South Beach Not For the Faint of Heart

I spent the last week in Miami for a conference, and although it was a work event, there was fun to be had as well.

Our first day we had lunch at the News Cafe on South Beach, where Ferrari's whiz by and tourists look lost. There are also a few snake handlers that make their living by walking around and having the tourists pay to have their picture taken. Since I was a tourist this day, I went for it.

This is Samantha, a baby albino reticulated python, whose owner is 'socializing' her for human contact. Of course he told me the socializing part after he put her around my neck. She really was a sweetheart - soft, warm, and strong. I could feel her muscles as she moved, and knew that she could crush me easily even though she was still just a baby.

Later that week I had the chance to hold an alligator, but figured I had pushed my luck enough for one week.

And, as you can see, my black eye is gone (well, almost gone - makeup helps), and I have cleverly combed my bangs to the side to hide what is still a sizable lump from my accident a month ago.

Next week another conference in Bangkok. I wonder what adventures await there?