KEY WEST (Day 5)

We set out in the morning with 123 miles ahead of us to Key West.

Key West is the farthest island in a chain of islands known as "keys" (composed of coral and limestone) that stretches out from the southern tip of Florida. The islands are linked by the famous Seven-mile Bridge. It was built from 1908 to 1912 as a railway bridge. It was used until 1982 when a new one was built right next to it.

We arrived at noon and wandered the streets, taking in a few of the interesting sites including the US's southernmost point, the Key West Cemetery (with one tombstone that I swear reads 'aced' not 'aged' 76 years) and St. Paul's Episcopal Church (where the lower stained glass windows swiveled open to help keep the tropical heat in check).

We then did what one is supposed to do in Key West... we did a pub crawl. Instead of beer though, I had a piece of Key lime pie at every place we went. The diversity in color, texture and flavor was incredible! After about 5 stops, however, I was about to burst! We stopped at Sloppy Joe’s, Conch Republic Seafood Company (with its 80-foot long bar shaped like a boat), Hog’s Breath Saloon, The Bull and Whistle, Billie’s, Captain Tony's Saloon and Crabby Dick’s.

We hurried over to Mallory Square to get a reasonable seat by the water’s edge for sunset. There was a variety of entertaining acts.

Unfortunately the 3 hour drive back was not nearly as pleasant. A storm had moved in and there were no lights on the bridge. But eventually we made it.

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