Hello From Key West!

Hello from Key West!

Well, it seems that Justin Bieber has been arrested in Miami Beach over night!  It is all over the news media here in Florida.  I guess his star status is not as good in Miami as it is in California. Here is my question... WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER?!  I know he is 19 and in most states that is legal but, REALLY?!  Drag racing, drinking, suspended license?  He is going to Hell in a hand basket at such a young age.  THAT is what money does to you, especially at such a young age. Bieber has just become another statistic.  His mug shot just made the news!

Now, if he were here, in Key West, he might have gotten away with his shenanigans.  It is a little more laid-back here, and there are not too many roads or room, for that matter, to do a lot of racing.  The speed limit on most of the island is only 25- 30 at the most. I don't think he would be able to get alcohol here because I think you have to be 21 to get anything except an energy drink.  A friend of mine brought her daughter here for a high school graduation gift.  Her daughter had just turned 18 and we were allowed to take her to a bar, but she was "banded" and was not allowed to have anything stronger than soda pop.  Maybe that is why Bieber didn't come down here...go figure.

We don't need people like that here, we already have them.  This place is a place for fun and sun and water.  The residents here just really ignore the famous that come here.  We have better things to do like enjoy the atmosphere of island living.  Of course we have to work to be able to get the necessities of life but, we still have fun here.  The sun itself is what it's all about.  For the divers, it is a world of excitement. There are reefs and sunken ships to explore, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skiing, deep sea fishing.  The cruise ships dock here daily and the tourists disembark to take in Duval street shopping and eating.  The sunset at Mallory Square is the highlight of the day, with the vendors and entertainers.  There are sunset sail cruises even a glass bottom boat.  The night life comes alive at dark and all of the real island characters come out.  Sometimes, we have scuffles between tourists and locals but they are usually drunk and get to go to our local jail to dry out for the night.

For me, I will just sit back and enjoy my life here, feeling the sun on my face, drinking my soft drink and listening to Jimmy Buffet and island music.  I am "growing older, not up". 

Thank Jimmy!

Hello from Key West!

I know that much of the country is being covered by snow today.  I thought I would send you all a sunny beach picture to wish away the day.  This is Higgs Beach.  There are a couple of beaches but I think this is the nicest one.  There are no "natural" beaches like Daytona or Miami Beach, but it will do. This beach is on the Atlantic Ocean side and in between the West Martello Civil War Tower  and the White Street Pier, which also is home of the AIDS memorial.  

Also at Higgs Beach is the African Cemetery. It contains graves of Africans who died after being rescued from captured slave ships in 1860.  It is part of the National Register of Historic Places. This story is in that 294 Africans were buried at Higgs Beach.  They were part of criminal trade from Africa, Cuba and the people who sold slaves, in and around the Florida Keys.  The cemetery went unmarked for 140 years.  You can read "History of the African Cemetery on Higgs Beach" by Gail Swanson

This is just one of the historic places to visit in Key West.  

The East and West Martello Towers are also along the Atlantic side of Key West.  Construction began on Fort East Martello and Tower. This was to add more protection during the Civil War.  During that time, Key West remained in  the control of the Union, while most of it residents were Confederate sympathizers. The East Martello was not finished because the war ended.  It remained abandoned and unfinished by the Army.  In 1950, The Key West Art and Historical Society cleared debris and opened it as a museum. The West Martello Tower is home to the Key West Garden Club.

There are beaches all around the island of Key West.  From Smathers Beach on South Roosevelt Blvd to Beaches at the end of Duval street and at the end of Simonton.  Most have resorts and hotels attached so the tourist have a beach.  Fort Zachary Taylor is a state park with a pre-Civil War Fort.

So, since you cannot be here to enjoy the nice weather and views, I have sent you a sample.  If you ever in Key West, look me up, I can give you the penny tour and you will fall in love this place. By the way, it's raining here, go figure. 

Hello from Key West!

Island living is something that is not for the average person.  Key West is almost a country of its own. The variety of people here range from Americans to Europeans to Asian to Haitian and of course, Cubans.
The island of Key West if one mile wide and four miles long and is at the end of  the Florida Keys.  The island is about  90 miles from Cuba and is about 150 miles from Miami.

The Spanish name is Cayo Hueso. The literal translation is "Bone Island". History reports that the island was either an old burial ground or a Native American battleground.

More history later.  Key West is a place of eclectic people. From New Town to Old Town, you will find any type of people, place or thing.  It is a tourist generated economy. There are usually 23,000 people that live on the island, however, when there are any events on the books, there can be upwards of 70,000+ on the island at one time. That is a lot of people in such small area.  In fact, on New Year's Eve 2012, there were 79,000 revelers on this small parcel of land.

Most of the residents ride bicycles, motor scooters or electric street legal golf carts.  The other part of the residents drive regular autos. We have to share the road, but, there have been a few car vs. bike accidents. The car usually wins.

Key West has supermarkets, restaurants, schools, a hospital, clinics, gas stations and tons of other things to create jobs for the residents.  The more tourists come, the more jobs.  Being in a small area can create problems, too.  The main road, North Roosevelt Blvd, it being renovated. Lots of slow traffic and signage not clearly marked. There have been no serious accidents...yet, but with all of the tourists on the island, road rage has reared its ugly head from time to time.  I am guilty of road rage, but not very often.  Like most of the natives, I know how to get around the other routes to stay out of the traffic.

All in all, the visit is worth the trip. And if you decide to  move here, get the book "Quit your job and Move to Key West The Complete Guide" by David L. Sloan. Everything in it is true.  I did it.