Liles' Family Christmas 2011 Walk Through Naples

I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirits in jars and open a jar of it every month.

Why? It's Tradition 12/20/2011

Fio Riot's for dinner and then a walk...

Dinner at Fio Riot's
The sky was beautiful

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Sue began going there the day they opened in 1964 and went to school with the then owners son, Jim Fiorito

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Nick found the bread sticks

Italian Food
Excellent choice

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Bob, Nick and Robin

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Nick has the giggles

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Paul and Herbie

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Sue and Paul... Notice the matching shirts provided by Diane Porter

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Herbie with Jan and Brian

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Jan and Brian

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Luisa's brood with Greg and Mitch

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Greg is explaining something

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Carri is not too sure about this

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Red scarf's are in

Dinner at Fio Riot's

Dinner at Fio Riot's
Michele got the corner seat

Dinner at Fio Riot's
"Don't forget us!!"

To Naples...

Naples is a neighborhood of Long Beach, California, United States, built on a series of islands located in Alamitos Bay. Naples consists of three separate islands, divided by canals which open into the bay. Most of the streets on the island have Italianate names. The center of Naples features a large fountain which serves as a popular meeting spot.

In 1903 Arthur Parson built the islands of Naples in the marshy Bixby Slough of the artificial Alamitos Bay, in the mouth of the San Gabriel River. The design was by the firm Mayberry & Parker. The concept of canals and gondolas was similar to the "Venice of America" developed by Abbot Kinney up the coast.

Parson's Naples Land Company called its plans the "Dreamland of Southern California", and projected that "through the canals and under the high arching bridges gay gondoliers will propel their crafts like those in the waters of the Adriatic under the blue skies of Italy." The project was completed in the 1920s, then rebuilt after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.

We "Stole" this tradition from Carri Fox who now joins us every year along with Greg Leach, Brian and Jan Fincg, Luisa and Mitch Lind, the Duda's and the Adams!

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Brian went with Paul to try and find a parking place... We did, about two blocks away

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Luisa brought her daughters and grandchild!

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Theo says howdy to Grandma

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Now how do I do this"

Squirre;l

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Herbie is prepared for a cold evening... Robin is talking care of everything

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Hey guys! It's me!"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
All smiles

The Parade Starts Here

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The soldier stand guard

Wooden Soldier Wooden Soldier

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Great idea.. A lit up Choo Choo

Christmas Train

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
We were serenaded

Did You Know? - In music, a serenade (or sometimes serenata) is a musical composition, and/or performance, in someone's honor. Serenades are typically calm, light music. The word Serenade is derived from the Italian word sereno, which means calm.

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"On yon balcony the tree sittith"... How did I do Greg???

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
They look board.... He he he

Christmas Happyface

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
On his exercise bike already???

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Great decorations

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Beware of the Grinch

Grinch

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
There he is.... Mr. Grinch

Grimch Cat

Griswolds Redeux

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The motorhome is out front

Griswolds

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Sue meets a new four legged friend

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
About 50000 lights

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Great idea... Would NOT like their electric bill

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Hey....

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Paul slips out from behind the camera

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Frosty is outside watching the people

Bad Snowman

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Oh dear!"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
A spittoon???

Did You Know? - A spittoon (or spitoon) is a receptacle made for spitting into, especially by users of chewing and dipping tobacco. It is also known as a cuspidor (which is the Portuguese word for "spitter" or "spittoon", from the verb "cuspir" meaning "to spit"), although that term is also used for a type of spitting sink used in dentistry.

Great Reflections In The Canals

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Mickey was there...

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Always on display for a load of fun

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Busy displays....

Good defined

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
A view down the canal

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z

Did You Know? - A hammock is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting, suspended between two points, used for swinging, sleeping, or resting. It normally consists of one or more cloth panels, or a woven network of twine or thin rope stretched with ropes between two firm anchor points such as trees or posts. Hammocks were developed by native inhabitants of Mexico for sleeping.

Later, they were used aboard ships by sailors to enable comfort and maximize available space, and by explorers or soldiers traveling in wooded regions. Today they are popular around the world for relaxation; they are also used as a lightweight bed on camping trips. The hammock is often seen as symbol of summer, leisure, relaxation and simple, easy living.

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Beat the drums

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Mitch brings up the rear

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The bear has a ring side seat

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Play angel play

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Why, Hello there little lady!

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Nutcrackers on display

Did You Know? - Nutcrackers in the form of wooden carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. These nutcrackers portray a person with a large mouth which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. Originally one could insert a nut in the big-toothed mouth, press down and thereby crack the nut. Modern nutcrackers in this style serve mostly for decoration, mainly at Christmas time. The ballet The Nutcracker derives its name from this festive holiday decoration.

The carving of nutcrackers—as well as of religious figures and of cribs—developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. The most famous nutcracker carvings come from Sonneberg in Thuringia (also a center of dollmaking) and from the Ore Mountains. Wood-carving usually provided the only income for the people living there. Today the travel industry supplements their income by bringing visitors to the remote areas.

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Mitch and Luisa are heading for home....

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Let's go on!"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
High flying Santa

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The Snowman Family

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
One goofy reindeer

Funny Names

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The question is "When??"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Where is Donna when we need her???

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
She meets the wippets

Did You Know? - The Whippet is a breed of dog in the sighthound family. They are active and playful and are physically similar to a small Greyhound.

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Hey... I wanna come inside like you guys!"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
"Hi there!"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Panda's like Christmas also

Christmas Panda

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
These guys sing IF you flash at them.... No, as is "Flash Bulb"

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Who had the patience to wrap this tree?

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Go angel blow....

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Watch carefully... They change color

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Same ones a few second later

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
A little cheeky here?

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Herbie explains....

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
The yeard was beautiful but no one was at home

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
I give up... Take my.... Ah... That is....

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Finally, the ghetto (according to Herbie)

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Herbie is getting an idea

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Christmas flamengos?

Flamongo
Anything is possible

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California
Getting tired.. Heading for home

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California

Christmas 2011 walk through Naples, California