A comment on the alligator. Gators are very common 
in that area; the guides call them by names and say 
"well that's Joe, and he is one of our guards...". 
The sad but interesting fact is that during a shuttle 
take-off there is so much noise and vibration that 
many of the gators and snakes within proximity die 
out of shock and those further away get so disoriented 
that they become _extremely_ aggressive and dangerous. 
At least that's what I've heard, or maybe it is just a 
story to keep the spectators away?