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| Once you've been to Naples you'll know why everyone sighs when they see this pier. |
Next we'll head to our furthest point south: Homestead, FL where we'll hop on the scooter and coast down The Keys. (Dede is super excited!!) After that, we'll head up the East coast, making contact with friends and family before making the BIG TURN Westward!
Naples reminds us more of Hilton Head than anywhere else we've been. The landscaping and architecture are so nicely maintained. Art is everywhere. And restaurants! :-)
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| These fountains are just like the ones at Coligny Beach, Hilton Head Island, SC. |
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| Highway landscaping on the way to Naples (I75S). This was our first clue that we were in for a treat! |
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| Mockingbirds Sing While they Chase! The lead bird sings a phrase and the second copies exactly. Then a different one, then another. This goes on for half hour. (I have video, too!) |
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| Our site with our new awning. All alone at the end of the road. |
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| We found a new side-awning for our porch area. Gives us better shade and keeps the breeze! |
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| Can you see our bunny friend? Here Dede is finishing Jean Auel's final Earth's Children Series--6 books! (Usually she's reading her Kindle where we can keep a huge library without the weight.) |
Our resort is outside of town, where the sidewalk ends. (Hey, I've got proof!)
Nearby we've found a fabulous public park with tennis courts, handball courts where we can warm up, tour the walking trails, basketball, swimpark and playground. The courts are very active and folks are friendly. We can get there in a few minutes on the scooter. Kim is doing great with his serve and has totally recovered from his injury last summer, when he smashed both wrists and had casts on both arms for about 6 weeks.
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| Kim leaves the hospital fighting, Foley, AL (June, 2012) after falling about 8 feet from a ladder while painting. |
We took a day trip to Marco Island. It was more locked up than any other beach we've been to. The beaches are private and it's jam packed with tall condominiums. This is what Hilton Head Island town ordinances are trying to avoid!
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| On Marco Island, there was only one public beach. Here's the walkway, edged between two condos. |
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| Marco Island Beach |
The town of Naples is much more community oriented. The park is active with public concerts. The beaches are public. There are "first Friday" art shows and "Second Thursday" music and wine tours with a band on every corner. (Reminded us of Virginia Beach where our vocal quartet performed for a couple years on Beach Street.) We went to a musical at the Naples High School, a new one for us, "In The Heights" about life in NYC. The character development of NYC youth is excellent; also good Hip Hop and Latin music! We'd love to see it on Broadway. Or better yet, maybe one day we'll get to perform it at a future school...
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| Gotta Check out the Naples Tennis Club! |
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| There was a community canoe race. Great day for a picnic in Naples! |
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| Hey, who are those tan people and what are they doing in our blog? (We look like Florida natives now!) |
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| Naples has some beautiful private homes. |
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| Naples beach path by the Pier. |
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| Naples beach on a calm day. Looks like a lake! |
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| Green is the color down here. One day when we're in Arizona we'll miss this lush green shade! |
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