Let's do it like they do on the Discovery Channel

I just about got home after a whole day outing with one of my dear hostesses, Kristina, after a day out in West Palm Beach. We had an amazing time at the Palm Beach Zoo where we got to see tons of interesting (and at points perhaps less interesting) animals.

This zoo was fun in the way that it felt more like an adventure park. The Americans are amazing with building areas and arenas where it looks like you are in another part of the world. The key word being that it looks like it, until you think about it. For instance, the swamp part with the alligators had palm trees in them. Meanwhile there are palm trees in the cities of Florida, they are in no way native to the Floridian flora. I'm not saying it is bad in any way. I actually like it how it feels a bit staged. Adds a certain charm. I'm not being sarcastic, damn you! I'm being honest here!

After the wonderful park we met up with two of Kris' and Carla's friends at a seafood place in Jupiter (in, not on, mind you). The restaurant was a Bubba Gump's. You know, like from the Forest Gump movie? Despite me not being a huge fan of the movie (I like, it, but I know a few who worship that movie like religion. I just can't get that into it) I must confess I really loved the food there. And their BBQ and sour-cream sauces are to die for. So, in a way, life really is like a box of chocolates. Speaking of chocolates; I finally got to have my Key Lime Pie! It was just as tasty as I remembered it. I will have to remember to om nom nom different sorts of cheese cakes as I travel north in the states. I feel a little bit like Agent Cooper, but for cheese cakes rather than cherry pies.

Florida, Florida, Florida!

Okay, I've been out of juice for my laptop since I arrived here on the 24th. So, that made me unable to do a blogpost. However, to be honest, I could have if I borrowed one of my hostesses computers. But I was mostly just too lazy. I've really needed lazy after the long flight. My hostesses are scared I'll grow bored, but I keep assuring them that I like the nice, slow and enjoyable Floridan pace of things.

So, my plans have changed a bit. My original idea was to head back to Sweden around February, however since I paniced when ordering my return ticket, I now have a return flight at the 20th of Marsh. Me, in my panic and without sleep for 24 hours thought that "90 days... that is one and a half month". No idea how I got that. Sooo, I will be staying at each place a bit longer than I first intended. But, then again, it is quite nice to not have to feel stressed out.

So, now I am in Florida, and I've already done some nice things. I've been to a Highwaymen museum. The Highwaymen are a few black people who were influenced by the artist A.E. Backus who was a very famous landscape painter. Google the feller and google for the highwaymen and you'll probably recognize it.

We also went to see a historical museum about Fort Pierce, where I got to learn tons and tons of things about american history. All the way from the native americans to the second world war. The guide who took us though it was completely awesome. Normally the museum takes about 30 minutes, but with his information and enthusiasm the tour took 3 hours. Despite the fact that when he started the tour he said "I'll just get you guys started, and then you can see the rest of the exhibit yourselves". Cudos to you, Peter. I was so caught up I didn't even remember to take pictures.

Apart from that we also went to a water centre where we got to see lots of fishes, a bit of swamp and also got to pet sting rays. One of the rays got really attached to one of my hostesses and was really cuddly and lovesick. Nope, not the one in the picture, but an actual sting ray.

To hell and back again.

These last few hours have been truly horrible. Mostly my own fault, but hard bought lessons.

First I was wrong with the time for when the plane departs, making me check out early and then have to spend from 4:30pm to 3:30 am at a pub, drinking lots of tea to please the owners so they wont throw me out. The last 5 hours I don't drink anything though. I get a taxi who drives me to the airport, I really need to go to the bathroom, and I'm so thirsty I'm feeling faint. Check in starts at 5am, my flight leaves at 6:20, last checkin at 6:05. No sweat, right? Wrong! The stores open at 5am, so does the bathroom. So I figure I check in my stuff first.

I'm about to check in my luggage when the woman looks doubtfully at me "no return ticket?" and I say "nope, keeping it open. Probably will head from canada to either sweden or Australia, not decided." This is where I learn that you must have a return ticket. Or a ticket out of the US, not greyhound, and it can't be mexico or canada. Since they are too close. Now it is 5:20 and I have 45 minutes to find an open airline counter who can make me a return trip. And it must be from the united states. I try 3 different desks, and the first two says "nooooo". The third guy, from Lufthansa, saves me though. I panic a bit, try to transfer money but the cellphone wont accept my code. I'm about to burst into tears, hyperventilating, stressed out, thirsty, feeling faint when I remember that I can also use  a bank id box thing. I dig it out (I thought I lost it two weeks ago, but found it by pure chance only 3 hours earlier). I get my tickets (the printer refuse to work for 5 minutes due to technical problems). Time is now 5:50. The queue to the gate is miles long and my vision is growning darker and twitches about the edges. I've not slept for almost 24 hours and generally feel bad.

I manage to get on the plane this time (even though the ticket is from San Francisco to Arlanda, and then 10 days later from Arlanda too San Francisco again, since that return trip actually shaved off 400 euro from the price, again, Lufthansa is awesome!). I really need to go to the bathroom, and my mouth feels like a wasteland. I'm so tired I could just cry and stressed out beyond normal human comprehension. The flight then leaves from Berlin, goes to Dusseldorf where I take a connecting flight to Miami. The rest from here are just usual first time tourist mistakes and embarrassments so not worth mentioning or getting hung up on. During the flight, I cannot sleep at all. I nod off, and drift in some sort of semi-coma, but relaxing sleep, in those small, small, small seats is impossible. They have really gotten smaller lately.

The plane to Miami is late on arrival, so I miss the greyhound I wanted to take. I get directions though from local tourist information. I wish them a politically correct happy holliday and end up in a seedy part of West Palm Beach. I give up and manage to get contact with my host saying "Halp! I'm stuck!" and like a pair of angels, she and her girlfriend swoop down and rescue me.

I did have an interesting conversation though. A drunk man with long beard, about 65, he said but looked younger begs money for a beer. Being very charming I say no, rather than just ignore him. He then smiles widely and says "I don't recognize your accent, where are you from?" and we end up talking for 15-20 minutes. I learn that he is a shaman, that he got a magic hat, that he can use his power to influence people. That he is an awesome artist, that he is really good with music. And I deduce that he is a runaway compulsive liar. But he is fun to talk to and we share life stories.

On the train between Miami and WPB I meet another retired fellow from England, who spends his retirement backpacking everywhere. He just came from Mexico, and went to the stop after mine to visit some old friends. He is visiting all his old friends from when he was a teacher and international teacher to see which he still got good contact with and which he should really cut his ties to. That guy gave me lots of helpful hints and tips.

So, despite now 48 hours without real sleep, of going though my personal nightmare of a hell, I am now safe and sound. With lots of new experience.

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DAMN! Lost my power adaptor to the laptop at the cafe in Berlin >_<