We had breakfast outside at the Seafarer. We had fresh made fresh frittata and muffins plus coffee and orange juice. Really lovely, especially as we could bring everything down to the dock and watch the pelicans at the same time.
We then had a 2+ hour drive down the Keys to Key West, but sadly the weather deteriorated as we drove south. The Keys are fascinating with little strip communities (which didn't look well to do) dotted along the way. Seven Mile Bridge was impressive with the old original rail bridge alongside. There was heavy rain when we got to Key West so we parked and went straight to Ernest Hemingways house. We had a great guided tour by Doug and then we spent some time just wandering the house and grounds looking at other parts of the Hemingway personal story. Even our guide, Doug mentioned that Howard looked like Hemingway! It’s worth mentioning the 50 cats that inhabit the property - many with 6 toes. All treated like royalty!
By the time we left the rain had stopped so we walked down Duval Street, where it all happens in Key West, to Mallory Square on the sea. We had seen a lot of people with Disney Cruise lanyards and sure enough there was a big Disney liner tied up at the dock. Kay’s comment on Mallory Square was that it looked as though it was part of Disney, with the Pirates of the Caribbean ride just around the corner - who was imitating who?
We walked back up Whitehouse Street and got to Mile Marker 0 on US1. This is the start of a highway that runs all the way up the east coast of the US to the Canadian border, which brought it home that we were at the southern most point of the continental United States. We stopped for a coffee in the Blue Macaw bar in the Bahamas Village Market, a real lovely vibe, with live music.
Back to the car and a repeat 2+ hour drive back to Seafarer Resort. We got back in time to enjoy a drink at the dock and watch the sunset. Dinner was across the road at Sal’s Ballyhoo Historic Seafood Diner. This was a recommendation from Gus for stonecrab, a local delicacy where they rip a claw from a crab and then throw it back to supposedly regrow before “harvesting” the other claw in the next year. We started with conch fritters at $16 but it was horrible so the waiter kindly took it back and took it off the bill. Kay ordered the appetiser portion of stonecrab which was 4 claws, and didn’t come with any sides. What she got were 4 smallish partan toes so she was a bit disappointed, esp since these 4 claws cost 30 USD! I had yellowfin and tomato rissole sandwich which was ok. But the beer was good.
We then had a 2+ hour drive down the Keys to Key West, but sadly the weather deteriorated as we drove south. The Keys are fascinating with little strip communities (which didn't look well to do) dotted along the way. Seven Mile Bridge was impressive with the old original rail bridge alongside. There was heavy rain when we got to Key West so we parked and went straight to Ernest Hemingways house. We had a great guided tour by Doug and then we spent some time just wandering the house and grounds looking at other parts of the Hemingway personal story. Even our guide, Doug mentioned that Howard looked like Hemingway! It’s worth mentioning the 50 cats that inhabit the property - many with 6 toes. All treated like royalty!
By the time we left the rain had stopped so we walked down Duval Street, where it all happens in Key West, to Mallory Square on the sea. We had seen a lot of people with Disney Cruise lanyards and sure enough there was a big Disney liner tied up at the dock. Kay’s comment on Mallory Square was that it looked as though it was part of Disney, with the Pirates of the Caribbean ride just around the corner - who was imitating who?
We walked back up Whitehouse Street and got to Mile Marker 0 on US1. This is the start of a highway that runs all the way up the east coast of the US to the Canadian border, which brought it home that we were at the southern most point of the continental United States. We stopped for a coffee in the Blue Macaw bar in the Bahamas Village Market, a real lovely vibe, with live music.
Back to the car and a repeat 2+ hour drive back to Seafarer Resort. We got back in time to enjoy a drink at the dock and watch the sunset. Dinner was across the road at Sal’s Ballyhoo Historic Seafood Diner. This was a recommendation from Gus for stonecrab, a local delicacy where they rip a claw from a crab and then throw it back to supposedly regrow before “harvesting” the other claw in the next year. We started with conch fritters at $16 but it was horrible so the waiter kindly took it back and took it off the bill. Kay ordered the appetiser portion of stonecrab which was 4 claws, and didn’t come with any sides. What she got were 4 smallish partan toes so she was a bit disappointed, esp since these 4 claws cost 30 USD! I had yellowfin and tomato rissole sandwich which was ok. But the beer was good.
