Christmas in Florida 2007/8 - Part Five

[ieuanr]

Saturday 29th December

Off to the beach - everyone manages to get up by about 7. We take breakfast in the room overlooking the Gulf. Then we are off to the sands. Walked along the bay and down to the fishing pier. Visited a little beach shop for some towels and Di bought some clogs for the kids. We then proceeded to spend an enjoyable couple of hours messing on the beach and in the sea.



We left the beach around two o'clock - sunburnt and starving. We jumped in the car and had a look about. We spied a Romanos Macaroni Grill which Diane decided was very nice. Di had lobster raviolli. I had a pork chop dish which was very nice. Hunger sated we visited the mall where the girls got some Disney store stuff. Worn out after shopping and playing all day it was back to the hotel for an early night. Another night of the waves gently lapping along the beach - interrupted by the screams and howls of happy teenagers - nothing could keep us from our sleep though.

Sunday 30th December

Off to Naples - stopping off at Englewood. We decided to stop at a random intersection along the route. The option were limited so we chose a Chilis for Sunday dinner. It was a very ordinary meal indeed. It was nearing four in the afternoon when we crunched onto the brilliant beach at Englewood - my favourite beach. The beach is just a mound of sea shells. Sea shells as deep as you can dig with a layer of white sand on top. Lots of people were digging for sharks teeth. I dug and dug to no avail - predictably Di found a couple of teeth within a couple of minutes. What a brilliant afternoon. We eyed the bars where a couple of bands were just starting to play. We toyed with locking the kids in the car and kicking back in the sand - but good sense prevailed. Back in the car and off to Naples. Stopped in a McDonalds for a snack before reaching the hotel about 7PM. Very nice suite in a very nice hotel. Nice to have a separate room from the kids after spending nine days sleeping in one room. At least the kids snoring wouldn't keep me awake now!


A couple of shots of the beach at Englewood


Can you spot the sharks teeth? I flipping well couldn't!

[Tink]

Don't you just LOVE shell beaches? Leave it to Diane! I'm with you Ieuan. I'd look for hours and never find one.

Nice that you had such a good time. Sorry about Chili's. Icko. Not my favorite place at all.

So then! Diane likes lobster? Good to know!

[ieuanr]

She loves shellfish.

We all really enjoyed digging in the shells - I couldn't find anything other than shells. Everyone else found loads of interesting things.

[Tink]

Hey! Shells are interesting. Did you bring at least one home? We always bring at least one shell home from any beach we visit. Want to be sure we return, eh?

Except Hawaiian beaches. No removing anything from the Islands! The Goddess Pele will NOT be pleased!

[ieuanr]

I know we brought the teeth back but I do not know if we brought any shells.

[Isafari]

Once again, I loved reading your report I keep going back to the shell photo, I have a strange facination for it!!!

[ieuanr]

It is quite interesting - I can sit and stare at it - but I still cannot see any teeth!

[Isafari]

It is quite interesting - I can sit and stare at it - but I still cannot see any teeth!

Thanks for that.....I'm going to have to have another look now!

[Tink]

I think it should be framed. You could lose hours staring at it.

HEY!!! Let's have a contest!!! How many shells in Ieuan's photo?

Ummm...you get to count them for the answer Ieuan. After all, it's your photo!

Seriously, I would love it framed on our wall.

[ieuanr]

Do I count the broken ones as well?