Tom and I are back from vacation with our daughter's family on Anna Maria Island. It sits between Tampa and Sarasota on the Gulf Coast.
The rental house had a pool table and a swimming pool. Good thing, because we spent most of our time there. Why?
First, COVID is surging again in Florida. Our moronic governor refuses to do anything intelligent. Ever. The rental house was booked last spring when it looked like things were getting better. We went, knowing we would wear masks and get take-out meals. No surprises there.
Second, Florida's Gulf Coast is experiencing red tide. Although the local media claims it isn't "that" bad at Anna Maria Island, it smelled and made us cough when we were near the beach. I walked to a tiki bar near the water the first day and my chest hurt all evening from coughing. So, we didn't go near the beach after that.
Beach towns and rental houses have their own kitsch, which I enjoy. Sadly, Anna Maria Island locals have allowed greedy developers to build, build, build. When we drove onto the island from Brandenton, I was shocked at the sprawl. I couldn't help but wonder what a civilized country might have done with an island?
I know this sounds negative, but we actually enjoyed ourselves. It was fun to get away and spend time with family. We are all used to being inside by now. It was just fun to be inside someplace new for a while.
I'm glad you were able to have a safe vacation with your family. Sounds like a lovely time together.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it.
DeleteI like the 'finds' you showed. Where did you catch the mermaid?
ReplyDeleteShe was hanging on the wall in the living room. I quite liked her.
DeleteIt sounds like a fun time, all the drawbacks notwithstanding.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, and the best that could be expected under the circumstances.
DeleteWe had a similar experience recently at Hilton Head - too damned hot and muggy to do much outside but still great 'together' time.
ReplyDeleteMy youngest daughter is in Tampa and the Covid numbers are quite scary. I don't remember who said it but "in this age of information, ignorance is a choice."
Good quote.
DeleteThat's a shame about the red tide and your hurt chest. We have a few algae problems of our own that the authorities seem a bit casual about. Glad you enjoyed your visit anyway.
ReplyDeleteI like the mermaid.
It's a good mermaid.
DeleteI love Anna Maria Island. I've been there many times over many, many years. The northern end of the island (the town of Anna Maria) is better preserved than the Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach areas. Where were you staying?
ReplyDeleteWe were staying down near the Bradenton Beach area.
DeleteA change is as good as a rest, they say. Holidays incl.
ReplyDeleteTrue that.
DeleteIt is a pity that FL has allowed such sprawl and high rises almost to the water's edge! We never stop at Clearwater but keep going a few more miles to the beach at Sand Key Park which being a park is much more in its natural state - no high rises, no kitsch. Glad you managed to have a good time in spite of the drawbacks!
ReplyDeleteI'll investigate Sand Key Park.
DeleteNice. It sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteYour governor is indeed a moron and so is mine (Tennessee).
We should have a national contest to figure out who has the worst governor.
DeleteI would question the existence of a civilised country.
ReplyDeleteI know you would.
DeleteBy the way, SO good to hear from you.
Glad you had a nice time with family. I was at a farm in Wisconsin for 4 days with family and we had our own pond for swimming and fishing! We didn't need to see other people and it was great!
ReplyDeleteStaying on a farm in Wisconsin (with a pond) sounds wonderful.
DeleteI don't think you sounded Negative, you were just speaking the Truth about the challenges we seem to run up against when we go almost anywhere now. I think Phoenix sprawl has destroyed a lot of Natural Areas and Historic Areas with greed and over development. Certainly we too have endured a Covidiot Governor who I've nicknamed Dumbass Ducey. Luckily many School Boards and Parents are defying him and doing what is safest for our Children, otherwise, with that Lunatic in charge, many could perish and infect their Families now School has resumed. I'm so glad you had a great Vacay tho', we escaped to Jerome, a Ghost Town that is kitschy Touristy but has preserved so much of it's Rich and Funky History, it's the Disneyland of Funky places and had been a Decade since our last visit. I've seen coverage of that Red Tide situation, here we had some weird webbing that showed up on many Trees near our Rivers, it looked like some Horror Movie Halloween Scene, had to look it up to see what it was an infestation of... scary stuff to encounter, it kinda terrified me.
ReplyDelete