VanGoTravels: Wat Tampa, Roseate Spoonbills, and Naples

On Sunday, I met an old friend and a new one at Wat Tampa, a Bhuddist Temple on the Palm River. The temple has a large Thai population and holds a food fair each and every Sunday, with freshly made Thai dishes in an open air market style setting. I went there three years ago and my mouth has been watering to go back ever since. They have soups, as well as hot and cold dishes, and a host of wonderful sweet desserts. I had a Pho-type noodle soup for lunch, then got a couple of desserts to go (pumpkin and coconut flan and tapioca with mung beans), and a container of delicious spring rolls for dinner.

After our delightful lunch on the banks of the Palm River, we headed off for Myakka River State Park, outside Sarasota. Walks along the water brought sightings of (to mention just a few), Black-Necked Stilts, Limpkins, Yellow Legs, Osprey, an immature Bald Eagle, Anhingas, Egrets, Wood Storks, Herons, Roseate Spoonbills (wow!), and my first alligators of the trip.

Elli and I are now just north of Naples, in the lovely Koreshan State Park. It's an historic sight, as well as a park. It was in the mid-to-high 70's today and only went down to about 60 degrees last night. I'd like to remain here until the end of next week (if I can get a space for my RT - cross fingers!). I also hope to hook up with an old friend and her DH, as well as a friend of a friend from Annapolis.