The Way We Were: Sanibel Nostalgic Moments

Maybe it's because winter is officially over and our rental guests have thinned out.

Maybe it's because there has been so much turmoil in the world, and especially in the USA, over the last couple of weeks.

Maybe it's because we, ourselves, are a year old then we were last April.

But what ever the cause, we are feeling a wee bit nostalgic today.

We were alerted yesterday about a traffic jam at the Sanibel Causeway caused by the making of a commercial for Mercedes Benz.  Now that is good company, to be sure, and they have good taste as well.  The new Sanibel Causeway is truly a work of beauty, if not art, and a great background for most any kind of commercial.

But we remember when...

The first Sanibel Causeway originally opened for traffic on May 26, 1963, replacing a ferry boat service that ran from Punta Rassa to Sanibel since 1912. Construction on the entire causeway, and the three original bridges lasted 15 months and cost $2.73 million.

Before the Causeway opened, the little road that transversed the Island had little traffic.  We have had guests who recalled pedalling down the road on their bikes, pretty much no one else around.  And one of them had their pet parrot perched on their shoulder for the ride.

The Island has become much more sophisticated since the opening of the Causeway, but we do have a bit of reluctant remembrances of those times gone by.

And though the Island is probably one of the best places on earth to watch the stars, this past meteor shower was obscured by the cloudy skies.  The near miss brought to mind the meteor showers of the past when the normally dark island was lit up like day light because the skies were so clear and the meteors so bright.  We miss that, too.

But one of the joys of Island living or visiting, is that both resident and guest are not likely to live in past memories for very long.

Each year, there are new places to eat, new shops to explore and new nature viewing to savor and photograph.

And of course, we always have new and special vacation rental options.

In fact, if there is one very positive aspect of the changes, it is the number and variety the Island now offers.  Homes that were never before offered as rentals, are now available to the traveling public.  While most are 28 night rentals, the space, convenience and locations they offer are inducement enough to stay for 4 weeks rather than just 1.

And there is a never ending updating to the condos on Island, making them more inviting and convenient than ever before.

So with the time forwards, comes a more comfortable and exciting way to vacation on Sanibel.  If you have not yet paid us a visit, this is a perfect time. Rates are down, the Gulf is warming up, the nature viewing is better than ever!