Inn at Pelican Bay Naples

We've had such a fabulous week in Ft. Myers! Spent lots of time reconnecting with Greg's Uncles Cliff and Steve and Aunts Agnes and Eleanor, who have a really nice timeshare condo on Estero Island, looking out onto the Gulf. Mid-week, Greg's Cousin Claire arrived, after her long drive down from Toronto.

Greg got in a couple of bridge games with Cliff and Steve and Eleanor; we celebrated Agnes and Cliff's 59th ...

Så er vi ankommet til Florida. Vi ankom igår og fandt et billigt motel med pool. Så efter en lang køretur, var det perfekt at kunne tage en svømmetur i poolen. I dag har det været ca. 35 grader, så jeg har sat pris på aircon idag. Vi var dog ude på stranden og fiske og bade lidt. Lau fangede en babyhaj, men ellers har der ikke været noget held. Det er helt rart at have en lidt mindre proppet tidsplan nu, så er der mere tid til at komme helt ned i gear. I morgen står den på køretur til Miami

... not one pool, but two, and a man serving your towels to you). Nic chilled out in the room then turned into a manic Japanese tourist taking photos of everything and marvelling at the fact that we had an escalator in the lobby and that people where at our beck and call whenever we wanted.

The pool area is stunning, with a tiki bar and a generours water slide that catered for grown ups like myself. A pool hour or two ...

I've been visiting Cape Coral, Fl for what seems like my whole life. My son lives down there now and he's 22, so I frequently visit him and from now on I will stay at the Hampton Inn. I used to stay at the Casa Loma Motel, but after my last visit I realized that the place is going downhill. The old manager, Ray, was great, but there's a new manager who I'm not familiar with ...

... high for great shelling today on the sand, but Bri & Gabi went in the water and dove for shells, finding lots of nice treasures. Squadrons of pelicans flew low across the waves, and groups of White Ibises marched along the wet sand probing for food with their long, downward curving bills. We had a great time, but headed back to the condo by mid afternoon so we could pack up and get ready to leave early on Tuesday.

We ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Courtney's, then checked out. We drove to one of the public beach access areas and headed out to do some more shelling. We found more treasures! The girls went out at first in just shorts, but that didn't last long. There were signs on the roads to watch out for gopher tortoises...but we didn't see any!

We then drove on to Lake City to stay at the same Comfor Suites...still very nice!

We helped to break camp and then said goodbye to the grandparents. The girls and I then took a rainy drive to Sanibel Island...one of the best shelling beaches in the world!

We got right into our suits and headed to the beach. We picked up a bag full of different shells and Sarah was not feeling well. We then went to the pool for a bit then back to the room to rest before dinner. We ate at the Lazy Flamingo. Katie had fried oysters, Sarah had shrimp ...

it wiped out everything i wrote. we are here safe and sound. it` 13 hours ahead of you, so it`s saturday nite here. all is well. we loved your email!!!!! tim read it in sedona`s captain voice!!!
i`ll try tomorrow. can`t get connected to internet in my room.
love you both. give girly butt a hug and kiss from us. yourself too.
love mom

... forgot to pack his Gameboy, so he was bored in the car. We made it to Miami about noon and went directly to the cruise terminal. Check in time began at 1:00 but we were able to begin boarding the ship anyway. After unloading the car and clearing security we boarded the MV Explorer. Holly & the kids unpacked while I dropped off the car at the Enterprise in Miami Beach.

... southern Florida from Miami to Naples and Tampa and is called the 'Tamiami trail' - d'ya geddit? We passed a few 'airboat' places - those flat bedded boats with an enormous fan on the back and reached the part of the swampland where a narrow waterway (the Tamiami Canal) runs next to the road. On the far side are swampy forests and we saw our first alligator! He also saw us and we set off, even though there was a big crash barrier between him and us!!! Just ...