I do my blog free-form, but I do pay for the privilege…I always figure the security is better when you put some cash into it.
LORD I’d beg him to stay any day.
TODAY WE’RE GONNA LOOK AT A FLORIDA FANTASY:
NO NOT THAT ONE
This one:
though they both do have pirates….
This one has an island:
Gasparilla Island off the coast of Charlotte County
on this island the pirate is said to have founded High Town and his grand palmetto palace.
The island today bear grand homes of the rich and maybe only slightly less famous who have replaced the pirates–and that may be more appropriate than they might want us to think as early quests included Dupont, Astor and J.P. Morgan to name a few. There shops at The Railroad Plaza and between Fifth and First Streets. There’s the Gasparilla Inn, many marinas with lots of place to charter or rent a boat Oh and by the way the current village is called Boca Grande.
and a Pass:
Little Gasparilla Pass
and a sound:
Gasparilla Sound the last two all in the vicinity of the island
A favorite wife:
Useppa Island. It’s off the coast of Lee County (note that it was originally Joseffa –but like a lot of things in Florida became something else as the natives adjusted it.)
This island is on a shell mound and only allows club member to enter the island. No cars are allowed and members get around by golf cart and the like.
a harem of numerous wives:
Captiva Island where he kept his numerous wives (captured Spanish women) captive to his desires.
Captiva continues to be a fun place with lots of beach partying and nonstop sightseeing. It’s been described as “an exclamation mark in an expression of delight.”
There’s even a festival:
http://www.gasparillapiratefest.com/
GASPARILLA PIRATE FEST
in Tampa Bay (on Treasure Island) every January
This island is named for bounty that is suppose to be buried somewhere there.
Only 3.5 miles long, this small island if full of fun things to do as well.
But alas there is little is any support to there ever being a pirate by this name and some speculation is that in fact these islands were named for Spanish missionaries– there was a mission in Charlotte Harbor in 1567 with four priests over the years being named Gaspar. In fact several Spanish wells have been found on Little Gasparilla which has led to speculation that a mission might have been located there and that the person who gave the area multiple place names was a friar or priest.
But with these fun island we can all still live happily ever after.
You will always remember this as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.
– Pirates of the Caribbean
IVORY, ORNATE, UNI-SEX ADULT ENGLISH ORNAMENTAL GOLF PAPER WEIGHT $16.20
“I’ve got a jar of dirt! I’ve got a jar of dirt, and guess what’s inside it?” “Why is the rum always gone?” – Captain Jack Sparrow
Sources:
Bloodworth & Morris: PLACES IN THE SUN
Walton, Chelle Koster: FLORIDA ISLAND HOPPING: THE WEST COAST