Reviresco - To Grow Young Again: Key West

As Scott wrote, for such a small area, there is a lot more to do in Key West than you would think (well, at least what we thought anyway). Truly, there is something for everyone. Scott will complain of the daily “death marches” that I led him on, but our tired feet managed to find some pretty amazing things along the way – some intentionally, and some not. Those are always the best finds.

One of the first things I wanted to do, in true tourist fashion, was to walk down to the “southernmost point” of the USA – a landmark which is stated to be 90 miles away from Cuba. Locals boast that Key West is closer to Cuba than it is to Miami on the Florida mainland. The queue to get pictures taken by this landmark was mindboggling. But there we where, choosing to take the prettier vantage point, from the back of the landmark, thereby avoiding the line-up (we’re practical tourists).

Line-up to take pic with southernmost landmark!

Given this was our first time in The Keys and the fact that we were able to parallel the entire US 1 route by boat, we felt it fitting to celebrate this milestone by taking a picture of the captain by the Mile 0 sign – the origin of US 1 which links The Keys to the mainland.

But you never know what you’ll find along the way. Once considered the official bird of KW, chickens roam freely, as do roosters. Traffic stops regularly for a hen with her clutch of chicks as they attempt to cross the road, pecking for food all the while.

Another amazing find along our “death marches” were the variety and sheer size of the trees. The Kapok tree was perhaps the most impressive, having never seen this variety in our travels.

The crown canopy was equally impressive

When you come to Key West, it is said that there are three things you need to do: go to the southernmost point, see the USCGC Ingham and visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum. We diligently completed the first two on the list, but we were sceptical about this last item on the list. But, this museum was perhaps the most pleasantly surprising visit. Initially built by a famous Key West master wrecker and entrepreneur, Asa Tift, this house and its property were impressive. The house was built with 1 foot thick blocks of coral, assuring the building could withstand the extreme weather of the islands (hurricanes primarily).

Originally on his way further north from Paris, Hemingway was delayed in his travels in Key West. He was awestruck by the beauty and serenity of the islands; he decided to make it his home with his second to fourth wives. He went through them pretty quickly. Hemingway went on to write many of the books and short stories that made him famous, right in this home: A Farewell to Arms, To Have and To Have Not, and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Apparently, he wrote in the mornings, fished in the afternoons and caroused in the evenings into the mornings. Might explain the wives!

There are many impressive features of the property, including a separate building which was attached by a gangway from his bedroom to this writing studio surrounded by massive bamboo and giant palm trees. His second wife insisted on replacing each ceiling fan with chandeliers in each room (including the bathrooms), and building a $20 000 swimming pool (at the height of the depression, mind you). The actual property cost $8000! Today, the property shelters 44 cats of the six toed variety, all genetically linked to the original 6 toed cat that was the resident pet. They are everywhere, inside and out. They had several dedicated staff on site and a vet who looked after the cats. The cats had separate cages to sleep in. They also had a cat cemetery. There you go. So we agreed with the tourism brochure as we sat under a canopy of trees on one of the many benches on the property.

You find these 6 toed felines EVERYWHERE!

The Hemingway typewriter - took it to WWII

One of the many nooks and crannies on the property

Urinal in disguise - payback for 2nd wife and the 20K for the pool

Gorgeous property available for weddings too

Naturally, no day is complete without the daily pilgrimage to the westernmost part of any town or city we land in, for the evening homage to the sunset. Key West didn’t disappoint. In fact, Mallory Square holds a celebration of the sunset every night, with all kinds of street performers and vendors coming out to add to the wall of bodies on the pier. That’s my kind of town! Here’s a small sample, but we have to leave something for the next time!