Southernmost Point

Photos just don't do justice to the luminosity of the water in the Keys.

Mary's "Rowing Camp" over, we were happy to leave our hotel in Miami.  As nice as the location right on the beach may be, the hotel and our room left something to be desired.  When we checked in, Mary had to emphatically convince the counter staff that we really needed to get into the room 3 hours after check-in time.  Perhaps we should have waited for different accommodations.  

Our adventures in lodging began when the hair dryer sparked, smoked and died in Mary's hand.  The maintenance man replaced it quickly, but he was back shortly after to bring us a new room safe, since ours would not lock.  A handle on one of the cabinets was falling off.  There were boards with broken clasps substituting for kick panels underneath.  No matter how I set it, the thermostat really had only two positions, off and freeze-your-ass-off.  We did have WiFi, but only intermittently, and only in one corner of the room.  The drain in the shower couldn't keep pace with the shower head.  In the hallway, irregularly shaped panels were screwed into the ceiling at random locations, almost covering damage from a flood that must have come from the floor above.  

I thought the coup de' gras was the warm fuzzy feeling I got upon noticing that the metal repair pieces on the doorjamb nearly covered the marks made by the crowbar that had been used to force the door open at some previous time.  However, I was surprised to see that topped by the tight dress and stiletto heel convention observed in the lobby on Saturday night.  

Adios, Casablanca on the Ocean.

Just one of the things you can see everyday in Key West.
If I had a pair of red pants, I'm sure I could do this, too.

I'd have to practice a little to do this on my tall unicycle.

Mallory Square is where everyone gathers to watch and celebrate the sunset.  And also watch the street performers while they wait.  Great fun.  Maybe the sunset festivities are why they call it Key West, instead of Key South.  But the shape of the Southernmost Point marker makes me think they are missing a great opportunity, regardless of the name...

Red sails going out for the sunset cruise.

You have no idea how hard it is to get the gulls to pose like this.

I told this guy I'd give him a French Fry if he posed for me.  He was so gullible.

Oh all right, maybe I was a little obsessed with the sunset.
But you're supposed to be when you watch it from the railing in Mallory Square.

There is more to do that watch the sunset.  For 11 years, Key West was home to a famous scribbler.

Love the round top windows and doors at the Hemingway House.

Upstairs was where he wrote.  
He let it be known that his favorite thing at the house was the boxing ring he had built, 
so his wife replaced it with a pool while he was away.

Where he wrote

On the tour, we were told that Hemingway was very disciplined about his writing.  He awoke early every day, no matter what self-desrtructive behavior he had indulged the night before.  So he would not need to descend to the first floor, he walked across the long-gone shed roof to his studio and wrote at least 700 words before hearing the call of Sloppy Joe's.  

700 words?  I can do that.  No big deal.  In fact, I even use some of the same words he did!  

But I'm not sure I can fulfill all the necessary requirements to be a great writer.  I can't drink that much.

Mary says we should jump on the Hemingway place if it comes up for sale.
She could be comfortable there.

The view from the bench next to the pool.

The location of the Sloppy Joe's Mr. Hemingway frequented was down the block,
but I think this version is more like what he might like, these days. 

On the way home from Sloppy Joe's and raucous Duval street.
Kind of beckons you in, eh?

Isn't this Turkey Vulture beautiful?

I shot this cannon with my Nikon

Fort Zachary Taylor gets my vote for most boring once-important military installation in the USA.   It was once three stories high with brick walls 5 feet thick and guarded the harbor where the Gulf blockade was based during the Civil War.  But it was torn down to a single story soon after when the weaponry of the time became capable of penetrating that construction.  So it became one story, and eventually poured concrete fortifications replaced much of the original structure.  Then they were abandoned, and became even more ugly.  The whole place has been reclaimed in the last 40 years.

Because all the dredgings from the harbor have been dropped around what used to be the slightly submerged atoll upon which the place was built, you can barely see the water from the fort.  And it's hard to imagine that cannon being used to mow down the artwork that surrounds the place now.  

Needs mowing?

Some of the residents really like the fort. 

Don't pet the iguana, even if you wanna.

Looks inviting!

Don't go to the keys for the beaches.  Here on Key West, this one is the best, and you need to wear shoes in the water and on the beach because it is all rocks, not sand.  And even though this shot doesn't show it, there were too many people.

But definitely go to Key West for the restaurants.  We had brunch at Blue Heaven, where you sit outside and listen to live music among the chickens while eating a shrimp and asparagus omelette.  And the Bloody Marys are spicy enough to encourage sipping for a long time while you await your table.  Not a bad way to ease into the day.

The gate outside Blue Heaven.  So appropriate.

Waiting comfortably

"Excuse me, but is that MY homefry that you're eating?"

Behind the foliage, the Little White House

Harry Truman liked it here.  He commandeered the Navy Base's unused Commander's quarters for his use when he wanted to escape Washington, which was fairly often.  Harry Truman, clearly our most intelligent President.  Would Tom Dewey have been as clever?  

The only problem with the place is that it has limited photons available, so I was not allowed to take pictures inside.  What a pity.  I wanted to give them hell for Harry's sake, but Mary talked me out of it.

The manatee snoozed in the harbor.

And then it was time to leave.  We drove north past the beautiful waters to catch our plane in Miami.  Back home, the blustery winds drove snow across the runway.  We had lost 50 degrees Fahrenheit in 10 hours. 

Cry for us....

I hope to cross this bridge again.