While riding my bike along the canal next to the major shopping mall in Florianopolis, I noticed a guy sitting on the banks staring at something below.  I slowed down to see what it was, and HOLD THE LINE!!!  It was an alligator!!!  15 feet away from the mid-day traffic jam.  It seemed unbothered, lying perfectly still on the edge of the canal in reptilian midday torpor.  Only the occasional blinking of its eyes indicated to us that it was still alive   Apparently alligators are not uncommon here, on this island that is mostly ecological preserves, even in the capital city, even right next to the biggest mall.   Jacaré is the word for alligator in Portuguese.  Bom Dia Jacaré!