I think any high school student who had the privilege of taking the tour through Hemingway’s home and museum in Key West would surely take their studies of Hemingway’s literature more seriously. Here, through an outstanding guide, Hemingway comes alive. Here you hear the stories and see the articles of Hemingway’s life that inspired the stories he wrote. The house itself is an interesting story. Built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker. Tift found out what is true throughout Florida. When the topsoil is removed you hit shale or limestone. T [View Full Entry]

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President Harry S. Truman brought some notoriety to Key West when his doctor advised him to get some rest and sun. Truman was advised the Base Commanders house was empty at Key West Naval Base. Truman visited the base, like the climate and surrounding so much he made 11 visits totaling 175 days during his administration. It became known as Harry S. Truman Little White House. Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the base in 1939. Thomas Edison lived-in the house during World War I while donating his services to the Navy. In 1948-49 General Dwight D. Eisenhower held a series of meeting [View Full Entry]

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An old man met me at the door and asks what I wanted. “I want to see the Robert Frost house.” The old man said: “Robert Frost was a deadbeat, he lived free in a cottage in the back. This house belonged to Jessie Porter.” So I was straighten out on the ownership and told I could enter. “Just don’t lift anything and stick it in your pocket.” I was given a couple sheets of paper for my self-guided tour. Captain George Carey built the house, which dates from 1834. Jessie Porter saved it from destruction in 1934. She lived-in the [View Full Entry]

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After a good nights sleep at the Lemon Tree Inn, I checked out and headed of for Florida City and a night at the Everglades Hostel. The road was a lot more interesting this time as it went straight through the Everglades National Park. The first rest stop (cludgie) I stopped at was an interesting affair. After parking the Jeep and getting out I couldn't help but notice a pack of vultures started to circle overhead. I used the facilities, in a number 1 capacity thank God, but was surprised that it was purely a hole in the ground. Yes there [View Full Entry]

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We said a temporary goodbye to Key West this afternoon as we treked north to pick up "the mammas" (a.k.a. Linda and Elizabeth) at Orlando International Airport. They were to depart Providence at 7:50pm and arrive Orlando at 10:50pm. We could hardly wait. As a matter of fact we had continplated having them FedEx'd to us, but my mom would be upset at the cost, so we opted for budget friendly Southwest Airlines! :-) When we awoke in Key West it was another PERFECT DAY. One of the most uplifting feelings (to me) is opening a window (in this case a [View Full Entry]

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Where else can you see a bunch of drag queens racing down the street (in high heels no less) pushing people in beds? Where else can you find a bunch of locals and tourists from around the world aged INFANT to WAY TOO OLD TO BE IN THE SUN THIS LONG...cheer such a parade? Where can you walk by a pirate museum, key lime pie factory, seaplane tour booth, tattoo parlor, theatre, tropical grille, honkey tonk, gay dance club, insurance company, real estate company, and beach bar -- all on the SAME street? Where can you hear LIVE music from 10am-4am [View Full Entry]

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Hello from sunny, warm, beautiful, friendly Key West! Yes, I like it here quite a bit! :-) I can't believe April and I are actually here -- and that I am typing yet another blog. To say the journey back down to Key West was, um...INTERESTING would be an understatement. I always go into these things thinking (and hoping) I can write a nice, short, to-the-point blog -- but then I think of ALL THE STUFF that has happened and I am compelled to share it with you...lol! So get comfy....or drunk...your choice. I guess I should start from the last [View Full Entry]

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Hello again! I had so many beautiful pictures from the beaches visted yesterday in Key West that I had to do it as a separate entry. Enjoy! Happy Travels.... Des [View Full Entry]

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A small islet, Sunset Key, appears outside our balcony window this sunny morning. Populated with new looking homes and fringed by small sandy beaches that reach down to green water, it looks like one good wave could wash it all away. To the right is a small key covered with a grove of trees that have no leaves. Is it damage from a previous storm? In the distance, other keys appear like small round dots on the ocean. The ship offers many excursion options for discovering Key West, from snorkeling to sport fishing to historic walking tours. Since Alan and I [View Full Entry]

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WARNING! THE FOLLOWING IMAGES MAY CAUSE INTENSE LAUGHTER, SEVERE LONGING AND SENSORY OVERLOAD! Today was an amazing day. April and I woke up bright and early get some work done and then headed out for breakfast at the charming and easy to fall in love with - Blue Heaven on Thomas Street. This restaurant, loved by Jimmy Buffett and Kenny Chesney to name a few, is a whimsical Key West classic. The decor is shanky shack with an artistic twist. Most people dine in the outside courtyard where there is a very cool wooden bar with a huge Indiana Jones type [View Full Entry]

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