KEY WEST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
From the beautiful
rustic lower Keys we drove in the dreary rain towards Key West yesterday
afternoon. Our dive planned for the morning at the Looe Key Coral Reef was
cancelled because of the horrific downpour and lightning. But nothing prepared
us for the shock of Key West. As rural and wild and soothing were the lower keys
like Ramrod, Little Torch and Big Pine Keys, the bustling, weaving traffic
along North Roosevelt Boulevard in rain slicked Key West that brimmed with
commerce was disturbing. We traveled all this way, over a hundred miles from
Miami, and it felt like the Jersey shore.
Having
gotten an earlier than usual start on the day because we couldn’t dive, we had
lots of time to kill before we were able to check into our accommodations, the Coconut
Mallory Marina & Resort. Located on A1A just on the edge of Key West Janet
got us a great deal through Bookings.com with a steep discount.
Undaunted
by the bad timing and the seemingly bad destination, we used our time wisely
with a tour of Key West via Old Town Trolley. We always like taking a tour of a
new place. It’s informative and often a hidden nugget of information about a
place is learned. Also, there is an option of hopping off and on all day with
these tours, but we used the tour as a way of getting in out the rain, and to see a lot of Key West.
WHY A DUCK?
Why not a
chicken? Oh, the things we learned while on our tour.
Like why there
are chickens all over the place? Answer: Legend has it that Cuban refugees love
for cock fighting supplied the game cocks for this blood sport that is now illegal.
The birds were released and are now protected and have full run of Key West.
Like, why
do all the buildings have metal roofs? Answer: A city ordinance was passed
after a devastating fire burned most of the city in the early 1900’s requiring
this roof style, evidently as a way of suppressing fire.
Like, Key
West was once the richest city in Florida because of wrecking.
Before the
advent of steam ships the coastal waters of the keys were treacherous for
sailing ships and when a ship ran aground and foundered it was big business to
salvage as much of the cargo as possible, and even the wood of the ship itself.
This was called wrecking and there was a whole hierarchy system among the
salvagers and everyone involved made a lot of money. When the steam ships
technology started ships were no longer pushed about by the capricious winds
and the salvaging market stopped abruptly. Key West went from a booming town to
a nearly abandoned ghost town. It remained this way for a long time before
actively becoming a tourist destination point.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
We parked
at Mallory Square to catch the Trolley. The square is in old Key West and is
famous for its Sunset Celebration where crowds gather daily to see watch the
sun set. Music and dancing are part of the antics. I was there years ago to experience
the revelry, but this day with all the rain the party was not to be.
We
instead went for a beer at the Green Parrot bar on Whitehead Street, a block
from Route 1’s Mile Marker 0 sign. It is a lively, friendly place and a favorite
of friends who visit Key West frequently; we had to make a point of visiting. While sipping our Cigar City beers we more
than once fielded the query “where are you from?” It wasn’t prying, but almost
like a secret handshake between fraternity brothers. It seems everyone in Key
West is from somewhere else, and everyone was very happy that they were here
and not where they were from. Whether it was for a few days, a few months or a
few decades it became very obvious that being in Key West was for everyone.
The Green
Parrot does not serve food, but next door, Charlie Mac has the BEST smoked
chicken wings. It’ll make you jump up and slap yourself.
Thanks for reading, another question... Why DIDN'T the chicken cross the road? She was waiting for happy hour at the Green Parrot!
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