On the Sunday afternoon after my return from the underwater hotel, Cari took me to meet her brother Richard and his wife Ivette. Richard and I got on pretty well, and have similar interests and outlooks on many things. One of his passions is helping out with a private collection of big cats and other exotics near where he lives, and he is currently working on trying to get them relocated to better facilities.
Before long we were in his car, heading out there to take a look. They are beautiful creatures, but I found it a little sad to see them in such restricted living conditions. Richard feels the same, and although he will be sorry to see them leave, he is committed to finding beter quarters for them all. What a priviledge to stroke a tiger, a bear, play with a very fiesty bobcat, and hold an alligator!
And so today, 20th July 2009, I had been excited to find out, is the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong first setting foot on the moon. And with a free day in Florida, what better place to visit than the Kennedy Space Center?
They were celebrating the big day with a huge “Moon Pie”, around which there was a very excited crowd. We eventually managed to get a piece each, and President Kennedy himself seemed to be the ideal guy to eat it with!
The tour of the space center was interesting, but it was a busy day, and Florida is the land of the endless queue (or line, as it is called here!) You have to queue to get on the tour bus, queue again to see the exhibitions, again to get back on the bus, and so it goes on. But it was all worth it when we finally arrived at the Saturn 5 building. The Saturn 5 is the rocket that powered the Apollo missions, and it is absolutely awesome! Huge just does not describe how impossibly big it is. Very impressive indeed!
My quick visit to Florida is now over, and as always, I feel I could have spent so much longer here, as there is so much to see and do. But I must be moving on, and am excited to be heading to Mexico in the morning, to visit one of the seven new wonders of the world. Once again huge thanks to Cari, for being an incredible Florida guide and host. I hope I can get back this way again soon.
