Florida 2.2.2

Traveling alone is an interesting proposition.  I've done a lot of it over the years.  Business trips will do that.  But this trip takes the cake in terms of uniqueness.  Even on a business trip, there's people to see, work to be done and in the end, you keep relatively busy.  One skill you develop that comes in handy on days like these is eating alone.  Some might call in room service and keep on working, but I've always liked getting out and seeing things.  And as I'm not one to socialize, you become adept at entertaining yourself or simply being comfortable sitting at a bar sipping a couple beers.

So I put those skills to work as I toured Naples for the day.  Yes, word quickly got out that I was here, but by that point, I was far enough into the trip that I needed to finish the way I started.  

After checking out and back in at my motel due to a room change, which was due to my last minute decision to stay two nights at the Sea Shell, which was due to me finding out last minute my dad wouldn't be in town, I jumped into my little Ford Fiesta and took a field trip to the local Total Wine.  Lame perhaps, but with no Florida rep, I thought maybe I'd help Summit out and have a look at the product placement.  But with the previous evenings beers still throbbing in my head, I managed to walk out with out a treat for myself.  

From there, I made the quick drive over towards Nana and Papa's condo.  At this point nana was over visiting papa, and I wasn't quite ready for that interaction yet anyway, so I parked, changed into my running clothes and headed off down Gulf Shore Blvd.  It's a run I've done before and was needed to shake out the cobwebs.  It was kind of odd to come so far and be so close and not say hi, but I'd get to that tomorrow.  Again,finish how I started.

The great thing about Naples it's that the city owns the beach front.  Maybe that's typical, but on a street lined with million dollar condos, you'd think you'd be confined to a small public beach far removed from the area.  But no, instead there's lots every few blocks with direct access.  So after swinging by Fresh Market for a sandwich, I parked and headed to the beach.

Remember that crummy weather from earlier?. Well, the rain may have stopped and the sun may have come out, but it was windy as all get out.  So, I only lasted so long as it took to eat my sandwich and watch the para-sailors before retreating to a more secluded park bench where I sat and vegged for a while.

That eventually ran its course and besides, I needed a shower.  So back to the motel to clean up and get some more of the work done that I'd been intermittently doing since I arrived.

From there it was on to dinner...somewhere.  Tonight it would be the 3rd street area.  It's old Naples, and an area I've heard about, but never really been to.  What it ended up being, to me at least was exclusive, exclusionary, expensive and any other ex word you can think of.  Planting myself at the bar of one of the lesser busy and more relaxed looking restaurants, I managed through a decent pizza and a couple beers.  When that had run its course, it was back to the Sea Shell with a brief pit stop for some beers.

And so that was pretty much my day.  Keep moving, venture out, but relax.