I just got back from a quick trip to visit friends Angela and Ron in Fort Myers, Florida. Their home had been severely damaged by Hurricane Irma several years ago and they are just now getting back in. The house was beautiful but dated (dark wood, etc.). Now it is as gorgeous as the view. We did a lot, mostly ate, and had some down time. I finally got to see the Downton Abbey movie and Angela and I worked a couple puzzles. Great times!
Before the hurricane they had a bedroom en suite and an apartment on the lower level (where I had planned to winter – ha! ha!) but they were not allowed to rebuild with living space on the lower level. Instead, they added the area that is now to the left of the garage. While they were remodeling they also added an above ground pool with a surrounding pool deck to the left of the house. There is a large screen porch overlooking the canal and their boat dock (no boat, yet) in the back of the house and a hot tub. I enjoyed watching the boats running up and down the Caloosahatchee River. I saw speed boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, the steamboat tour boat, kayak and a yacht. A Neptune statue greets all passersby. A boat can go from Fort Myers to Lake Okeechobee and on to the Atlantic Ocean. Although the cats have general run of the house (except for the guest bedrooms), they also have their own special play room filled with their own couch, chairs and climbing towers.
Every time Angela and I get close to a tea room we have to try it. Wisteria, in Fort Myers, is one of the best.
High Tea at Wisteria Tea Room in Fort Myers – a starter salad, finger sandwiches, quiche, mac&cheese, scones with clotted cream, chocolate and mint pie, creme brulee, and TEA!! 
Angela at High Tea at the Wisteria.
Another day we went to Punta Gorda to Fisherman’s Village, a series of little shops and restaurants. We had lunch there. I had coconut crusted grouper with a pineapple sweet and spicy sauce. It was very good and reasonably priced for that area. Angela and split a key lime pie. YUMMY!
On Friday evening Angela and I went to see a Jimmy Buffet cover band at the Edison/Ford Estate. The site is beautiful. The lead singer was very good but the female backup singer, not so much. It was fairly cold that evening – mid 40’s. It is all relative – I heard Ohio was much colder and places up there got snow, so I am not complaining but I was glad I had my winter coat tucked in my carry on.
On Sunday we went to brunch at one of the most interesting restaurants I’ve ever been to. It was not just a farm to table restaurant – the restaurant table was on the farm! You could visit the pigs, cows, chicken, ducks and turkeys that would eventually become someone’s lunch. I will be posting pictures of it separately so it will be easy to find later.
On Monday I had my last al fresco meal for awhile at The Boat House, about 10 minutes from Angela’s. This restaurant is what vacation is all about! In addition to two bars, a dance floor and space for a band, huge TV screens, a man-made beach, a pool and a boat dock. And the food was OK, too.
Travels with Pam 