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View Full Version : The Everglades/Flamingo



esprit
09-03-2002, 23:58
My experience of the Everglades is of Flamingo, entering the Everglades national park on the Miami side rather than on the Naples side. Flamingo, the only resort area that side of the park, is at the very far end by the sea. There is a limited choice of accommodation and as it is a drive of literally miles to Flamingo hotel and resort from the park gates, it is advisable to check up on availability first.The hotel is modern and comfortable. It has an indoor pool. We could not undertsand why indoor but it soon became apparent. Flamingo in August is one sea of gnashing jaws. They have bugs like you have never seen. We saw one crawling up a wall, which must have been three inches long. It looked like sonething from an alien movie! And more mosquitoes than you can imagine. Well you are in the middle of a swamp!

The bugs were not the only wild life on display. We saw the biggest alligator we have ever seen in Flamingo and that includes those in Gatorland. It was by the side of the road walking slowly towards the camp site and must have been 15 foot long. Fearing it may be intending to devour the campers, we dashed into reception and reported it. 'Are it's teeth inside or out?', he aks. We had not looked that closely so husband goes and checks. They quickly lost all interest. It was a gator. Apparently Flamingo is the only place in Florida still to have saltwater crocs. They are man eaters, gators are not. We started going around looking at teeth.

The main reason you go to the Glades is to walk the hammocks. Hammocks are clearings which have been boardwalked over. You cannot really walk anywhere else but the hammocks, too swampy, too much plant life. They have signs up telling you what wildlife to look out for. We saw some snakes, some small gators ( none like that one!),lots of birds and a Florida deer. And bugs. Lots of them.We walked down the boardwalks in long sleeved shirts and trousers in 90 degress armed with two cans of bug spray each, which we sprayed in front of us as we went! I would love to go back in the Winter when you could take a better look without the danger of being eaten alive.

Julie Carty