Crazy thunder and rain storm last night; we were so glad to be safe and warm in our mobile home (insert sarcastic smiley face here). Truthfully, it was fine. We headed out around 10AM, while it was still raining, and hoped for a break so that we could take advantage of some of the beauty of the Lower Keys.
The skies let up a little by the time we got to Big Pine Key so we visited the Visitor’s Center of this National Refuge Center for Key Deer and Great White Heron. Key Deer used to be quite abundant in this area — a diminutive relative of the NE white tailed deer — but human activity has reduced their numbers greatly, so that they are a endangered species. They are only 24-30″ high and adorable and we didn’t see any! But had a nice pic from the visitor’s center! From there we went to Blue Hole, an abandoned quarry with fresh water that’s home to alligators and other wildlife. Right at the viewing platform there was an alligator just glaring at us. I thought it was a statue or a stone facsimile — it didn’t move! After sending a little stone in his direction we both agreed that it was indeed a real alligator.
Another 30 miles got us to the center of Key West and we headed to Amigos for square tacos — a specialty of Amigos — they hold more! Our airbnb is a lovely garden cottage at the back of a beautiful and traditional Key West Old Town home. So at last it appears that I chose the right accomodations! Old Town has so many lovely homes with colorful and artistic touches.
It’s windy and chilly here but we headed to Mallory Square for sunset. It was so windy that the shore and water birds had a difficult time making any headway. Sunset was interrupted by a cloud bank but somehow it’s still a thing to behold.
From there we went to Irish Kevin’s which we had heard from some Canadians we met yesterday was the most fun place to do what you do on Duval Street — drink and listen to music and sing along. I find it a anthropological expedition — watching people from around the U.S. (and the world), let it all loose in the southernmost point of the country.
Lots to see tomorrow…
Key deer in disply case
Mr Potato Head as his tip jar! Love it!
