Latino Fever (Colombia)

George W. Bush managed SIX hours in Bogota, Colombia due to security concerns.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/11/america/LA-GEN-Latam-Bush-Protests.php

Now - who would you trust with a world view, the -W- in Washington DC, or this W who has spent a bit more time in Colombia and many other places that GW has been to. Never mind - a CONvert is a CONvert - religion or politics. Tough to UN-CONvert people. That's why you might call yourself part of a CONstituency. Or = just stubborn...pride? I wrote a blog article about this a couple of years ago - you can find it if you want. ...about the places GW has been vs yours truly and an even younger traveler I met on the road.

Anyway...I spent a WEEK in Florida before arriving in Sud America. To give you an idea of what one can see in just a single week if one puts their mind to it - here is what I saw:

- Kennedy Space Center (Cocoa Beach & Titusville, FL area) - no shuttle launch due to hailstorm damage on tank. Lunch with astronaut was lame - way too many people in a way too large room. Waste of $25. Food was ok. Missed the Space Station tour (1 of 3 stops) bus top due to time - but I've seen similar in Houston. No time for Astronaut Hall of Fame building. http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/

- Playalinda beach near launch pads - part of Canaveral National Seashore. My first Florida beach experience in my adult life. Calm. Highlight was vultures eating a dead tortoise!!
http://www.nps.gov/cana

- Daytona Race Track (Daytona Beach, FL) - didn't go inside. But spent a night in the area.

- Ringling Museum Complex - (Sarasota, FL) - Great circus museum...lots of good photos that I will use on the website. http://www.ringling.org

- Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (Near Bonita Springs, FL) - Audubon Society's premier reserve. I haven't been to the others, but this was really cool. http://www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/corkscrew/

- Ft. Lauderdale downtown St.Patrick's Day street party scene

- Miami downtown, South Beach, Key Biscayne drive around. And lunch at Jimbo's! (A "hard to find" place to eat fish for locals on Key Biscayne)

- Boca Raton, Delray Beach drive around

- Coral Castle (Homestead, FL) - this site will be talked more about in the Cosmic Clues section. Got plenty of photos. http://www.coralcastle.com/

- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary snorkel (Key Largo, FL) - furthest point I had time for. Wasn't able to reach Key West. Snorkeling was better than I thought it might be. Though I would take a private company next time.
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/ - http://www.pennekamppark.com/

- Drive around Celebration, FL - planned city by Disney group.
http://www.celebrationfl.com/ - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration,_Florida

- Airboat ride in Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
http://www.evergladesholidaypark.com/airboats.html

By subject: city planning, native landscapes - by land and boat, space & technology, underwater, engineering, architecture, circuses, sports.

Thanks to my friend Joanne who let me stay a few nights at her place. Total cost for this itinerary (Not including the airflight to get there) is about US$1000 I think. That's convertible car rental, fuel, road tolls, meals, modest hotels, admission fees.

The life and interests of a JACK. Make your own!

As for Latino Fever...well...lots of Latinos in South Florida...(Dangers of reading too LIterally - kind of like the Bible) will write more about Colombia in time. Back to work on the website. Adding a search engine on the main page.