Why Marco Island?

Two years ago, before I retired, my friend and colleague Professor Karen Fitzgibbon came back to work after a holiday looking calm and relaxed. I asked her where she had been and she extolled the benefits of Marco Island. She spoke about Marco as a peaceful calm place where people walk and cycle and make the most of the sea which is all around. It sounded so idyllic that I noted the location and when we came to plan this holiday it seemed a perfect way to build a quiet week into the middle of our three week break. So big thanks to Karen for prompting us to be able to spend time in this wonderful place.

As you can see from the map the island, which is six by four miles in length and width, seems to be more sea than land and this gives the island a relaxed feel with no one in a rush to get anywhere. If you want to see the map in more detail you can find it here.

Marco Island seems so different from other parts of the US with bungalows and small gardens being the norm. Compared to our experience elsewhere in the country which ranges from high-rises in the Cities and huge houses with enormous gardens in the out of City areas. This closeness of houses and ease of access for places means the island is full of sidewalks so the island is designed for people, not for the car. Down to the road crossing rules which give priority to the pedestrian - in other parts of the country people are stunned to see people actually walking.

Breakfast

After a tiring drive yesterday I didn't get up until 6.30am this morning, a late one for me, and made breakfast for Drew and I. We had turkey and cheese roll with orange juice and tea, which was very tasty.

Even as the sun came up at 7.00am people were out on the beach outside setting up for the day. The day started bright and many of the people seemed to stay on the beach all day. 

Sunday Mass

Marco Island is named for St. Mark, the Spaniards when they first arrived in called it Caxambas, the local Indian word for Fresh Water, as unlike many of the islands in the area Marco had fresh water springs. This was in 1513, a very early stage of the Spanish arrival in La Florida and what later became the US. In later years of Spanish rule the island was renamed La Isla de San Marco and gradually that became San Marco and finally Marco Island.  

The Catholic Church here on Marco Island is also dedicated to St. Mark and is on the street called San Marco. A definite theme going on here!

The Church was built in the 1980's and while it has an external style that follows local architectural patterns inside it has a very modern look and feel. 

Mass was at 8.30 and the church was completely full. I would judge 500 to 600 people. During Mass a couple celebrated their 25 Wedding Anniversary by renewing their vows. The hymns were led by a young lady and were what I'd call 'folk' music. Though I'm not sure what folk would sing these 1960s and 70s hymns. The first was 'Gather us in' a popular hymn of my childhood, but not one I have heard for some time. The second was 'Make me a Channel of your Peace' another one I learnt in my teens. There is a comfort of memory in these hymns but they are not the most theological in their meaning. 

The first reading, 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12, spoke of Solomon being asked what gift he wanted of the Lord and he asking: "Give your servant, therefore, an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong." I love this reading as it reminds me how much we say or do that comes from what is in our hearts. Being able to act justly and distinguish right from wrong is a great gift/ This judgement helps us to treat people with love. The ability to tune in to the way the Lord wants me to respond to him is why I come to Mass every Sunday and often every day of the week. Attune myself to the will of the Lord is both a blessing and a gift. This resonates so well with the gospel of today (Matthew 13:44-52) which tells us that: 

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

My knowledge and love of God is the pearl of great price in my life, and it is why he informs everything I do.

Walmart

Mass finished at 11.30 and after Mass it was time to do a proper visit to Walmart. One of the things we do every year we come to the US is to walk through a Walmart to see all they have to sale. It is always quite amazing to see the range of products that a large store like this sells. Not just clothes and food, but fishing equipment, tyres for a car, bullets etc. We were particualry taken by the wide range of Heinz sauces we don't see in the UK, as you will see from the pictures. 

We spent an hour and a half walking around the store and enjoying the rnage of products. We followed this by driving back to the apartment and taking in the warmth, in short burst between coming back into the aircon, on the Lanai.

Dinner

We had looked at food options for tonight and thought we would try, the interestingly named, Snook Inn. It turns out that Snook is the name for a local fish that used to swim in abundance right alongside the Inn. The Inn retains the tradition of having boats to make a fresh catch, and if you have caught your own fish you can bring it in for the Snook Inn to cook. 

At the Snook you can arrive by boat or by car, the parking for each being on either side of the building. The Snook is at the northern end of the island so you can across to the Isles of Capri and Stingaree Island. As the photo shows a storm was coming in, so we had some amazing lighting as we eat our dinners.

I liked the fact that the welcome to the Inn says: "If you think you have a reservation you are at the wrong place". At the Snook you turn up and wait until a table becomes free, this was about 15 minutes in our case, but there was plenty to look at and read around the inn's veranda.

Drew began his meal with Giant Onion Rings, which was a large Spanish onion sliced, breaded and deep fried served with a horseradish sauce. These onions were light and amazing in flavour, almost as good as a whole onion my sister, brother-in-law and I had many years ago in Michigan. 

I opted for Littleneck Clams which are farmed here in the Gulf of Mexico. These were steamed on the half-shell and were absolutely delicious.

The restaurant also has a large salad bar which everyone who orders a main dish is eligible to enjoy. We both took advantage of this as our pre-starter. The bar include a wide selection of food including a selection of sauces, with home-baked bread and an old fashioned pickle barrel with lovely dill-pickles.

For Mains Drew opted for the daily catch, opting for a Caribbean style blackend Mahi-Mahi served over a bed of rice and black beans topped off with pico de gallo. This was delicious, the blackend style of cooking brought out the taste of the fish. Drew founded this dish fresh and perfectly cooked. It was also just the right size for a meal. He enjoyed it very much. 

I had read in advance of visiting this area that the Red Snapper was native to the Gulf of Mexico and a local delicacy. So I opted for the Snapper simply broiled (grilled) and served with rice and black beans. It was soft, juicy and had a lot of flavour. Not unlike the Red Mullet in flavour.

We completed the meal headed back to the apartment and got to bed soon after 10pm.