1800 Atlantic Key West

Here we are in Key West Florida, the southern most city in the continental US, and man is it hot. It has been in the upper 90's with super high humidity. We've have been finding some fun ways to stay cool. Traveling around in the van isn't one of them. It is so hot here that there is no way we would be able to sleep in the van, or even outside in a tent. So, it really is our "smaller vacation within in our vacation" as Jess likes to put it, we're living it up in another hotel ...

... and Bahamians have settled. It was beautiful with lushly vegetated streets and a patchwork of faded wooded houses (old cigar-makers cottages). Many locals were sitting out on their front porches and they wished us good day as we passed.

We finally reached our destination, but despite being told by our hotel that it was free, we had to pay $5.00 to access the beach (only $7.00 for two passengers and a car, doh!). The beach was ...

... The drive was thrilling and we passed over the famous 7-mile bridge. We checked into our hotel and went out for dinner and a walk around the harbour. We had been warned that Key West was a party down and we certainly met a few characters. At the end of October there is a big festival there called 'Fantasy Fest' (Fred has been 6 times!). It's apparently very risque and anything goes, a bit like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. We were looking forward to seeing more of Key West the next day.

... a ride down to Duval Street and that monument that is the most Southern point of the US. We of course stood in line to have our photos taken at the monument just like all of the other tourists here. Then we made our way back to the hotel to spend the day by the pool. It was all very relaxing, but by mid day we were saying we were ready to get back on the bikes. I guess the next adventure is calling to us. Today we rode so few miles that it isn't worth mentioning.

This morning we woke up to a catered breakfast, a small buffet put on by the BnB for the guests. You have a choice of bagels, fruit and a different fresh baked pie each day. The fruit pile is vast and guests are given fresh oranges and an old style orange squeezer for fresh juice. We ate outside until I spotted the mosquitoes diving at my legs and we headed back in (bite count is up to 10 now wheres Nic only has 3).

After breakfast we hired bikes as ...

Key West Excusion
Sail and Snorkeling adventure - $39 per person

I
was thoroughly disappointed at the snorkeling part of this excursion
because well, the highlight of my snorkel was seeing a DORI (from NEMO
fish movie) fish. We were very far away from any real corals or any
kind of real underwater scenery. Plus, I felt like we were in the water
to snorkel and then they were immediately calling us back. Boo!

... thing. lil rude and some very!! example. Actors... 'are you coming with me??' 'yes im coming with you!' Audience.. 'that'll be a first!!!' stuff like that and worse lol. anyway alya and i decided not to go till 2am! this way we could drive into the sunset. we set off and i even dd some of the driving! omg its sooooo wierd!!! but was good fun! so about 11pm alya went to bed and i stayed awak watchin 'the wildboyz' on the tv.

... and bought tape for the camcorder instead. No videos or pics today folks. We were too buzy (aka lazy) to take any. Maybe tomorrow. If you're lucky. Now we're just sittin here in home base rawkin the apple computer. When I looked out at the horizon just now, Kev asked me to tell him in one word to describe what I thought of this new and foreign land. I could only reply- "Wonder". (not wondeful, because I prefer nouns over adjectives). Peace--don't have too much fun while we're out. Meg

The port at Key West was closed due to Hurricane Ernesto coming in that day, so we continued on and didn't see a cloud in the sky. We got seated breakfast in the Imagination dining room, I think I got poached eggs or something and Dad got the LOX on a bagel with cream cheese. We met 3 other groups of people at our table, a mother/daughter? a couple from N. Carolina (Civil Engineer), and an Art Therapist woman. I think we went back to nap after that ...

... day here before returning to Miami.

It is beautiful, very touristic and the sea is not like the one in Miami. It is really nice, but we have no time for either swimming or sunbathing.