Naples, the place that opened the doors of opportunity for me and happens to be one of the most beautiful towns I have ever seen. This place in comparison to where I grew up, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is another world. Tegucigalpa, a populated, small and very overgrown third-world city is my first home. You really experience a large limitation of main resources, but you learn so much about life, appreciation and survival. I didn’t really have the ability to dream big there because those dreams seemed unattainable, but I still let my imagination run wild as a kid. God placed a person in my life to lend me the money to come visit Naples and with not much thought, I jumped on the opportunity.
Making the descend down into Miami International Airport was pretty exhilarating and looking down at the city, was breathtaking. It was so clean, organized, and large…I remember the drive on I75, sitting in the backseat of an SUV as we drove to Naples across the alley and it was as flat as a tortilla could be, and since I never saw any photos of Naples before, I wasn’t really sure what it looked like, all I knew was, there was a beach 🙂
We arrived on the evening of April 10, 2005. It was so peaceful, it was so pretty, it was sooooo good… The next day I was taken on a small tour of the city that ended on Seagate Beach, that was it, I fell in love with this place! I loved feeling the sand in my toes, hearing the waves crash onto the sand, feeling the breeze in my hair, the smell in the air and looking at the beautiful colors contrasting from the sky to the water, truly felt like heaven. My heart was full…
I moved here with $100 to my name, no credit and a small carry on bag with my best pieces of clothing at the age of 21. I was fortunate with doors of opportunity open up for me, I walked over to the nearest grocery store, filled out an application and the rest is history. Since 2005, I have been a cake decorator, a server/bartender, a licensing specialist for the Collier County Government for 14 years, while obtaining my bachelors degree, and my love for my new hometown persuaded me to become a realtor and business consultant so I could show others what beautiful Naples has to offer. The place where many vacation, is the place I am blessed to have my home in. I know the areas of Naples inside and out, from the beaches, nature walks, shopping, dining, nightlife to the serene tranquility spots. I am lucky to know many professionals in town and blessed to have many as my friends. I can be your point of guide with my network and experience in just about anything. Naples is the biggest little town I know.
Naples has been paradise to me, combined with opportunity, and a realization of my desire for a better life for myself and my family. This is the American dream I had growing up, and it came true. I can testify that we really do get what we put out in the universe, if we just believe!
I shared some of my beauty-full Naples pictures with you, see if you recognize these spots and share if you like!
