jude drppoed the camera out of his pocket when doing a loop-de-loop on the huge Harry Potter roller coaster. Therefore as there are no pics of that day you'll just have to imagine it!!!!!! It was a great day though. What a muppet he is!!!!!