Manatees

Normally I don't like cities. There are too many people, too much cement, and everything is dirty and loud. Georgetown is no exception, and actually is one of my least favorite cities I've ever been to. I dread having to walk around there.

HOWEVER

In the middle of this crowded metropolis is a beautiful park.

The park is lovely, with lush grass and a large pond in the middle. You'll see people jogging, or taking their family for a picnic, or even reading on a park bench. Most recently I spent a gorgeous sunny afternoon there with my second family, two of the Region Nine volunteers.

Gabrielle and Steven, soaking up the sunshine while we waited for the eclipse

The best part about the park is the manatees. For those of you who haven't seen one, they are large grey blobs that float up to the surface and, with the most adorable snuffling motion, graze on the grass clippings that have fallen into the water, since in this particular water there's few aquatic plants for these grazers.

This park has about a dozen manatees. When you first go up to the water, it looks just still and murky, but after about a minute, at least one will come up to investigate, and see if you have anything for them. They are so used to people that they eat right out of your hand, and will climb partway out of the water just to get closer. They will let you touch them, and they feel much like a wet elephant: a bit rough, with bristly hairs.

If you look closely at the flipper, you can see toenails

The one weird thing: Although they look adorable when they are grazing, if you get close up and slow it down enough to see what's actually going on, they look like some sort of sea monster crossed with a Venus Flytrap when they eat, and it's momentarily terrifying. Luckily for you, I did just that.