I have been to Florida many times. In the 90s I was there 5 years in a row with my family. More recently I have been performing here with the Queen Tribute Band ‘Celebrating Queen’ and their associated show ‘Freddie: Songs of a Legend’.  I also have spent Christmas in Florida in 2023 and 2024. So this blog post has a number of suggested things to do in places to eat in the area in and around Fort Meyers.

Fort Meyers, located in the Southwest Florida area has many beautiful nature spots and great things to do, plus, it has to be one of the most picturesque and Hallmark Movie type towns that I have been to. I’m going to start off with my total favourite thing to do in this area …. The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.

About Fort Meyers

Fort Myers, located along the beautiful Southwest Florida coast, offers a delightful mix of attractions: stunning nature reserves, vibrant waterways, sandy beaches, a rich arts scene, and a variety of shopping and dining experiences. Enjoy the sun and surf at Bowditch Point Park and Bunche Beach Preserve, explore the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail by kayak, or cast a line in the Gulf of Mexico.

Indulge in shopping at the expansive Gulf Coast Town Center and Edison Mall, catch a spring training game featuring the Boston Red Sox or Minnesota Twins, and explore the local museums.

With its close proximity to the picturesque Gulf Islands like Sanibel and Captiva, Fort Myers is the perfect spot for a nature-filled getaway that also offers the shopping, entertainment, and cultural experiences of a larger city.

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

This was something I saw on a travel blog on YouTube and it was the main reason why we came to Fort Meyers in 2023. This is a wonderful spot for a nature walk, plus, bring your camera as there is a lot of nature to spot. The slough is 3,400 acres of wetland located about 20 minutes south east of Fort Meyers. Parking is paid parking so don’t forget to do that. Also the interpretive centre is closed on Monday.

You can explore via a 1.2-mile boardwalk trail and keep your eye out for lots of wildlife. We have spotted wildlife such as alligators, anhinga, ibis, woodpeckers, screech owls, raccoons, water moccasin (a snake also known as cottonmouth, northern cottonmouth, swamp moccasin, and black moccasin) as well as lizards and butterflies. You could easily spend a day here, but we spent a good 3 hours and took our time exploring the slough and what it had to offer. Admission is free but a donation is always welcome.

Capones Italian Restaurant

If you are looking for a great restaurant in Fort Meyers, Capones is a real theatrical treat. The entrance has door handles made of machine guns, the floor has a glass partition and you can see a shady Al Capone-type deal going on and the bathrooms have prison doors. Now I’m not an Italian food fan. I find that sometimes the portions are huge and the flavours are bland – however, not here in Capones. The food at Capone’s is delicious. We had the pizza and the pasta alfredo (which I had never had before) and both were really tasty.

Ella Maes Diner

In the late 19th century, Dr. Ella Mae Piper was a philanthropist and she brightened the lives of many in Fort Myers. She opened the first beauty shop in the area and she was instrumental in helping young people earn scholarships to Tuskegee College, as well as underprivileged children and the elderly. Although Dr. Piper died in 1954, her legacy lives on at the Dr. Piper Center. Today, the Dr. Piper Center empowers seniors to create community impact in her name.

This restaurant, Ella Maes Diner, provides a welcome twist to the classic southern diner. I had never really tried southern food and having watched the movie My Cousin Vinny, I heard all about ‘grits’ which you can get here. The restaurant is bright and the staff are friendly. We tried the fried fish with grits and tater tots, as well as the blueberry pancakes. Everything was Really tasty and this was a wonderful spot for breakfast, as we stayed in the Luminary Hotel next door. 

Where to Stay in Fort Meyers

As mentioned above, we stayed at the Luminary Hotel both in 2023 and 2024. The hotel is really a fantastic place to stay. Rooms are large, clean, and comfortable providing great views over the bay and the Caloosahatchee River. We didn’t include breakfast in our rate and we opted for a higher class room which placed us on the 10^th floor for even more epic views. The hotel has 12 floors with a bar on the top which provides great views, especially at night. We even saw a SpaceX launch in 2023 from the hotel, even though it was in Cape Canaveral the flat Floridian landscape allowed us to see the trail of the rocket as it launched into the night sky. There is Dean Street Coffee in the lobby which has coffee and light snacks at peak times during the day, which seemed to be early morning until about 5 pm from our visit. 

Check out their website at mariott.com

Fort Meyers Ghost Tour

Is Fort Myers haunted? Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this 90-minute evening stroll and ghost tour through the historic district is a blast. Discover both the well-documented and the lesser-known stories of this quirky little town. You might even capture some eerie images on your camera, but hey, you can always chalk them up to light and shadow or something like that. That figure in the window? Just your mind playing tricks, right? Probably. Dive into the spooky side of Fort Myers on this unforgettable walking tour after dark! We did the tour and it took about 2 hours. The guide was excellent and you also get a great feel for the town, it’s history and of course it’s ghosts.

Visit the True Tours Fort Meyers Ghost Tour website for details

This is a Rolling Blog Post and I will add to it in the next day or so…
TO BE CONTINUED 

 

 

In December 2024, I had my first ever United Airlines flight and I documented that review on my United Airlines – A Review post.  In this post, I will review my experiences with American Airlines as these have been my primary carrier for the last 3 years.

Over the past 3 years, I have had an average of 16 individual flights per year between Ireland and the UK. These were with Aer Lingus, British Airways, WestJet, and mainly American Airlines.

About American Airlines

Founded in 1930, American Airlines emerged from the consolidation of 82 small carriers into one company, initially called American Airways. Its roots trace back to the post-World War I era when aviation was beginning to take off as a commercial industry. In 1934, the company was restructured and renamed American Airlines, with C.R. Smith as its president. Smith played a pivotal role in shaping the airline, particularly through a partnership with aircraft manufacturer Douglas, which led to the development of the iconic DC-3. This aircraft revolutionized air travel by making passenger flights more practical and profitable.

American Airlines was instrumental in the early growth of the aviation industry in the United States, pioneering innovations such as the first transcontinental mail service and the creation of the first airline loyalty program, AAdvantage, in 1981. Over the decades, it grew through mergers and acquisitions, including its union with US Airways in 2013, which cemented its position as one of the largest airlines in the world.

Today, American Airlines operates an extensive global network, connecting over 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. Renowned for its size and scale, the airline continues to focus on enhancing customer experiences while maintaining its legacy as a leader in the aviation industry.

American Airlines – My Review

Because I have used American Airlines on Multiple Occasions I am writing a general overview of the last 10 flights with them.

Check-in

I always use the American Airlines app to check-in. Overall I found the app to be stable and easy to use. I can add my travel documents, review the travel advisories and check in online however sometimes the address at which you are staying in the US, will be rejected – I put this down to expected address patterns not being met. I eventually get the address in a format which it does accept but this could be improved.

Seat Purchase

I do like a window seat, it is my preference with my love of aviation to be able to see what is going on outside the plane. On American Airlines, my flights from Ireland would normally be $32 per seat and then within the US, my window seats were usually $18, which is on average $50 one way for the seats I wanted. This is affordable and within the limits, I would set for extra expenses. Unlike United Airlines where a one-flight seat could cost you $60. So well done to AA for keeping the pricing of seats affordable.

Arrival On-Board

The arrival on board is always very good, however, because I book with a 3^rd party, I am always in Group 6 so I am always boarding last. Not an issue as their aircraft are always decent-sized and modern. The cabin crew is consistently friendly and welcoming.

On Board Meals

I have never had an issue with the food on American Airlines. In general, it is always of a very high standard with tea, coffee, soft drinks, and wine are available for free with your meal.

Comfort

The flights are always comfortable with a very good entertainment system on board. WiFi is also available for purchase.

Overall Rating

I would give them a rating of 9/10 which is the same rating I would give American Airlines with a small deduction in relation to the app and the 3^rd party tickets allocated as Group 6 (unlike United where 3^rd party bookings were Group 4).

Overall, I think I will go back to flying American as my time with United was tainted by inconsistent customer support when it came to flight changes and the very expensive seat charges which I would not be in favour of supporting.

The gambling world has undergone momentous change over recent years, and we have arrived at a stage now where it is possible to bet live (Live Betting) on the action that is happening right before your eyes. Whether it is horse racing, football, Gaelic games, or rugby, the action on the racecourse or field is translated instantaneously into an odds format that represents what is going on in the action. Placing bets on live action for sports fans will most likely be second nature nowadays, such is the presence and popularity of sports betting.

However, behind the scenes, there is a full cast ensuring the odds are keeping up with the play to keep players immersed in the simultaneous act of watching and betting. With tech and software entering an even more advanced age, the capabilities for online bookmakers to create a fully immersive experience are seemingly endless.

There is a newfound sense of immediacy when it comes to watching sports, especially if you are betting on a live event too. Missing any action becomes much more significant for both activities with individual moments and split-second decision-making potentially making the difference. There are many powers at work to ensure these two align with each other smoothly. While punters ogle at the live sporting action and try to find the most profitable angle and odds, here is what is happening behind the scenes to make all that possible.

It begins with a stream

Nowadays, there are so many television companies vying for the rights to show sports. In Ireland, there are Premier Sports, RTE, TG4, Sky Sports, Setanta Sports, and TNT Sports which all offer sports coverage. However, due to those strides in technology and software, online bookmakers are also able to stream live action. It must be noted that live streaming of football matches is still relatively new to these online operators, but there has been a breakthrough in sports shown on these platforms.

It might seem like a simple case of videoing something and transmitting it to another media source. However, there are steps between capturing an image or event and producing an excellent quality stream on a platform. In a nutshell, here are the steps required to stream the action to you:

• Record content with image and audio
• Compress content and produce in a digital format
• Send to content delivery network for release
• Content data cached to optimise bandwidth
• Picture and audio decoded (usually) via HTML5
• Voila, the stream is produced and aired

There is much more to it than simply broadcasting an image. For an online bookmaker to successfully stream a live event, optimal latency is required. For these operators, this means low. For live sports betting to work effectively, there needs to be as little lag as possible, besides the natural lag created by the online bookmaker.

Event data collection

Sports betting odds are not chances plucked out of thin air or guesses. They are deeply considered representations of what is happening at an event. Often it can be simple. If a team goes a goal down, their chances of winning generally decrease. However, if they are dominating a match, then they will still have a decent chance of securing at least a draw, if not the win. This happens regularly in sports, so how do online bookmakers know what live odds to release?

Despite our reliance on technology, there is still a human element to assembling data for live odds and a digital method of course. At events like football or hurling matches, live scouts will report on the action and give a human perspective on how the events of the match are unfolding. However, it is the intervention of tech that has allowed the live betting market to explode.

With scouts posted live at matches, their input can nowadays be corroborated in rapid time with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is a piece of technology that can perform tasks based on human learning. For the purpose of live odds, AI can scour huge sets of data and discover patterns that can in turn be used to create the overall picture of how a sporting event is playing out. For football, this could include statistics like entries into the penalty area, passes exchanged between certain players, or the number of “big chances” falling to a player.

Overall, the collaborative efforts of human beings and tech are responsible for the live odds that are constantly changing throughout an event, but it is tech and its rapid operation that allows online bookmakers to create odds for the live action.

The creation of live odds

The final aspect in the production of live betting odds is the determining of the odds. Whether the odds go longer or shorter is determined by the information collected by the scout and AI. Once a betting platform has these variables, algorithms are used to calculate the end live odds. For instance, if you were to take a look at the Dolfwin live sports betting platform during a round of rugby autumn international friendlies, for example, the odds in an individual match would change every few seconds due to the constant evolution of a match of rugby. 

These clever algorithms are also able to react instantaneously to any sudden occurrence and change the odds for the better or worse of a team or player.

Real-time sports betting

All these processes and interventions by tech help create the trending phenomenon of live sports betting. Not only are Irish sports fans able to put their money where their mouth is, but they also have another way to interact with sports besides from the multiple avenues that already exist. With sports only gaining more exposure and airtime, and with AI only beginning to find its feet, we can expect more live betting innovations to further enhance the sporting experience.

Formula 1 fans are aware that few venues can match the exhilarating ambiance of the Abu Dhabi Grand Pix. Set against the lavish Yas Marina Circuit, this yearly finale has become identical with dramatic endings, fierce rivalries, and a worldwide display of the UAE’s enthusiasm for car racing. Abu Dhabi’s unparalleled role as the season’s final race fuels excitement and often holds the key to crowning the season’s winner.

Why Abu Dhabi Holds the Decisive Edge

As compared to other races on the F1 timetable, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is designed to elevate suspense to its peak. With its sunset-to-night structure, this event offers an aesthetically breathtaking race that few others can replicate. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix doesn’t just mark the season’s conclusion, it often determines the championship result, adding levels of suspense for both racers and supporters. Over the years, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix has become the site where drivers push their boundaries, knowing every score could make or break their performance.

Iconic Yas Marina Circuit – The Heart of the Showdown

The Yas Marina Circuit itself plays an important part in making Abu Dhabi the championship finale. Featuring extended stretches paired with acute turns, the track demands both velocity and tactics. Racers must navigate precise segments while keeping enough grip to maintain velocity on extended sections, adding a distinct excitement element. The Circuit’s unique design has consistently provided thrilling contests, making it a perfect place for any championship contest.

The Impact of the UAE’s Investment in Motorsport

Abu Dhabi and the UAE have committed to making the territory the main center for motorsport. This dedication has brought Formula 1’s elite to the UAE annually, with high-profile racing teams investing significant resources into Abu Dhabi’s GP. By hosting such a high-stakes event, the UAE reinforces its image as a leader in luxury and innovation. Fans who attend the race experience not only the adrenaline of F1 but also the opulence and comfort the UAE is known for, rivaling other motorsport capitals around the world.

Reasons Why Abu Dhabi’s F1 Finale Thrills Fans Globally

Every Formula 1 enthusiast has reasons to look forward to the season’s last race in Abu Dhabi. Here are a few factors that set this grand finale apart:

• Unpredictability: Past Abu Dhabi GPs have been known for unexpected twists that keep fans on the edge of their seats.
• Nighttime Spectacle: The transition from day to night adds a unique movie-like quality to the competition.
• Record-breaking Attendance: The Yas Marina Circuit attracts fans all over the world, making it one of the most viewed races of the season.

Dubai vs. Abu Dhabi – A Unique Comparison for Motorsport Lovers

While Dubai touts luxury and sightseeing, the city of Abu Dhabi establishes its very own prestige around athletics, from hosting the F1 finale to other marquee events. The fact that Abu Dhabi is focused on nurturing a thriving racing heritage puts Abu Dhabi in direct contrast with Dubai’s more general recreation sector, marking the UAE’s flexibility. This shift not only enhances Abu Dhabi’s image but also makes the UAE a worldwide athletics center, capable of hosting prestigious gatherings that appeal to varied spectators.

Conclusion: Abu Dhabi’s Permanent Spot in F1’s Legacy

As each F1 year closes in Abu Dhabi, the UAE continues to establish its position in the racing legacy. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix was the final piece of the Formula 1 puzzle that always seemed to bring out the most unforgettable and decisive events of the year. All this has happened on the extremely impressive Yas Marina Circuit, from the UAE’s commitment to producing the best race in the world to a festival of rivalry, society, and passion for speed truly echoing around the globe.

Tickets to the Glastonbury Festival which takes place in June 2025, will go on sale on Sunday 17th November. The tickets normally go on sale at 9am and if you are lucky you will get your tickets before 9:30am as they often sell out within 30-40 minutes. I did try in 2023 with no joy. 

I have been to the Glastonbury Festival in 2013, 2015 and 2016 – I even performed at the festival in 2015. It is an amazing space and you will find something to enjoy during the 5 days of the event. If you are going I thoroughly recommend the Pop-up Hotel – a very comfortable and relaxing place to stay at the festival. 

The Glastonbury Festival, often celebrated as one of the world’s most iconic music and arts festivals, has a rich and eclectic history. It was founded by dairy farmer Michael Eavis in 1970 after he attended an open-air Led Zeppelin concert in Bath. Inspired by the experience, Eavis decided to create his own event on Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset. The first festival, then called the Pilton Pop, Blues & Folk Festival, attracted around 1,500 people, with tickets costing £1, including free milk from the farm. T. Rex headlined, replacing the originally planned Kinks.

In the 1970s, the festival evolved alongside the countercultural movements of the time. The 1971 “Glastonbury Fayre” introduced the now-iconic Pyramid Stage, designed to resemble the Great Pyramid of Giza. This structure would become the festival’s symbol and one of the most famous stages in music. Over the years, Glastonbury became known not only for music but for a broader ethos of community, spirituality, and environmental activism, often tied to the CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament).

After struggling financially in the early years, the festival solidified its reputation in the 1980s as an essential stop for music fans and artists alike. By the 1990s, Glastonbury had grown significantly, attracting big-name artists like David Bowie, Radiohead, and Oasis, while expanding its audience to tens of thousands.

Today, Glastonbury is a vast cultural event, known for hosting world-renowned acts alongside emerging artists. Its diverse lineup spans multiple genres, from rock and pop to dance, reggae, and hip-hop. Each festival maintains a commitment to ethical practices, donating millions to charities and advocating for environmental sustainability. Now attended by over 200,000 people, Glastonbury remains a vibrant celebration of music, art, and community, continuing to evolve while staying true to its roots.

In recent years, vegan and vegetarian burgers have surged in popularity, driven by growing environmental awareness, ethical concerns, and health consciousness. Plant-based alternatives like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger mimic the taste and texture of beef, attracting even meat-eaters. Innovations in food technology have made these options more appealing and accessible, as consumers seek to reduce their carbon footprints and avoid animal cruelty. Restaurants and fast-food chains now offer a variety of plant-based burger options, reflecting a broader shift towards sustainable, flexitarian diets. This rise marks a significant transformation in global eating habits and food culture.

The Leading Brands of Vegan Burgers 

Leading vegan burger brands like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have revolutionized the plant-based food market. Beyond Meat focuses on creating burgers from pea protein, offering a close replica of traditional beef in taste and texture. Impossible Foods uses soy and heme, a compound that mimics the “bleeding” effect of real meat, making its burgers especially appealing to meat-eaters. Other notable brands include Gardein and Boca, which offer a range of veggie-based patties. These brands are not only popular in grocery stores but have also partnered with major fast-food chains, expanding their reach to mainstream consumers.

My Taste Test for Vegan / Veggie Option Burgers

I tried a few different burger options and I used texture & flavour as rankable KPIs, I also rated if It tasted like an actual burger, plus a ranking of if I would have it again. I tested the McDonald’s McPlant, the Burger King Bean Burger, The Beyond Meat burger, and the Moving Mountains vegan burger and these were the results (with photos)

The McDonald’s McPlant

Firstly, I tried a McDonald’s burger purely for this test, I haven’t eaten in Mcdonald’s for over 25 years as I don’t think it’s healthy and for the same price as a BigMac Meal I can get a delicious traditional Pad Thai from my local Thai restaurant – That is just my opinion.

So, the McDonald McPlant. This was the worst burger I tried. Here are the results;

McPlant

Does it taste like an actual burger : No, definitely not

Texture : 2/10

Flavour : 2/10

Temperature : 8/10

Overall. : 3/10

Would I have it again : God no

The burger tasted so artificial and had a dreadful mouthfeel, akin to eating play-dough. It was not good. The flavour was almost nonexistent. Did McDonald’s think that Vegans will eat anything as long as there is no meat in it? It held its temperature well however but overall not a good option and I would never eat this again.

 

The Burger King Bean Burger

 

I did try sourcing a burger type burger from Burger King which was Veggie / Vegan but this was the best offering they had in the 5 stores I went to. This was the Burger King Bean Burger. Technically, it’s not the same as a standard burger but I added it in as it is an option for those who don’t want a meat option as a burger. So here are the results.

 

Burger King Bean Burger

Does it taste like an actual burger: No since it is a bean burger not a burger replacement

Texture : 7/10

Flavour :9:10

Temperature : 10/10

Overall. :7.5/10

Would I have it again : Yes

Price per burger meal : €9.60  (including fries and drink)

The burger tasted nice, there were nice flavours, and cumin was definitely in there and I enjoyed it. It was a little heavy for my taste, in that there’s a lot of burger, so if you are hungry this is certainly an option for you. The texture was good and the flavour as mentioned was well balanced and tasty. It did hold it’s temperature very well and overall it was a very good 7.5 out of 10.

 

The Beyond Burger at Eddie Rockets

I tried the Eddie Rockets Burger which used the Beyond Meat burger. Now you are getting into the real deal. Let’s take a look at the ingredients; Water, pea protein* (15%), rapeseed oil, flavouring, rice protein, coconut oil, dried yeast, preservative (potassium lactate), vinegar, stabilizers (methyl cellulose, calcium chloride), potato starch, salt, apple extract, colour (beetroot red), concentrated pomegranate juice, potassium salt. The inclusion of rapeseed oil, potassium lactate, methyl cellulose, and calcium chloride bring the number of ingredients which I would try to limit my intake of to 4 (as compared to 1 in Moving Mountains below). Saying that, the Beyond Burger is still one of the best, so lets look at the results for Beyond Meat;

 

Beyond Meat

Does it taste like an actual burger : Yes

Texture : 8/10

Flavour : 9/10

Temperature : 10/10

Overall. : 8.5/10

Would I have it again : Yes

This really did taste like a proper burger. It had the mouthfeel and bite that you expect from a burger and it really does have that burger-like look. It is a really excellent substitute.

 

 

Moving Mountains

Now we are discussing what I feel is the ultimate burger for those who want to avoid meat. I first tried the Moving Mountains Burger in the UK in 2022 and was well impressed. Since then, whenever I see this brand on a menu I will normally opt for it. It is a really delicious option. As good as Beyond Meat but just that bit better.  Looking at the ingredients there is very little artificial ingredients in this list; water, vegetables (oyster mushrooms, mushrooms, onion), vegetable oil (coconut), vegetable protein (Soya protein, Soya protein isolate, pea protein isolate), Wheat gluten, natural flavouring, starch (Wheat), Oat fibre, thickener (methyl cellulose), Barley malt extract, vinegar, colour (beetroot red), salt, preservative (lactic acid), vitamin B12. The inclusion of methyl cellulose is probably the only thing that might be an unknown ingredient – I looked into this and it is an approved supplement which acts as a thickener.

Let’s look at my results for Moving Mountains.

 

Moving Mountains

Does it taste like an actual burger : Oh Yes

Texture : 9.5/10

Flavour : 10/10

Temperature : 10/10

Overall. : 9.75/10

Would I have it again : Yes

It is so so good I would be hard pushed to differentiate it from an actual meat burger.

 

Conclusion

So what is your favourite vegan / veggie burger. If it wasn’t listed here please leave a comment. These are all my opinions and nothing here is sponsored or part of any affiliate or promotional campaign. I just wanted to compare the options out there and see what ones were best. If I find something new I will certainly update this post in the future.