Day 5 - Key West

Don't know where we girls got the energy, but we surely managed to do a lot on Key West Wednesday. Well, for us it was a lot.

First thing, we left S CARGO at the campgrounds and taxied to Hemingway House. Ernest lived there for 10 years in the '30s. He was quite a character and had a beautiful home: two stories with a second floor covered veranda all around, reminiscent of New Orleans. Today there is lush vegetation and 47 descendants of Hemingway's polydactyl cats. (Hereafter referred to as dits) There were dits everywhere. Two on Ernie's bed. Almost all of them were afraid of no one. Juanita was able to go up to many of them and talk dit talk. They didn't flinch. Anyone who enjoys dits will love Hemingway House. By the end of the home tour, both Juanita and Fifi were ready for a sit down and a cool drink, in the form of fruit smoothies at Ernest's Cafe across the street form HH. It was at that time, while pondering what place of interest would be next, that we sighted one of the soon-to-be ubiquitous electric cars.

Both agreed that was the mode of operation for them. Fifi quickly called the phone number and within 5 minutes were picked up at Ernest's Cafe and swept over to the elec car rental place where we agreed to rent the car until the battery ran down. We tried all night, running up and down the 3 main streets, along the beaches, down back streets, over hill and dale. We ran down to the southernmost point where there is a buoy marking the spot. We spent a long time trying to find a swell restaurant on the beach named Kelly's. It was remarkably easy to find after learning from a native (called a conch) that the place we were looking directly at WAS that place, but the name had changed. (Fifi wasn't going nuts afterall) So we decided to try dinner there as long as we were there. It is supposed to be a great breakfast spot right on the beach. Fifi had Chicken Marsala with rice, steamed carrots and broccoli. Oh, and a strawberry daquiri. Yum. 'Nita had Mahi Mahi in some kind of mango something sauce, same rice and veggies. While Fifi was attempting to finish off the daquiri, Juanita was trying key lime pie, searching for the elusive "Best of the Keys."

After dinner we scooted up to Mallory Square to see if any street performers were still at it. The place was quiet. We wandered into what can best be described as a "bust" yard, containing pillars topped with busts of famous Key West people of old. It was very difficult to read the aged bronze names and information on each one. Daytime would most likely be a much better time to get the full flavor of this unusual site.

Then we scooted around and around the town just because we could, and because Juanita confessed to really liking driving the baby car. No sides. Photos to follow.

Finally it was time to end the night. We dropped the car off, called a cab and returned back to the campground.

Many thanks for your great comments, and please keep them coming!