Sunday, March 24, 2013

Key West...Day 4

Day 4
 And our last day in Key West.

This morning we got an earlier start.
We were heading out to Blue Heaven for breakfast...a place we read plenty about...they said come early cause it's always crowded.
 It was a cute outdoors place with a cool vibe...my favorite so far to chill and relax.
We had about a 45 minute wait but it seemed to go by quickly.

We each ordered a drink...mine was the Bloody Mary and the best I have ever had....they make their own mix...sure wish they sold that stuff cause I would of bought it.
Stacy opted for a beer and Fonda had a Poinsettia.
Fonda and I went through some paintings by a local artist and each bought a painting...mine was of the place we were having breakfast at.

We sat a table with a couple and visited while we were waiting for a table for breakfast.
Once seated we were taken care of very quickly...the wait service was very good and quick.
Below is a view from our table looking towards the bar....crowded the whole time we were there.
 We ate with the Roosters all around us...they run ramped through out Key West.
 And him letting you know use King of the joint.
After a wonderful morning at Blue Heaven it was time to head to The Hemingway House.
Along our walk we came across this lighthouse that is across the street from The Hemingway House.
 and the grounds of 
The Key West Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters Museum.
 Me taking pictures of Fonda taking pictures.
 We have arrived.
 It's a very nice house and spacious for the time period it was built.
 pictures in one of the rooms.
 From the balcony looking out across to the lighthouse.
 one of the many 6 toed cats
 This is a separate room from the house...this is where Hemingway would go to be alone and write 
a typical man cave if I do say so myself.
 Next stop was our journey to The Little White House
 This is where President Truman lived while in Key West...it's in a lovely area that use to be a military base...you can now rent homes there but you can tell by the look of  it use to be military.
 Once there the next tour was in like 20 minutes or so but the tour itself was like 45 minutes or an hour long and we had dinner plans....so while sitting in a chair waiting for the tour we decided we didn't want to wait....we decided we didn't want to get ready for dinner....we hadn't had a chance to relax...

So, we decided to leave and not do the tour, we had seen the house from the outside, we were good...we were gonna head back to the hotel and relax outside and along the way try and finish up our souvenir shopping.
 Along the way we past an outdoor market
 a little more time on Duval street
 and then finally back at the hotel....we changed ...packed up out booze and snacks and headed to the man made beach and sat by the water...this was nice...this is what we should of been doing the whole time.
 Waiting for the sun to set.
 We watched the sun set again...the view wasn't as pretty as the one we had on the sail boat but it was still  beautiful and we saw crowds from the street in the distance and from the beach area come out on this pier to watch it...even a Bride and Groom from the restaurant came out for a photo opt.
 and behind us after the sunset was the moon....another beautiful sight.
 After the sunset we decided to go freshen up and have dinner at our hotels restaurant in the picture below....this was where we had our first meal and this is where we had our last.

The wait was longer this evening but we had cocktails outside and talked with 2 couples from where else...Ohio!
After dinner Fonda and I walked to the water...Fonda had to get her feet wet...she likes putting her feet in a part of the ocean she hasn't visited before...then it was time to pack up some before bed...
Our journey had come to an end.

The next morning we went across the street to find those last minute gifts to take home.
We said good-bye to this beautiful view.
and said good-bye to
Key West
It was another great Grandma's trip...spent with 2 of my favorite people in the whole world...
looking forward to our next adventure.

Thanks for the memories and the stories Fonda and Stacy!

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Key West....Day 3

Day Three

So after a LOOOONNNGGGG nights sleep last night
and being all rested to start the day we headed out to get tickets for the 
Old Town Trolley Tour.

We were gonna try and not walk as much and see the sights of Key West in comfort.
 Trolley stop was just across the street from our hotel
Southern Most On The Beach
 Our first stop to get off at was
Mallory Square
 We were hungry and of course skipped breakfast so decided to try this Cuban restaurant
right in the square.

It was a cute little place and the food was really good...my best real meal while in Key West...
Caroline's was next.
 Myself with Fonda and Stacy while waiting for our meal
 After lunch it was time to walk around...in the back of the restaurant was a gift shop with photo props outside...photo props were all over this town...
I liked it.

Fonda
 Stacy
 We also went into a cigar shop....here are some fresh cigars being rolled.
 Looking out across the water
 Oh My....It's Jaws...
 Myself with Stacy above and Fonda below
 After we had walked around and did our tourist souvenir shopping we walked over to this Key Lime shop and got a drink and bought some Key Lime goodies to take home.
Then it was time to hop back on the trolley.
 Back on the trolley we past Caroline's where we had lunch the day before...
in the middle is where we sat yesterday...
Liked the time I spent there.
 After our day out playing tourist it was time to head back to the hotel and freshen up for our sun set sail....I had never done this before so I was looking forward to it.
 While waiting until it was time to board our sail boat The Jolly Rover
We had drinks at The Conch Bar...
drinks were good and this place was packed but luckily we had a good seat at the bar.
 After a couple drinks it was time to sail.
 Stacy got a turn to stir the boat.
 You can notice a haze in the air...apparently fires were burning in Cuba and so the haze is from the smoke.
 Passing by Mallory Square...people waiting for sunset
 Watching the sunset from the sailboat was really a cool thing to do.
This is my favorite picture I took while on our sailboat...
and believe me there were lots of pictures taken.
 So cool...it it all happened so quickly....seems like forever for the sun to go down and then when it does it's over in a blink of an eye.
 Big orange ball sinking in the water
 Funny that after the sun sets and is gone it's still day light out.
Here's the Grandma's enjoying our time together
Stacy, myself and Fonda
After getting back to land we had dinner at The Conch Bar and Restaurant...
We waited what I think was 45 minutes....
once seated at our table and getting our food, it really wasn't that great...I think the thing that was the best was the Conch Fritters.

Our night ended with yet another only Grandma's story that has to
Stay In Key West
BUT
I will say

It wasn't Me!!!!! 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Key West...Day 2

Day Two...

(Keywords in today's post will be...Ohio State, The Rum Runner and Hog's Breath)

We all had our turn waking up...I'm usually the first one up...
When we got to our room last night after arriving in Key West it was dark so we really didn't get a good look at our view.
This was our view...wasn't oceanfront but still good enough to enjoy time on our balcony, quite time, Facebook time, etc....

Once we got up and moving we decided to hit Duval Street....our first stop though would be to go and get our photo moment with the buoy at The Southernmost Point right behind our hotel.
Here you can look out to Cuba...90 miles away.
As we made our journey walking on Duval I noticed Ohio State stuff outside and thought that was kinda odd but cool at the same time....My son in law is from Ohio and is a fan as is his family that are there in Ohio.
 And of course another photo op outside the original 
Margaritaville
Fonda and I
 And again while walking....we eye-spied some more Ohio State stuff....this time a flag flying outside a B&B...and that's not all....we saw people at street stands selling all types of Ohio State souvenirs, jewelry, hats....etc....

We though...what was up with Ohio State...the further we walked the more we saw....and people wearing t-shirts and all....

So, Fonda asked...what was up...there was a cruise ship in port...an Ohio State cruise...
The Buckeye Cruise For Cancer. 
So, we walked a little more and because we started a little late we were looking for a place to have an early lunch as we hadn't had breakfast....we stopped at Caroline's and sat at a table in the shade close to the sidewalk...good for people watching.
Though it was a simple lunch it was one of our better meals (in my opinion) on this trip...Stacy had a cuban sandwich and Fonda and I had the Dolphin Fingers, which was Mahi-Mahi...really good...
and then of course I had 
The Rum Runner....

It was time to start the day and since we were on vacation having a drink during the day was justified...this one was on the rocks, not frozen...some are frozen....Yummy!

It was time to set out so we got a drink to go...yes you can drink on the street if you don't act stupid...the law says NO but apparently they don't bother you if you have your wits about you.
 As we walked we came across a bird man.
Stacy wanted her picture taken
 So I had mine done as well...
Cost...$10 a picture...

I'm telling you people...we are in the wrong business...we need to retire in a place we want to chill in and do something stupid that people would pay money for and call it a day.
Easy Living.

I'm seriously thinking about selling fruit or trinkets in Italy...
So as we walked we came across The Hogs Breath
We had already read about it so we thought we would go in...
We were gonna try and do our own Pub Crawl...
go into several bars and have a drink and check them out.

After all Key West has 117 bars.
So as we walked back....it sat back off the road...guess how surprised we were to find that the party crowd of the Ohio State cruise was here....

They were a lively bunch....fun and good music.

This place was packed...we could barely make it to the bar to order a drink...but we found our way ....my drink of choice became The Rum Runner...was really tasty on a warm day....we then found a spot right outside under a tree looking in to where the band was playing...
The band playing was also from the cruise.
I met a lot of friendly people...
had a
GREAT BIG OLE TIME ...
stayed longer than one drink...
and never made the pub crawl.

If any of you remember a few years back my post from our San Francisco 
Grandma's Gone Wild
let's just say... Fonda returned the favor.

What Happens On Grandma's 
Stays On Grandma's.