Magoolooping's Blog

What tree takes up almost an acre of ground and has more trunks than a herd of elephants? — It’s the banyan tree that Thomas Edison planted in Fort Myers, FL (1925) at his estate on McGregor Blvd.  This tree (a gift from Harvey Firestone) is the first banyan tree planted in the US.  At the time of planting it was 4 ft. tall; now it covers almost an acre and is the third largest in the world.  – Also,  Thomas Edison shares responsibility for Fort Myers’ nickname “City of Palms”.  He planted about a dozen or so Royal Palm trees in front of his winter home on McGregor Boulevard that are now 75 feet tall.  Following suit, the city of Fort Myers planted more and more and more and more palm trees, earning this nickname.

Over the past few weeks we rented a car and made our way to Naples, Marco Island, Fort Myers Beach, and the Everglades.  We have found so many places that we are enjoying, and especially the wild life.  The birds are spectacular here in Florida and we find ourselves taking lots of pictures.  We’ve seen two more parades right in front of our docked boat;  what could be more convenient.  It seems like there is always something going on here.  The past weekend was the Edison Lights parade and an antique car show with over a hundred cars along with an arts and craft fair.

Everyone Loves a Parade!!

Everglades City (including the Everglades)

Alligator City………………………………………………..

Surprise, surprise. These pictures were taken just outside of the Everglades and are actually located across the street from homes!! Yikes!! THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD!! And my oh my, what BIG teeth they have!!  :-O

Jan 20 – 30.  Joining Carole and Sonny on their winter vacation in the Delray Beach area.

 

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BUTTERFLY WORLD, Coconut River, FL.  The first and largest Butterfly House in the United States.

Pirate Festival, Gasparilla Invasion, a celebration in Tampa, FL.    It’s a fun day where the world’s only fully-rigged pirate ship (The Jose Gasparilla) appears in Tampa’s Hillsborough Bay with a multitude of leisure crafts who are coming to defend the city.  Lots of fun, lots of beads thrown to spectators, and lots and lots of pirates.  What unique pirate costumes.  This celebration took place on the water, and on the streets with a colorful parade (over 100 floats and 6 miles long).   Karen and Sam initiated this trip to Tampa for the festivities, and with 500,000 spectators Karen planned the logistics of getting in and out without a hitch!!  After the parade, it took us no more than 15 minutes to be on the road back home!  Karen, you are brilliant (and Sam, you’re pretty good, too).  Awesome day.

The Jose Gasparilla approaching the city of Tampa (canons were just fired, see the smoke at the bow and aft of the boat, and look at all those pirates!! "Arrrrgh"

Next Day, we’re off to Manatee Park, Fort Myers.

It was a great week spent with Carole and Sonny; lots of variety, too.  Thanks guys!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Myers and Vicinity

January 6 –  13.  Back to Florida and on the boat again.  –  Wow, glad to be here in Florida.  The second week in January Florida was the ONLY state that did not have any snow!!  –  Yes, we are still doing “The Great Loop” but it feels more like “The Great Pause”.  Since we are staying in one place here in Fort Myers and relaxing or going at a slower pace (a huge contrast to the constant movement of the past eight months).  –  While we are “pausing” we will post pictures of the places we go and the things we see.  We plan on moving North the second week in February.
Florida (The Sunshine State)  Ponce de Leon named this region “La Florida” and means “Flowery Land”.  It’s said that he landed in the Spring when the vegetation was in bloom.  –  Did you know that Florida has the second longest coastline in the U.S. (approximately 1350 miles —  the longest is Alaska with 6640 miles).  

The historic section of Fort Myers (known as “City of the Palms”) which is located on the Caloosahatchee River.  Caloosahatchee is pronounced “Kuh loo sah HACH ee” and we still stumble when trying to pronounce it.  It is an Indian word believed to mean “river of the Calusa” (Calusa is the name of the Indians originally living in this area).   We are docked at the Fort Myers Yacht Basin located in historic downtown Fort Myers, also called the downtown River District.  This marina is walking distance to parks, restaurants, theaters and stores  making it a great place to  stay.   The people who run the place are pretty nice, too.  You could say that they run a “tight ship”.

As we get acquainted with Fort Myers, one of the things we couldn’t help to notice was the consistent names of businesses and parks, such as:  Edison Bridge, Edison National Bank, Edison Celebration of Art, Edison Park, Edison Congregational Church, Edison Restaurant, Edison Mall and so on and so on.  It didn’t take long to find out that Thomas Alva Edison is one of the most famous Fort Myers  residents, or I should say winter resident (total of 30 winters).  You know, the famous inventor who was most noted for inventing the light bulb and phonograph (or should I say the “pre-stereo” for those of you who don’t know what a phonograph is).  He was also responsible for inventing the dictaphone and mimeograph (the beginning of copy machines).  In addition to all these wonderful inventions Edison  created the Vitascope which was the beginning of the silent motion pictures.  Then in 1903 he blended audio with the silent movie and thus evolved the  ”talking” movies, referred to as “talkies”.  Wow, huge accomplishments!!  And to think that as a child he couldn’t talk until he was almost 4 years old.  It’s said that if he were a child today  psychologists would  diagnose Edison with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and put on the drug Ritalin.  Kind of makes you wonder how far we have really come???  Progress??

 

Another famous Fort Myers resident was Henry Ford, also an inventor.  As a matter of fact, he was a close friend to Edison and  moved in right next door.  Ford gave a gift to Edison of a  gasoline-powered Model T Ford.  Now, that’s quite a present.  I’m sure Edison supplied Ford with plenty of light bulbs in return and a phonograph or two.
Fort Myers is also the winter home for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.  The games usually start here in the middle of February.

Sunday we walked the cobbled streets to the Arcade Theater  and saw “Sylvia”, a comedy.  There’s nothing like a live show for a  fun night out.

 

 

January 14 & 15.  Sanibel and Captiva Islands (barrier islands),   It is said that Ponce de Leon named Sanibel and Captiva Islands for Queen Isabella of Castile.  Sanibel measure approximately 12 miles long and five miles across at its widest.  Captiva Island is smaller at less than 5 miles long and a 1/2 mile wide.  We think that this is a pretty special place because more than half of the island is made up of wildlife refuge!!  Now that’s saying something.  The resident’s priority is to keep the island as natural as possible.  There are no gaudy neon signs, but buildings are tasteful and painted to blend into the natural surrounds.  There are over 22 miles of biking trails and beautiful beaches, of course.

 

Shelling is especially popular here; but I confess most of the shells we found were  broken.  We did find some small shells to keep as mementos.  Early mornings or after  storms would be a better time to find pristine shells.

 

No fast food chains are allowed on the island (except Dairy Queen, but that was here before the laws were enacted in 1974).  Also, the only two story  buildings that are here were built before 1974, one story is the only ones allowed to be built.
Jan 16 – 19.  Fort Myers