Key West – Part I

Just about a year ago, I came down to Key West for the first time. I came with my sister; we rented a convertible in Fort Lauderdale and drove the Key Highway. It was a great trip, and I knew I needed to get back to Key West as soon as possible.

I made it back about eight months later, on an absolute whim. My friend Paul and I were on a road trip to the BCS National Championship game, and after a stop in Jacksonville to see the Gator Bowl, we had several days to kill before heading to Miami for the game. And so, we ended up in Key West, a trip that included quite possibly the greatest time I have ever had at a bar.

I got back from that trip to Key West, and almost immediately booked another. This trip was going to be the most extended, and would involve me having plenty of down time to work on the book I am writing to go with the blog (as I learned early on during this year of traveling, I write best when I am somewhere I can sit for a few days). My friend Paul came down for the first few days (which were mostly spent out and about, rather than working), and I flew up to Wisconsin for my sister’s 30th birthday party over the weekend, but otherwise I have spent much of the last two weeks sitting on a cute porch, catching up on writing during the day and heading out at night. It is sort of like Hemingway, but the writing is funnier (I hope).

Rather than give you an update on everything I did (mostly because it consists of “wrote” and “went out for supper”), I have a few select pictures to show you. I’ll do some today, and some tomorrow, when, sadly, Choppy and I leave Key West (for the time being, as I will be back).An abandoned tie I saw lying on a sidewalk while walking Choppy. I like to believe the owner of this tie got to Key West, took off his tie, and decided he was never going to leave. So, basically, the story of the Jimmy Buffett song “The Weather Is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful.” 

Yes, there are chickens that randomly roam the streets of Key West. This particular chicken was fond of chasing people. She was a bad chicken. Note: if you are going to be a bad chicken, I would think a restaurant – which is where she lives – would be a poor locale for such behavior, as you are a species who also appears on the menu.

Ah, Key West. Where happy hour isn’t just for the afternoon any longer.

The little bungalow where we are staying is near the Key West dog beach. Choppy approves because she loves to roll in sand (and has overcome her earlier fear of waves). And I approve, because someone else is cleaning up the mess she makes in the house.