Less than a week ago I had a visitor, a writer that told me about Cortez a little village about fifteen miles north of Pinecraft. This village is similar to Pinecraft in many ways and he encouraged me to take a look at it. So I put it on my "To Do" list. Yesterday Nancy Ebersol Good and I drove to Cortez.
We arrived and drove around a bit without knowing a thing about Cortez except the bit Chris told me about, so we decided to stop off for a meal and ask questions.
We were welcome to Paradise.
And ordered our meal of fish, fries, Cole slaw and baked beans. The servings were so huge we order one platter and still has some fries we couldn't eat. The whole atmosphere was laid back. We ordered our food and waited for a long time. I think there were only two people working as servers. One took our order and an old man brought our food when it was ready. But what was the hurry? We were there for the day or as long as we chose to stay. We asked questions of what is there to see or do in Cortez? The only thing we could do was to visit Food and Wine on Pine on beautiful Anna Marie Island. There was no other suggestion of anything to see or do in Cortez. This is just like Pinecraft, tourist hear about Pinecraft and so they want to see and feel Pinecraft, when in reality there is nothing to do except sit and eat. We have good food.
The flag gets caught in the wind every day and has started to turn to shreds.
After eating we went exploring on our own and found their little post office
with a bulletin board, just like Pinecraft except smaller and not as weather beaten.
The retired boats' resting place.
There was one street narrow main street going east and west with a number of short streets. On these streets we met this woman with a child in the basket, like you see in Pinecraft.
Many of the homes were fenced in. The first settlers were fishermen from the Outer Banks in NC. I don't know if these fences and the small houses were patterned after their former homes.
Old loading dock
Blue picket fence
Reminding dogs and their owners what not to do.
Free books and there were many more inside. Many of the houses have window shutters similar to these. At this place a woman came out of the house and we visited quite a bit. she gave us some history and directed us down to the harbor.
Their church. Behind the church was an empty lot were children were playing.
Daily fresh fish are sold here. Cortez is one of the few places where local fishermen go out each day and fish for a living.
The Fish Market also had outdoor seating to sit and enjoy the food. We ordered a dessert of Key Lime pie and coffee.
Beautiful Mother and daughter.
Back in there is a row of cottages to rent. Each cottage is named after a fish. These two are Grouper and Tuna.
House for sale.
We met this old bird with a part of his beak missing.
We saw just enough of the village that we want to return and explore some more. I would love to get a rental and really get the "feel" of this place.
