Key West Trip - Day 1

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6:16 PM Now in my room as I write this. Turned on ESPN to catch up on sports news. Deciding where to go for dinner tonight. Key West is quiet this time of year. The cruise ship passengers were roaming around today, but when the ships leave it will feel more like a 'residents-and-friends only' weekend. No spring breakers on mopeds. No hoards flowing through the streets. No painted nudity...actually, I wouldn't mind some of that. And very little humidity. As many times as I've been here during the really hot months, it's a refreshing change.
If I take any pics tonight I'll post them.

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Photos

Packed and Ready To Go
Pic 1
7:54 AM Packed and ready to go.

The Early Morning Temperature
The official temperature at 8:02 AM.

Miami Traffic to be Expected
Pic 3
8:20 AM You can't leave Miami at 8:00 AM on a Thursday morning and not expect to hit traffic, but look at that blue sky...it could be worse. The traffic reports on the radio sounded bad. Flat-bed truck wrecked on one highway. Big accident on I-95 making it a mess. A few fender-benders around town. Luckily I'm only 2 miles from the turnpike, which is free and clear.

Robert Is Here
Pics 4 & 5
9:15 AM In just 1/2 hour after hitting the turnpike, I'm in Florida City. Florida City is the neighbor to the south of Homestead, and is the last town you pass through before leaving the mainland for the Keys. The Everglades are accessible from here. There's a winery (motto: "We don't need no steeking grapes!"), and there's Robert Is Here. If you've never stopped there on your way to the Keys, you should plan on it for your next trip.
They're known for their milkshakes, which are made with fresh fruit like mango & papaya. They sell fruits & vegetables and a number of sauces, jellies, jams, etc.

Robert Is Here
Fine jams and jellies

Feathered Friend
9:24 AM They also are known for their animals. No, not the tourists. The animals roaming the pen out back. There are donkeys, geese, turkeys, chickens, turtles, goats, and a few other breeds. There is also a macaw and some other birds in cagesin the market. This guy (or girl; not sure) was very friendly. He (or she) was just about begging to be scratched.

Feathered Friend
Looking for a scratch

Spared the Carving Knife
Pic 8
9:25 AM Lucky for them, these guys were spared the holiday.

Hairy Friend
I've got a few of those at home too.

Heading to Key Largo
Pic 10
9:46 AM I leave Robert Is Here with a fresh-squeezed orange juice and head south on US1. Anyone who's made the drive knows there's not much to see on this stretch between Florida City and Key Largo. The positive thing is that there isn't any traffic.

Breakfast in Key Largo
Pics 11 & 12
10:16 AM I've hit Key Largo and it's time for breakfast. I've been to the uniquely-named Key Largo Coffee House before, so I decide to stop there again. Had the eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast, with coffee. Bacon well done, just the way I like it. Great jam served with the toast. Sat on the porch, where tables line the wraparound. I don't have any pictures of the food, but I took a couple outside.

A Keys Scene
Pic 13
11:35 AM A not-too-unusual Keys scene.

More Feathered Friends
Pics 14 & 15
12:10 AM Another not-too-unusual Keys scene.

Seven Mile Bridge
Pic 16
12:52 PM Seven-mile bridge.

We've Arrived
Pic 17
1:25 PM I ran out of road. You know when that happens, you're in Key West. Boy, it feel's great to be home-away-from-home.

Bahama Village
Pic 18
1:42 PM Bahama Village still radiates Key West history.

Cruise Ships off Mallory Square
Pic 19
2:03 PM There are two cruise ships in Mallory Square. They're enormous, and tough to fit into a single frame unless you have a wide-angle lens. I snapped one pic. I think it's enough. You get the idea.

Bed
Pic 20
4:32 PM After a couple brewed beverages at Hog's Breath, I check into the inn. King size bed, great balcony, nice view...this will work just fine.