Days 18 - 20: Naples

Naples is a beautiful city. The population is listed as 20,976, but this is one of those communities that mushrooms when the "snow birds" arrive to spend the winter months here. They were starting to arrive according to Jim's uncle. The trafic was getting bad. Naples is one of the wealthiest areas in the country and many of the homes here are second (or third or fourth) homes.

Although filled with high-rise condos and the usual array of shopping centers, gas stations, etc. something is different. It seems like every store is disquised as a Spanish Villa. All the yards are well maintained and lush with all the flora that grows around here. Palm trees, Hibiscus, and all sorts of tropical plants and flowers. And then there are the canals which give beautiful views and waterfront to many homes.

Jim's uncle lives within walking distance of Park Shores which is a beautiful development of high-end shops, marinas, homes on the water and high-rise condominiums right on the beach. We enjoyed taking early morning walks (before it gets too hot) touring the area and visiting with his uncle.

It was hot -- In the 90's when we arrived. We actually enjoyed the thunderstorms on the second day because it took out some of the humidity and lowered the temperature to the 80's. Jim's uncle does not use the air conditioner, so we experienced the humidity up close and personal. I'd forgotton about humidity since I left the midwest -- my hair immediately puffed out into a semi-afro and I even got Jim to let the fan run in the bedroom at night.

We visited some friends of Jim's uncle who lived in a gated community. This particular one had 3 golf courses -- in the community (I think Naples has 41 golf courses in all). We were driving along and Jim pointed out a very large building and said that must be the clubhouse. "No," his uncle said, "the club house is over there. That is a house." Turns out that particular house keeps getting bigger and bigger. There was a vacant lot between that house and his neighbor until the neighbor bought it -- to keep the first man from expanding any further. It is certainly a different world from the one we live in.

Jim's uncle's friend's lived in a smaller home ( 3,000+ sq feet), but still quite elegant. They are real estate brokers and had done a lot of remodeling. It was a beautiful home and gave me a lot of ideas for my wish list for Jim's next project -- bathroom remodel. They also assured us that there are reasonably priced homes in the area -- you just have to go farther and farther away from the coast. The real estate bust hit this area, but the people out looking for bargins is keeping the market going.

Most houses around here have a lanai that is structured like a giant sunroom, but instead of glass, the partitions are screened. And most houses have sliding windows that can be opened up so you are essentially outside -- but protected by the screens from a local insect called the "no-see-um." Evidently these are like mosquitoes, but smaller -- hence the name -- and they will "eat you up." Also probably discourages the alligators (and those poisonious snakes) which are plentiful around here. When you spot one, you call the police and they have an alligator squad that captures them and releases them in the Everglades -- about 40 miles south. The alligator had no natural enemies until recently when people started releasing their pet anacondas. Anacondas do not make good pets.

Given the critters around here, I like the idea of a screened in yard. The one critter that we like is the small lizards that run around everywhere.

Jim's uncle has a bananna grove in his back yard. We had a great time eating fresh fruit and his delicious Key Lime Pie. It was a great visit.

We will be on the road again tomorrow heading to Texas to visit my brother.