Florida: a very special travel. United States

By Luca, Sabrina and Federico

 

Linked to a strange destiny once again (the fourth in the last five years!) April 21 leaving for a vacation ...
... The alarm clock rings early, shortly after 4:00, and it would be a problem getting up ... if it were not for the start of a journey. The adrenaline runs to our aid, and the last things in place, after breakfast with an unusual dark to make it even dominates over the window, arrive on time to take the grandparents to accompany us to the airport.
At 4:58 we leave the house with destination Miami and Florida then! ... For us it is a welcome return in the States, after the fantastic "Europe Tour" of two years ago, even those with negl'occhi fantastic scenery of rocks that we know, this time not meet, but we are sure, the United will again be surprised ... Somehow, then, is a return to Miami, since the call last year that led us, after troubled history, the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Florida, however, still falls short when, a quarter of an hour after departure, take the highway in Faenza, following the dispatch tape of asphalt to the north ... and, given time, everything smooth line, so at 5:52 we are in front of Bologna Marconi airport, suitcases in hand, ready to face this new adventure.
Greeted our escorts safe cross the doors of the airport Felsinea and loaded the luggage directly to Miami, past the metal detector and we get to wait in front of the door number 15, then almost immediately realize a mistake about our tickets, because the flight, in fact, is departing the 21st
The wait is short and, despite a slight delay should not create problems, about half an hour after the estimated time c'imbarchiamo flight AF 2329 that at 8:00 o'clock away from the earth at a time in Paris.
The Airbus A318 of Air France share rooms quickly and soon the parade route snowy Alps facing the immense lands of France, so about an hour after departure, we spotted under the capital with transalpine, nitidissima, the Eiffel Tower, which stands a short distance from the winding course of the Seine. Almost simultaneously falls into your cart and we have to slow down our racing on one of the many tracks of Charles de Gaulle.
Landed at Terminal "F" will move quickly to the "C", putting into practice all of our experience with this airport (which I did not save but a clumsy and disastrous fall from the shuttle ... and the resulting figuraccia!). Beyond the customs and, again, the metal-detector and arrived, without time to throw, at the door C87, while the operations are beginning boarding.
We put ourselves in line and wait a while, climb on the giant Boeing 747 of Air France that, in slight delay, at 11:29 a.m., take part, identified as flight AF 090, with destination Miami.
We are located, unfortunately, in the central file and we can not look out the window, thereby making the journey a little 'more boring ... Meanwhile, the system clock on the time in Florida (six hours behind) and in a moment, we are again, at the dawn of this long day.
The journey is endless: the navigator of the first edge over the Azores Islands and later the infamous Bermuda ... and Federico, spazientito, calls are increasingly lacking as yet on arrival. Tap the Bahamas, with clearly visible beyond the window in the aircraft tail, the whiskers gauge Eleuthera and shortly after, at 14:36 local happily landed at MIA (The Miami International Airport).
We address all the formalities with a little 'fear, the problems which occurred just over a year ago in front of these benches, which led us to lose the connection to the Virgin Islands, but everything is fine, and found healthy and save with our suitcases, a car with Alamo we go to pick up the car booked from the house.
Resolved, without discussion, a small incident on the starting price, finally, on board a magnificent and colossal Suv GMC Envoy gold (U75 targato 1FF) towards the center of Miami ... Still there believe we are really on the streets of Florida ... is only one of 51 states that make up that enormous country that is the United States of America, but for this holiday, there will be enough.
Disorientation still wrong direction and lose some 'time, as the sun leaves behind a large Nuvolone, just past the bridge that crosses the lagoon coast, we come to Miami Beach that is now almost 19:00.
Decreasing the first lights of evening, and fortunately not much use to find the Rodeway Inn South Beach, we will host for the first two nights of this trip ... We take possession in our room, we leave the car in a multistorey car park nearby and leave the place at first sight appears attractive, though very busy. Let's take a short walk in the pedestrian Española Way, a dinner with ice cream and then run to bed ... are almost briefcase that we are standing and Sabrina, but especially Frederick began to accuse the coup ... Tomorrow we visit Miami Beach, high gloss of that sleep will return.

Due to fatigue accumulated yesterday the time zone we can say now, already completely digested: we get up shortly after 7:00 with the sound of the alarm and, consumed breakfast on the basis of American muffin, a few minutes after 8:00, can we officially start the exploration of Florida.
First we begin to look around us in Miami Beach, an island located about three miles off the main line of coast, the most famous and representative of the city ... and to think that less than one hundred years ago was just a little unhealthy and hospitable, as long as the owner, that John Collins, made the right funding, decided to reclaim and launch it in some way to tourism. It was finally "thanks" to a hurricane, which in 1926 destroyed all the buildings in wood, which is why we began to build houses with reinforced concrete structure and style then in fashion: the so-called Art Deco.
The Art Deco District, which includes a fifty blocks in the southern part of Miami Beach, is a succession of buildings (about 1200), more or less interesting, characterized by the typical pastel colors, which have helped create some of the best known and recurring images of the city ... and we enjoy them in peace almost unreal early morning hours, when the area still nap, having consumed once a night rhythms frenatici.
Walk down Washington Avenue, noting among other things the original circular building of the Miami Post Office, arrived at the bottom and rises along the famous Ocean Drive, storm of local fashion that are slowly awakening from the torpor in which still are.
Parking in front of one of the most famous buildings: the Versace Mansion, strangely not palace art deco, purchased in 1992 by famous Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace who lived for five years until the date of his assassination, which took place right on the white staircase that gives Access to the villa ... and after the obligatory photos we prepare to walk to the beach.
We pass next to the Beach Patrol Station, another construction feature, especially when viewed from the side in the sea, and walking quietly until we reach the shore in the ocean today rather rough and not attractive, but nothing special if it were not for the setting, with the parade of skyscrapers in the distance and the most classic and colorful of positions for lifeguards in the foreground to give a touch to the whole American panorama, enhanced inter alia by a sky more smooth than ever ... God is there is a beautiful sun and a nice fan that mitigates the temperature, we are also on holiday and this definitely helps to put in a good mood.
Let's go back to your aim and, this time, the continent: we leave Miami Beach, passing beside the American Airlines Arena, where the team plays basketball the NBA Miami Heats (they have a witness of a gigantic basketball player Shaquille O'Neil known that occupies much of the facade) and Soon to Downtown: characterized by tall skyscrapers (and many others under construction).
Parking around Bayfront Park and go up from here on metromover: a kind of elevated subway. Following the line Downtown Loop so we suggestively around the downtown Miami to a certain height, enjoying views of daring ... a convenient and unique way to enjoy Downtown, among other completely free! We make two full turns and after a walk to Bayfront Park, a relaxing garden on the banks of the lagoon, climb back to self so as to continue the visits scheduled for today.
Let's go a little further south and, across the bridge of Rikenbaker, landed on the island of Key Byscane. Then along the road that we come across, the extreme southern tip, at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park to spend some 'time in the beach, which is characterized by white Cape Florida Lighthouse (historic lighthouse built in 1845).
The beach, with some seaweed too, is not exceptional, and the water is not the best that can be desired but at least has a pleasant temperature and we can enjoy a cooling bath.
For lunch we move the shade degl'alberi located behind the beach and there oziamo for a while 'everything is going for the best, and there is only a bit of apprehension causes trouble to a foot of Sabrina ... and is not just seen our style of vacation, far from sedentary.
Be the scongiuri due to the afternoon, we move a few kilometers further north to Crandon Park Beach, which had good early signs from home ... in fact, the beach, dotted with palm trees, is beautiful. You can not say the same thing but water, turbid and full of algae ... but we came to Florida for the beautiful sea!
Let degl'alberi shade all afternoon, trying more than anything else, away from the stressful daily routine and tranquility of the place, and the appropriate size vacation until just after 18:00 when, without haste, we collect all our stuff and begin to return to Miami Beach.
Ripasso facing the American Airlines Arena while you are accessing many fans ... program will be in a game. Indeed, at the Rodeway Inn turn the TV and see who is about to begin the match play-off to Miami Heats-Chicago Bull ... fell just one day after our arrival but we already feel a little 'as adopted ... Miami strength!
For dinner we eat a pizza in the spartan room located under the hotel, then give us four steps to the Lincoln Road pedestrian, who in the fifties was seen as the way to more elegant shops of America after New York ... today no longer is, but it's been a interesting and full of life.
After an hour of walking, tired, drag us into the room. E 'stata una bella giornata, full of interesting ideas, the climate at this time of year is delightful as he had expected, in most Miami has won 111 to 106 ... and if the good days you can see from the Florida morning will be, we believe, a very pleasant experience.

We wake up in a semi Miami, since the public holiday. We do breakfast, put luggage and depart for our tour on the road in Florida.
We leave behind Miami Beach and Downtown passing again to take to follow the Interstate number 1 south. Beyond the deviation on the left, which leads to Key Byscane and, crossing the vast southern suburbs of Miami, we come in sight for Florida City, then the vast swamps that are the prelude to the Keys.
The Florida Keys are a chain of more than ten thousand small islands (of which only about fifty inhabited) which protendono the southernmost tip of the state, south-west, for over one hundred miles (160 kilometers) to only ninety miles away from Cuba
Crossed the lagoon of Barnes Sound, the Interstate number 1 arrives on the first island, one of the largest: Key Largo ... and here we put ourselves in search of John Pennekamp State Park, the state park that can be considered as the natural springboard for the Florida Reef, a large reef located a few miles off the coast.
Found the entrance and buy the ticket now we head to the visitor center, so as to take information about the trips of the day: there is no place for the tour of snorkelling 12:30, then we pay the salatissima participation (including the rent fins), and after a quick look to the small aquariums and adjacent museum, we put ourselves in expectation of the nearby beach (definitely ugly!) ... Right time to make a snack and then we move towards the point of embarkation to climb, some minutes later, at the El Capitan, the vessel that will accompany us on the barrier.
First cross-channel lined by thick mangroves, and a beautiful stretch of sea and we arrive, after nearly an hour browsing at the point under consideration, where the water, a few miles from the coast marshes, it is nice and transparent.
We do not pray and wore the equipment off the boat before reaching the reef with a short swim ... Conformations meet many beautiful coral and many colorful fish, as well as a huge barracuda that it is building near a rock, ready to take its deadly trap: a truly beautiful backdrop, full of life ... not so much of the Red Sea, but still good for the Caribbean area. So pleased we return after half an hour on board plenty of snorkelling and around until 15:00 berths at the point of departure, concluding that un'escursione be the most positive.
Lunch, even if the time is somewhat 'unusual, and then take the street: we all Key Largo, meeting the classic "School Bus" gialli are withdrawing children from school, then Islamorada and lower Matecumbe, Long Key and Fiesta , with the ribbon of asphalt that, skipping from one island to another, sometimes it is suggestive. Layton, and beyond, finally we reach the island of Marathon, where we take accommodation at the Holiday Inn Marina ... I am just past 17:00: There are no beaches around interesting and we decide to spend some 'time in the hotel pool, to the delight of Frederick that can satisfy his indomitable will to the bathroom.
Later we go out for dinner to eat Conch Frittes, un'appetitosa specialty of Keys, in a restaurant by the sea (which, according to some photos on display, no more than eight months ago was half a hurricane), then there come back in a rest room, meditating on how good we have seen today.

In preparation for a day is anything but difficult, then we get up slowly and, after a good breakfast at the Holiday Inn, take the road to the southern tip of the Keys and then to Key West, its capital.
We wander across the island of Marathon, and we follow the incredible Seven Mile Bridge, the longest bridge of the Keys, opened in the early eighties ... suggestive, but not as much that the old, inaccessible for the most part, runs parallel to the new: its construction, in fact, occurred between 1908 and 1912, for those times was a titanic and cost the lives of about seven hundred workers !
The Seven Mile Bridge to find us land on the small island of Bahia Honda and here, in the State Park, we pause for a few hours in what is considered the best beach in the Keys and one of the most beautiful of the United States, although quest'immenso country must not be famous for the quality of its beaches.
Situated between the old and the new bridge made out of number 1, the beach is spectacular and the sea inviting enough ... certainly is not a day-dream, but it is good enough to earn the half day that we wanted to dedicate.
Now is not high season for these places and you see all around us because there will be no more than twenty people ... all, of course, to the benefit of peace, which combined with the delightful atmosphere of the end of April to allow us to pass moments of complete relaxation and healthy, seasoned by some nice bath ... Thus, during his stay in Bahia Honda, we know two Italian boys who work at Disney World and then to Orlando, our next destination, but are rather unpleasant and gives no advice nor still less any discounts and welcome.
Time passes quickly and abundantly exceeded noon give us our usual "juicy" lunch of sandwich, and then, after a short walk along the old bridge number 1, take the ribbon of asphalt to the southernmost point of this trip .
In short we arrive on the island of Big Pine, and from there, following a deviation, a No Name Key (the island is disturbing Without name!), Where the No Name Pub, a restaurant that has a special feature: the walls and are hung on the ceiling, next to one another, an infinite number of notes from a dollar left over time by customers who have attended ... a recent count, there seems to be about sixty thousand! ... Only touched by the idea of disconnect everything and take it in the bank, sipping a refreshing drink while you enjoy the unusual scene, and then return to grinding miles in the direction of Key West.
Around 17:00 we arrive in the capital of what after strange events in the early eighties, for a short period of time, self Conch Republic ... then everything is deflated and the site became one of the most touristic of the U.S..
Reach, a short distance from downtown, the Best Western Hibiscus, we will host for this night, and Frederick I immediately rushed into the pool to consume a cooling bath, before returning to the room to prepare for the evening.
Leave while you are lighting the warm colors that herald the twilight ... and here the atmosphere is kind of the Caribbean, did nothing but enhance. We all Duval Street, the bustling main street, lined with typical colonial-style buildings and a large number of local shops, until you reach the perfect time, at Mallory Square ... E 'in this square and on the mole that is consumed near the celebration of sunset, a kind of ritual started by hippy negl'anni sixty, which is repeated every evening.
Fire eaters and acrobats show damage until it enters the scene the main character: everything stops and an almost unreal silence the solar disk dives into the sea burning ideal curtain ... are moments of great charm, until the last piece does not disappear below the horizon, triggering a loud applause that puts the chills ... The jugglers then resume their activities, which mainly attracts the children ... and Richard is no exception.
A fatigue can distract from the small number of entertainment, but we must do it because you're doing late ... Dinner in a very crude but, personally, I welcome with hot dog and chips in Duval Street, and then we stop to buy the typical Key Lime (lemon cake to Key West), which taste the latest in hotel, at the end of the long traipsing down putting the word to an end the day, at a place within the boundaries of the real world, suspended between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.

And 'gentle wake up at Key West ... We breakfast on the poolside of the Best Western and then we start (this time by car, given the size of the town) to complete the tour of the capital of the Conch Republic.
To begin let's take pictures of the house to the south of Florida and the southernmost point of the United States ... here is much closer to Cuba Miami! Let's make a quick tour of the Bahamian Village, full of old houses and chickens that roam freely (proud descendants of the fighting cocks vintage colonial ... actors in a relatively recent past), then we look at the miles of Interstate number zero 1 (significant reference map), and after that we stop in front of what was, for a long period, the home of Ernest Hemingway: undisputed ambassador literature overseas.
We visit the house that was acquired by Hemingway in 1931, still has the original furniture and the atmosphere in which the writer conceived some of his most famous novels (in head-to-all "The Old Man and the Sea") ... Observe its study, which is reached via a bridge of rope today is no more, and the garden, where stands the pool, the first built in Key West, for the love of Pauline, the last of his four wives ... All scorazzano fifty cats, descendants of the original kept by the well known character among the few who stand out with six claws per paw, a characteristic genetic distinction, a witness of the era in which the felines, the founders of this particularity, lived at side of the writer.
Left the house we see, on the other side of the road, the old lighthouse in Key West, one of the first made in Florida (in 1847) and still running, then follow the ways in which, given time, are beginning to move typical bus tour, we slowly return to the hotel.
We arrive at the Best Western in time for the check-out times of 11:00 and, after you spend some fuel and routine, it's almost noon when we leave behind us the bizarre and magical Key West, which will remain unquestionably the most south of our journey, and an indelible memory.
The Keys are really long to go all in one go: Big Pine and beyond, leaving the right of the Bahia Honda State Park, the stunning face palificata the Seven Mile Bridge. Crossed in full Marathon also stop a little later for lunch, on the seashore, to Islamorada and once broken, in the afternoon, we overcome Key Largo and also regained the mainland at Florida City and arrived around 15:30.
We put ourselves in search of the Travelodge, we will host for the night, and no small brigade to find it, losing a good half hour, then left the luggage in the room, starting with concern to the north.
Verging on the outskirts of Miami and take the road number 41 (the Tamiami Trail) heading west: the ribbon of asphalt running north on the edge of the Everglades National Park, one of the most interesting wetlands of America, and it is from here that leave most of the trips Airboat, those strange boats to move around with a huge outdoor water propeller viewed until now only on television.
Walk a few miles and we stop at Coopertown Airboat Unfortunately, the sun disappears behind a sudden and big Nuvoloni. I go to seek information and vigorously apostrophe come from folk character who is on the bench when I was sincere about the presence or otherwise of crocodiles ... "No ... crocodile alligator," I answered him almost offended ... but this is enough to convince me.
Photographed a sad alligator that is in the cage near the parking lot, take part in the tour by that strange means of transport, and browsing in a small canal, just a reptile encounter, this time free, with gl'inquietanti eyes and the profile of emerging from the muzzle of hair ... With ear plugs (since the deafening noise) we unleashed then nell'emozionante run through Shark Valley, also known as "River of glass" (the river of grass), something that recalls in its immense rice. Then, along narrow canals, we encounter many marsh birds and other alligators and, after about half an hour, we return to the starting point, certain that he lived, in many ways, un'irripetibile experience.
At the end of everything "Mister Alligator" gives us the opportunity to hold a puppy of those notorious reptile ... first Frederick (coraggiosissimo) takes it in her arms, then I, but not Sabrina, very scared.
Satisfied with the day we return in peace to Florida City, as the sun does not want to know to get back into the open.
In the evening dinner from Pizza Hut with the formula throughout the U.S. "All you can eat" (fixed price and you eat everything you want!), Then we go to sleep: tomorrow we will try to get up early in anticipation of the longest stage the trip.

Fortunately, he returned to a beautiful sun shine, so good, now we get up and made breakfast we leave the Travelodge, with all the baggage, proceed directly to the interior of the region.
Walk ten miles and then enter nell'Everglades National Park, established after troubled history in 1947 by President Truman, in order to preserve at least part of the extensive wetlands in southern Florida, with a delicate ecosystem and a extraordinary biological wealth.
It 'always a good emotion to enter into a large natural park American immediately perceived the order and the ultimate respect for the environment, while the feeling is that nothing, truly nothing, is left to chance.
A single paved road runs within dell'Everglades National Park, the number 9336, running along the short in which we come in sight of the Royal Palm Visitor Center: depart from there a couple of tracks including the Anhinga Trail, what should be the best ever.
Given the time (they are just past 8:00) there are no other tourists besides us and a few bird watchers if they are affixed silently, holding their huge teleobbiettivi ... so just begun the journey we encounter many birds, not at all frightened, are closer and photograph, while in water, a few meters away, several alligators swim undisturbed.
Later the track unravels some wooden walkways that are forward in the swamp and the spectacle put on stage by nature is extraordinary ... seems to live inside a documentary, there are only the background of musichetta relaxed and calm remarks by Piero Angela. The stagnant water around us are all a swarming life, with fish jumping and disturbing shapes of alligators silently advancing ... arranca a large turtle on the shore with difficulty, whereas among the vegetation surrounding fly hundreds of birds, sometimes intent to tend the little ones, which are tenderly pigolanti head from their nest.
We are both long and justifiably nell'Anhinga Trail, which alone may be worth a trip in the Everglades, and then we will venture in nearby Gumbo Limbo Trail. The path this time s'insinua among the dense vegetation (the Gumbo Limbo is a tree typical of the park) and scenographically is not comparable to its neighbor, but we see a snake slipping away a few meters in front of our steps and this is sufficient to make the experience positive.
Heading in the car and observed some signs that warn about the presence of the puma, we follow the main road of the park to the small deviation that leads to Pay Hay-Okee Overlook, in practice un'altana ranging sull'immenso Sea ' grass of Everglades: a fascinating sight, pity only that, given the dry season, most of the marshes have been drained completely, of course, to the detriment of the presence of fauna.
We move further ahead, while many clouds have appeared and now the sun comes and goes, and we arrive at Mahogani Hammock Trail ... The hammock, characteristic of the Everglades, are formed where the land is only a few centimeters higher than the water and are a kind of islands covered with dense vegetation ... This trail, fairly impressive, with some walkways s'inoltra inside a hammock to explore it completely, but even here the lack of water is crucial because it probably does not encounter any animal, even the spiders for which the place must be famous.
All along the ribbon of asphalt we come finally to Flamingo, at the point where this ends here: it is only the visitors center and a small marina, so it holds nothing more than the time needed to make a quick reversal and return the march.
Going back to the entrance of the park we stop at West Lake, a body of water color of mud, surrounded by vast mangrovieti, in which we set forth upon the middle of a short trail, then along the lake we stop for lunch, surrounded by a silence and in peace almost unreal ... high season is really over and around us there is no living soul ... fantastic!
Completely free from stress, just before 13:00, we must return to the street because there are still almost five hundred kilometers to the end of the stage ... Let soddisfatissimi the Everglades, with not more than three bites of the mosquito (a success having regard to the reputation of the place), and we strive resolutely to the north. Miami bypassed and pass that back into the last day of vacation, and we are in the town of Fort Lauderdale, little further along the coast.
Rank highly the "Venice of America" (as someone calls it) is not denied, and the dense network of canals, built in the twenties where there was a mangrove swamp, is now dotted with elegant villas, before which millionaires are moored yacht: a long and embellished by beautiful avenues of palms.
Dedicated a moment of attention (mostly due) to Fort Lauderdale just come back on the motorway and continue north, to exit shortly after in the town of Lake Worth ... From here we reach the coast and we to follow, meeting more and more houses are a real insult to misery, reaching nell'aristocratica town of Palm Beach, elected as of the end of the nineteenth century, a favorite refuge of personality the richest in America ... The village is indeed a living room built-measure for its unique inhabitants and us, to tell the truth, we do not feel comfortable in our own, just shoot some photos, just in time before it goes the sun, and then "escaped", because you're doing later.
Half hour later, while we proceed along the Highway number 95, are locked in the "Universal Deluge" ... nothing wrong, because the day, practice is over, we still over two hundred kilometers, and arrive for the evening in the town of Cocoa, where we take accommodation in local Best Western.
We wash quickly and then leave for dinner from Denny's (a good chain of fast-food), and tired but very happy of extraordinary experiences in this very long Wednesday of April, there we go to rest the members ... never pay the daily wonders that Florida offers.

As announced by the television news in the sky this morning surf some cloud too, but do not despair because, over time, could only improve and witness of this stand out in the distance already broad flashes of serene.
We stand up calmly: we spend and then fuel, flanking a folkloric sections of the whole tower painted with the colors of the American flag and following the Interstate number 1 to the north, we come across a scene rather unusual, at least for us Europeans. Beside the highway the Sheriff oversees two prisoners, identified dagl'indumenti with the classic blue and white stripes, which, at the foot ball and shovel in hand, performing some maintenance work ... below three prison to collect the waste side of the road ... an attitude towards those who, for good reason, must pay a penalty that we would do well to import!
Traveled a few miles on number 1, the latest turn right along the bridge leading to Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center ... is a drawbridge and you're lifting to get some sailing boats, so we stop and while waiting Sabrina identifies some dolphins that swim freely in the lagoon ... Unexpectedly, however, an expectation that extends down only because the opposite lane of the bridge and not our ... is incredible: we are going in the most technological of the world and we are blocked by a drawbridge that does not want to know your close! ... After 45 minutes the police must intervene with order flow is the traffic lane passable and we can finally get to the Kennedy Space Center ... What emotion!
From this place, universally known, left all the major U.S. space missions, including that in 1968 brought the man on the moon, and NASA emblem attached to the flag stars and stripes, which we welcome to the Visitor Complex, are two indelible icons in the history of the world.
Purchased the ticket Maximum Access, and you enter the front door we go now to visit the Space Shuttle ... does not seem real, it seems only a faithful reconstruction and is the original! ... Then we go to see a good movie in three dimensions on the International Space Station and exit, after a quick lunch, we pass through all the pieces of suggestive Rocket Garden, among which, in addition to many epic carriers, stands out the gangway through which walked Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins before embarking on the flight that brought them to land on the moon.
In the afternoon we approach the tour bus that leads to the discovery of the basic pass near the colossal Vehicle Assembly Building, one of the largest buildings in the world (through its doors leaving the Space Shuttle already in an upright position, ready for departure!). .. We see the inordinate platforms and mechanical crawler tracks on which they travel when transporting the spacecraft to the areas of launch and more distance, the ramp from which, with huge boat, the man for nearly half a century to win a regular part of the universe .
We stop at the section on the Saturn V and Apollo missions ... impressive are the size of the missile that brought the man on the moon: exactly twice height of a Space Shuttle, so we wonder how such a pile of iron fly!
On the way back to the Visitor Complex will also find an alligator (reptiles are home to the Kennedy Space Center and are not hard to see), so there is still time for another movie in three dimensions (relating to land on the moon) and for a small show devoted to children (Mad Mission to Mars): nice, but we expected something completely different.
At 18:00 o'clock (using all the time available to us) leave from the Visitor Complex, then resumed the road in the morning, we overcome the drawbridge (which in the meantime had repaired) and we stop all'Astronaut Hall of Fame, including The price of the ticket, which closes at 19:00. Here are preserved some relics and some interesting game.
An hour passes quickly: leave the Hall of Fame and we follow the road that runs in the direction of Orlando, while in the distance we see a big fire that darkened much of the sky ... Fortunately it is not our way and after a few miles we let him hit behind going into the goal.
We arrived in the town of Kissimee, south of Orlando, near the dark and take accommodation at Rodeway Inn Main Gate, which will see its guests for the next three nights ... We are a short distance from Walt Disney World, we'll see tomorrow, and if Richard is in seventh heaven together for now we enjoy the unforgettable day just ended and we go out for dinner that are almost 22:00 by ihop, a ' other chain that offers good food at good discrete prices.

Exactly one week from start of this journey we wake up in the sky more blue than ever in Florida and after a providential breakfast catapulted us to Disney World ... For children one day will return, but, above all, satisfied Frederick (our child for all intents and purposes), which no longer lies in the skin by the joy and can not wait to cross the gates of his world of dreams.
Walt Disney World is great, in fact extends over an area of 11,200 square kilometers (a small county) and includes within it four major theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom), and a pair children and numerous resort ... We decide to see Magic Kingdom, the first historic park built in Florida (in 1971) and the second ever after that of Los Angeles in California: what we believe is the best, but especially so because we choose what we think is best suited to our nature ... One thing is certain: you can not visit all, provided that it is not the kind of maniacs, but rather if you do not want to spend a little capital in a few days, because they are far from the economy, despite some cumulative bids.
A few minutes after the 9:00 crossing the gate, but the toll (highway type) input ... The parking lots are vast and fortunately, judging by the flow of vehicles, now appear not to fill, despite the swarm of people at the park is impressive.
Traveled a monorail and paid "only" $ 63 (each) of the ticket we have, with great emotion, at the beginning of Main Street, the fabulous main street of the Magic Kingdom, at the bottom of which stands the unmistakable Cinderella Castle , so often seen in photographs or on television.
A short walk along the path leads us, in the heart of the park, in view of the attraction, we decide to deal, on the advice of the guide, clockwise, to avoid as much as possible the long waiting ... I do not know whether through suggestion or by pure chance but the first file that we face are really short. We see in the "Swiss Family Tree House" (a fanciful house in the trees), the "Jungle Cruise" (a nice boat trip in the jungle) and "Pirate of the Caribbean" (Reconstruction, really well made, the legendary pirate world), this in relation to the area of the park called Adventureland.
Therefore access to Frontierland, and only approached by the "Splash Mountain" (Sabrina and Frederick did not have heard, but dropped the final descent is a walk and leaving only a little 'wet), convinced the small to follow, not before a fast visit all'intrigante "Tom Sawyer Island", on "Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road" ... is the baptism of a roller coaster for him! ... and at the end says it is fun, but do not see the face convinced!
We move to Liberty Square and see the "Hunted Mansion" (the house of the spirits): in many ways fascinating, but Frederick did not welcome and the party has dealt with closed eyes.
Here we are in Fantasyland: we are dedicated first and foremost to "It's a Small World" (one of the first historical attractions, simple but really funny), then book with the Fast Pass "Peter Pan Flight" and we look at the cartoon in 3D " Mickey's Phillarmagic "... nothing short of fantastic! ... Finally we leave and have lunch, and in harmony with the environment, with hot dogs, coca cola and ice cream (something that would horrify a no-global).
Refresh properly we rely on the fly and reached Tomorrowland taking part in the "Buzzy's Light year Space Ranger Spin" (a path that points to be crazy like a Federico) and when we run onto Main Street, because I am almost 15:00 and it is time of the traditional parade "Share a Dream Come True Parade" ... very nice! Parade one after another all the more famous Disney characters from Mickey Mouse to Alice, from Aladdin to the Seven Dwarfs, and Pippo, Pluto, Donald Duck, Pinocchio, Cruella, Cinderella, Beauty and, of course, the Beast ... a party for children (more or less grown up) all over the world!
After the parade we give, finally, the "Peter Pan Flight", booked in the morning ... nothing special, then "Snow White's Scary Adventure" (a quiet trip to the fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs).
Fantasyland we finally left at "Mickey's Toontown Fair, the city of Mickey Mouse, to see the lovely home of the most famous rodent in the world and his girlfriend Minnie ... and it is precisely here that Federico can snatch an autograph and a picture in the company of legendary Pluto!
There is still time to complete the tour of Tomorrowland, and accompany the little first in the 'Indy Speedway "(they are always welcome children to the miniature racing cars), then on" Tomorrow Transit Authority "(a futuristic train trivial) and" Stitch's Great Escape "(an attraction of which we understood little or nothing), finally, while I enjoy two breathtaking turns on" Space Mountain "(a roller coaster splashing at full speed in almost complete darkness), and Sabrina Federico do on a "Buzzy's Light year Space Ranger Spin."
After all, unfortunately we can not see the famous fireworks exploded in the background of the Cinderella Castle is at 19:00, after ten intense hours, we must leave the Magic Kingdom, because it closes its doors ... and the baby, tireless comments with one word: "Even ?!...", us instead we are exhausted, but happy day, we conclude that, a little later, by
Pizza Hut, in front of a "sticky" plate of pasta with tomato sauce ... A small culinary blasphemy, but effective to appease the hungry.

We give a waived without excessive haste, because the theme park Sea World, we visit today, does not open its doors before 9:00 am and is located a few miles away from our hotel.
A few minutes after the above time brings us nell'enorme complex parking lot in front of the famous attractions of Orlando, after Disney World, and also paid here salatissimo ticket ($ 62 each), cross your entrance gate.
Close to the lake and the flamingos and turtles arrive, following the swarm of people, the Sea Lion & Otter Stadium, where we see room for the first of the shows scheduled ... The Clyde & Seamore Take Pirate Island "is a funny show that revolves around a few sea lions and various sea-lions, we see, then, even in the" Pacific Point Preserve, "the reconstruction of their natural environment.
Without perder time then we run the Whale & Dolphin Theater in order to attend the "Blue Horizon", a wonderful show with dolphins gl'inimitabili, whose intelligence and sympathy far more than the other inhabitants of the sea, even when, shortly after, li we eat while we look at "Dolphin Cove" and, playing, splashing us abundantly.
After a personal cooled big slide in the attraction called "Journey to Atlantis" go together to the Seaport Theater to see "Pets Ahoi!", An amusing spectacle of trained animals (especially dogs and cats) and in the end, while Sabrina and Federico have lunch with a nice ice cream, I let loose on "Kraken" breathtaking roller coaster.
What we do penguins in Florida? ... And 'what we ask when, in the early afternoon, we visit the "Penguin Encounter", before taking a stroll in the park waiting for the next show at the Nautilus Theater (nice but a little' boring).
As the sky goes slowly incupendo we explore the "Shark Encounter" (always fascinating sharks), and then, after a stop in the bar at the foot of the Sky Tower (a symbol of the park, now closed because the troublesome wind, not so hot blowing from the north), we move towards dell'Atlantis Bayside Stadium, where we see little later, dell'accattivante show called "Fusion" with plungers, skiing and acrobatic evolutions with reckless personal watercraft.
Finished this show we visit the beautiful hall of "Wild Artic", with white bears and huge walrus, in addition to rare beluga (a cetacean albino) and exit, when I now 18:00 we still have to see one show, at Shamu Stadium, the most representative: that the killer whales ... Great! ... Although, perhaps the first party of the evening shadows and the expectations too high, basically, the bottom has a little 'disappointed ... Or will the tiredness, two parks in two days! ... We are a 'proven ... Who knows how many Americans will spend an entire week in Orlando! ... We leave the area tomorrow, to love, happy, but it is time to change music! ...
Return to the Rodeway Inn and later leave for a pizza (from Pizza Hut of course) and then, finally found the automobile license plates in Florida, which will add to our collection, we return in the room to rest, because tomorrow we have several miles ahead, and hopefully another beautiful day.

With care we prepare to return to the road, because we are one of the longest stages of the journey ... it seems, however, we are witnessing the beautiful weather: the sky is completely covered by fog and blowing un'antipatica also a rather cold wind.
We leave the hotel to the north along Highway 4, past the center of Orlando, that only forty years ago was a quiet country town and now, thanks to tourism, has become a metropolis, and continue right on the banks of the Atlantic Ocean, to arrive, just to the south of Daytona Beach in Ponce Inlet.
We follow the coastal road, lined with holiday homes in which they detach large verandas wrapped in thick mosquito nets (there must be periods of the year in which the hated insects are numerous in this area and the proximity of the Mosquito Lagoon is an entire program) and arrive at the end in view of red Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the historic lighthouse (the highest in Florida) from active agl'anni late seventies.
You could also climb to the top of the building, but the bad weather deter us from doing so. Let us return then north along the coast, accompanied by a hideous gray, and arrived in the center of Daytona Beach would like to travel by car to the famous beach carriage, but you can not do this: the ocean is arrabbiatissimo and large waves invade it almost completely.
Taking a picture sad and abandoned the idea inevitably leave Daytona Beach, go next to the famous Daytona International Speedway, the temple of speed capable of 150,000 spectators and theater, since 1959, major car racing, and enter the number on Highway 95 proceeding, dispatched, further north.
When it is just past noon we arrive in the town of St. Augustine, the oldest permanently inhabited settlement in the United States.
Spanish Ponce de Leon, who gave name to Florida, landed in this place in 1513, but it was not until the day of St. Augustine in 1565 which was officially founded the town ... After many battles and various dominations, have occurred in the course of centuries, the historical center has come to us almost intact, and then expertly restored, a true exception to the historical heritage of the U.S..
Parking near the castle and, given the cold wind continues to blow incessantly, rintanati lunch in the car, and then depart on foot for a small tour of the central streets, but, fortunately, the cloud thins out and leave leave some good sunshine.
After the old City Gate pedestrian enter the St. George Street, lined with old houses and characteristics, such as the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, as the name the more elderly wooden school ... of all but the United States!
Continuing pleasant views of land in the central Plaza de la Constituciones, dating back to 1598 and dominated on the north side the imposing bulk of the cathedral. Heading in the King Street and briefly before we reach the scenic Flagler College, which now houses a school, but a hundred years ago, the luxurious Hotel Ponce de Leon, winter shelter for the most wealthy and powerful nation.
By and large welcome glimpses of blue sky on the head, walk back the path in search of intriguing prospects from the European taste, finally, coming out of the Gate City, let's look closely at the walls of surprising Castillo de San Marcos, very well preserved, that do not prove their age of 400 springs.
With the wind whip the ocean that we go back to your face and put the word end on the visit to St. Augustine, thus resumed the road, we dedicate ourselves to the second part of the stage, which is to transfer only.
Salute the Atlantic and the "Route Number One", who has accompanied virtually from Key West to go to cut the Florida from east to west and arrive in the Gulf of Mexico. Cross bucolic landscapes, slightly hilly, with the extreme variability of the time, with the sky, several times, and then it cleans s'incupisce and arrive in advance as required, in the town of Crystal River, where we alloggio in the local Days Inn. From here we start tomorrow morning for a boat trip (booked far from home) to visit the manatees in the river of the same name of the site ... hopefully only the good fortune to assist us and the sun returns to shine unchallenged.
In the evening dinner at the nearby Denny's and then come back in the room, in anticipation of levataccia to take part to more intensive, starting at 7:30 ... Meanwhile, we close the worst day since we started ... boldly, and we hope that this remains!

At the start of a new week and a new month will sound the alarm just after 6:30 we expect a spectacular boat trip on the waters of Crystal River. We do not make us breakfast and not even present, excited, the landing, where we deliver the necessary equipment: mask, fins, life jacket and wetsuit ... Then proceed with the dressing and, after a video about the manatees (cetaceans only herbivores, relatives of the common dolphin) Sailing, along narrow channels bordered by lush vegetation.
Always a hateful blows cold wind from the north, even if today the sky is completely clear, but clear, and the temperature calls certainly not go swimming.
After about forty minutes by boat, between scenarios marsh fascinating at times, we come near a small island and we are invited to take to the water. The first sensation on contact with the temperature of the river, is not the best, the second, once in the head, is definitely worse, the water is cloudy and you do not see a palm from the nose ... Nearby, however, shows that the fin and shortly we are touched by two large manatees ... is a beautiful emotion, but then disappear in the swampy and far from "Crystal River.
Unable to take pictures underwater: give up, while another manatee passes beside me and stroked the huge queue ... They are completely harmless and paciocconi, but it is not so nice seeing beings emerge from nowhere to the tonnage of different quintals, though well intentioned ... It even crossed someone and then, even complicit cold, come back on the boat.
Un po 'disappointed, particularly for the characteristics of the water, ask for clarification to the guide, because in video and photography in the view we had much more clear ... He explains that the sharpness is only in the winter months and is almost completely lost in the hottest season ... And we believe we see those cute animals that occasionally re-emerging at the sides of vessel emitting strange ways, like a bellow.
A little later we face, all things happy and a little 'cold, the return journey along the way and we also see a large alligator placed on the banks of the river ... and thoughts inevitably when we were in the water ... Certainly, had we met to same ... but all is well that ends well, as they say in these cases.
Increased from a handful of minutes from the noon lunch Denny's (but for us it is also a breakfast a little 'late) and then let the Days Inn and Crystal River direct to the south.
Along the way we see signs that warn about the presence of bears (in Florida? ... I did not believe there were) and after a few tens of miles we reach the town of Tarpon Spring, known for its large Greek community, a time engaged in fishing for sponges. That is beside the more traditional Orthodox churches continue to turn and, later, towards the sea, on the bridge which leads to Clearwater Beach.
Walk across the main street of one of the most interesting tourist destinations in the Gulf of Mexico, and crossed another bridge, we are going to stop nell'isolotto almost entirely occupied by the Sandy Key Beach Park ... E 'ormai afternoon and decide to spend a couple of hours in the beaches of the park, which is certainly not scream, but not evil, only sin for the troublesome wind continues to blow.
We play a little 'with the gulls and give us a good healthy dose of relaxation, before returning towards the center of Clearwater Beach and take accommodation in the nearby Travelodge.
Carried in the luggage room, we prepare as we go along and get out in time to reach the central Pier 60 ... where to go on stage, in a pleasant environment, which recalls, in due proportions, the performance of Key West, an extraordinary sunset, with pier dall'intrigante profile fiery sky ... and then dinner in a room on the promenade, this first of May and concluded in the best possible way.

We are preparing to leave quietly Clearwater Beach, but it foretells a wonderful day, with the sky completely clear of clouds and the temperature will increase.
Over the bridge that divided the continent, we all large suburb of St. Petersbourg, do a quick shopping, and arrived shortly after 10:00, a short distance from the city center, the Salvador Dali Museum.
As odd it may seem in St. Petersbourg is the largest collection in the world of the extraordinary works of Catalan artist, and this thanks to an extensive collection of the Cleveland entrepreneur who negl'anni forty that strong of a firm friendship with Dali, bought a large number of canvases, then exposed in this museum from 1982.
C'immergiamo so in cultural visit, fascinated by cubism and surrealist paintings by the famous watches ectoplasms ... and initially we are also lucky for the unexpected reduction of fifty per cent, charged on the price of the ticket ... a reduction which, however, we would have gladly given up because we find the step by step, several paintings are unfortunately encased in large wooden boxes, piled some 'anywhere in the museum, probably returning from a show internationally. They are working hard to put in place, but we have to settle for seeing only those present, though wonderful and worthy of the time that we wanted to dedicate ... Ultimately, however, was a small disappointment, that in the end leave even politely expressed, black and white, in the box that reads "Comment", just before leaving.
We move to noon for lunch on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the island on which the Fort de Soto Park, a small state park well kept and full of tranquility that is developed around a strong end of the nineteenth and some discrete beaches, where it is worthwhile to spend some 'time.
Explored quickly, in the early afternoon, the old walls of defensive positions, take the road across the impressive Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a remarkable work of engineering that crosses the Bay of Tampa saving several miles, and arrived in the town of Bradenton deviamo again in the direction of sea to reach Annamaria Island.
The island, narrow and long, extends from north to south, covering almost all of us going to stop, almost at the southern end, in the Coquin Beach ... truly a beautiful beach sand white and fine as talcum powder, lapped by azure waters and transparent ... without a doubt the best view up to now in Florida. Pity only that the pleasant breeze blowing, even within an hour will turn into an annoying and biting wind, which ultimately break down a little 'the feast ... By Frederick, however, I enjoy a nice bath in the warm and inviting waters of Coquine Beach and then we go to some 'time nell'arenile, dominated by a huge wooden roof of the Coast Guard, under which is parked on more traditional means of rescue Americans.
Around 18:00 we conclude our relaxing spa and back
the route following the road that conquest, one after the other islands which grow parallel to the coast, right in front of the city of Sarasota. Here we come back with yet another bridge on the Florida mainland, and we stop in Sarasota for the night in a hotel chain Super 8.
In the evening we do not find something to eat a pizza take-away, but satisfied and thus close a day in some ways not fortunatissima, but in any case positive.

And 'the morning to be quiet when we left ... almost sounds the alarm to 8:00 and this is because the Ringling Museum, which will have to visit a place less than a mile away from our hotel, will open its doors no earlier than 10:00.
The multi John Ringling, of circus magnate stars and stripes, one of the owners of the Ringling Brother Circus, famous in the States early last century, accumulated great wealth and negl'anni twenty already had a capital estimated at about two hundred million dollars . A Sarasota settled the winter circus headquarters and built his palatial abode ... Then destroyed by grief for the death of his wife in 1927 and uranium, two years later, the collapse of the bag, he died in 1936, apparently with only three hundred dollars in his pocket ... He left to posterity, however, that in Sarasota, the testimony of his incredible life.
Made breakfast and left the Super 8 we present a few minutes before the opening of the parking lot in front of the grip and timed cross, a little later, the entrance gate.
We start the visit by a brand new pavilion, recently opened, which houses a wonderful reconstruction of miniature Ringling Circus, and then move on all'attiguo interesting and Circus Museum, with colorful wagons used for transporting animals, a huge gun that shoots bullets and many human relics remember that an old and popular Hollywood movies: "The greatest show the world", with Chalstone Heston ... and the reference is not accidental because there is also a corner dedicated to the famous film.
Once we move back outdoors to see "Rose Garden" and then we go to visit the Ca 'd'Zan ": literally, in Venetian dialect, the house of John ... John Ringling. It 'a building in style "Venetian-Gotic", built scenographically and with great gusto on the banks of the lagoon, beautifully placed in the environment that surrounds him and far from parcels, knowing the American inclination to excess.
They are also very beautiful interiors that cleverly furnished, you can see in full only by guided tour, which of course take part ... They emerge, well impressed, after about half an hour and then immediately go on an electric vehicle that takes us to the Art Museum.
John Ringling loved art and in a few years it acquired more than five hundred works of great masters ... a collection that today is considered one of the best in the country of its kind: in particular stand out several paintings by Rubens, but also numerous paintings from the Italian Baroque, with Tintoretto and Veronese in the head.
Complete the visit of the Ringling Museum surprising when it is already past noon and got into the car, we go in the direction of the sea, looking for a beach to spend the rest of the day ... We cross a bridge over the lagoon that and come to Siesta Key, then, in its southernmost part, on Turtle Beach, which is a bell'arenile, bathed by a beautiful sea and definitely worth a visit.
Lunch in an area equipped for picnics and then giving the right guidance and Federico (particularly intrigued), we decide to move about ten miles further south, to Venice Beach, where it seems they are along the teeth of sharks bagnasciuga at will ... The result is perhaps not the season, but the teeth of sharks and found zero beach a hundred times less beautiful Turtle Beach, with water cloudy and full of algae! ... Not all succeed donuts with the hole, but this came out blistering in the middle and some 'bruciaticcia!
By now it was too late: unnecessary return to the north and slightly to the south do not appear to be viable alternatives. We resigned to spend some 'time in Venice Beach, which together with the lagoon city seems to have only a few foul-smelling algae, and no feature ... At least now the temperature is optimal and the pleasant breeze.
We remain on the beach until shortly after 17:00 and then, following the intestate number 75, one and a half later, we arrive at the Days Inn in Fort Myers where to spend the night.
For dinner we go out on foot, across the road from Pizza Hut to find a plate of pasta and then go back to the hotel to rest, while ahinoi, the remaining days of this wonderful holiday are drastically declined.

After a substantial breakfast proposed by Days Inn and take the road going towards the center of Fort Myers, an important town located in the south-west coast of Florida.
By Mc Gregor Boulevard we go to see what were the homes of Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford ... The inventor of the lightbulb and the mythical founder of the famous car manufacturer were intimate friends the beginning of the twentieth century and eventually bought their winter homes, side by side, right here in Fort Myers.
Park your car in front of the historic site, where you will find, among other things, the biggest baniano of Florida and throughout the United States, with a circumference of the foliage of more than 400 feet (120 meters) and observed briefly only from the two houses, made entirely of wood in a style typical of the region agl'albori of the last century, we start immediately in the direction of the sea and islands near this stretch of coast in the Gulf of Mexico.
Cross a toll bridge and we arrive on the Island of Sanibel, which is presented as a tropical paradise by several U.S. tour operators. The whole walk at a snail's pace, given the absurd speed limits (and diligentissimi Americans who respect them) and we are also crossing over the bridge that leads all'adiacente Captiva Island ... So we go in the north of the latter, the Captiva Cruises, to book the excursion boat that salperà at 16:00 o'clock, in search of dolphins, very popular in this area.
Arranged programs in the afternoon, we return to Sanibel and reach what should be its best beach: Bowman's Beach. We pay the parking salatissimo (two U.S. dollars per hour!) And you reach the beach, very wide, sandy clear and pleasing to the touch ... but the water is turbid and invaded by the algae.
Sistema our stuff and let's get wet without excessive enthusiasm, while I continue to repeat myself for not coming to Florida for the beautiful sea ... Even the shells, so goes the famous beach, is scarsine and after a short walk we put the word end to research.
Let's Beach Bownam at all the hottest hours of the day and, despite the water bruttina, occasionally we run between the waves in order to get a po 'of refreshment.
Shortly after 15:00 we leave the bassoon and direct beach again Captiva Island, on the pier where we come in perfect time to take part in the morning to more intensive prenotata ... Our boat sails well and the nearby waters s'intravedono two manatees, which sometimes emerge puffing loudly, and just took off across many pelicans and elegant birds of prey that have made their nests on the marine signals used for navigation ... Just a few moments and a beautiful dolphin jumps between the applause, following in the wake of the ship ... then nothing for over an hour in vain to sail the lagoon and the failure of the "mission" seems near when, almost at the finishing line in a fast past in the direction of the coast, two beautiful dolphins jumping back near the boat, then another and another ... and for a while 'there are, fortunately, almost giving the impression that they want to greet.
Let's go back so, on balance, satisfied with Captiva and from there we move once again to Sanibel, where, having regard to time, we decide to visit the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a small reserve located in the northern part of the island, covered by a road of four miles, the Wildlife Road, which unravels in the classical environment marsh.
We pay five dollars for admission and low-speed follow the narrow ribbon of asphalt without, however, sensational sightings ... but here, now at the end, save the expedition: the edge of the road we meet a friendly raccoon. We stop and try to silence so as not to frighten him, but he will not look away: it is carinissimo and dutifully shoot an image.
The visit, which was not provided, the reserve has to run the clock and now it is done late: it is now almost 19:00 and we are still in Sanibel. So let's go back on the Florida mainland and catapulted us into the Highway number 75, then shipped to going south, we arrive, just before 20:00, the Best Western Naples Plaza, where spend the last two nights of this magnificent journey.
For dinner we leave Hiop and ten dollars per head to eat out, then, far from the town, we will withdraw in a room to rest.

E 'on the last day to pass in Florida and the intentions are to spend it on the sea, relaxing.
We are in Naples, elegant resort located on the southern Gulf of Mexico and on the beach we go to Lowdermilk Beach Park, a tiny semi-equipped park which is located north of ... The beach, bordered by palm trees is attractive, while the water, as usual, is somewhat 'cloudy and yellowish, but at least there are few algae.
The morning is warm and, although the sea is not just attractive, often going to try some 'coolness between the waves and this, in practice, it is our only commitment until 13:30, when we leave the beach and there move to have lunch, sitting comfortably in the shade, in the nearby tables for picnics ... There remain to laze in the hot hours of the day, with some geese that voracious starnazzano freely around the park.
Around 15.00 hours we resume the road, along magnificent boulevards lined by an uninterrupted line of palm trees, to reach the Naples Pier and the beach there in his system to move the second part of this quiet Friday.
Lying down the towel and placed backpacks, with Frederick, I go on patrol on the pier ... Fantastico! The sea around it throbs with life, filled with fish, and a few dozen meters off jumping continuously some dolphins. I have many pelicans and seagulls incessant squeak, like the gesture of fishermen pulling out of the water, one after another, large prey and then (apparently without a reason ... but there will be) immediately reject at sea. Sightings also a breed that, elegant, seems to fly in a liquid ... we are excited: the Pier in Naples goes by only one step in this area (it's better than yesterday's trip to Captiva and even completely free).
Please return to Sabrina to go to turn ... does not pray and after a while 'here you get very satisfied ... We are so close to the Pier until 18:00, then c'avviamo quickly in the direction we want to go back before dinner to enjoy the last sunset on the Gulf of Mexico to this beautiful holiday.
We come back to the front of the pier just, just ten minutes before the sun drops below the horizon ... a beautiful sunset, there is not that dire, but not as powerful as those seen in Key West and Clearwater, in fact, the solar disc this evening he found a few too many clouds on its way, but it worthily closed the curtain on this wonderful journey in Florida.
Returning to the hotel to ask Richard where it intends to consume the last supper in American soil and choice, of course, Pizza Hut where we stop ... then we go in camera to accommodate the luggage for departure and enjoy a good night's sleep, because tomorrow night, by plane, killed in those uncomfortable seats will certainly be less pleasant.

Kicks off the return and operation to avoid unnecessary complications, do not go this morning on the beach, but there bringing calm to Miami. So after a hearty breakfast at the Best Western, systemic all your luggage in the car and depart.
Take Highway number 75 South for just after exit in the direction of the sea, following the signs for Jane's Island, which has a semi-artificial born exclusively for tourism to residential ... In fact there are beautiful homes and manicured gardens, but the sea is practically inaccessible.
After a fast past leave the village and also the Gulf of Mexico, starting along the road number 41, who ventures to Miami in the Everglades.
The ribbon of asphalt running straight, as traced by an enormous ruler, between two wings of marsh vegetation and has its own particular charm, which will sustain our desire to travel, despite being the last day ... We have absolutely wants to leave and all the study to lengthen the leg. So we make a small detour to see Everglades City, a place within the boundaries of reality, almost spectral in view of the season ... of mosquitoes.
Resumed the main road we come even in the remote village of Ochopee, where we stop to see the smallest post office in America: a white casottino two meters for two provisionally built after that, in 1953, a fire destroyed the original building .. . seems to follow a story, by the temporary became permanent and, indeed, the smallest of the U.S. Post Office. It seems almost a joke, but it feels close to go an old dot matrix printer ... then there is also an officer in it (hopefully not both!).
We take a photo and then take a gl'interminabili go straight to number 41, with the edge of the boundless sea of grass Everglades ... Along this road there is a reservation Indian descendants of the Seminole tribes were naturally confined in one of the most inhospitable areas of the country, and the bad treatment of the natives is, unfortunately, a great new American society.
We stop for lunch in the reserve, in front of a Gift Shop, the Miccosukee Indian Village, surrounded by various species of exotic birds, which we skip around looking for crumbs, and around 13:30 we return to grind km ... Soon we pass in front of the Coopertown Airboat, where to leave ten days ago for the excursion into the swamp, and so we close the circle by leaving behind the Everglades.
We enter the outskirts of Miami, and when are we almost 14:00 to Alamo to return the car with which we have come in Florida 1890 miles (3024 kilometers), then already before 15:00, the shuttle of car We are in front of the Miami International Airport (MIA). Cross the doors of the airport and faced a long line, do the check-in counter at Air France, and then beyond (without shoes for safety reasons) the metal-detector and we put ourselves at the door waiting F13.
We spend the duty-free the past dollar coins and then c'imbarchiamo Flight AF 095 ... A quarter of an hour after the estimated time at 17:52, the huge Boeing 747 of the French national airline off the ground assigned by Europe, while we glide beneath the skyscrapers of Miami ... hello America ... rather, goodbye.
Grows the roar of engines as we climb to altitude, then we are meeting at night and it arrived quickly, just as quickly, moving the clock on the time French and Italian, also comes ...

The hours passed slowly over the dark, between a nap and the other, then, finally, we look out on the first light of dawn at 8:03 and landed in Paris, where we expect to find, with only twelve o'clock degrees, a cold, gray day.
We move from Terminal C to Terminal "D", again beyond the metal-detector and a little later, the port number 53, c'imbarchiamo on flight AF 1628, an Air France Airbus A318 that took at 10:59 share, with the bow facing the dear old Italy and towards Bologna.
Climb on top of a thick blanket of clouds, which extends as far as the eye and that it thins out only once across the Alps, then we start to glide in the direction of capital and landed at Felsinea Marconi at 11:27 a.m. ... Florida Mission accomplished!
We put on hold baggage, which are slow to arrive, then goes one, but only one ... a suitcase is missing: there was never successful, and sooner or later had to happen ... better this time than in another, perhaps at the start when it is much worse ... We make the complaint and we learn that the missing piece has been erroneously in Paris and perhaps that will come in the day.
More raised are to go out and expect the grandparents, so at 12:00 we prepare to walk the last stretch of road that divides us from our homes ... An hour later we are at Faenza and 13:12 to finish this journey successfully even before the gate of the house.
Another piece of the U.S. have won the Florida, immense plains, which has managed to amaze the many aspects ... and say that it is not easy to win with flat landscapes Padanian thoroughbred people like us, but its burst nature, its sunsets, its will to live and have fun, its irresistible impulse to climb well beyond the mountains that did not ... in infinite space, we were involved from the first moment, giving a journey that lived and consumed in due manner, will remain forever in the hit-parade of our memories.

P.S.: Valigia recovered early in the afternoon ... All's well that ends well!



 From 21 April to 7 May 2006
 From Miami to Miami km. 3024