MARCO ISLAND, FLORIDA

"Vacation" is a state of mind. 

I can be on vacation sitting at the pool, riding my bike on a trail lined with trees, viewing the sunset, relaxing in my chair while reading a book.  Last week vacation was walking the beach! 

The beach this November, was on

 Marco Island, FL. 

We went with friends, Bill and Andrea, from our park in Florida. We stayed at a condo, on the bay, and by the end of the week we meandered in and out of all the roads available.  

     Very pretty, serene and relaxing place to vacation.

My favorite place was the beach/it was clean; this is the only picture I took with Marco Island on it. 

The luggage carts seemed to disappear when we arrived ~ so this shopping cart came in handy transporting a weeks worth of "stuff" up to the 4th floor.  Not fancy ~ but utilitarian, for sure. 

Bill ~ Andrea ~ Nancy ~ Joe
On a dolphin cruise, off Marco Island.

Coming up to beach, on one of the 10,000 islands around Marco Island, this unusual building is seen in the distance.  It looks like it's "hanging" on - ready to topple with the next large wave. 

In the 1970's an architect built a series of round homes, on stilts, on one of the 10,000 islands, near Marco Island.  His plan was to be self-sufficient and have others of like "mind" live in his small commune.  

His plan seemed feasible.  The water proved him wrong.  His over 100 feet of beachfront eroded and some of his homes toppled into the sea.  Left were these few, which were later condemned. 

Teenagers frequent the small island, to party.  It has become a challenge to throw seashells into the roof.  The roof material is soft and thrown the right way the shells stick into it.  Seemed to me to be a very decorative part of the houses.  He did have a vision though, as many homes we saw by the water in Texas, were built with round roofs, enabling the winds and storms to pass over them. 

I would've liked to have had a chance to live on that island!  At least I had the chance to see it! 

Every island was beautiful to come upon.  Mangrove trees fill all of the islands.  Skunks, raccoons, snakes, birds, panthers, bobcats and who knows what else, call the islands home. 

Red and white mangrove trees/shrubs cover the islands.  A multitude of the seeds were on the beaches everywhere.  The seeds are long and easily stick into the sand and start growing. We saw some on Marco Island, in the more remote areas.  People, of course, keep the mangroves under control in the populated regions. 

Ospreys can be seen everywhere!

It was a dolphin cruise ~ these three dolphins swam around the boat, putting on a show for us.
Dolphins are friendly and playful.

There's Joe, in the shade, enjoying the ride. 

Chicken salad stuffed tomato ~ a yummy lunch! 

Looking down the beach that I walked for miles. 

Birds and seashells with every step!  Heaven...

Great lunches were had at Stilts!  Coconut shrimp, chicken strips, pineapple/chicken quesadillas...

Signs, signs, everywhere there're signs! 

Looking up the beach that I walked on for miles.
If I ran the world ~~ there would be a rule ~~ ABSOLUTELY NO building on the beaches!  The road along the beach would be free of buildings.  ALL people could then enjoy the sights of the beaches, not only those staying in the tall, unsightly hotels and condos.  When were the beaches and the sea declared private?  I thought they were part of nature and for every person to enjoy.
(Our accommodations were not on the beach. We had to seek out a public access to the beach and on Marco Island we could only find two.  The one we went to had parking, the other did not.)
YES, there would be a rule, if I ran the world! 

Water ~ for miles and miles and miles.  The 10,000 islands were wonderful.  They are uninhabited by people, full of wildlife and wild vegetation.  There is an ordinance that no building can take place on any of the islands, except for Marco Island.