Key West Diary 16

There is never a lack of eating establishments in and around Key West, but many are either very loud and touristy with bands playing and extremely crowded and/or very expensive. Just a couple of our favorite places to eat out ...

The Roof Top Cafe.....

Hogs Breath Saloon, just s half block off of Duval Street...

Hurricane Hole...

Kennedy's Cafe 

A Mediterranean Restaurant close to the marina has become our favorite breakfast spot. Cuban Coffee, Baklava, Tiramisu, and Napleon Cake are some of their special treats.

There are several tables pushed together and a group of about 16 senior locals meet for breakfast most mornings. If someone does not show up, when expected, calls are placed to check on them. A photo of each "Breakfast Club" member hangs on the wall by the door.

Many of our evening meals are back home at the Boca Chica NAS Base Grill named "Navigator". The military prices for dinner and drinks can't beat and the view and sunsets are spectacular.

Key West Diary 15

Mallory Square is famous in Key West for its street entertainers that gather there two hours before sunset each evening to entertain the locals and tourists that come to see the sun sink into the ocean.

It also brings out a lot of the local "color" such as this guy on his bike with his Indian war paint, Mohawk haircut and Conch Republic flag.

One of the locals I didn't see tonight that rides a moped/scooter with his head wrapped in a scarf, silk top hat and ski goggles. Hopefully I'll get his picture before we leave.

Mallory Square is also where all the big cruise ships dock when arriving in Key West.

The first and best act we saw tonight was this pair of jugglers and tumblers. Not only were they funny and entertaining to watch, they were really very talented and athletic, to say the least.

Their final act was to use a 20' extension ladder, held by four volunteers from the crowd, and a little 4 year old boy from the audience.

Considering the people holding the ladder really didn't know what they were doing, this was a daring stunt.

One of the many sailing charters leaving for a sunset cruise.

The second act we watched was a one man show with a unicycle and juggling. While not as entertaining or funny as the first act, it was still good. According to all the street entertainers, they travel around the country performing in these venues and only receive whatever the crowds decide to tip them. Hard way to make a living!!!

Besides balancing his unicycle on his chin and a few other tricks like that, the main event was riding his unicycle while juggling three different flaming batons.

Key West Diary 14

One of the few remaining "touristy" things we wanted to check off our list was a trip on the glass bottom boat that runs from downtown Key West out to the coral reef that lies about five miles south of the keys.

This is a large boat capable of carrying up to sixty people, with viewing areas on both sides of the boat. Since it took about thirty five minutes to reach the reef, most people stayed topside until we arrived at the reef.

The coral reef that lies five miles south of the Keys is the third largest living coral reef in the world, extending some 238 miles from Miami to the Dry Tortugas. Two larger reefs are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and a reef off the coast of Belize.

Once on top of the reef, the guide explained the different types of coral and the many different types of fish that inhabit the reef. Most of the time we were only 8 to 10 feet above the reef.

Our very knowledgeable guide for the day is pictured below. Even though this was a relatively calm day there were several people that became seasick.

Since we didn't dive on the reef, and because no one is ever allowed to remove any living animals or fish from it, I bought my Conch Shell from a local store. 

Since the Conch Shell is probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Key West it will be our memento from the Keys.

Key West Diary 13

Since Sara and I have finally made the decision to sell our beloved ITHAKA, when we finish the Great Loop, the word has gotten around at our marina. Linda and Mike Herdering were visiting their friends Dottie and John who have lived aboard a boat here in the marina for twelve years. Linda and Mike were seriously interested in buying ITHAKA but the slip they had reserved here at the Marina was not large enough to accommodate her. They were told that it may take another two years for a larger slip to open up, so they had to pass. All of us were really disappointed.

Key West Diary 12

We saw an article in the local CONCH NEWS about this small house in Key West that a local artist had used as her canvas, so we drove around to see it.

As one can see, this is a small, non-descript house in a working class neighborhood. The artist used the one end of the house to create a mural out of cut glass, pieces of broken mirrors, and many small pieces of multi-colored tiles. In keeping with the nautical theme and wildlife of Key West she incorporated sea turtles and manta rays and other sea life. This was a cloudy day but in bright sunlight, this mural really sparkles.

Key West Diary 11

On one of our "play days" we decided to drive over to Marathon, FL (about 40 miles from Key West) and visit the Dolphin Research Center. This facility is home to about 57 dolphins and several sea lions. Most of the dolphins have either been rescued and brought back to health or have been born here and have no desire to return to the wild.

This is the location where the series Flipper was filmed several years ago and many of the dolphins are the "grand kids or great grand kids" of the original Flipper.

The whole complex is a series of lagoons that are divided into separate swimming areas that can be gated off when they want to conduct training or research on a particular dolphin or group of dolphins. The rest of the time all the gates remain open and all the dolphins have the complete run of the entire complex. As can be seen, the walls are very low and can be easily jumped if the dolphins ever wanted to return to the wild, but none have.

All of the trainers work with each of the dolphins every day for some length of time.

Each dolphin has his own fish bucket from which he is fed, so that they can monitor their diet and make sure they stay healthy.

Of course part of their training is to put on a show for the humans, such as swimming on their back.

.......or standing on their head.

.......,or swimming around acting like an alligator.

Since dolphins receive all of their fresh water from the fish they eat, they cannot drink salt water just like humans can't, the trainers will sometimes supplement their fresh water intake by sliding a long tube down to one of their five stomachs and pouring in a gallon of fresh water to keep them hydrated. This is what this intern is doing in this picture.

One of the trainers teaching the new interns how to interact with the dolphins.

One of the dolphins showing off with an upside down breach.

These are beautiful, powerful animals!

The research center also has a colony of sea lions. This guy just liked to sun himself most of the time we were at the center.