Travel and Adventure Ahead

 

There is a big trip in my future and while it has been in the planning stages for quite a while, time is now getting short until we set sail.  We are going on a Mediterranean Cruise and it will be my first time to travel to Europe.  We begin in Barcelona with stops in the island of Minorca, Spain, Cote d’ Azur, and the French Riviera, Monte Carlo, Portofino and Tuscany, Italy.  Then a few days on land in Rome.  It is something we have tried to schedule for awhile and are not really cruise people, but this is a smaller ship and a little more luxury based and I think it will be a lovely way to see the most countries.  We have excursions booked, including wine tastings, lunch at a Tuscan farmhouse and I am sure many churches along the way.  It is still up in the air whether we will see The Sistine Chapel, due to the Conclave, but there is so much to see in Rome, it will be fine.  Honestly, by the end of the cruise, I am looking forward to sitting at a cafe in Rome on a cobblestone street and just people watching with a glass of wine and some wonderful food.  Adventure here we come!

April Life in Pictures

 

April in Florida is always a busy month; where snowbirds begin to fly back to their northern homes and there are a lot of last minute activities to fit in.  I enjoyed a fun golf scramble to end my Tuesday golf group’s season, a beach sunset happy hour, full moon beach yoga and a Good Friday tradition with old and new friends.  Plus some fun lunches, brunches and dinners with friends.

The alligator picture is right on my street and is a fact of life in April and May when the alligators move around at will during mating season.  It really is true though.  Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you.  It still can be a bit of a shock to see one walking down the street.

Finally, I have been busy with my volunteer group.  Writing the weekly newsletter is something I enjoy, but it does take time each week.  The feedback for me and my fellow editors has been positive since we took over and it is important to share the word of what we do to Sarasota County and City of Venice executives. Plus, Thursday mornings you will find me digging, planting and trimming all around town. Our latest project was working on removing salt damaged plants from Venice Beach.  6 months since the last hurricane and recovery is ongoing.

Happy Saturday!

Biking on Boca Grande

 

We have an annual tradition to bike on Boca Grande with a group of friends and today was the day.  It was a reschedule from a few weeks ago when we cancelled due to high winds, which would be no fun for biking.  The weather cooperated beautifully this time and it was sunny and a perfect high 70’s temperature day on the island.

Boca Grande is about 40 minutes south and is a village on Gasparilla Island.  There are bike paths and not a lot of automobile traffic.  Most residents use golf carts to get around.  The highlight is biking to the south end of the island with the gulf on your right side view the whole way.  There is a restaurant right on the beach, newly rebuilt from hurricane damage and we enjoyed the water view over a long lunch.

We headed back to the village, stopping at an old fashioned marina, the beautiful Gasparilla Inn and finally a stop at a old Florida style village bar that has been open on the island for 78 years.  It was really nice to see the continued recovery of this lovely place after being hit by several hurricanes lately.  Blue sky, blue water, white sand, gulf breezes and a day with friends.  Just another day in paradise for us.