Florida Alligator Stalking VacationsWritten by Steve Gillman
Alligators were furthest thing from our minds as my wife Ana and I traveled along coast of northern Florida. We had paid $23 to camp in our conversion van at a beautiful state park on beach night before. In morning we saw a dolphin swimming near shore. Then we heard we could camp for free at isolated campgrounds which dotted Apalachicola National Forest. Our frugality sent us into alligator country. We spent two nights in dark woods next to dark waters of a slow river. Our only company was an old guy who seemed to be living there, and a nice couple with their two-year-old daughter. Lester was from England, Kari from Texas, and Indya was born in Guatamala. They met in India, of course. Our little group circled fire at night, trading stories, and occasionally sneaking down to water with flashlights to look for eyes of alligators. We heard splashes in night, but saw nothing. Lake Talquin When old guy told us camping was free at Wiliams Landing, on Lake Talquin, we all moved up there for a week. The hot showers convinced us. We continued trading stories around fire each night, but now we saw all kinds of wildlife. Armadillos walked through camp, giant grey herons fished just offshore from van, and there were racoons, owls, squirrels, ducks, and turtles. Then was also "monster."
| | The Trans Siberian RailwayWritten by Marina Smiley
Sit back and relax as I take you on a wondrous journey that transcends Russia, one third of globe, from east to west.. Imagine sitting in a comfortable seat, looking out at spectacular scenery and cities on your seven day journey.I am talking about one of Russia’s most famous delights and adventures; one week excursion on Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow in west to Vladivostok, of Far East region of Russia. It is longest continuous rail line on earth --almost ten thousand kilometers (about six thousand miles). Traveling across Russia on Trans-Siberian train give you opportunity to see with your own eyes everything that you might have heard about this mysterious land of expansive forests, beautiful cities and wilds of nature. Your journey will allow you to see beautifully designed architectures of hundreds of churches; amazing sun rises and even more spectacular sunsets. Your journey will allow you to view Russia in all her natural splendor as your adventure takes you through 7 time zones. Your journey begins when you board train in opulent and cavernous station of Moscow. During your adventure you will have many stopovers in almost 100 different cities both large and small. The Trans-Siberian train stops several times a day, from just a few minutes to more than a half an hour. You will get pleasure of interacting with simple Russians during short stop-overs. These Russian stations are often mini markets and you can see there everything from wild berries, farm sausages, delicious smoked fish to different souvenirs and hats made from fur of red, black, and white foxes. You will have an opportunity to observe different architectural styles of various towns and train stations. Most of them were build during middle of last century of Stalin era and at end of 19th century.
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