Orlando, Florida

The Vacation Capital of the World. Everyone knows about Mickey Mouse and Shamu, but how many people have ever seen a Manatee or watched a night launch of a Titan rocket. With the home of the space shuttle in our backyard and an eight-foot Alligator in the front yard (literally), life in central Florida is so much more than Disney trinkets and Goofy hats.

With big brother (a.k.a. Disney) looming in the background, it is easy to miss the majestic treasures of Florida. The next time you fly into Orlando, I challenge you to count all of the lakes you see. We have some of the best bass fishing in the world . . .. just keep an eye on the Alligators. In Central Florida we have the usual bobcats, eagles and bears, but we also have one animal that is a gentle giant: the manatee. A member of the sea cow family, the Spanish explorers once thought that these creatures were mermaids.

Although Orlando’s history isn’t etched on buildings or skyscrapers, we have a rich and complex past. To our south is where the famous Seminole Chief Osceola surrendered to Andrew Jackson’s men. He was later killed and the rest of the tribe vanished into the everglades, to this day, they have never surrendered to the United States government. Plantation slaves ran to Florida for freedom, some blended in with the Seminoles others died trying. Cuban refugees, escaping communism, landed in south Florida and have since established a strong presence in Orlando. Recently, our demographics have shifted once again with the influx of Haitians refugees. All this leads to a cultural diversity that is uniquely Orlando.

Then of course there are the infamous theme parks. We may not have the weather changes to remind us of the seasons, but when Sea World puts up the World’s largest Christmas tree, you know Santa is coming. The lights can be seen for miles. When the fourth of July, New Years or any other fireworks type of event happens, rest assured you don’t have to look far to find a professionally orchestrated fireworks display. With each park trying to out do the other for the holidays, as an Orlando resident it’s fun to sit back and ‘play tourist’ every so often.

Tammy

Submitted: Tuesday 18th May 2004, 12:13 AM

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