A BIT OF FLORIDA PARADISE "KEY WEST"

As a native Floridian, I've taken for granted the little places in Florida; the places in Florida which make up for so much history.  So, as my tenth wedding anniversary was approaching, I made sure my husband knew that I wanted to celebrate where there is a story, and a bit of history to engulf myself in. Of course, also a place where I could go "photograph crazy"! We ended up visiting Key West. I haven't been to the Keys since I was 5 years old, and I won't dare say how long ago that was! I didn't remember much about that family outing, just a bridge, a really long and narrow bridge. This bridge, which is now rusty and run down, once provided the gateways to this historical town. I'm so glad we were able to tour the Keys, as it served as a reminder to myself of why I'm so fortunate to live in such a historical and beautiful State. I now appreciate as an adult, the impact history has on us, whether directly or indirectly. History is ours to immerse ourselves in, and photographing what remains of history, gave me a deep appreciation of the things that once were. 

I leave you with my tour of Key West. I hope you too will visit and leave with the deepest appreciation for a bit of Paradise in Florida!



Murals you will find on some of the buildings through out Key West.



The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum
Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway, was one of America's most respected Authors. He lived and wrote in this Key West home for more than 10 years. This house was built in 1851 and became Mr. Hemingway's home in 1931. According to the tour guides, the house still contains original furniture and Hemingways wife's chandelier collection in all rooms. A penny is located under a glass case near the first Key West residential swimming pool. Story goes that he gave this penny to his wife Pauline and said "well you might as well take my last cent" as he was unpleasantly surprised at the cost of the pool. The tour guides also say that the cats roaming about the house are descendants of one of Hemingway's beloved cats. Hairy Truman is one of those cats and is  pictured above 6 toes and all.  

Flagler Station
Henry Flagler provided modern access to the Keys by extending the Railway from Homestead, Florida to Key West. It was destroyed in 1938 and replaced by what is now known as US Highway 1.

Henry C. "Booty" Singleton was known as the "Shrimp King". He established, in Key West, what was known as "West Pink Shrimp Fishery in 1949."

The Curry Mansion Inn was home to Florida's first known millionaires. Bahamian immigrant William Curry built the mansion in 1855 and it was finally completed in 1899. The home was bought by Al and Edith Amsterdam in 1975 when they saw a for sale sign while walking through downtown.
 Pan Am airlines original head quarters before its demise. It was bought in 1991 by actress Kelly McGillis and is now known as "Kelly's Carribean Bar and Grill."



Old Town Bakery  What can I say but "yum".  My husband had their chocolate croissant and say's "a chocolate croissant will never be the same after he had a taste of  theirs." A must in Old Town.



Conch Harbor Marina

Duval Street

Sculpture based on French Artist Pierre Auguste Renoir's paintings of dancing couples.





Here is your "Conch Train" Tour Guide taking a break.



Key west Ship Wreck Treasures Museum is a trip back to 1851 in a world of ship wrecking and how it made Key West the richest city in the United States



Light House Museum

La Concha Hotel is the tallest building in Key West (7 floors to be exact). A resident told me that the roof top is the place to be if you want to photograph an amazing sunset.

 

These roosters walk amongst the tourist. I just had to!



I thought this captured how laid back Key West really is. Even there pets are laid back.

Key West was declared the "Conch Republic" in 1982. This is there flag which was hanging on someone's porch along the Key West Streets. This photograph also gives you a nice view of  what some of the homes front porches, through out the Keys, look like.

I woke up at early sunrise to get the full fireworks of nature.



Sunrise in its full effect.

 

No one leaves the Keys without a picture of the Southernmost Point. Hard to believe that Cuba is a mere 90 miles away.



This is where it ends at the furthest and ending of US Highway 1.