Florida hotspot has bounced back & has lots to offer, says Ronan Joyce

Nowhere is the spirit of resilience more evident than in Fort Myers, a tourist destination in southwest Florida that has bounced back after the devastation of Hurricane Ian in 2022.

- Ronan Joyce

The deadly tropical cyclone ripped through the region's spectacular beaches and islands, leaving millions without power and forcing inhabitants to take refuge on their roofs.

Ian destroyed thousands of standing structures and collapsed the Sanibel Causeway, entrapping those left on the islands for days.

But the determined inhabitants of this unique region rebuilt their communities and brought the destination back to its former glory.

On a recent trip to this tropical paradise on the Gulf of Mexico (or America, depending on who you ask), we experienced this fighting spirit in our encounters with the local businesspeople.

One such local stalwart is Cal Bruno, who runs Bruno's of Brooklyn, an Italian restaurant on First Street in downtown Fort Myers, with his wife Genevieve.

Their first restaurant around the corner was badly affected by Hurricane Ian, but they rebuilt the business at their current location.

A delightful aspect of Bruno's is the TV monitor in the upstairs dining area, which shows a live stream from the kitchen. Diners can watch Cal and his chefs work away on their exciting Sicilian dishes.

Cal, who is on a mission to bring the authentic tastes of Sicily to Florida, explained: "We are going on a trip to Italy soon to source the perfect type of pasta for our restaurant here in Fort Myers."

Our next stop was Swamp Cat Brew Company, run by Chris Gutierrez and his wife. By his own admission, armed forces veteran Chris is the rarest of breeds: a born and bred Floridian.

As we sampled some of the refreshing beers at his pub, he showed us his impressive brewing equipment and explained the process.

"I started out by home brewing when I was stationed in San Diego. Then I moved back home to Florida to start this business," said Chris.