At the southern end of Florida, there are islands that go from the east to the west. These islands are called “keys,” and there is a 180-kilometer highway that goes from the mainland to the last island, Key West. I drove across the sea from one island to the next on my last full day in Florida. As I drove, I could see beautiful blue water on either side and pelicans flying everywhere. When I got to Key West, I visited the Ernest Hemingway House. The great writer lived there in the 1930s and wrote “The Old Man and the Sea.” I still remember reading it in junior high school. It was a very moving story. (116 words)

I rented a car when I traveled around southern Florida last week. It’s a big state, and I was going to drive about 500 kilometers. I wanted an eco-friendly car and thought about renting an electric car. However, the car they showed me could only go 145 kilometers before I had to recharge the battery. Other electric cars could go up to 400 kilometers, but they were more expensive. Besides, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to find a place to recharge the battery. In the end, I rented a gas car. However, I look forward to the day when I can rent an electric car without any worries. (111 words)

The flat areas of southern Florida are covered in water. The water flows slowly to the south, but it looks like land because grass grows and covers the water. Native Americans used to live on little hills, and they traveled from hill to hill by canoe. They lived with alligators and used them for food. They also used alligator teeth and bones to make tools. These days, no one lives on these hills, and people use modern airboats to travel. They have a giant fan on the back, so they can go anywhere in shallow water. I took an airboat with some other tourists, and we visited two old native American sites. The pilot made it more fun by giving us a wild ride back and forth through the river of grass. (132 words)

A long time ago, I wrote about a six-year-old boy who sold cucumbers for his father at a roadside stand. Robert’s father made a sign that said, “Robert is Here,” and business was great. Robert made money and bought some land at the age of 14. He grew fruit and made his fruit and vegetable stand bigger. I was excited to see the Robert is Here Fruit Stand on my way to Everglades National Park. Robert is now 67 years old, and his stand has become famous. You can buy many different types of tropical fruit and vegetables there. They make milkshakes and smoothies with the fruit, so I ordered a passion fruit milkshake. It was delicious!   (117 words)

Everglades National Park is in the south of Florida near Miami. It is one of the biggest parks in the U.S. People visit the park to see alligators, manatees, and birds. I decided to stay in a tent near the water so that I could watch the birds in the morning. It wasn’t real camping. It was glamping, glamorous camping. I had a tent with a bed and chairs, and I could look outside and see the water. When it got light on Monday morning, hundreds of birds such as white egrets and blue herons flew to nearby trees. I watched as an osprey landed on the ground and picked up dry grass for its nest. It was a birdwatcher’s dream come true. (123 words)

Hello from the U.S.! I’m sorry, but I won’t have WiFi on November 18 and 19, so I cannot send out stories on these days. I will send out the next Jaremaga on November 20. Regards, Douglas Jarrell