The Fort Myers downtown field trip was enjoyable and definitely unique when compared with the other field trips. As a Paramedic, I had worked the same area on many occasions and prior to the fieldtrip, I had a very different perspective of the area. I could say that my experience was positive and actually increased my interest in getting to know the downtown area. I do like the fact that many of the buildings and the roads have been restored and a recorded history of events is presented to the public on signs which are visual in many different areas. Downtown is a blend of both old and the new construction which allows us to appreciate the urban environment over a period of time spanning over 100 years. One would ask what does downtown have to do with colloquium and the environment. In all definitions, urbania is an environment all its own that has a significant impact on all that surrounds it. True, the buildings, roads, harbor, and associated infrastructure are man-made, the area still represents an environment that is very efficient in using the resources of the surrounding area. With urban areas spread worldwide in all corners of the world, to not consider urbania as an important functional environment would be like excluding the mountains, ocean, or the rain forests. Many people look at cities as something evil encroaching onto nature but in reality we owe much to cities for they have given humanity shelter for generations. Instead of looking at nature and urbania as opposing forces, we should instead seek ways of blending both together to form a harmony between the natural and the man-made.
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