Blogs from Keys, Florida, United States, North America - page 35

It's Christmas time here in Key West- like none other.... read more

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. Tift also found out the lot was sixteen feet above sea level. So he quarried the stone for the house right from the sight. He not only got the stone for the house but also ended with the only basement ... read more

Key West Florida is the Southernmost City in the Continental United States. In this little tropical paradise a common man, tourist, can walk in the footsteps of some of most celebrated of celebrities this country has ever produced This little place was one of the favorite haunts of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and President Harry Truman. More about these celebrities in a later blog. It was also the hometown of George Mira, the great All American quarterback for the Miami University Hurricanes. Key West is closer to Havana Cuba than Miami. It is about a three-hour drive from Miami. It is 160 miles over one bridge after another. Havana Cuba is only 90 miles. It many Cuba historic connections. Many Cubans moved to Key West during Cuba’s unsuccessful war for independence from Spain in ... read more

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 was a seat, but it bottomed straight into the ground. Granted you were inside, bit the cludgie had no flush handle, no rinsing purifying water. It was a case of in you go, do your ... read more

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 screen door to a private balcony) to see a brilliant sunny day, feel a cool breeze, and hear the rustling of tree palms blowing in the wind. I sat at the desk, did some work, ... read more