We have been in the Keys for a little over a week. Our house is great…sits on a canal with wonderful breezes, has a pool and nice outdoor space. We spent last week exploring. Kayaking the mangroves (trees that grow in the salt water), snorkelling the Sombrero Reef, fishing for Tarpon (didn’t get anything) but did catch enough snapper and yellowtail to have a fish fry lunch. Only the fishing required an early wake up. All of the other days, everyone woke when they wanted to and I have to say, that is quite nice.
Yesterday, we had to drive from the Middle Keys to Key West to board a boat that would take us to the Dry Tortugas. We left the house before 6am! That was hard. The Dry Tortugas are a series of islands founded by Ponce de Leon and at the time, he called is Las Tortugas (the turtles) as so many of them inhabited the waters/islands. After the Louisiana Purchase, we take control and shortly embark on a series of construction projects to ensure the safety of the east coast of the US. What is built now, was started in the early 1800s and is truly impressive. It is huge fort, constructed of red brick…and it is 70 miles from Key West! How did they manage this feat?
It takes us 2+ hours by boat and it is hot. There are about 150 other passengers and I think it is totally run by the Park Service now. The guides were great. As part of the package, you receive breakfast, lunch, and snorkelling equipment. You can spend the time just in the water, tour the fort or do both. We do a combination of everything. Boat lands at 10:30 am. I have to admit, I don’t feel great. I did not sleep well in anticipation of getting up so early, then drove in the dark for an hour. I know I have low blood sugar, feel nauseous and the open water, while was not bad…did just enough to make me seasick. But anyway, we manage a good time but it is a long day. We do not arrive back in Key West until 5:30 and the ride back was really choppy-so you know how I feel! We immediately head to our hotel, a nice resort away from the fray of Duval Street. We are starving and order room service (which we never do) before we even wash off the sea salt. It was a great experience, but a hard day. Wish I could say I slept better, but the low blood sugar impacted my sleep. Oh well…today wasn’t an early day.
We headed into town for an 11:00 food tour. I was a bit nervous as the last one we had last week in a different Key was so bad, we left early. But this one was super…really knowledgeable guide, who not only talked about the seafood of the Keys, but it’s history and culture. The group of 11 enjoyed ourselves. When we finished, stuffed and exhausted, Jamie, Cate and I had to visit Smokey Joe’s, Hemingway’s favourite bar. If you have not seen the Ken Burns recent documentary on Earnest, put it on your list. On our walk, we passed by Truman’s Little White House (btw—it isn’t little). We headed back to the resort to rest for the afternoon. Cate slept, Jamie probably did work and I went to the pool. We plan to leave tomorrow back to our rental house the remainder of the week.
We have nothing else planned. Not sure if that is good or bad. We are a family that thrives on activity-even if it is just a lunch out. We were supposed to go out fishing again but the weather doesn’t look good. But overall, our time here has been great. Everyone can relax in their own fashion. We join together at different times of the day and have great conversations, watch the hockey playoffs, listen to music. I will not complain. We have booked a return visit to the area in December. We chose our house well. It is quieter in the Middle Keys, a bit less congested. On our next trip, we hope to go fishing and are even toying with renting our own boat.
It is interesting that I was born in Florida and actually lived in Key West 50+ years ago. But I don’t feel like a Floridian. A woman at Smoke Joe’s told me today that it was of no consequence…once born in Florida always a Floridian. Who knows? I may get sea sick but I think I caught the most fish.
On our final night in Key West, Jamie suggests that we head back into town and find a restaurant. I make reservations at a relatively new restaurant that has received good reviews. It is a small place, not too crowded and you hear a conversation. The wait staff is super friendly and not obtrusive. The food was fantastic and creative. We have a great meal and afterwards, walk a block or so to peer through the gates of Hemingway’s house. Of course, there are two cats sitting in the courtyard which seemed quite appropriate.
A few photos…