Yvonne Schmitz swam with whale sharks, fished from stilts high above the water, followed turtles while zipping around on a sea scooter and was kissed by a stingray. She also got food poisoning, dropped her phone in the sea and got lost in a maze of bus routes, yet that was all part of her big adventure.
The Southwest Florida resident is a retired teacher living on a pension, yet she wants people to know that even a single lady with little money can explore the world. After spending five months traveling to 17 countries, Schmitz returned to Lee County to write a book called “Island Buffet” that details her adventures, gives practical advice and encourages others to take a leap into the unknown.
“I’m not rich, but I am creative,” Schmitz said. “The main message is creativity and bravery. I want people to think outside the box.”
It all began one afternoon when Schmitz was playing pickleball with two Canadian friends who were looking for a place to rent in Southwest Florida. That’s when Schmitz’s plan started unfolding. She rented her home to them and used that money to begin island hopping…