Back to Sanibel Island: Bowman's Beach!

What else can you do in Florida? I headed to the beach on Friday, again and it was AGAIN a wonderful day. We went back to Sanibel Island, but to a different beach: Bowman's Beach.

Maybe I am getting used to it, but the water felt warmer today. Mike and I actually went for a long swim!

The temperature outside was about 24-26 degrees celsius, but a bit windy.

This is just before we get to the beach. We were looking for alligators, of course.

But again, no luck!

Too bad, I was already taking my clothes off!

Another HARD day on the beach!

Since Mike just arrived, he was the boss and it didn't take too long for the boss to decide what to do: beach day! I am glad he picked that, because we had an amazing and relaxing day at Fort Meyers Beach.

Again it took us just over an hour to get there, since traffic was a bit heavy today as well. This is a very different beach from yesterday, much more crowded. There are lots of shops, restaurants, services here and way, way more people.

Silly vacation moments to follow:

This reminds Balneário Camboriú, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, where I used to spend vacations with my family as a child. They even have the "bondinho", as we used to call the trolley.

A packed boardwalk just before the beach where you can find everything: from cheap greasy food to tacky souviniers.

THE BEACH!!!!!

Good luck finding a spot on the sand!

It's nice to have you here, meu amor!

Now it's just relax and enjoy the warm day on the beach. Hard life eh?

A basic stop to have lunch (at 3pm!) and my super young looking husband gets IDed at the restaurant. You must be 21 years old to drink here in Florida. Mike just made it! He also left a big fat tip to the kind waitress. :)

This is a PERFECT day for a cold beer, but I could only have a sip!

Can't wait for Julia to be over age to drink with her! Haha!

CHEERS!

Mark being a goofy!

The food was good and cheap! This delicious Tilapia plate was only US$ 7.99 and it came with a soup bowl. Too much food, though. A basket of crispy fries were US$ 2.50, same as a pint of beer! A huge lunch for four with tons of drinks: less than US$50! Not bad!

Back to the lazy beach day!

If anyone from school is reading this blog, here is the proof that I did school work on the Reading Week!

I am reading Regarding the Pain of the Others by Susan Sontag!

As the sun starts to go down the temperature also drops a bit, after all we are in February!

But the scenery is just marvelous!

We left the beach just before 7pm, exhausted but happy.

I realized once more that no other place makes happier and calmer than the beach facing a big the ocean!

Vamos a la praya!

It's a beach day! For the first time since we got here, we headed to the beach. We left a bit too late (11:45) and an hour later we were the happiest people on the planet, enjoying the sunshine and the white sand.

We got caught in a bit of traffic getting into the Sanibel Island, on the Gulf of Mexico. Although it was a Tuesday, it didn't matter because every day here - for the retired people - is a holiday!

To get onto the island you have to pay $6.00, which I think is fine, since the beaches have nice and clean washrooms, outdoor showers and security cameras (???)!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Sanibel Island is an island located on the Gulf coast of Florida, just offshore of Fort Meyers. In 2000, it had an estimated population of 6,064 people. Located within Lee County, Sanibel is a barrier island– a collection of sand on the leeward side of the Gulf Stream from the more solid coral-rock of Pine Island.

The city of Sanibel incorporates the entire island, with most of the city proper at the east end of the island. After the Sanibel causeway was built to replace the ferry in May 1963, the residents fought back against overdevelopment by establishing the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan in 1974 helping to maintain a balance between development and preservation of the island's ecology. A new, higher bridge without a bascule (drawbridge) having to open for tall boats and sailboats, was completed in late 2007.

Thanks in part to the new causeway, Sanibel is rapidly becoming a popular tourist destination known for its beaches, shelling, and wildlife refuges. More than half of the island is made up of wildlife refuges, the largest one is the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The Island also hosts the Sanibel Historical Village and a variety of other museums and theaters.In August 2004 Hurricane Charley hit the island causing mandatory evacuation for the island's residents and resulting in the most damage done to the island in 44 years.

The drive there is just fantastic! The skies were really blue, and the breeze gives you a cool welcome when you open the car window and feel the nature.

I love the vegetation!

After having a bit of a hard time finding a parking spot, here we are!

It was hot, but not hot enough for the ladies to go swimming. So we enjoyed our quiet time on the sand reading, talking, relaxing...

Another showing off my belly moment!

Beautiful couple Margie and Mark! Thanks for the vacation, you two!

We had to leave earlier than we wished, at around 4pm. For two reasons: we were not prepared and didn't bring food. There are no vendors or business along the beach areas. And also, we had plans to have people over for drinks at 5pm. But it was a great time, anyway, and we will definitely go back!

This was my last chance to photograph the pelicans flying all over us, when crossing the bridges. I know it's not the best shot, but you can see they were there. One flew over, right beside my car window! Huge animals!

At night, the most exciting moment of the whole trip: to pick up my lovely hubbie at the airport, coming from cold Toronto!

Welcome to paradise, meu amor!

Not bad!

Now we are settled here and already enjoying the Florida sunshine! Things are really quiet and relaxing here. We are staying in a golf community called Cross Creek. It has houses like this one in the photo, with a golf course, a community swimming pool and club house - with a bigger swimming pool, common area and restaurant. This has been our home since we arrived!

Our neighbour's car!

Gabi (and Julia) going for a walk in the neighbourhood.

I love the birds down here! They are just cruising around!

These are a couple of residents here. They are mostly retired seniors who have decided to enjoy the rest of their lives. You must be 55 plus to buy a house in these communities.

Another beautiful bird doing his daily morning gracious walk for us.

It looks like it has its lunch already.

You definitely need a car here. Everything is spread out and the stores and other services are all in malls around big highways. Not my favourite set up, but that's the way it is down here. If you want to go for a walk, it has to be in your community. And if you need some milk, you might have to travel in your car for about 10 minutes to find a simple grocery store.

Our backyard.

Our place is the one in the middle, beside the beautiful and good smelling orange tree.

God bless America!

Orange trees. These flowers have the nicest smell!

Apparently there is at least one alligator in every body of water in Florida. I didn't believe it at first, but every person I spoke with says it's true. So far I was only able to find this one... a fake one.

Another beautiful picture of my favourite orange tree!

A nice family dinner: auntie Cathy, Marggie, John, me and Mark behind the camera lens.

We had an amazing time at the pool, yesterday (Monday)! The weather was just perfect and the water was delicious!

Training Julia to enjoy the water!

I think she likes it!

The girls ended their day at an Outlet shopping mall called Miramar. The place is huge and the deals are even bigger. Most of the stores were 70% off. Too bad I am a student! If you are around here I totally recommend a day of shopping here. It's worth it!

Look at Marggie and auntie Cathy! They are ready to go!