Slept very well. Ann not so much. Apparently her phone kept ringing. Didn't hear it.
Had breakfast in the hotel. No one else there at all. The quietest breakfast room we've ever experienced. That was lucky as I managed to throw a plate of pancakes and syrup on the floor and there were no witnesses.
Headed out to the USS Lexington, a World War II era aircraft carrier. Parked in the car park for the aquarium as we had prepaid for it and would be going there later. Got surrounded by birds as soon as we parked. They seemed to think we had food. They didn't want any sun cream. Walked the short distance to the ship and proceeded up the long gangway.
 |
| We're going to need a bigger boat |
The entrance led into the hanger deck where the planes used to be kept. From there you could visit different areas of the ship. We did the hanger deck first, followed by the gallery deck and then up on the flight deck.
 |
| Hanger deck |
 |
| Combat Information Centre |
 |
| Planes on flight deck |
 |
| Another plane |
 |
| The flight deck |
 |
| The stern |
There were some interesting talking dummies at points. They had faces projected onto them which then moved as the voices spoke. It was very clever but also quite creepy too.
When we made it onto the bridge, there were signs everywhere asking people not to touch any switches, etc, needless to say every person we saw up there was touching everything. Must be an American thing to presume it doesn't apply to you.
At one end on the flight deck you could walk out on part of the ship that stuck out from the bow. So we did. It was an odd feeling dangling over the water.
 |
| Plank |
 |
| The non plank plank from the plank |
We headed back down to the Mess Deck cafe for lunch before touring the lower decks. We then headed to the shop to get a magnet.
As we left and walked down the long gangway back, someone decided to drive a truck up it. Not quite sure why. Pretty sure it isn't designed for trucks. Then remembered, we're in America, you do what you want.
Next, we headed back to the Texas State Aquarium. Once we were in we headed straight to the Starbucks located inside. Got a drink and then walked out and watched the Dolphin show which was on.
 |
| Jump |
Still not sure what to make of things like these. These dolphins were all born in a 'protective environment' so can't be released into the wild, but do they really need to parade for the cheering masses to raise awareness? Maybe they just enjoy arsing about.
During the show, we were told how to help protect species like these in the sea. Don't leave litter, help with beach cleaning programs, don't use plastic. Then they did a quiz where they got a kid up and he had to answer a question about how to help and he answered 'don't drop litter' and won a chance to be photographed with the dolphins. It therefore seemed slightly ironic that at the end of the show when the crowd had left that two people went around collecting the rubbish the crowd had left. Felt like the message hadn't really got across.
Next we had a look at the turtles, rays and the alligator.
 |
| Terry the turtle |
 |
| Alan the alligator |
Saw this sign by the alligator. Makes you despair about humanity when you need a sign like this.
 |
| Why would you???? |
We then went in the quite extensive shop to get a magnet before meeting up with Paul and Helen who had arrived. Wandered around Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico zones seeing all there is to see.
 |
| Flamingoes |
 |
| Fish |
 |
| Sh...sh...sh...shark |
 |
| Shark above |
Every now and again there was a loud beeping and someone shouted at us how long until the aquarium was closing. This occurred more and more as we approached 5pm.
We left and then headed over to where Paul and Helen are staying on Padre Island. We then drove our cars on the beach and played in the sea. Well some of us did. Highlight was Alana using her spade to throw water over Paul, which both she and I found particularly funny.
 |
| Padre Island |
 |
| Cars |
 |
| Sea |
Once it started to get colder we packed up, said our goodbyes and we drove back to our hotel via Walmart to buy some food. Con Air is now on.
States visited - 2
Dolphin watch - high
Shark watch - high
