FLORIDA ON THE ROAD

2000 miles and 2 weeks in the Sunshine State, in a round ring from Orlando in Orlando, going to Miami, the Keys, the Everglades, several towns, and the Crystal River snorkelling with the manatees
For reasons of space, not all descriptions are featured on this site. For information, comments, traffic, and all the pictures back to my site: www.ivanweb.net

 

Flights Cagliari - Rome - Newark (New York) - Orlando (Florida).

Stefania and I have designed this already from summer vacation, when Erika, one of our dearest friend, had invited us to go and find it in the U.S. in Florida, where he is working in the park of Epcot Disney for nearly a year. After several phone calls and reservations, our journey begins today, good morning, with the flight Cagliari - Roma of 6.55. It 'the only reason why we entered into a travel agent because the main flight Rome - Newark - Orlando was booked via the Internet Expedia.it. I was struck by the timing with which we have heard the plane tickets home and paid the price of just € 477 a / r.
We arrive in Rome at 8:00 but we have to wait until 14.30 to embark on the flight 43 of Continental Airlines. The posts are the 28l and 28K by the window. Us' just '6888 Km to get to Newark Airport, not far from Manhattan, in the heart of New York, that our Boeing 767-200 will run in about 9 hours of long wait. In the meantime, take advantage at least look for a good film on the screen: "The Terminal" with Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta Jones, fortunately translated into Italian. I find it very nice, despite the forecast, so I feel then also in English to begin to chew a bit of American accent. Moreover, there is not much else to do ...
Shortly before landing in Newark we are given the form of entry to the States. I read and heard of the stupidity of the questions that need answering, but did not believe that level. E 'rather disappointing to believe that Americans think a terrorist who can respond positively to the question: "are you a criminal or a terrorist?" or "you came to America to perform criminal acts?" or "you've stolen a few minor American citizen?" and going away ... With the clarification, at the end of these ten brilliant questions, which also only responding with a "yes" to one of these, you should report to just landed at the airport, which could refuse to affix the visa in the country. No comment.
Which has already landed buio pesto and among the thousand lights of New York can not appreciate and recognize any famous monument. We have more or less an hour and a half of time to coincide with the flight to Orlando. Meanwhile they are losing a lot at passport control, where there are a few stories, although my is scanned as required by this September. In addition, we form from head to foot, taking fingerprints, taking a picture, and look at everything, even shoes. Foreigners do not know much welcome what seems, at least lately ...
Port back the clock for 6 hours, it is here compared to the time, and 19:25 the aircraft took off for Orlando. Other 1510 km with the Continental flight 1692 on a Boeing 737-800, and finally put the foot in Florida to 22.15.
After the bags, are now surprised that Erika has failed to take along with Francesca. From here we go to the Pop Century, Disney inside, she kindly had booked us for two nights. To distract us a bit and start to come in, then leads us to a steak house to eat a nice bisteccona New York Strip 16 oz (very common dish) with the means litrone coca-cola rechargeable. In the U.S., is called "refill" or pay the first drink and then fill out as many times as you want. The location is very nice and esagitato. Is there any game of rugby and feel indistinct cries of boys and girls come to us from good old days of the World Cup final. Very picturesque and American, is an excellent way to begin to enjoy the USA!

Disney World and Theme parks: Pop Century hotel; Magic Kingdom; Epcot

After a night's sleep not too long, our goal now is to better exploit the two free tickets procured by Erika to enter the Disney parks. There are two chip cards and apply to all four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM studios. The only worry is that worth only one day, and it clearly impossible to visit them all, rather we choose the first two. Meanwhile we note the Pop Century of days while we go to the shuttles that carry to the parks. It 'really nice and funny, with lots of huge statues of animals completely cartoony style as classic Disney. E 'divided into three sections, each with a theme with a decade of the last decades. The room is comfortable, clean and spacious, paid $ 66 per night.
We pass on a fake biliardino football (the one with the sticks and players both red and blue for instance, each of which is high me three times!), We make a picture with Pippo and leave the outside where the bus pass for the parks. Can not go wrong, everyone has the name of the park to which port.
Then take the "Magic Kindom" to 9.30am and arrive at the first and most famous Disney park after about twenty minutes. The card actually works and enter without even so much the row, but as usual we lose time in the controls, including mandatory here. We must open the bag, pulling out cameras, bags, etc.etc. The bombs can be hidden anywhere in mettiamocelo head ... Get a map from the containers and that way we start taking the scenic train and making the circumnavigation of the park, then return to Main Street and walk among the shops up to the castle of Cinderella, where the characters come out of cracks and mouse in Disney parade. For the first attraction in Tomorrowland go on Space Mountain, a roller coaster totally in the dark and somewhat claustrophobic. A bit shocked to come back on relaxing Fantasyland seeing Phil's Magic, new show 3D paperino film very realistic and fun, with splashes of water, wind, and the grand finale of special effects. In Frontierland we pause a little longer entering the Haunted Mansion, the traditional house of horrors with discreet special effects (it is virtually identical to that of Eurodisney), taking the steamer which makes the tour of the lake, visiting the Tom Saywer Island and screaming on Big Thunder Mountain. A note on the Splash Mountain, a roller coaster on the fun and implemented in detail, with a final plunge into the void where it is wet at will! Bello also Pirate & Caribbean at Adventureland. We finish in glory with the Mad T-cup, the classic rotating cups where you climb into two romantically to suffer dizziness selflessly together the final go-go ...
E 'already afternoon and it's time to take the monorail connecting the various parks: Epcot destination. Usually with input controls, and route map for other entertainment. Take the entering vagoncini about the ball that marks the entry of this futuristic park, making a tour of epic ascent and descent on the history of the Earth. Then make the mistake, at least for me, to go to Mission Space, a simulator of space mission to Mars. The attraction is pompatissima and built very well, but more suitable for strong stomach ... It takes a lot of time to enter the heart of explanations of the commander, the mission objective, etc.etc. Then it enters the cabin and here begins the massacre. A screen shows the visual images. We start by testing a rocket inside the gravitational acceleration of the astronauts: in short, a sense of oppression and physical compression tremendous! So far exciting. The real pain starts when you pass the atmosphere and enter space, with gravitational fluctuations comparable to the worst ever air voids passed so far by plane. Conclusion: Disney has to thank me for not having spotted the precious seats dell'astronave with lunch dell'Hot Dog made a few hours before ...
We opt for something more relaxed coming into the "The Living Seas," a sort of aquarium with various animal species typical of Florida. We see for the first time dolphins and mighty and gentle manatees. At this point begin to approach the 19.00 hour of closing the park, and we must choose another attraction nearby. Almost by chance we end the show on another 3d titled "Honey I shrunk the audience", dedicated to the film "Mamma, I have narrowed the boys", too full of special effects and very hilarious, given that this time is to shrink the public ...
Gone are the entertainment we head into the second area of the park (Showcase), which closes at 21.00, dedicated to different pavilions of different countries. These days are particularly inspired by the festival "Food & Wine." We wander the stalls and restaurants Mexican, Norwegian, Chinese and German, each with themed decorations, shapes and typical products of local origin. So we arrive somewhere, and along the huge lake in the middle of the park, the restaurant "Da Alfredo", clearly the Italian pavilion, featuring a replica of Piazza San Marco in Venice. These Americans are good at copying the hell! Here we meet Francesca and Erika, who tell us to wait for the end to see the fireworks. How to lose? Still a little walk the halls between American and Japanese, and we come across an outdoor stage where we can see a good live concert of some famous group of old vintage: a nice atmosphere! Comes the time of fireworks, a real show narrated entitled "Illumination: Reflection of the Earth", with a land area which sails in the middle of the lake, lighting fires and urlo stupendi: beautiful! A worthy conclusion to the visit of the Disney parks.
To exit, we take an alternative path: that of employees (as Erika), a fine work that push off from the back door of professionals. Seen from this perspective, the magic disappears throughout the park, taking the similarities to any other place where you load and unload goods, there is a hurry between mundane corridors, storerooms, etc.etc.
Let us return to our Pop Century with Erika and Francesca, who tonight will make the company so as to be ready tomorrow morning at 4 to take a taxi to take us to the airport in Orlando waiting for the flight to Las Vegas. We expect a trip west for five days!

Las Vegas - Grand Canyon

This journey west to 5 days is described on ever on this site, and my staff with the addition of photos and descriptions: www.ivanweb.net

Las Vegas - Dallas (Texas) - Orlando (Florida) - Kissimme

The return flight from Las Vegas to the 15:50 journey along the same journey with a stopover in Dallas. Because of the three time zones, we come to Orlando and 23.00 past. We rent a car for me and Stefania for all the remaining days of the trip, where we tour the Ring of Florida. We choose always the Alamo, but we remain a bit surprised by the price. Although thanks to Erika and Francesca, now skilled procedures, we can have a good discount on the initial total, I think, however, much more expensive than the price that I imagined I was trying to book with Expedia internet before leaving. In any case, we take a Chevrolet Cavalier, which is considered standard in the category, two-door with a bag just for our various bags and backpacks, discreetly equipped and comfortable. The important thing is that there is the car with the CD for music!
Kissimme to stay at Comfort Inn in a room at $ 66 a night, and Francesca Erika back in their accommodation of the Disney resort, and we can finally go to sleep thinking about our trip: Florida on the road!

Interstate 4 north to St. Augustine; Castillo de San Marco; St. George street; 95 south to Daytona

After a continental breakfast of the motel, go by car to take Erika to her accommodation and go to the bank to change their euros into dollars. More than a bank, like a park: the entrance is a beautiful garden with palm trees, water flowing everywhere, in a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful fresh, which is really a pleasure in hot sunny day like this. For us, even more hot because until yesterday we were freezing west of the U.S.! Erika is a transaction on your account and converted the money, the replacement of the current $ 1.21 per 1 euro, not bad at this time.
The salute to the parking lot and after turning Quách turn the Interstate 4 north to Daytona. From here we continue on the coast to the stop 95, just before St. Augustine, in a beach whatever, just to remove the whim to see the ocean. There is hardly anyone around, parked near a structured insulated timber (which seems a kind of our shores) and reach the beach through a wooden passarella. The place is beautiful and charming, but there is too much wind to stay, so let's go back in the car and come to St. Augustine in northeast Florida to 15:00, first stop on our tour to ring the peninsula! We begin with the visit of the fort, Castillo de San Marcos, built by the Spaniards at the end of 1600 and never conquered. E 'was used by the U.S. military until 1900 and finally made a National Monument in 1924. We pay the parking, the entrance where we are given a brochure in Italian with all the information, and start the visit. We pass the drawbridge on the moat and enter into the structure, which preserves the building perfectly intact and solid. Several rooms describing the harsh life of the time and soldiers locked in the fortress in times of war. Then the stairway leading to the terrace, with the showing of the guns and the land, evocative of the sea on one side of the fort, and the city of St. Augustine on the other.
After visiting we take the car to reach us and the Visitor Center just over avanti.Vediamo some friendly squirrels climb on roofs and a huge cat that looks like that of Stefania, twice as big and with a face that reminds one of a tiger, but because in America everything is so exaggerated?.
From the visitor center can be reached on foot immediately the center of St. Augustine, with some pedestrian streets such as St. George Street, carinissima with all the craft shops and souvenir, the houses in colonial style, the oldest school still in Florida feet, and things of that sort. A walk that deserves, and that can only end with a sample of the many delights of the many pastry shops for sweets, bread and chocolate. We opt for the apple with caramel, Erika has advised that as a real gem! A bit difficult to enjoy on the street to tell the truth, with all the row and caramel that sticks to teeth and the cheek by beautiful apple morsicare ... too sweet for our tastes! Darkness is already doing to 17.30 and it also begins to close its doors, so we return to self and do a tour through the streets of the town. We arrive at the port and immediately after passing through a very nice neighborhood of typical wooden houses American say real villas surrounded by greenery and relaxation.
Back to Daytona following the coastal A1A, seeing one after the other beautiful homes, resort (now deserted, but certainly very lively in high season), villas by the rich and the many boats on the piers. Nothing and no cement buildings, each individual case and in wood. It 'just like in the movies then. Although the road is the most external to the coast, you will see rivers, lakes but never the ocean, hidden from the resort, or simply by vegetation by sand dunes. I am forced to park a while back and cross the wooden walkways to view!
Once at Daytona, we are always on A1A, which runs in full, without difficulty finding various motel in a row after another. We choose the Budget Inn room with a $ 40 per night. As the microwave and refrigerator, to buy something for dinner at a fast spermarket and go to rest.

Ponce Inlet Lightouse; Kennedy Space Center; A1A south per West Palm Beach

Leave following the Daytona A1A south for a long stretch, until you reach the Ponce Inlet Lightouse. The ticket costs $ 5 and allows to visit the lighthouse and around the park, which includes museum facilities. First we arrive at the top by climbing the endless spiral staircase of the lighthouse, from where you can enjoy a great view of the coast and Daytona. Even here, I remain amazed by the fact that the only multi-storey buildings that we commonly call buildings or condominiums, are solely at the heart of the renowned city of motor racing (and are mostly hotels and resorts), for the rest, are only the usual single wooden houses with garden and lawn around sloping roof, spacious distributed in the surrounding plain. Good life here Americans are sti! E 'curious as the lighthouse is so far from the coast and is a few hundred meters through the air toward the inside. Quickly visit the museum, with archaeological and historical descriptions underwater and walk a bit along the fence around the park. Ten meters after the entrance, disappears every sign of civilization, and it seems to be in full tropical jungle!
Let's go back to your car, try the entrance to the 95 south to find a bit of traffic, always moving, and we try to accelerate to arrive at Kennedy Space Center at noon sharp. It 'actually late to visit an attraction like this requires a full day, but try the same. Admission costs $ 36 to well head (and is the base fare, not including the space simulator), and in addition offer a free healthy dose of nervous for the usual thorough checks to be carried out. This time, something that had not happened, and it opens up the backpacks us turn all electronic devices to make sure that work (and therefore they are true and there are no nuclear bombs in it), like for example mobile phones, the cameras and even camera. Not only having different optical for my digital SLR, I am even open the goal to show that you see the lens from side to side, and take a picture at random to make sure people see nell'LCD on the back, and maybe there is instead a Molotov rigged .... And thank goodness that Stefy managed to switch the phone for a moment that the battery discharge yesterday because our shipper will not work with the American made, otherwise they would instantly seized ... when enough is enough by! After twenty minutes lost to the controls, we can finally enter the center space that has already made lunch.
Stop immediately to one of the tables outside, where dozens of birds like ravens blacks rose to blatantly pinch a few crumbs to eat, and take two hot dogs and coca cola. It seems incredible, but the sandwiches are more expensive and small I've seen so far, not only in the States, but throughout my life! But two sandwiches are so insignificant to a stomach Italian, let alone for an American! It 'very disappointing all this, I fall a myth ....
The first part to visit is undoubtedly the only accessible using the bus they do a long tour inside the space. We are in the queue in a discrete row, witnessing once again the sense of American civilization and organization in perfect order and quiet respect, and even nell'avanguardia to give full assistance to the disabled with files above, special wheelchairs that go up on the bus with a dedicated system, aided by the driver and the employees. So begins our tour for the long roads of the Kennedy Space Center, animated explanations from the driver and the video played on the small screens of the bus, explaining how the channels on the sides of the street you can admire the flora and fauna of a beautiful natural oasis as Cape Canaveral (including alligators that run everywhere). Turn round for the construction of the enormous Vehicle Assembly Building, and then continue until all'LC 39, a scenic observation that you can admire from afar, both workstations off the shuttle LC-LC-39A and 39B.
We're about ten minutes and go up the next bus, which goes on the tour until all'Apollo Saturn V Center. Here we are much more, first to follow the exciting presentation that simulates the view from the departure dell'Apollo control center (beautiful for fans, almost touching the time of take-off!), Then see for themselves what is the real Apollo V rocket with its various stages, in a huge hangar. It 'really huge, tall and very long!
Let us return to the Visitor Complex, which is already 16.00. We have a very short time before closing, so we choose to give un'occhitina quickly close the Shuttle now retired, visited the inside, get the fly in a shopping for some memory, and attend to the exciting spectacle of 17:00 IMAX 3D . On the edge of the film is already shutting down everything, and we are approaching the car parks via the Rocket garden, a large yard converted into a museum open-air missiles.
18:00 leave the Kennedy Space Center by taking the 95 south for a very long stretch. We want to try to draw as closely as possible to Fort Lauderdale tomorrow morning, but the road seems to not really ever end. At 22.00, worn out by 4 hours of driving, we turn to the exit 808 and take the South A1A, the coastal, where petrol and we are trying a motel for the night. We do not know exactly where we are, given that the U.S. signs his attention focuses very much on numbers and direction of the roads, but not the names of countries or cities where it is entering or exiting. To be sure, we are close to Boca Raton to see our road map. We find a good accommodation all'Ashley Brooke Motel for $ 65. The room is practically a flat with a huge double bed, carpet on the floor, great room, kitchen with table, fridge, microwave, cutlery and pots, and of course the bathroom. We are on the second floor with a beautiful view towards the inside of the motel swimming pool: it seems really a shame to stay only for one night!

Fort Lauderdale; Miami: South Beach, Collins Avenue, Ocean Drive

Resume the march on A1A south along the coast towards 10.00. Traffic and traffic lights make us lose some time, although we can enjoy a close watch on the realities of American life by the beach. At lunch stop in the coast of Fort Lauderdale. There is a lot of wind but the temperature is warm, but not enough to inspire a swim in the rough. Finally a bit of relaxation after so many kilometers! The beach is good but not exceptional, I expected a better place from the stories read on Florida. It is to be clarified, however, that we are at a point in the case of a coastline so long that seems endless, so failing that we could be capitati certainly one of the least attractive.
To 13.00 to take the coast road south, soon reaching Miami. Begin to see skyscrapers and bridges and roads are expanding to 4 and lane 5: go back to one of the many Hollywood movies, this time even more striking because, in Miami, were shot a number incalculable, starting with those police in the foreground. We stop in our first Mall (shopping center) American, to search for an internet point and contact our friend Erika, and also to eat. Need to consider seriously the possibility of getting lost in the maze and turn blank for a whole day, so the first thing to do is rely on the leadership board of the shops and services. It is not true that there is an internet point, possible? Here in the U.S., in Miami, in a Mall where there are 100 shops, 10 restaurants, 20 telephone booths? I approach with a range of electronic devices to request information and I confirmed that indeed there is. I think I have given too much for granted to find everywhere but it is not so! Let us then at least in with the lunch in front of us there is a seductive Italian buffet where we can not resist! You pay a weight and then you fill the pot with everything that you want to pay cash only in relation to actual weight, not the type of scope. Things are really interesting and consume a meal with two flakes in spending even $ 20.
Are taking up the coast and we are on Collins Avenue (the famous street of skyscrapers on the beach) without even realizing it. The walk across from the North to reach the most popular of these years: South Beach and Ocean Drive, where we find the Haddon Hotel, which had a printed page from the Internet, which is located directly opposite the intersection between the two main roads. The price for a double room to $ 100 but we are at the center in Miami and a short walk from the beach, so we do not think twice and reserve for tonight. I am amazed by the parking situation which is very critical even for the same hotel. Some were fitted with the underground, like the others have just Haddon 5 cars in front of the entrance. With a good blow of chance, it is a free to leave your car instantly. E 'be sure not to move here until tomorrow! Place the bag in a room (very nice, all strictly in art-deco style) and we are ready in costume and mules to cross the road to reach the famous beach of Miami. That does not disappoint all the expectations, on the contrary: I am truly amazed! The beach is very beautiful, huge, well equipped with wooden capannina mitici Baywatch, the patrol that patrol from time to time, showers, services and so on. Everything but without exaggeration. Even the skyscrapers in the background take a back seat, and an atmosphere of relaxation and entertainment space. And there is not many people, indeed, there's hardly anyone ... we see that we are not in high season! The ocean is calm and pure the water is absolutely clean, though not obviously crystalline like ours in the Mediterranean. Do not see much movement of boats, speed boats and water sports in general, only a few huge cruise ship that leaves from afar at the port of the peninsula probably Assigned Caribbean. Seagulls and birds are the uncontested masters of the coast and make it even more natural and lively beach. The first thing that comes to mind is that we repent of having chosen to remain in Miami one day! Around sunset, the sand is colored in yellow and a nice walk up to a bit part in the Ocean Drive, full of restaurants and places of all kinds, always full of people. The Cuban influence is noted anywhere, and how!
Return to the hotel, take a quick bath in the pool (where the water is frozen!), We use the laundry service with the accumulated number of coins on the road, and even find the requested internet point in the main hall. Some call a single computer internet point, most antediluvian, slow, painful with a connection and a lot of limitations, is an insult here in the U.S., but it satisfied the same. To end the evening we go out again to Ocean Drive (and finally beyond the premises there is also some real internet point worthy of the name ...) where almost driven to walking on the sidewalk and the road is always busy pretty macchinoni sports and some limousine . We are in the midst of life in Miami!

Miami: Coral Gables e Venetian Pool; U.S. 1 south verso le Keys: Key Largo, Islamorada, Marathon

After another short walk to Collins Avenue, South Beach and let us turn from the streets of Miami, always following the 1 south. We cross the picturesque bridge connecting the peninsula to the city center, where it recognizes the distinctive sky-line in every movie, and even the same streets of the most popular pursuits of action: first of all, for the opportunity to Bad Boys II seen just before you leave! We lack only the song on the radio "Welcome to Miami" by Will Smith and we are fully ... even the houses around are just like seeing a movie of course made of wood, usually the endless lawn, the pond with the small pier and the boat, really nice. The huge interchanges then, the wide streets and huge spaces give a completely different roads and American cities than our Italian: you can not just do the comparison. Only in some places the traffic is intense but always flowing. I thought I have all the time to check the map between a traffic light and another to decide where to turn, but nothing more wrong! In any case, we can get there in one way or another in the district of Coral Gables, suggested by our guide as one of the most beautiful with many interesting things to visit. After some back street, now we realize that in reality "good" is a very offensive term to describe this place. Meanwhile it does not seem even to be in town, so much is the green grass, the trees that surround their arms with the two-lane streets where few cars pass quietly at 15 mph. The sense of relaxation is absolute: no noise, no traffic, no traffic lights (there are only 4 way stop that drivers comply civilly, but we Italians say "dramatically", even if there is none on the horizon ), and the villas ... Well, the villas are to scream! It 'certainly a district very, very rich in Miami and people that count! We drive at walking pace a few miles so amazed by the splendor, until you reach the Venetian Pool. And 'This is an outdoor pool in the middle of Coral Gables, which, as clearly understood as the name implies, refers to the Venetian style, with lots of historical buildings and the bridge from San Marco where the lifeguard monitors under its umbrella the bathers. There's even a beautiful and fine white beach where lay the towel and take the sun, a cascade to be the natural Jacuzzi, a small cave hidden (with a cartel almost ridiculous that indicates that the lifeguard is not there, you see and can not come to save you! Americans ...), a side path in the Open, which leads to a puddle, and more. All this in the middle of a metropolis and all, of course, artificial. From Las Vegas on, we understood that the Americans are masters at this sort of thing ... the entrance to the Venetian Pool is $ 9.50 a head but that is absolutely well worth it. So long as there remain a few hours of yarn in the utmost fun and relaxation. And, for a change, there is almost nobody in this little paradise: we divide the beach with two towels and the swimming pool with a group of kids and a family. After several baths, nell'immancabile lunch refreshment point, with outside tables and chairs always appropriate to the theme, but with an all American cuisine and Italian at all inside the house by the Venetian walls and the chassis of a typical fast food. So take two huge (and I must say very good) cheesburger made fresh on the spot by the girl who runs it all, I sincerely believe that challenges the laws of physics quietly managing to stay standing with the 200 kilos of fair obesity. A like many others here, but seen from near enough always shocking to our standards ...
Abandon the Venetian Pool and continue the tour by car still in Coral Gables, seeing the magnificent Biltmore Hotel, and an entire block full of protesters gathered for the election: Bush or Kerry wins?
Finally leave Miami at 15:00 also continued to fall for the South 1 The landscape changes gradually, the houses begin to thin them out, pass the exit for the Everglades and we are coming close to the keys. We are curious to see how the famous islands are connected by long bridges, which are also often included in many films. In fact we get to Key Largo, the first in sequence and also the largest, without realizing it. The landscape is very homogeneous and flat, with no strictly flat ground that appears barely hilly and covered with sub-tropical vegetation. We begin to move some characteristic bridge to Islamorada and Marathon to continue yet. The road, however, does not allow us to better appreciate the view and of course we can not stop nell'attraversamento deck. What you note is unique and all the birds are placed in the sunset of the current tralici planted on the sea, following the road parallel thousands, all in a row!
A Marathon is already dark and we look for a nice place to sleep. We know that finding the keys to economic motel is not easy, especially since today is Saturday which seems impossible undertaking. There rassegnamo as to something more luxurious, finding the Rainbow Bend Resort, with a bungalow to $ 99 a night. After a brief tour, we see that is so nice and in a strategic position (we are exactly halfway between Key Largo and Key West) should be directly stay tomorrow night, holding it as a base for the return. Our room (bungalow is called as usual but would be more in the flat end) is spacious, divided into living room with a dual TV and kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom and lots of outdoor table in the garden in front of 'Input: stupendo! We make a turn for the resort, very well taken care of the details through the lawn with palm trees and reach the sea. There is a beach of fine sand (but know so much about this artificial!), With a few deck chairs and umbrellas (the resort has many rooms and is quite intimate and harvest), a unique wooden tower where you can go up to the sightings, strange pedal free run into the sea, and even a jetty where the boats are docked, which can be rented. For dinner sciccoso leave the restaurant, where a bit shocked by the costume are in front of the elegant and refined waiters that I look a little wrong to order a chocolate cake (but the U.S. were not the land of casual?) And exploit the Our romantic outdoor garden in front of our room.
Tonight we also have to bring the clock back an hour, just like in Italy: In this trip we broke all records for a change of time zone!

7 miles Bridge; Key West: Hemingway Home & Museum, Most Southern Point, sunset

Go up in the restaurant for breakfast to be held in the sea, but we would bring a sweater due to the polar temperature at which it was governed conditioner. We do a short walk to the resort, in the light of day seems even more charming. Unico neo enormous: the murky water and an ugly brown color that makes the thought of being a bathroom!
Take your car and begin the descent to Key West. We cross the long bridges that connect the various islands, including the famous 7 miles bridge, which seems never to end! We arrive at our destination around 10:30, somewhere along the internal road and parking at the Council Hall (course fee). A short walk we arrive at the Hemingway house (now museum), a famous writer who had a passion for cats and the particularity of having some with six toes. A joke of nature that has been genetically extended in time, since now the cats in the house there are over 50 and more than half of them have this characteristic. And the difference is clearly visible to the naked eye! Admission costs $ 10 a head. We visit the interior of the house, very beautiful, huge and on two floors, all wood, where in each room shines through a piece of history of the life of the artist. Will then continue in the magnificent garden of sub-tropical vegetation, where we play a bit with the cats and we find nothing less than the appropriate cemetery of their ancestors, the study of the writer and an empty swimming pool. I could not, before leaving the museum, an escapade to the souvenir shop for a lover of felines as Ste
We have already made lunch made, so while we walk attracted by colorful Denny's, a chain of fast food this much (at least here in Florida) that we have not yet had the opportunity to try. Unlike the classic Mc Donald's, Burger King and a number, here is the maid who comes to serve the tables with lots of menus and, most importantly, the size of the burgers are not those of the competitors! Convinced of being normal with the mini cheesburger portion of fries, I ordered a double and I arrived a beast of epic proportions, as high as the glass of coca cola and then impossible to put into the mouth without being dismembered, with half a kilo of French condiment ... this is a worthy American sandwich on earth! Needless to say, even as costs weigh and certainly not $ 1 of the Burger King ...
We continue our walk to Key West, cutting the island in two south and admiring the beautiful wooden houses of the most features seen so far in Florida. It 's exactly the same as you see in the screens, and I say it all. E 'inutile even describe it, just take any movie set in Florida between Miami and the keys (which are myriad) and watch the American way of life even though, obviously, see him with his own eyes is much much better! In short we reach the Southern Most Point in the USA: a kind of pedestal, where are all the photos, which has reported just 90 miles away from Cuba compared to the more than 200 of Miami.
Let's go back, by foot, at the heart of Key West through the passage of the historic cemetery (that of humans, not cats!) To reach the old harbor to the north of the island. We buy something at a market characteristic that has brightly painted like an aquarium, and we walk on the streets and wooden piers where people start overflowing and meet to watch the sunset. There are substantial fine "boats" moored, and the large animals in the shape of a fish under the water of the harbor! The beautiful houses disappear replaced by restaurants, clubs, resorts and shops of all kinds (especially of clothing, a very attractive price). Gained a respectable point of view of the sunset and expect that this, like they say, is a real event celebrated every day with thousands of tourists. Cameras a go-go for the decline of the sun even though the ocean, there being no clouds, the much-awaited event appears a bit flat and honestly less beautiful than we expected. I could not ever compare to a sunset of Ao Nang in Thailand, for example ... the event truly legendary and totally unexpected procure him instead of the usual excited Americans. Shortly after sunset, a sailboat with at least twenty people on board slowly through the pier between the screams of tourists. From afar it seems a common group of friends who greet in costume, but we just pass in front of the mystery is revealed: they are nudists who have come to take the seat (literally!) Tourists, with nice "televisions" and laughs a whole more I can not! Nothing terribly obscene in fact, even exhilarating and very nice, including the shocking vision of generous obese 200 pounds naked ... Well, now I can say that I have seen everything in the States!
We continue our walk on the pier to push, with an incalculable number of people who stop to look at the most unusual artists of the road, than the related hangs, what does a bit of circus with dogs, the eaters dress wrestling that seems to set fire to everything, and going away ... Let a magnificent cruise ship behind us now dark, and we return to the parking lot of the car. On the way to Marathon, we stop at a Publix (a chain of market) to buy to cook tortellini in our bungalow-apartment, along with some salad and fruit. Return to the resort at 21:00, dinner and do another walk on the small pier.

U.S. 1 North; Everglades: Anhinga trail e Gumbo-Limbo trail

We spend the whole morning in the car to go back to Miami 1 North until you reach the junction that leads to the west in the Everglades. Stop for lunch at a Burger King of way (two more cheesburer chips and coca cola for $ 6.50), even wrong road going over the crossing without seeing the sign (not at all obvious, given an attraction so important!) And we are forced to turn back. South side of U.S. 1, the indication is well marked and so, in the end, after a long straight in the midst of endless flat fields, we exit to the entrance where the ticket to pay $ 10 per car, valid for a whole week. A few miles later and we are in front of the Visitor Center that are already past 15:00. Will get some brochures and information to continue the only way (the 9336) through this endless quagmire without end. It seems that 1 / 3 of the surface of the part of the Florida Everglades is easy to imagine that we are talking about a vast territory as our entire Italian regions where there is absolutely no sign of human civilization, if not this road which runs in part by east to west reaching Flamingo. Further north there is another main artery, the 41, and some national parks such as Big Cypress. One of the best ways to visit these lands is considered the canoe, with several marked paths, because the huge marsh furniture consists for the most part in a huge swamp with half a meter of water level constant, even when it seems to see in reality land, trees and vegetation. We must be careful where you put your feet because the view is deceiving! Organized long excursions ranging from one day to weeks and crossing the Everglades on the coast from north to south, with points in camps set. This place is a veritable gold mine for lovers of nature as it is home to numerous species of flowers and interesting wildlife, especially bird-watching during their migration. The binoculars are a must. It is also one of only two places in the world where all living crocodiles and alligators, that here you can find anywhere at random in their natural habitat.
After a few miles, given the hour, we pause now organized in the pitch from where the Anhinga and Gumbo Lingo trail. These are two of many pathways with wooden walkways that allow you to pass over the marsh and dedicate themselves to observation. There is absolute peace and tourists can be counted on the fingers of the hands. Some show signs precious species and explain that you can spot. The Anhinga Trail takes its name from the volatile own, of which we suffered several specimens. Closely, as we admire a magnificent Airone Blue, who lives alone in these parts, other commonly white herons, an alligator in the distance that is reported by two tourists, a sea turtle swimming quietly alongside the main street (I did not think we these were!), all immersed in deep silence of nature in a great habitat. The path of bridges to link dell'Anhinga is only 800 meters, but from a duty station and the other, we use three quarters of an hour to return to the abundant starting point where, before it gets dark, we enter in Gumbo of Lingo trail. Even this is 800 meters long, but unlike the first one that passes over the water of "prairie" mobile, it goes in the jungle with trees so as not to intricate passing a ray of light. No one was for nothing and we walk the half in full race, as is the insurmountable problem of mosquitoes. Never seen so many in any given country with tropical jungle where we were! Despite our Autan, which apparently eat breakfast as a starter, the squeaky treble of birds hated you always hear ear, from the bubonic puncture Increasingly and I are the cramps in the hands of fury on the poor to eliminate back Stefania covered with dozens of these monsters at a time. The end of the path appears as the classical view of the dark corridor of endless horror film. Fortunately, we arrive early and just run the car. Here, some gigantic bird that blacks starnazzano expect to eat a few crumbs in brazen attitude, even climbing on the bonnet of the car in our wonder full!
We can leave the Everglades today. Let us return to the main road and try to continue a bit on 9336 for a few miles, admiring the beautiful sunset in a wild and completely alone. The marsh extends up to 360 ° on the horizon, and is rare in a car across this straight without end: once again exactly as you see in the movies ...
Exited from the exit 1 and go back in trying to find a motel near one of those visas to same: the Travellodge going to wonder, with a room for $ 55 and a Pizza Hut take away near where Stefania has the nerve to win the first time a dolls playing just 50 cents in those machines with the small "crane" mobile to maneuver into the fray of possible soft toys to be taken.

Everglades trail: Pineland, Pahayokee Overlook, Mahogany Hammock; Flamingo; West Lake trail; Airboat

Everglades on the return to 9336, going below the stretch leading up to yesterday and seeing the sides of the road the trail organized for the canoe. We continue our patrol stop in the next trail to visit on foot, starting from Pineland (typical for this type of tree), then for the Pahayokee Overllook (with a large terrace and excellent views over the marsh), and finally the Mahogany Hammock. All deserve to be seen and have different characteristics. In addition to the many sightings you have the opportunity to observe and understand (it is always explained everything in educational boards) the importance of algae and mangroves into the system, as well as water itself in opposition to the fire. We arrive at Flamingo and we stop at the Visitor Center to find some information and a map. We are facing the ocean and from there you can do interesting things with a little more time. After a brief tour, we decide to go back but wrong direction of travel of one of the three parallel roads paved a few meters away from each other on the lawn, completely deserted. After ten meters (counted) sprout from nothing even two police cars that stop me instantly. Luckily I went at walking pace and I realized the mistake, which I could have been remedied by moving to three meters sul'altra lane road in the right direction. The policeman drops everything in one piece from his car, close walk with the U.S., and asks me, following step by step the film police, driving licenses and documents through the window while I would not dare to remove the steering wheel as read in numerous suggestions. Time by 15 seconds when I lowered the window and a black cloud of mosquitoes fills the car dramatically ... bite me everywhere, even in the lip and below the eye, much to instigate to make a joke at all appreciated by the law of nature: "There are many mosquitoes around here, eh?". The policeman immediately understands that we are tourists (of course) and imagine that the car is rented asking the contract the company can not find in the dashboard: I left in a suitcase! Lost a bit of time, please ask me without making a turn to return to the car. No lecture and no fine but I explained how to move in the lane parallel levarmi and "kindly" by the boxes ... and escort us until we leave behind Flamingo! American too!
Meanwhile, the cockpit has become a hell lot of mosquitos assatanati and we are forced to stop at the first pitch into a carnage. I do not know really how many dozens and dozens we have eliminated a few minutes: woe to those who dare to open the window! We were expecting a reality similar to that of Thailand and Sri Lanka, in the tropical climate, but this is something completely different, a real nightmare! We finish our visit to the Everglades with another trail on the way back: the West Lake, overlooking the lake where you can also go canoeing. E 'one short but very interesting, you distric inside the mangrove forest and comes out, with wooden footbridge on the lake where you can see and which appear in a small island of sand, thousands of birds stacked together.
Instead of returning to the 1, take one of its parallel to the north that the map seems to shorten the road to 41, the main artery that crosses the Everglades and Florida from east to west and where we hope to find time for the opportunity to make a with the airboat tour. We thought to find a single street, as marked on our map that it seems is totally inadequate, and we are in a tangle of roads parallel trafficked more than Miami, and all the same! In any case we find the entrance to the 41 and after a few miles, already close to sunset, is one of the centers that organize the airboat. Fortunatissimi us because we get to the lap prior to the dark side and it says the guy who is our driver and guide, even at the best of the day, just because the sun is coming and sightings are more frequent . In a couple of minutes walk behind the box office where some of alligators are kept in cages, including a monster-sized elderly. We climb into our airboat and we recognize that they alone, for a change (so much better!), While the guide explains (in ovviamete U.S.) regolette the usual duties of each tour on what to do and do not do: get the plugs of cotton (which provides) on the ears to avoid assordati noise from the propeller, not lean, do not put your arms out at your alligators and finally ... beh ... if "it" happens that one of those so jump with a leap sull'airboat front of our seats, do not worry because it is a problem. How? Oh no dear, if one of those monsters will jump in front of me is my problem and how a big problem! Excited and adrenaline loads (it will be the fear?) So we start our tour from a branch without vegetation that looks like a river (in fact, there is always land and water throughout the round). That huge propeller is truly a great noise, while the rider enjoys steer the boat (he is sitting higher than us), giving a cry with her drugs "scoured" in the swamp. It 'a real fun, and the colors of the sunset are magnificent! At seemingly crashing against the shore when it comes to full speed on the grass, then there is the habit realize that this swamp is really flat and endless stretches on the horizon from anywhere in the look, broken only from some tree or cespuglione grown a bit too which rises like a cathedral in the desert!
Having appreciated the sporting talents of our leadership, now is the time of culture. With several stops, we meticulously explained the importance of what we are looking at: the white flower, all'airone attention to the danger dell'alligatore, and of course, to the alligators themselves. "This is the best time" continues to repeat the boy, and indeed we see several. He sight them from far away, now is his job and is experienced. He stops, and by observing only the eyes and nose dell'alligatore able to understand the size and age. From his behavior, however, if it is alone or in company. And while the head of one of the reptiles pointing toward him, tells us that in reality the alligator are watching us, because their view does not frontally and laterally as the human one. Tells that the first tour with the airboat were free, whereas today they are subject to many constraints and restrictions. After these and other memorable explanations, we return to the base by now almost dark and after 45 minutes of abundant airboat. A truly memorable, which costs between $ 14 more just head over to a well-deserved tip for our beautiful and cultured assistance.
18:00 take the route to the 41 which is a long straight line and turning, such as to force the driver (ie me) to rejoice in meeting those variations of a few degrees (which we commonly call "curve") that cause the slight rotation of the steering wheel and you gratify Finalment doing that seem to serve something and you're really driving ... a road at night, among other things, seems suspended in the void and emptiness in all, given that for tens of miles there is no town and only a dark swamp around! The car, in these cases, it becomes one of the most popular inventions that man has ever created ...

Naples: beach & Pier; Caribbean Gardens and zoo; Fort Myers

10:00 park your car and walk to the 5fth avenue, the main street of the center of Naples, full of clothes shops of big names in Italy and not, for banks and people dressed in class (which we would be normal, but here we are in america ...). Sturbucks a stop in for breakfast (like a good cappuccino at the Italian one we wanted to own!) And continue the walk to the secondary streets. We are one of the richest towns of Florida and you see how! Apart from the usual cry from villas, surrounded by greenery and calm, in front of a mega hotel stand in amazement from the sight of a beautiful lake that reflects the sky (with its ducks) surrounded by houses solitary dream. Let's say the classic stay on the lake that you see in the movies, but here we are in the middle of town ... If that was not enough, a few steps away is the sea. Precisely at the end of the avenue 5fth fact is the coastline. Move the car closer to a parking fee, and after a few meters are the Pier, the long wooden pier on the beach: The best view until now with a fine white sand, calm sea and a tropical vegetation bell'azzurro behind. E 'organized with bathrooms, dressing rooms and showers, volleyball net and so on, but without deckchairs or factories that clutter. There is even the possibility of renting canoes, pedal boats, jet skis and varied and this makes the beach very relaxed and free. Walk down the pier in its entirety, noting an array of fishing enthusiasts lence preparing bait to catch huge huge bestioni below. There is also a delicious refreshment point and later an observation point with a lot of benches. We observe a mezz'oretta excited our first dolphin in the open sea is beautiful and check occasionally on the surface to breathe! We note, however, astounding that no one calculates outside of us ... it is clear that the dolphins are common thing here ...
Let's relax on the beach and make a nice bathroom. For lunch we buy a hot dog and a strawberry smoothies on the pier and let the coastline after 15:00.
We move to the Caribbean Gardens, drawn from a leaflet found at the Pier and the chance to see the tropical gardens. One enters a small pond surrounded by greenery where ducks swim freely and small turtles. Buy entrance tickets, we are given a map and discover that in fact the attraction is Caribbean Gardens & Zoo and also includes a visit to several animal species. Fortunately, none are closed in the cage but they are all left more or less "free" within fences. After the flower area (actually very limited), we walk to the department of cats between lions, tigers and the rare Florida panthers. A sign explains how the latter have been killed by several cars during the crossing, and I thought that the "attentive to the Panthers' on the roads was the usual American ... The place is very relaxing and surrounded by greenery. At the center there is a pond that you can visit by taking a typical boat that makes guided tours around the small islands populated by different species of lemurs. E 'without doubt the most original and interesting of this attraction! The "commander" is a character like many others here in the States and instructed us with his explanation, infoga tremendously to see the mothers with small, or when faced with some leaving their house in the wood suddenly, making continuous maneuvers "forward-back" to repeat the warning and allow us to take photos of the rite. After the tour we continue to other areas of the zoo finding parrots, "wild dog" (a particular breed of dogs agile and fast living in Africa), turtles, deer, alligators, and much more (including unknown species of animals which unaware that there ...).
At buy some postcards in the souvenir shop, and Naples leave behind to go north to Fort Myers. Here we seek a long-motel until you find the Palm Beach, a little on the outskirts. And 'certainly one of the Spartans that happened so far. In front we have a Domino's, fast food chains like Pizza Hut, we choose now to take away a good pizza "take away". We soon realize that the neighborhood where we are capitati should not be some of the most renowned. Before us is a black girl wearing the shirt to the contrary (in both senses: the label on the dress front and backwards), which complains vigorously in jargon that is half that expected ordination. The boy of Domino's, white, 1 meters high and 90 with the physical Swarzy obviously does not make a turn. Is no time to leave the girl who enters another person, also colored, who was also dressed in an exaggeratedly untidy, with red boxer emerging out of her pajamas ripped everywhere that by sitting down, as large the type of orders. Unable to understand the conversation between the two, in a jargon that makes the U.S. look like the language very different from non-Chinese ... faces not just cute, although certainly not to judge the case for so little. Certainly we are not in Naples and in any case ... better get our pizza and coke for $ 15 and immediately fall in motel!

Sanibel Island; Captiva Island: beaches and dolphins boat tour

At 9:30 we drive through the streets of Fort Myers. At the first impact, the center does not leave a good impression with these blocks and residential buildings a little more "decadent" in the media. Then we cross a rather beautiful residential district that is far more attractive (but not as that seen in Naples yesterday!). Later still come to the bridge where you pay the toll to $ 6 well (toll) that connects to Sanibel Island is twice what we had communicated Erika, but is probably due to the problems created by the hurricanes of late summer. We stop at the visitor center to find the usual map and the information and begin to discover that the island is divided into two: the western part is visited by tourists, the eastern part is used as a nature reserve and is accessible via further payment d 'entry. We make a tour along the only two roads crossing the island, being favorably impressed by the fast work of restructuring of the damage caused by hurricanes: the houses are unharmed and most of the vegetation appears intact.
Very different is the situation at hand, Captiva Island, the island next connected also by a small bridge. Here you see the damage clearly and unequivocally! Much of the palm trees are broken, many trees razed to the ground and often you see those "agglomerations" of classes that form a single block that we had already seen a trail in the Everglades. We are surprised by the houses that no serious damage except some with the roof partially ruined. If the hurricane has the strength to uproot trees with their roots, why not also the case since they are all in wood? or perhaps, as we talk about rich people here are all insured, or if the rebuilding in record time? E 'a mystery which we will try to explain. In the meantime, we remain impressed by the landscape of this nature "broken" by its very destructive force. Captiva Island is a little more wild of Sanibel and there is even only a narrow road that runs from south to north in full.
At Northern we stop in a parking fee to see the beach. The machine that takes money but does not work: Hurricane damage also must have this! There is not any such officer, after seeing other tourists and try as we try in vain to put the notes, we rassegnamo "very sorry" to enjoy a little relaxation free (for once). In fact, we remain a little disappointed because we expected the sea shells and a more beautiful, which seems cloudy and moderate. Erika has described as a paradise, but was much more beautiful in Naples! It 'difficult to judge at this time, since in all likelihood the eco-system of both islands has suffered a severe blow by the devastation of hurricanes. We see before us bulldozers working on the garden of the resort, the palm trees tall as the bare branches of dry trees and newly planted new low for the purpose uprooted ... probably the shells have been swept away and there were only a few residues in small strips of sand ... Luckily, gulls and pelicans never fail to liven up the ocean and we can not see far too many dolphins swim in pairs.
Lunch with a sandwich bought at the market entrance of the island and we head towards the center where, in a yard, we saw a brochure in the visitor center makes a boat tour on the sighting of dolphins. Information and ask for that book of 15:30 for $ 20 each. While we go by boat from the pier, we can see that even here the sea is nothing short of terrible: very cloudy, dark and full of leaves, branches and mud. The boat trip is very relaxed in the first section, where we sail into the gulf, and exciting in the second, where to begin meetings with the gentle and intelligent mammals. The master explains how they love the sound of the engine (that is what you see always follow the boats in the wake of foam rear) and the shouts of children: an experience!
At the end of the tour at 17:00, return to Sanibel just in time for sunset on the beach, trampled by thousands of birds of any type, shape and size, which give a great charm.
We resume our journey by car along the 41 north to Sarasota, where to stay all'Allamanda motels, spartan but rather with a Polish lady really nice and helpful that it manages. The room is $ 57 and, despite being somewhat dated, is clean and comfortable. Parking the car, as in the vast majority of the motel is right in front of the room. Improvise dinner for our first "dry and through" from Burger King, or the ordering and procurement of food without going out of. Just like you see in the movies, follow the corridor in a row, we arrive at a kind of speaker who seeks the order (there is a billboard with the menu hanging behind!), Expects a few minutes at most and here is a few meters forward reach a boy who delivers the meal and take payment. Functionally essential, efficient, fast, e. .. monstrous ... laziness U.S. has no equal in the world! Certain is that, as a first experience, it's a bit traumatic for those who like us are not accustomed to such systems precisely because the service is based on tight, it is not easy to decide what to take flight through the window, to explain as we go along to microphone with the speaker that the order is looming and the small screen where it appears in real time what has just decided ... But one thing is beyond doubt: the laughs are guaranteed!

Sarasota; Ringling Museum, Cà D'Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, Museum of Art

A brief stop at the Wallgreens (chain market) for food, necessity, and here we are on the streets of Sarasota, another beautiful city in Florida. Today we try to devote our attention to a little culture and history by visiting the Ringling Museum of Art, which is the legacy of John Ringling (1866-1936) and his wife. John Ringling bequeathed this museum, its collections and 66 acres of land and gardens overlooking Sarasota Bay to the people of Florida. The state took possession of the property and the administration moved to Florida State University, founding one of the most unique cultural centers and universities in America. The entrance is on U.S. Highway 41 (Tamiami Trail) where to park your car and pay the ticket is $ 15 a head which includes three museums included in a single park.
We start with the Cà d'Zan Mansion (in Venetian dialect means "House of John"), the Ringling winter residence of where we are led by a fun electric car that makes the service request form. In reality, the distance traveled is quietly walk ... We aggregate to one of the guided tours that depart frequently to visit the inside of the villa, designed by a New York architect and built between 1924 and 1926. Cà d'Zan evokes the style of the Venetian-Gothic buildings that Ringling admired during their travels, and today is fully restored in its magneficienza. Not comparable to the Venetian masterpieces in my opinion, but certainly very beautiful and refined in detail. Keep in mind that we are here in America and not in Europe, so this is a piece of history and art major.
After visiting the mansion walk through the park and the Rose Garden, both decorated by the owners who deliberately do not accept the local plants such as palms, oaks and pines, added a collection of exotic plants including the tree of sausages, bread and trees Araucaria. We arrive at the Circus Museum, a curious and original museum dedicated to the circus and its artists (John had one in Sarasota that had luck with his brothers). And 'little more than a shed where they were collected objects that document the history of the American circus and where they are exposed flyers, posters, photographs, costumes, tools, entertainment, circus wagons minutely detailed, and (what I believe to be more likeable see) the reconstruction of a miniature circus!
Finally we visit the Museum of Art, where the Ringling accumulate a collection of over 600 paintings in various exhibitions, sculptures and other ornamental objects. Here are works by Rubens, Poussin, Hals, Velázquez, De Hemm, Cranach, Pietro da Cortona, Guercino, and other great artists of the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Around 15:00 we move for a buffet lunch in Italian found in many brochures, where with $ 11 a head to eat and drink more, I can not something like that to our most succulent specialties (you start to be tired of fast food after two weeks!). Then turn the Interstate 75 north to St. Petesburg, crossing near the bay bridge by a colossal 11 miles! It 'too late to stop and see the city and so pulling for 19 straight north along a long stretch up to Crystal River where we arrived at 20:00 the past. And 'a must because tomorrow we have a tour booked for the manatees in the morning. While we seek accommodation we realize that this small American town is divided in two and is very quiet and dark features. In some cases, these isolated houses in the woods give me an idea similar to that of Stephen King of Maine and a sense of loneliness almost disturbing ... Spartan is a motel with a lady some very nice burst and that gives us a room for $ 55 in all, very close to the Days Inn (which costs a lot more) which is the meeting point for the tour.
Having eaten a good lunch, a dinner will be content of the usual spesuccia to Wallgreens, always present in any town in Florida.

Crystal River: manatees snorkelling tour; Treasure Island: beach

At 7:45 o'clock we are in front of the Crystal River Watersport, right behind the Days Inn motel. Enter the wooden building surrounded by green garden with the river behind. A woman goes back to our reservation and shows us the equipment for the tour with the Manatee (manatees), which consists of a snorkelling on the river in which these animals live freely. Take the mask and fins, wear a wetsuit with our colleagues (we're 6 for snorkelling and diving immersion for 2), wait a few minutes and cold (it seems incredible, but since yesterday night came an air frost!). A gentleman makes us sit back in to see a short documentary on the lives of manatees, and the precautions to be taken to cause least disturbance possible to this endangered species that lives almost only in Florida in some regions. The River of Crystal River is one of them, and it seems to become their habitats during the cold season, when the manatees leave the ocean and take refuge in these waters by milder temperatures. The documentary gives an incredible tenderness. These animals are completely docile and mild, a perfect ingenuity, with a big head, more or less as that of a man, small eyes and big nose, a body that looks like a huge blimp inflated so that burst of up to several meters length, and one rear fin. Indeed seem like the walrus, but have no teeth, and eat the algae of the fund leading to the mouth with the two fins higher (just like us human food with their hands) and ruminating chew clumsily! They are the family sirenidi and there is the legend that Christopher Columbus, arriving in America, someone has mistaken for a human being just by creating the myth of the "mermaid"). Are so large and big as bonaccioni. Their problem is just that, along with the fact that they are slow and can not do any harm. Their curiosity often leads them to the boats, causing serious wounds to the body by the blades of the propellers. Today, fortunately, with a public awareness campaign, due to these tourism initiatives, the Crystal River is closed to motor boats and sail to ask permission. Advised not to disturb the animal in any way, do not make sudden movements in the water and swim slowly, do not scream and speak in a low voice, do not ever take any action against them. It must be him to approach and establish a contact, which usually occurs because of their curiosity. At the end of the documentary, can not miss the American Rite, showing acts of eroisimo in rescue operations for injured manatees, which are collected, brought by helicopter into special containers for treatment and rehabilitation. In this case a fin for good, then vote for the full American ...
It 'time to move! The boat is prepared, but with great surprise, do not take off from the river that is before us. We are told to follow by car, our guide leading the group just below the pier on the port: no problem, except that we are "comfortable" wearing the dumb megalomen by walking barefoot and driving is funny! If we stop now if the police make of laughs eh? Arrived at the harbor, our boat is ammar arrives and the captain, a man about sixty, a U.S. Marine. And 'that's another surprise: he will save us if someone feels bad? So we sail between the placid waters of Crystal River, admiring the beautiful landscape around and the American life of the province. It 's an incredible tranquility, and wonder that those houses on the lake with private jetty and barchettina timber on the river! I rode a deep sense of envy because we do not talk about the rich in Naples, this is all for the town of Florida and among other far from mass tourism ...
After just one quarter of an hour of quiet, in turn un'ansa and see two boats and two guys doing the snorkelling with the manatees. "We have arrived!" says the captain. Just stop, curious animals begin to move closer and increase with increasing numbers before our astonished eyes are really big! Wear masks and fins, and we dive slowly so as not to frighten us. Which is much more difficult than expected, first because the water is nothing short of ice cream (another unexpected surprise for me, but do not take refuge here for the mild temperature?), Second because you do not see either the bottom or a few meters away saw the dark color of the river, and third because they have to do initially a little scared. Once in fact, we are literally surrounded by these animals! I find all three together, the two sides and one below, so close almost crushed. But despite their intimidating bulk, we soon discover that moving so slowly and with such elegance that it can not make any unintentional harm. We begin to caress their big leather similar to that of elephants (they really like to be "scratched" in the back), and even someone in the head. They spend anywhere near the craft and have a sweetness to say the least commevente. It strusciano even among themselves for the wellbeing, just as cats are leaning his head on the body of one of the other, to swim belly up, wring out those holes naive and almost always swim together. They are beautiful, drugs! The guide told us that animals were dall'animo kind, with peace in my heart, and it is absolutely true. Are just bonaccioni of teneroni with a constant desire to play and affection. Seem pure fallen angels on earth, it's crazy that they are fascinating animals in danger of extinction. I am three quarters of an hour in water to see this show and then are forced to go to the cold. I have never had cold wetsuit with him here but the water is actually frozen! The other group are nearly all returned, with the manatees remain just Ste and another girl. The show also continues to be above the boat, as the manatees move continuously and someone manages to make him the caress on the surface on the muzzle! I try to make some decent photos at least from here with my lovely Canon EOS 300D, as with the underwater camera should be out very bad with dark dust and muddy river. Returning the entire group of snorkelling in the process of frostbite, it's time the two boys of diving which, accompanied by the captain, go to visit a cave near underground. While waiting for them take away the dumb and try to warm up on this cool morning. The manatees thins out and some other group comes to visit him. It seems that they are not lucky as us, because they come up to our boat to see them. To say that there are also a great noise, and we have respected the rules of perfect peace and silence give the documentary. Even if we had not seen, however, have certain things for granted: just have a little respect when you are in "other house" as they say ... Returned to the divers, we return to the pier where we can finally dress and stare at a little warmth in our car. One of the reasons why we have come in Florida has been precisely to see these animals, despite being one of the little publicized and less than the big tourist attractions of the parks of Orlando and surrounding areas, cities like Miami, the Keys etc.etc . And without any shadow of doubt, was the most moving and exciting that we made in the USA!

Treasure Island beach; St. Petersburg: Dalì museum, Pier

Today's order total relaxation. We are two weeks that we run from one place to another and seen the beautiful place where we are capitati, we decide to give up Universal Studios in Orlando and stay here one more night. Tomorrow, only one day remaining at the start, we will give preference to the Sea World park. We're on the beach several hours to sunbathe and stroll. Again, as I have often noted by the other parties, to reach the beach from the paved road you pass through the wooden walkways. In each of them is a good sign indicating what is and what can not be done. In particular, it strikes me that it is forbidden to walk in the steppe, so call it, that in those ten, twenty meters, sometimes more, of grass that left completely fallow between resorts or homes on the road and the beach itself. In fact, I wondered why the hotel does not curassero the "sea side", as we designed a garden, lawn with deck chairs and umbrellas, etc.etc. Here one can not do. Among other things, it is considerably less beautiful to see this part left fallow. The explanation is that the Americans see it as ground "sacred" right to leave the area and equilibiro flora and fauna, and probably to keep the sand itself, which is deducted from the bushes during windy days or surges. Even to this need, therefore, the wooden walkways, as well as service for the handicapped! And at this point I can only bow before the wisdom of American, because it appears to us in Sardinia havoc we have made so many flying over these trivial regolette, from our dear and beloved coast of Cagliari, which is disappearing ... Who cares if they see the lawn and flower gardens as if they had still spring, better keep the place pristine assume that among other things a more wild and natural. It may seem a contradiction to speak of pristine beach in the civilization of America, but the residential buildings in the background never get to the sea and not disturb at all, just create a bizarre contrast, and there are beaches with deck chairs and umbrellas, or just stalls Refreshments ... but is it possible? This is the reality of what I saw in Florida in this trip, I was probably lucky, it is probably because we are in low season (but why then, if a mare is very well?), You probably do not know but are convinced that at the thought of a beach suffocating as that of Rimini for these Americans is really the goose skin (rightly!).
For lunch we buy hot dogs and an energy milk shake in a small booth behind the beach (found by chance, why do not we see is not so far ...). We're still a little sun and then go up to 14:30 by car to reach the center of St. Petesburg, where with the help of a map we head towards the port and more specifically to the museum dedicated to Salvador Dali. Admission costs $ 14 but well is a must for lovers of art. The rooms are not many and you can easily turn into a couple of hours. There are exposed the main works of the author along with his biography and artistic growth, together with its collaborators in the world of cinema. One of these was that of Disney, which has remained only at the draft stage without ever gone through. In recent years his work has been reconsidered and now this project has been completed following the original work of Dali. We see it realized in a little short a cartoon in a special room, very abstract and unique!
After visiting, we move aimlessly toward the coast and we are attracted to the Pier. Unlike other simple wooden piers, here we speak of civilization and technology. A paved road to two lanes go to the ocean and ends in a "tower" view is that a mini-business center of three storeys, with shops selling clothes, souvenirs, and local restaurants, an aquarium and a viewpoint from which you can enjoy a splendid view of the sky-line of the city and its grattaceli, especially at sunset. Will use the opportunity to taste some sweet and buy the last gifts to take home.
We return at 19:00 the past in our "hut" and dinner with another pizza delivery. Begin to prepare the bags and go to bed early: tomorrow we expect a long day!

275 East e 4 North per Orlando; Sea World theme park

At 7:30 we are already in the car on the 275 north from St. Petesburg is heading toward Tampa. Here we find a bit of traffic and turn the Interstate 4 east toward Orlando. Stop for petrol and lunch at 10:00 and here we are at the gates of the famous Florida city made famous by both amusement parks. We follow the signs to Sea World that head straight ahead to parking exterminated without possibility of error. Never seen so big: Whole football fields that seem never to end! Well read the sign with the number of rows to have some hope of finding the car to turn back without trying to empty a needle in a haystack ...
At the entrance there is a lot of row. The ticket is valid for the day costs $ 57 a head. As usual, paradoxically, the annual card costs only a few dollars more! Get the map and begin your visit to this theme park in Orlando. The first meter say it all: the atmosphere is calm, there is a background for anything relaxing and hectic as the Disney parks. The attractions are fundamentally different type and are divided into those visited at any time within those halls and instead of the shows, which have predetermined schedules.
Choose to immediately see the killer whales of the sea (The Shamu Adventure). Crossing half the park to get there, bypassing the central lake (characteristic of all the theme parks). A huge outdoor arena with half moon is home to tourists in front of the immense bathtub with the orcas. E 'already almost full and we all quickly two sites with a decent view. However, we are within the first 14 files or so called the soak zone, which, during the show, is considered high-risk area for bathing! During the wait is conducted in a friendly quiz game where the players we are ourselves to the public! Makes a demand in the big screen in the middle of the pool and the camera frames a surprise to viewers. Someone does not even notice that they included ... The orcas in the meantime vascheggiano quiet in the pool: they are enormous and incredibly fascinating. The show begins: leads a group of boys in a wetsuit, which microphone to explain what is going to happen. Each show is designed not only to entertain, to highlight what are the true potential of these animals. In a word: monstrous! An amazing intelligienza and interactivity, perfect control of physical movement, balance: pure power! The symbiosis between the instructors and mammals is impressive, are in each other. Together they are able to swim above and under water in deep, get carried on the muzzle, in a belly up, be launched vertically with a thrust in which the hallucinatory orca comes entirely from the water, and going away. It takes even the applause in his "stand" out of the water, from which you can only go back with the weight shift moving the pinna. The reward is of course the food, which are large scorpacciate. And finally, he arrives and the bathroom. Fortunately, the boy who warns, in the soak zone, is in possession of expensive cameras, suggesting to marry beyond the 14th row: Do not tell me I am doing it twice, while Stefania remains fearless in his position. By some stroke of the tail as well, the orca is able to move a volume of water that was incredible! It is not random, knows perfectly well where he is aiming ... Between screams and soaked several people I can not, thus ending the show in a general euphoria: very, very beautiful. It is worth coming to Sea World to see only this!
We move in the Pacific Point Preserve, where the sea lions to shout for more I can not force the tourists, like us, to buy food. They are very smart not to say that there is ... A little further on is taken into another show, Pirate & Lion, where this time the protagonists are the sea lions along with the cute boys actors staged against the backdrop of a picturesque scene with a ship, un'esilarante comedy really nice . Too, are greatly surprised dall'intelligienza of these animals that make the most extravagant actions and stunts with embarrassing ease ...
At the visit we continue finishing in one of the most entertaining and the demands of Sea World: Journey to Atlantis, or a trip to the legendary Atlantis through the classic vagoncino following his path forced floating on water. There are backpacks put in special boxes, including cameras, and during the row we see light clothes all ready for the final splash you see after. We think it is like that of Disney (Splash Mountain), where we are passing, but here is quite different. The route is quiet until you reach the huge leap into the void between screams and convulsions of the stomach, which ends mercilessly with a full bath down, and when I say total, I mean completely soaked clothes including pants, socks and shoes. Now navigate in my beautiful locks and tennis shoes! By Stefania is nothing better that you save with the slippers but rightly complains about the jeans, not drying ever! To remedy immediately enter into a souvenir shop and clothing to find something dry to wear, but we do not find anything nice. Remains that bell'hot have lunch with a dog and fries at a bench in the sun, which, fortunately, now heated to benin ...
We continue through the pool of Stingray (races) and coming to the dolphins. An instructor explains a concept, while the tourists are the row and are flocking to feed the magnificent mammals and caress them. Dolphins that look so sweet and intelligiente. It is strange to touch them, seem made of rubber! Descend at the bottom where you can enjoy swimming underwater, then we move in the manatees, which appear to our eyes excessively swollen, unrecognizable. Not even seem the same animals that we saw at the Crystal River the other day. Here we begin to glimpse the limits of a park like Sea World. Later still we see the penguins, and then enter the Shark Encounter, where a huge aquarium with a glass scrollable gallery you can see sharks and other fish species.
Finally we visit the Wild Artic, shortly before closing. This pavilion is rebuilt the Arctic environment, with a white polar bear, walrus giant, and so forth. Frankly the most questionable of all the Sea World: too little space for animals of this size, too artificial place and polar climate in the middle of Florida. I fully agree with our guidance of National Geographic that says the same thing. At all'arena emerge in front of Shamu, where we are just in time to witness the spectacle of the closure of the Sea World killer whales that fold to the rhythm of music. Not for nothing the show is titled: Shamu Rocks America! Really exciting, however, similar to the one this morning even though a crazy pace.
Before finally leaving the park at 18:00 can not miss the stop to buy souvenirs to take home. Once the car park, we discover our unfounded fear of not finding the car, since we were practically the last to leave the Sea World ...
A brief tour of the surrounding area allows us to immediately find and cheap, using coupons, accommodation at the Days Inn on International Drive for $ 45: a real stroke of luck!

Orlando flight - Newark (New York) - Rome

Like all journeys, this is the most sad to tell: the return home. At 9:30 we report our Chevrolet Cavalier to the parking lot of the Alamo at the airport, after following the numerous signs and bivi the U.S. asphalt jungle. We covered some 1990 miles to make the loop around Florida in the last two weeks.
At 12:20 p.m. the part of Continental flight 1493 on a Boeing 757 from Orlando, which leads us straight to Newark (1510 km of flight) which landed at 15:00. From here, yet day, finally I have the chance to admire the spectacle of the sky line so famous and known in New York. Here they are above the skyscrapers of Manhattan, can easily be seen from the windows of the airport and seems to know everyone, so much seen in an incalculable number of Hollywood films. Not to be missed and taken some photos of Rite ...
17:35 to finally leave the U.S.A. Continental flight with about 40 Boeing 767-200 and 6888 km from traveling to Rome ...

Rome - Cagliari flight

Landed in Rome Fiumicino to 7:50 am, rather rimbambiti the timezone and the night air. A good breakfast is really Italian, after 3 weeks, gladdens our waiting until 11:45. Our flight to Cagliari and takes off on time after just over an hour we are at home. Pity though, I was starting to get used to American life!