Florida Diaries - TITANIC EXHIBIT & JUNGLE ADVENTURES

Article by guest author Peter Brooker

Early coffees at The Metro Diner just south of Lake Howell on a table for two underneath a canvas mount of the American Flag. Americans dice up their hash browns like shredded chilli beef which is irritating.

Onwards, a thirty minute drive to Jungle Adventures. The big fake alligator in the car park is deteriorating.

On entry, a girl called L, passes around a real alligator with cellotape around its mouth. It's two and a half feet, so that means it's two and a half years old. An alligator grows one foot for the first 6 years, and then after that it's an inch or so a year.

The males grow bigger than the females for mating reasons.

"Alligators have no emotions,' L said. "They don't get happy, or sad. They have no muscles in their head so they can't smile."

A snake also gets passed around, and I myself pass when it comes to the opportunity of holding it.

A history lesson, a boat tour, and that's a wrap for Jungle Adventures.

Next we ventured into Icon Park. Lunched at BBQ Jimmy's and tucked into some gorgeous wet ribs.

"You know there is a Titanic Exhibition, 20 minutes from here?" Anastasia asked. The rain came.

Unbelievable. I knew there was one in Vegas, but what a stroke of luck. I've been marginally obsessed with Titanic all over again since the Ocean Gate doc on Netflix and I've swallowed all 13 episodes of Titanic on the Noiser Network.

They have over 200 artifacts pulled from the wreck of the Titanic in the exhibit. There is a large piece of hull, but still the largest in Vegas. The infamous staircase, located in the forward end of

the ship allowed the first class passengers to move through the ship's upper decks with ease and elegance.

On display is a replica, although we were not allowed to take photos . There are no known photos of the staircase in existence.

'How did you get to replicate it?' I asked the gentleman who was in charge of taking photos.

'We had the designs.'

Fair play.

On the way back we had sushi at Kombu Sushi Ramen. I enjoyed two flasks of hot sake, some rolls, some sashimi.

TIPS:

Drive around. There is free parking at all the venues I have listed. Hire a car and pay for tolls at the airport.

Always ask for food to be boxed up. The staff are happy to do so. Remember these Yanks supersize everything.

Always pack a raincoat. It can be hot as balls one minute and then you'll be in the middle of tropical downpours the next.

Photo by Denys Kostyuchenko on Unsplash