| | Original plan : arrival in Miami, Everglades, Key West, and departure from Tampa | |
| | | We reversed the whole thing : first week around Tampa without reservation.. | |
| | | Sarasota, in Lido Key we found a likable motel | |
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| | The Keys are very small islands, flat, formed by mangroves collecting sand | |
| | | Gulf Beach Motel, heated swimming pool, and private beach . Gyzou inspecting. | |
| | | Facing West, ideal for sunsets ! | |
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| | Every morning after breakfast, a swim with dolphins at 100 yards | |
| | | The mangrove can be visited, with kayak . It's great | |
| | | Vegetation is special, the roots are always in salty waters | |
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| | so there are some to breathe air ! This is a perfect nursery for sea fauna | |
| | | Keeping the sand between roots, other trees can grow and birds use them | |
| | | In Fine, nice, calm , exotic landscapes | |
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| | Of course on the shore around, the land is demanded, and the houses built | |
| | | are beautiful, large, well equipped, and expensive ! | |
| | | In addition to birds and fishes, one can see also Manatees (sirenes) | |
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| | Waters are shallow, so warmer, and algies grow better | |
| | | these little channels in the mangrove allow renewal of water inside | |
| | | and prevents rain waters to stagnate and thus prevents mosquitoes | |
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| | One can find there sponges and seahorses | |
| | | It is also a shortcut allowing to go through a key, rather than turning around | |
| | | Pelicans, cormorans, seagulls and herons all fishing their own way | |
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| | Cormorans fly and swim , and can dive down to 10 meters deep ! | |
| | | And stay underwater for one minute hunting fishes ! This one dries up | |
| | | Swimming, looking for fishes, taking a deep breathe | |
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| | and then diving , chasing fishes . Usually aquatic birds have waterproof feather | |
| | | but cormorans get wet and have to dry often | |
| | | A Seagret , very thin feathers, resting | |
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| | Pelican is very perent, and very impressive flying one foot above water surface | |
| | | Impressive by its size , and span, but impressive also ... | |
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| | Chipmunks are there too , funny , alert . | |
| | | That was the first week in Sarasota! Tomorrow : Key West ! | |
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