The St. Petersburg pier is about to be rebuilt but until then it sits here unused. The architecture of the new pier has been the subject of a lot of discussion amongst the residents and local officials. So while they decide what to do I try and get a few more pictures before the cranes come in and it begins a makeover. Then, I suppose, I’ll be out taking pictures of the new one. Me and everyone else in town.
Down the Garden Path
Bok Tower Gardens in central Florida has these paths all around the property that lead from one garden to the next. Fortunately these big Oaks provide plenty of shade which is a hot commodity this time of year. (No pun intended.)
Rush Hour at the Pier
This was taken around rush hour on a Friday evening. Only I have no idea what the traffic was like because I was here. This was about the most stress free place I can think of. It’s a remote pier in a remote park that looks out on to the Gulf of Mexico. Even the seabirds were relaxed as they waited for morsels from the fishermen. This is one of those spots I like to come to from time to time because no matter what, I’m always going home more relaxed than I came.
Bowmans Beach
I found Bowman’s beach by accident and even though we were driving home we stopped and stayed for about an hour to relax along the shore. It was Sunday and no one was in a hurry to go anywhere. Our timing was good because about an hour after I took this thunderstorms moved in and everything turned dark and grey. That’s fairly typical and after about twenty minutes or so it blows away and everything returns to normal.
Weekend at the Beach
The weekend is finally here, I thought it would never come. Not that I have a lot of hair, nevertheless, time to let it down, kick back and enjoy some much needed R and R. I don’t know about you but I would love for my weekend to be uneventful, not a lot of stuff going on. I think there was a lot of that going on here in Boca Grande last weekend when I took this at the beach. Yup, just a whole lotta nothin.
Shaded Bench
A bench in the shade outside the Ringling Museum in Sarasota Florida. I come here from time to time to take pictures of the manicured grounds. This was a particularly hot day and I thought this bench was well placed under the shade of a Banyan. There are a lot of trees here so it makes wandering the grounds a bit easier in summer. They also have ice cold lemonade at a snack bar under one of the largest Banyans in the region. Where would we be without Banyans.
Gasparilla Island Lighthouse
Today we took a little trip down the west coast of Florida to Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island. This lighthouse was built in 1932 and is long past it’s prime. To be sure it’s still sturdy enough to withstand hurricanes all these years. Anyway, I did my best to block out the sun with the support frame. The heat and humidity is pretty intense but within a few minutes there was a rain shower which momentarily dropped the temperature about ten degrees. Fifteen minutes later the rain passed and heat returned. A typical afternoon in Boca Grande.
Sanibel Beach Day
When I took this I was sitting on a towel right next to the gentle waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Sanibel Island. It’s hard to convey the feeling; maybe it’s the sand, the warm water, the breeze; maybe all these combined. Sometimes the waves are so small you might think you were on a lake. The bigger waves along the Atlantic coast of Florida are fun to swim in also, but nothing compares to the calm waters of Florida’s west coast.
Sarasota Public Library
Purchase Print
The Sarasota Public Library is located in the center of town across from a park and surrounded by shops, theaters and restaurants. If you stop and take a look, the architecture is rather unique. Architecture aside, I wonder how many people still use the library in this age of instant electronic access. I guess I’ll just have to go in and find out for myself one day.
Path to the Beach
Being one of the more popular destinations in the area, Holmes Beach has a big parking lot. But if you walk a little ways north or south you can find all of these hidden paths from quiet residential areas which provide less used access. Unlike the beaches of Miami and Ft Lauderdale, the beaches of Anna Maria Island are laid back. And even more so when you can find your own little path leading to a stretch of beach to call your own.