On Wednesday of our "half-week" in Key West we met the very engaging Captain Jennifer on the Glass Reef and went and visited the dolphins. After spending some time with a small pod of them, we ventured off to try snorkeling.
The pictures are not that good due to the "point-and-shoot" cameras we had but here are a few of our aquatic friends.
Give the crew of the Glass Reef a call for a wonderful trip out on the waters off Key West!
It is Easter Morning. Alleluia!
Sunsets are really nice, yet on a day such as this, a sunrise seems more apropos.
Although this sunrise is from Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, it's not too far from Key West. It is only a short drive away with only two turns!
Here are the directions...
Take Route 1 North.
Just after you pass the Leaning Tower of Pizza and the plastic cows in Saugus, Massachusetts, take a right onto Route 128 North.
Follow Route 128 North to the end in Gloucester and take a left onto Cross Street.
Stay on Cross Street. It quickly becomes Bass Avenue. Stay on Bass Avenue and continue straight onto Nautilus Road.
The footbridge to Good Harbor Beach will be on your left.
You can view more pictures of Good Harbor Beach at Simply Cape Ann.
Enjoy!
Late one afternoon, we took a walk away from the hectic Duval Street and happened to come upon the Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish Catholic Church. One of the first impressions you will see at this church is the large Gumbo-Limbo tree.
In South Florida, gumbo-limbo has been called the tourist tree because of its red, flaking skin. The two largest gumbo-limbos in the US are at the St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church in Key West and on Captiva Island. The Key West Garden Club has a nice article about the gumbo-limbo trees.
The path from the tree leads down into the Grotto of Saint Mary. I did not take any pictures of the Grotto due to the sanctity of the place.
Sister Mary Louis Gabriel S.N.J.M. (Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary) built the Grotto of Saint Mary at the Saint Mary Star of the Sea Parish Catholic Church and dedicated it May 25, 1922. Built on the model of the Grotto in Lourdes, France, the Grotto of Saint Mary was built to protect Key West from Hurricanes.
Before the Grotto was built the last hurricane that killed anybody was in 1919 and 300 people in Key West lost their lives. Since the Grotto has been built nothing larger than a category 2 has ever gone over Key West and there hasn't been a single life lost.
More history can be read at the website for Saint Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Parish.
A few more pictures from South Beach in Key West. Kay at Suite Dreams said this is where the locals like to go and she was right!
A look down the pier at South Beach.
Back up the pier towards Duval Street.
My future office!
We left the quiet of the Key West Bight Marina and walked back to Mallory Square and joined the throngs of people. Bring March 17th, the crowd was a little more boisterous this evening. A good number of folks were wearing green and trying to talk in Irish Brogue.
We managed to get a few more pictures of the sun setting. Although there are a few spots back home on Cape Ann to watch the sunset, I tend to catch more sunrises up there.
Here are a few pictures from the Key West Bight Marina just before sunset. It's a nice place to take a quiet stroll and collect your thoughts before heading to the more upbeat Mallory Square.
See the Key West Bight page for more information.
The sun is starting to set. Time to head over to Mallory Square.
Walking around on Tuesday, we chanced upon a couple of interesting signs. This first one is painted on a fence in the Old Town section. Thanks for the info, Zyssa.
This next sign is located next to the Key West Light House. Probably a good idea to know where this is if the need ever arises! (Or in case, the 88 steps to the top of the light house are too much for you!)
The Key West Light House is located away from the coast of Key West. The tower was originally 46 feet high and powered by 15 oil lamps with 15-inch reflectors, but was extended to 86 feet in 1894. Inside visitors now climb 88 iron steps to the observation deck that affords spectacular views.
Visit The Key West Light House page for more information.
Views through the windows.
Some of the vistas from atop the tower.
Ernest Hemingway's house.
Kay at Suite Dreams suggested visiting South Beach, a favorite of the locals. It has a nice sandy beach with shallow waters and a concrete pier and is located at the end of Duval Street on the Atlantic Ocean.
At noontime, the beach chair guys pass out free popsicles to cool down the folks. At one o'clock, they pass out frozen strawberries! Not sure what happens at two.
Suite Dreams in Key West is a small guesthouse which really gives you that "home away from home" feeling.
The first night, the girls thought the pool was too small. Every day after that, they claimed it as "their pool" and thought it was "just right". Perfect for that after beach swim.
The grounds around the suites are complete with native flowers and plantings.
The view from our balcony in the Treetop Suite.
Kay Ann and her team are the best. Thanks again! I owe you a cup of coffee.
Resembling a giant bouy, encircled in black, yellow and red stripes, sits the Southernmost Point in the Continental USA. The first picture was taken on March 15th, 2009 but as you can see, the sun washed out much of the colors.
This picture was taken early (in Key West time!) on Tuesday morning, March 17th, 2009.
RoadsideAmerica.com has a nice description of the Southernmost Point.
Sunset Celebration takes place at Mallory Square in Key West, Florida. The participants of this Key West attraction consist of arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, food carts, psychics and of course the thousands of tourists from around the world who visit this Key West art show. Each night around two hours before sunset masses of people, both locals and tourists alike, flock to the water's edge to experience a multicultural happening and to watch the sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico. [Description from Sunset Celebration]
Even the birds line up to watch the sunset. Anyone recognize the schooner in the background?
Even Tatoosh lays in wait.
And then, the sun sets.
The end of the day -- March 15th, 2009 in Key West.
