The swimming cow

After spending the day in the south of Florida, in the the Keys to be more specific, tasting some good Key Lime Pie it was time to have a swim and some sun.

Well, the truth is I am not the kind of person who enjoys laying on my back in the sun so I took my camera and went for a walk. Suddenly there was a shadow in the water. Was it a shark, a dolphin or perhaps superman? Nope, it was a peaceful creature that didn't want to do any harm but just out to have a snack.



The manatee is a an animal that slowly makes it's way through the water (in this case a marina) and eats plants. Down in those calm waters it is exposed, because here also thrives people with fast speedboats. One can see traces of these meetings by looking at the scars of the manatees back.



Besides being calm and friendly, the manatee is as curious as a cow. By splashing gently with my fingers in the water surface, it came towards me and with a curious glimpse in the eyes it was having a look at me. Probably it has at some point learned to connect this sound  with food, especially in more populated areas like this one. The calm surface wasn't giving any clues that this giant was slowly making its way below, no splashes, no small waves, no nothing. Only time it revealed it self was when it put the nose up for some air.



Anyway it was an unexpected and nice meeting I had there and I wished my camera were able to take underwater pictures. Luckily I had a polarising filter that took away the most of the reflection on the surface. I think I will have to invest in a water proof camera sometime, just in case :-)




If I had sat down to let the sun shine in my face I would have missed this. By being active chances increase to get a good photo opportunity and it is well describe in "the best camera, is the one you have with you".


... so get out there and take some photos :-)



Maybe you were hungry for some pie instead :-) Here's a recipe (I now it's in swedish, but hey; use google translate :-)  http://arla.se/Default____17653.aspx?RecipeID=22811