Gateway to Key West

This weekend my wife and I, joined friends on a short gateway to the funky town of Key West, or as is known around here the “Conch Republic”.  The Island of Key West is only a two and half hour drive from Miami but the atmosphere of this town is as far remove from South Florida as you can get.   I love the keys, if it was up to me I would pick up and move there tomorrow (Not possible now $$$$)

The southernmost town has something for everyone.   

Unique architecture and beautiful gardens not touched by modern development.   

Surrounded by the sea, water sports is the thing to do.  Beaches I am sorry to say, are not so great.

There is lots of drinking at all times of the day.

Interested historical figures called Key West home. 

The mystical chickens of Key West, they below to no one, but they have become part of the fabric of city.

The not so welcome part time tourists (Cruise ship passengers)  They come out of their ships in the morning and leave by 3pm.  (I am sorry to say I was one of them two months ago)

On the way to Key West, you see the remnant of bridges from the old Henry Flagler Railroad that once connected Miami with Key West.    I am fascinated with these bridges, many are use as fishing piers and bike path, others are closed and in terrible disrepair.  If it was up to me I would save them all.

And then there is this Iguana that scared the dickens out of me.  I was standing next to it and didn’t see it.  Not a native creature of these parts, but one that adds to the mystic of the place.