Family visit October 2019!

I had Lydia and Mam staying with me for a week and it was a wonderful visit. I would rate them 10/10 as house guests.   Ahahahahahaa

First day they arrived Lydia and I took ourselves off fishing and it was wonderful!  Even more wonderful was coming home and cooking it on the barbecue.  That is something that I think will always be a novelty to us Irish people...cooking outdoors with regularity.

While it was an ordinary working week for me, I did decide to take a day off in the middle of the week while they were here.  How often do I have guests staying with me after all?  We had a great day - Lydee and I went snorkeling at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach and then did a guided tour of the Fort which was very interesting.  That evening we went to Trivia in Viva which we always enjoy. 

Check us out in our colour co-ordinating outfits at Trivia :)

Other than that, Mam and Lyd looked after themselves during the day while I worked and then we went out for dinner most evenings.  They hung out at the pool, did a little shopping and some sight seeing - Hemingway House was their number one stop as usual.

We had some nice food out at the likes of Half Shell Raw Bar, La Concha and El Siboneys.  It was Mam and Lyd's first time at El Siboneys and their first foray into authentic Cuban food was a complete success. 

Their last day came and because their flight was out of Miami, and I was driving them there, we decided to leave early and stop off at an outlet mall close to the airport.  We all got a few bits and pieces which was good.  I got a jumpsuit for work which is a little bit new and different for me.  We also ate a nice lunch in crackerbarrel which we always enjoy :)

Their flight went off on time thankfully, it is a long trip home back to Dublin and even further for Lyd who has to fly on to Amsterdam and then train it to The Hague.  Me, it was a long drive back home too to Key West, and I eventually got there just after midnight.  No worries!  All good!



Tourist Trail - Shipwrecker's Museum and Hemingway House

We've been doing a few little touristy things lately which has been a nice change of pace.

Shipwrecker's Museum

First up we visited the Shipwrecker's Museum and Watchtower.  The museum is located in an old warehouse used for storing wreck salvage by Numero Uno shipwrecker in town, one Mr Asa Tift.  (Which in a strange twist/coincidence was the owner of the (now known as) Hemingway House prior to Ernest and Pauline (Pfeiffer) Hemingway purchasing and move in circa 1931).

The museum is a pretty good telling of the 400 years of salvage history and the impact that had on the development of Key West. It works well for both children and adults which is always a positive!  Nothing worse than going to a museum which is All About the Kids.  And equally, nothing worse than poor bored children being dragged around an establishment that has nothing for them. Finally to cap it all off, the watchman tower has some excellent views of the island.

Hemingway House

Hey, my Key West folks, did you know that locals get free entry into the museuem?  Well now you do.

I've been to the Hemingway House a number of times and I just love it.  I love the house from a structural/architectural perspective.  I love the interior decor of the 1930's with Spanish influences chosen by the man himself. And I love the stories of Hemingway in Key West - writing, drinking, carousing, fishing and LIVING.

And of course I love the literary history.  To think that he wrote some of his wonderful works right here on this island is simply spectacular.  Amongst the KW works are "A Farewell to Arms", "Death in the Afternoon" and "To Have and Have Not". As part of your visit you can go see his writing studio and his typewriter. 

(Hey! That brings to mind my trip to Atlanta where I saw Margaret Mitchell's typewriter)

Two good spots in Key West if you are here for a quick vacation.  

More to come!

Friday night, sunset sail

A sunset sail off the coast of Key West is one of the loveliest activities - whether you are here on holiday or here for a little longer ;-)

My recommendation is for a boat that I recently went out with.  The SV Argo Navis is a large elegant catamaran with just small numbers of guests aboard so plenty of room for walking about and exploring the whole boat.
And the food! The food! Carefully chosen artisan cheeses and breads for dipping in oil, balsamic flakes and chilis.  Dates wrapped in prosciutto, caprese tomato skewers... Beautiful wines and craft beers.  Small batch chocolate and strawberries.

The crew too. Fabulous, could not be faulted. Talented sailors manning the big sails and equally attentive to our needs staying on top of topping up the wine and passing out the delicacies detailed above. If you go on the SV Argo Navis be sure to say hi to Emile and tell him I sent ya!

Anyway, as they say, a picture paints a thousand words.  So here are a couple for you!

Key tips

This is a bit of a lazy (cheat!) blog post but it has some good information and will serve a purpose/help someone in the future I am sure.

A friend of mine asked me for some Key West recommendations so I sent him an email which what was essentially just a bit of a mind dump of a mixed bag of KW things to see and do.  Anyway he seemed happy with it and lol, said I missed my calling as a travel blogger - which gave me the idea of posting it here. 

So here it is.  Things to do and see in the wonderful Key West, Florida (aka paradise):

 

 

Museums

Little White House is my favourite http://www.trumanlittlewhitehouse.com/

Really enjoy Hemingway House also http://hemingwayhome.com/

I’d really recommend doing these…

Plus the lighthouse is nice too

 

If you want some “good” restaurant recommendations let me know.  Seven Fish comes to mind, & Santiagos Bodega…but if you want more let me know.  Oh! And Flaming Buoy. And Origami for sushi.

 

Loads and loads of bars along Duval, I am sure you will have no problem finding ones you like!

Sloppy Joes is good for music. Gets very packed at night though (very touristy).  I always thing it’s at its best in the late afternoon if there is music on.  Makes me feel like I am back in the era of Hemingway and that him and the "boys" could literally walk in the door for a drink to celebrate their day of catching big fish.

The Green Parrot is also good for music – off Duval. 

 

There are some really nice places to eat and drink “along the bight”.  Plus it is nice looking at all the boats. (It’s like a marina)

Half shell raw bar

Alonzos

Turtle Krals



HAPPY HOUR! 

I like this best for eating!!!

Don’t discount Happy Hours!  They are not about mad drinking over there like the way they are in Ireland.

Tends to be 4-6pm and all drinks and appetizers are half prices.

I’d really recommend trying out Alonzo’s during happy hour http://alonzosoysterbar.com/ ….we treat it like tapas and order a load of different appetizers and share etc. 

Get the baked oysters (with parmesan and garlic), or the shrimp in spicy sauce!

(arrive early, it gets quite busy…)

 

http://www.kellyskeywest.com/

My mother is obsessed with Kelly’s.  Specifically their chicken wings J

Owned by Kelly McGillis and her ex husband

It’s the original building for the Pan Am office in Key West.  They have a bit of a Top Gun museum in the front of it – opposite to the bar.

Happy Hour - If you sit at the bar during happy hour they have a half price menu and specials etc.

Great chicken wings and margaritas!

 

I’d recommend you buy the local newspaper “The Key West citizen” and read it with your morning coffee – just for the sheer comedy of it.  Mad island. Mad parochial news.

You can buy it from the newspaper vending machine thingies for 50c/$1.
 

 

My favourite beach to sunbathe and swim at is the Southernmost Beach.  Nice little bar beside it as well.  Plus has happy hour specials too J

You may have a swimming pool where you are staying but if you like the beach I’d recommend you try that one.

 

Be like a local J Get a bike!

Bikes are the best way to get around! I’d recommend Eaton Bikes…but do shop around…make sure whoever you get it from supplies lights on the bikes – some do and some don’t. You do need them, it gets quite dark in the evening.

 

Mallory Square is enjoyable. Bring dollars for tipping all the street entertainers etc. Celebrate the sunset and look forward to what the next day bring.

 

Wear insect repellent every day but especially in the evenings!!!  You wouldn’t think it, and you don’t see them but you do get bitten.  The locals call the mozzies the “noseums” i.e. the “no see ‘ems” J

 

If you come across the Dairy Queen (old 1950’s building) on your cycle travels, do stop and have one – very cheap(!!) but nice ice-cream.

 

If you are into it, think about a fishing trip.  We do a few different types while we are there….  For the length of time you are there I suggest a half day trip and what they call a “party boat” i.e. a group boat.

Wu used to go out in Captain John’s Greyhound boat but he has finished now.  Google party boat etc and you'll find one.  If you are really interested in this let me know and I will try remember the name of the last company we used.

You can bring the fish you catch to a local restaurant and they will cook it for you and provide sides for about $15 per person if I remember correctly… e.g. Dante’s

 

Trivia

If you like a table quiz check out Viva on Tuesday night

 

Sunday brunch!

Will you be there on a Sunday??? 

Check out Margaritaville (the old Westin) for the Sunday brunch at Bistro 245 (unlimited mimosas/champagne)

The food is amazing!

 

Enjoy!  Enjoy the vibe and enjoy being on “island time”

The Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

Considering I have been to the wonderful island of Key West many many times I did not think there was more magical places to discover and new things to do.  How wrong I was!

 

Near to the end of our trip I suggested to Dad that we go to the butterfly conservatory.  I figured it was something he would like, and I figured it would be an "ok" thing to do.  He was very keen, he said he had been to one in the UK and he really enjoyed it.

 

Entrance fee was around $13 which is fairly standard for attractions in KW.  Dad as a senior paid €9.

 

In we went and within seconds a butterfly landed on my shoulder blade and I quickly snapped a selfie!

 

The feeling of a butterfly's wings gently resting on your skin is just wonderful!

 

What is also wonderful was just walking and watching all the butterflies flitting and floating.  It was enchanting, and incredibly relaxing.

While we strolled through the trail another butterfly landed on my arm.  For the remainder of our visit, every now and again I stood still with my arms out to entice another butterfly landing but with no success.  From reading online it seems I was really lucky to get these two resting on me! 

 

Now, as great as the butterflies were wait until you hear about the flamingos!!! 

The conservatory also has two beautiful flamingos called Rhett & Scarlett. 

We were lucky enough to visit at a time when the flamingos were out having one of their daily walks.  I say walk but they go pretty fast!!!  Even on those spindly thin legs of theirs.  It's funny watching them strutting like supermodels.

 

They don't seem afraid of anything and come right up to you - I was afraid they might bite but the staff assured me they would not.

This photo makes me laugh. 

Looks like Dad was afraid too!!!