Greenlinks - Naples


Naples is a wonderful vacation spot.  The weather has been wonderful – upper 70’s – low 80’s almost every day.  We had rain and overcast skies over the weekend with a little scattered sun here and there.

We’ve been to Marco Island and as far north as Estero to visit Coconut Point Mall and Miramar Outlet Mall.  We didn’t buy much,, but it was fun to look and watch the people. 

Lots of mature citizens here in different stages of maturity and from all over the world.  People are the same everywhere, though, they look for an outlet from the long, cold winter.

We’ve eaten at some great places:  Carrabbas, Blueberries (great breakfast place), Cheesecake Factory, Hoots, Mongello’s, Riverwalk at Tin City.  The strangest place by far was Cracklin’ Jacks.  They serve southern comfort food:  ribs, fried chicken, and catfish with vittles.  The vittles included mashed potatoes, brown gravy, white gravy, greens(I like greens, but these greens had the hell cooked out of them), coleslaw(good), beans, pickles and onions, scalloped tomatoes(good), zucchini and corn muffins, and the special vittle the night we were there was onion casserole.

We went there for a sandwich, but no sandwiches – just the above meals with vittles.  We ordered the catfish jacketizer along with the vittles. It was enough, but probably won’t go back.  I noticed one reviewer of this restaurant wrote:  “We stopped in just before noon for lunch on the way to Marco Island. The cast of characters that assembled there in the next 30 minutes will not soon be forgotten. I think it was the entire cast of Swamp People. I'm not making fun, but I think if you know what that is, you know what these gentlemen looked like. “

We’ve spent time by the pool which is just steps from our door and been to the beach once.  Greenlinks is in the Lely Resort Area and about 10 miles from the beach.  If we could just pick this place up and move it within walking distance of the beach, it would be an AA++.  We are out in the middle of nowhere and have to drive to shop or eat.  There is a grocery store and drug store nearby and a few chains like Lowes, Staples, etc.

There are several resorts in this complex and several golf courses to meet the needs of the visitors.  There are also single family homes in the complex.  The landscaping is beautiful with lots of multicolored flowers, foliage, and trees.  They were cutting the grass this morning, but it isn’t like the grass we have at home.  It is a broadleaf grass, and it always looks about the same:  not too short and not too tall.

There was a little boy(Aiden)and girl (Abby)at the pool last week with their grandfather, mother, and uncle.  I’d say they were about 4 and 6.  They kept the water stirred up at the pool, but I think they must be gone now.  The pool is pretty quiet when we’re there.

Here is a video tour of our home-away-from-home:

I don't see any birds like we have in Illinois-no sparrows, cardinals, woodpeckers, etc  This is a bird sitting by the pond in our backyard.

Watching the kids while Mama shops.  A lot of seniors have pets.  I guess they like that "parent feeling".  NOT ME - I'm enjoying my freedom.

Panoramic photo of the beach.  There's always plenty of room on the beach, but parking can be a real hassle.  Just one of the reasons I like to be within walking distance.

Jerpa studying his iphone while sunning at the pool.