An Island Shuttle February 13, 2013
Posted by nrhatch in Art & Photography, Travel & Leisure.trackback
Anna Maria Island has a new taxi plying its waters . . . the Island Pearl.
The just-initiated shuttle service is FREE on Mondays this month.
So we hopped aboard to see the island from a different perspective.
We crossed under the Cortez Bridge as it yawned to admit a sailboat.
First shuttle stop, the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach.
The pier houses Rotten Ralph’s where beer is always FREE . . . tomorrow.
From the pier, we continued south through the Intercoastal Waterway.
Next stop, the Mar Vista restaurant on AMI’s sister island of Long Boat Key ~ I half expected to see Gilligan and the Professor counting coconuts on the sand.
On the way back, we swung in close to the southern tip of the island.
Where fisherman fish and families enjoy picnics in the pavilion.
We caught sight of our neighborhood as we headed north to Holmes Beach.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 
Nancy you have no idea how much I have enjoyed these pictures! Love the pastel buildings!
Yay! When we had a blog meet up with Jeanne and her husband, we ate at Rotten Ralph’s.
In her last comment, Barb said, “Please take us on more adventures.” So I thought we should take a tour around the island on a water taxi today.
Nothing like fresh air and sunshine, right? š
Nothing like fresh air and sunshine in Flora-dee-dah!
Or, as the singer calls himself, Flo Rida! š
Love all the blue. The first photograph is stunning.
Thanks, Suzi. This is a great area for AMATEUR photographers like me . . . just point and shoot.
Mother Nature takes care of the rest. š
What fun! I’d prefer to be in the sailboat, of course, but anything that floats is OK with me!
I’m with you, Col! I prefer listening to the wind whipping the sails than the chug-chug-chugging of a motor ~ but the Pearl is quiet as she wends her way through island waters.
Wow! That looks like a seriously good place to live.
It is, Viv! Our favorite place (so far). š
I have been filling my lungs with all that virtual fresh air under your wonderful blue skies. Thank you Nancy.
My pleasure, Grannymar! It’s fun to share our sunshine. š
You must have had a good day, Nancy. Lovely images. The Island Pearl is a beauty – not the kind of pearl you’d find Captain Jack Sparrow on.
Aye, Capt. Jack Sparrow belongs on the Pirate’s Galleon . . . the Scullywag! š
Lovely pictures Nancy.
Thanks, Jas. Lovely voyage to see the sights.
Ahhhhhh, you do take care of your ‘peeps’.
Thanks, HH. I do my best. š
I could almost smell the ocean air looking through these pictures, Nancy! Wonderful stuff š
Next, we need to take a boat along the Gulf Side of the island, and maybe parasail through the air? WHEE!!!
WOW! š
What a gorgeous trip, Nancy: and all free!
Delightful day for a cruise . . . and the PRICE couldn’t be beat. š
Thanks, Nancy! We’ve had a pretty cold winter so far here in Colorado…so I really appreciated your tropical pics. Growing up in NYC, we had the Staten Island Ferry…hop on and go back and forth…for only a nickel…pretty cheap in those days…but no palm trees and coconuts.:)
I loved traveling on the Staten Island Ferry . . . it seemed like such a bargain! š
Looks fun! I love taking a ferry or a shuttle boat. I prefer horizontal travel whenever possible.
At sea or ground level.
No rocket ships, then? šÆ
Too suggestive.
9 out of 10 psycho-analysts agree.
Love the blue of the skies, Nancy, and the water looks so inviting. I wish we had a yawning bridge here in SA but I have only seen ‘foreign’ ones, lol!
All three of the bridges to AMI are drawbridges that yawn a few times an hour as tall masts glide through their mouths. š
Great photos, Nancy, it’s good to look at things from a different perspective š
Thanks, Jacqueline. Even a small shift in perspective pays BIG dividends. We realize that our vantage point affects our interpretation of people, places, and things.
This looks like a beautiful journey…and I love the price (free!)
There’s also a free trolley on the island . . . the water shuttle is slower but provides a nice shift in perspective.