What a terrific day!

I truly don't think today could be topped, at least not easily. I really thought our trip to the alligator farm was just a filler in before we could check into our house today.

The day started off good. Our breakfast at the hotel was really good, we all ate well and hit the road for our 2 1/2 hour drive to St. Augustine. When we arrived at the alligator zoo it was HOT. I really didn't remember how hot Florida was. I'm not a sweater but boy was I sweating. Anyway, We started off our tour of the place with plenty of pictures. The place was laid out really nice and there were plenty of animals to see, birds, monkeys, snakes, lizards and plenty of alligators.

At 11am they had a show in the main alligator lagoon. The keeper Chrissy told us all about alligators and at the end of the show she said anyone that wanted to could pay to have their picture taken with an alligator. So my mom of all people said she wanted to get her picture taken with one lol. So off to the photo stand we went to find out what it all cost. Well we soon found out we could all get our picture taken with the Galapagos tortoises for the price of $35, what a deal right? Then you could also get your picture taken with a snake and a baby alligator, another few bucks and get it all put on a CD for another few bucks lol.

Then my mom wants to actually do the "get in the pit" with the big alligator. She finds out 2 people can go in together so she's like "ok me and you are going" lol. I was nervous but I figured she's paying for it so why not lol. So off we went to the alligator lagoon where there were about 40 alligators and we go on in with 2 trainers/keepers lol. Was I nervous? Hell yes!!! But I figured why not, once in a lifetime. So down in the lagoon area we went. The trainer ladies had already went over and gotten "Floyd" over to himself for us. Then they drew a line in the sand and told us to walk it lol. We got detailed instructions and we stood by while they tried to get Floyd to open wide while they shot pictures. Then we got to pet old Floyd on the tail too. He didn't seem to mind thankfully.


After our visit with Floyd the whole family was taken over to the Galapagos tortoises. It was just amazing to see those huge tortoises coming to see us. I've always thought of turtles as not being the friendliest creatures but today my feelings were totally changed. Those sweet creatures came over to see us and they wanted to have their long necks scratched just like a cat or dog would want. They would close their eyes when you rubbed on them like they were in heaven. It was really the coolest experience for all of us.


It didn't end there either. Then we still had more pictures to take with the snake and the baby alligator. So the nephew got to hold the snake (no thanks) and hubby held the little wild alligator (definitely no thanks lol). I thought hubby just looked so happy, we all did today. It was just a really great day.
After we left the alligator zoo we drove for about 2 more hours to the rental place and then finally on to the house. The house is really beautiful. The kids of course wanted to get right in the pool so we all did for a little while. Then hubby and I headed to the grocery store. We came home, fixed some dinner, I preped dinner in the crockpot for tomorrow and I'm just now sitting down for a few minutes.

I'm hoping to go in and take a nice hot bath in my big old bath tub in a few minutes. I can say my first day of vacation has been way more than I could have hoped for.

Till next time...