Day 4 - April 1st

Today was a more relaxed day because we didn't have to get up and be somewhere at a particular time.  The kids got to enjoy lazing around in their pajamas a little, which was good considering that we were going to be walking around Key West for most of the day.

We got dressed and caught a taxi to take us to our first stop around 9:30.  We visited Ernest Hemingway's house and the famous six toed cats.  Many of the cats were lazing around and the kids enjoyed finding and petting them.  We also discovered that this particular piece of land is a crab spider haven.  We noticed the webs immediately and the admissions lady told us for whatever reason, they congregate the most at Hemingway's.  I didn't know much about Hem's (what people affectionately called him) personal life so taking the guided tour was good.  He was an interesting man and 60% of his life's work came out of his writing studio in Key West.  I don't think I have read much of his work in my adult life but I remember A Farewell to Arms being required reading in high school.  Of course the kids had never heard of him so I bought The Ole Man and the Sea to read to them aloud on the rest of the trip.  One interesting thing to note was if this house been in the National Parks Service domain, we wouldn't have been allowed to touch so much of it.  They probably wouldn't have left the cats there either.  It was just an interesting distinction that both Scott and I noticed.

Next, we stepped across the street to the Key West Lighthouse and Museum.  We have climbed several lighthouses and the spiral staircase with 88 stairs in this one was no problem.  There were great views of the entire city and there was a fair breeze, which felt really good given the fact that the day was heating up quite nicely.

It was 11:30 by the time we left there and we were getting hungry.  We stopped where all of the locals eat, Denny's on Duval.  Ok, so it wasn't fabulous food but everyone got what they wanted, including sweet tea.  Then we walked across the street to the ice cream shop for dessert. 

Next, we strolled leisurely down Whitehead Street.  I had already noticed that a lot of street names were women's names.  Julia, Amelia, Virginia, and OLIVIA are just a few (yes, I took a picture).  As I have researched later, there are stories about how the streets actually got their names so that's a book I will have to pick up.  Would have been nice to already know the stories before, guess I should have done more research.  On our stroll, I also noticed that every street is filled with trees and flowers.  It not landscaped like the yards back home, these trees and native plants take over the yards and houses.  We later talked to a cabbie who said that plantings were highly encouraged and people were even given incentives to do that.  It is one of the things that appeals most to me about Key West.  On of the unappealing things is that the houses are so close together.  I felt like there was no room to breathe.  When I expressed this feeling to Scott, he said he also had the same feeling, like being trapped, especially knowing you are on this tiny 8 square mile island. Reflecting on this a little more, I think perhaps that is what the water is for.  If you really want to breathe, you go out on a boat and enjoy the uninhibited sea air. 

We arrived at the Southernmost Point Buoy after a few blocks.   Immediately, I noticed there was a line.  Can you imagine, a line to take a picture?  It was so funny to me.  Especially considering the fact that while this big buoy says southernmost point, it actually isn't the southern most point.  The Naval base and a state park are.  But, like all good tourists, we took the required picture just to say we had been there.  By this time it was getting hot.  A general sweaty feeling all over and we were ready for some air conditioning.

So we stopped into the Butterfly Conservatory and that turned out to be a real treat.  We have been to a couple; one in California, another at the natural history museum in Raleigh and another in DC.  This surpassed all of those.  There were so many butterflies flying around.  The Blue Morpho's were too many to count and they flitted and floated all over the place.  There were striped ones and black ones and tiger striped ones and some moths that were the size of my hands together.  It was awesome.  I would highly recommend this, especially if you have a little girl who loves them so much.  Lorelei "wants to have her wedding in here". 

Next we wandered up Duval Street from one side of the island to the other (approximately 2 miles).  Stopping into whatever shops caught our eyes.  We were on the lookout for earrings for Lorelei (dangling manatees), a hacky sack for Scott and whatever else.  We stopped and had a slice of Key Lime pie; the kids didn't like it.  We had drinks in Jimmy Buffett's original Margaritaville,  Around 5:15 we made it to Mallory Square.  We sat in the shade waiting on the street performers to show up.  The kids chased the pigeons and the Key West chickens and roosters. The kids saw a magician, a sword swallower, a unicycle riding firestick juggler and Luke got paid $6 to be in the show of a juggling tumbling act called The Red Trousers Show. 

We watched the sunset complete with dolphins popping up to say hello.  As we were walking away from the square to catch  a taxi back to the campground Luke turned and said "I feel like we have just been to a carnival".  That pretty much sums it up.  We were hot and sticky from an exciting day.  Showers and our bed had never felt so good.