A Lazy Lakeside Afternoon

Just sitting on a bench, breathing fresh air, admiring the view and hoping a bird will fly into view.

Weekend Reflections.

May All Beings Everywhere be Happy and Free

Hard arguing with that.

Ibis

An ibis flew up onto a branch.  He began grooming himself, which involves ridiculous contortions and wing fluffing and feasting on the insects on its coat.  But, every now and then,

the ibis would stand still and just flex its wings.

Black-necked Stilt

It is fascinating how many different and interesting birds you can see around here if you look beyond the eagles, ospreys, herons, wood storks, roseate spoonbills and other major league birds.

A Snack

A tricolored heron caught a small fish.

India Fest . . . Finis

One of the mothers of dancing children was master of ceremonies.

Like parents everywhere, there was a line-up of proud parents taking pictures.

Liban sells curried meals.  He is very persuasive.  Fortunately, his food is good.

Gold jewelry is very important in Indian culture.

Laxmi was lovely and graciously posed for me.

Another Indian Dance

Another group of young children danced at the India Fest.

India Fest 2019

The Indian community of Fort Myers held its 31st India Fest yesterday.

While I was there, several groups of children danced.

This was a folk dance.

And, proud parents took photos.

And dancers and parents posed for pictures.

Tourists in Bayfront

If they are all riding Segways and lined up for a photo, they are tourists.

Bayfront, a mixed commercial and residential development near where the Gordon River meets Naples Bay, just outside the downtown.

U Pick Burgers

Strawberries, yes.  Apples, yes.  Blueberries, yes.  Nearly any fruit, yes.

But this was the first place I have seen that offered pick-your-own burgers.

Pool Cage

Hurricane Irma plowed through here eighteen months ago, but workers are still 

repairing and replacing roofs and pool cages.

Boat House

A popular restaurant on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers.

Parade Participants

Some of the participants in the 2019 Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade.

A team of Clydesdale horses pulled a replica Budweiser beer carriage.

Fire, police and state troopers -- active and retired -- had prominent positions in the parade.

City of New York firefighters accompanied a float with 343 flags, symbolizing the 

343 NYFD firefighters who died in the September 11 attacks.

It must have been a long march for the younger participants, but some held up pretty well.

Some didn't.

People in the Crowd

At the Naples St. Patrick's Day Parade.