Florida-Experiencing the Unusual

manatee

conch fritters

pelican

osprey

banyan trees

Why travel? One reason to leave your comfortable home environment is to go beyond your present horizon and experience the unusual. Many of us seem to have that drive to do that, even though it is sometimes personally risky to try something new. Some people are content in life to go from one McDonald's restaurant to another. Others of us see conch fritters (a kind of snail) on the menu and just have to give it a try. Pardon my food analogy, but conch was one of the attractions for me when considering Florida.

I have been to other tropical coastal locations, but I have to admit that so far I have found Florida to be outstanding in its natural diversity. The endangered manatee, a myriad of bird life, banyan groves with air roots that become tree trunks-I'm definitely not in Wisconsin any more. And,yes, I have had my first taste of conch and thoroughly enjoyed it (even though the woman who took my food order warned me that some people have been known to return the dish as something beyond their taste adventure limits. I mentioned that when teaching in Kenya, I joined my students by sampling live flying ants as a one-time experience. She grimaced and took my order for conch fritters with a slight shake of her head).

There will be other images as time goes on-Florida has a rich history and a diverse population in addition to its natural attractions. I'll post as travel permits and more after I return to Wisconsin's winter in early February (that time and place seems so far away to me at this point in my travels).

Thank you for visiting, please feel free to stop again. In the meantime, may your travels be interesting and enjoyable.

Kerry