If you ask me, this is the best place from which to view Key West's famous sunsets, though even of a sunny afternoon it's a pretty pleasant spot to hang out for a while:
La Concha hotel guests have access any time with their room keys in the hotel elevator, but the elevator will take anyone, even without a key, to The Top after 3:00pm. The bar opens at 5:00pm and you can watch the world go by in style, if you don't mind drinking your wine from a plastic cup:
I usually drink red wine but tradition has it that suicides who choose to leap from The Top are found to have left behind a glass of Chardonnay. If you don't believe me take the Ghost Tour which leaves from La Concha's lobby at 8:00pm, they will tell you the unvarnished truth. I took myself up to the The Top, and there took a moment by myself, on graduation day last week, so it seemed churlish to spoil the evening by taking a swan dive. I drank the wine and admired the view, including St Paul's Cathedral spire and Fleming Key:
A trawler chugging through the harbor en route to the Gulf via the Northwest Channel:
A tourist with Mule Key in the background:
The harbor:
As you can tell Key West is pretty much surrounded by boats at anchor which are most likely lived aboard:
One soon to be occupied by the fish is the Vandenberg:
There's Duval Street driving straight for the Gulf:
And here are some visitors touring the town on scooters, at Duval and Eaton, with a delivery scooter in pursuit:
A less energetic visitor enjoying a book on one of the terraces inside the building:
My colleague Noel described this as the coolest apartment in Key West, and as it's on top of the Kress Building I speculated Jimmy Buffett may have kept it for himself (he shares ownership of the building with Fast Buck Freddie's owner): 
I wasn't alone in enjoying the views from the top:
I decided to walk back down to the ground floor, but once you decide to take the stairs management makes sure you know there is no going back:
Until you are back in the lobby, pausing a moment:
Before you step out into the heat, noise and confusion that is downtown Key West.
7 comments:
Conchscooter:
A bird's eye view of a contemplative place to slowly watch the world go by. A place to gather your thoughts before venturing out into the world.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Dear Conch:
This was rather clever, stetching one brief stop at a hotel, where you managed to sip a drink, into two posts for your new, automated, self-service blog.
This property looks perfectly acceptable for the likes of myself, though I prefer something a bit more convenient where the parking is concerned. I will call this place, and asked to be connected to rooftop bar. When cionnected with the barman, I will ask him the ingredients for a Tom Collins. If he tells me gin and the the same stuff they use for a whiskey sour, my heart will be broken.
But why am I pouring my insides out to the new, self-service automated blog? There is no sympathy to be had... Only silence.
Fondest regards,
Riepe
Twisted Roads
Jack - also inquire what the bartender thinks the recipe is for a Margaritta. The answer quickly seperates the wannabes from the true bartenders in the world.
I do not understand someone leaving a good glass of Chardonnay to leap to their death. But, I toast them for the complimentary beverage none the less.
Cheers!
-Peace
I am at work. I read all 26 messages and if riepe thinks two essays about La Concha is one too many what am I to do with 306 pictures of Fort Jefferson?
Dear Sir:
The last time I looked, Riepe began with a capital "R." I realize that I am an airbag of presumptions, but do credit the few to which I am legitimately entitled. (*LMAOAITT)
Please forgive me and my remarks about the automated blog. I assumed you were dancing on the beach in the moonlight, waving torches to discourage the vermin. (We all have different ideas of a good time.) This is the method I use to announce to de facto inlaws that their bus is leaving in 15 minutes.
I am chastened to learn you have read every message, deriving maximum benefit from each comment. I beg your pardon.
Your posts are always the perfect balance of text and photography. There can never be too many pictures of Key West. The place now exerts the same effect on my thinking as a moon on the tide on a distant planet. It is saying to me, "Hurry up and come."
The last two posts played right into my hand. Now, if I can only keep my mouth shut long enough (doubtful), you might stroll through the lobbies of The Pier House and The Hyatt with your camera running. Actually this is as unnecessary as it is against your few principles. I have been looking at their websites pretty carefully. While I am not a fan of big chain hotels either (and the $52 cheeseburgers delivered by room service), I would love to have a room with a balcony, overlooking the water.
It was my thought to make the southbound leg of my Key West visit an extravagant one, as I so seldom take vacations. The trouble with having a beautiful room at the perfect altitude (where you can see into the primary ingredient for "hearts of palm" salad, is that it is wasted without the element of romance. The brief 72-hours I intend to spend collecting range-free Key West eggs may preclude this activity.
There are two rides I would like to do. These are a run out west with Steve Asson, and the second is a Key West ride, that could include Bobskoot. If he leaves now on his scooter, we should be there in October -- 2010.
Looking forward to the pictures of Fort Thomas. What kind of tent did you use?
By the way, tomorrow (Sunday) is my club's monthly breakfast. I intend to take the pictures for my salute to the school of "Key West Diary" blogging by covering a local street in detail. This will be a 55-mile ride (one way) after I shove myself away from the trough. I hope to get some accomplices from the boys to work the necessary effects.
Fondest regards,
Riepe ("R")
Twisted Roads
*LMAOAITT = Laughing My Ass Off As I Type This
Buggeration riepe.Now you want pier house and ocean key. La Concha is "historic" and then you also wnat Flagler station? Don't ask much do you, oh wielder of the impossible acronym. By the way I'm glad to be back, thnaks for not asking.The harassment feels good.
Having stayed at the OK House, it might not be historic, but we did find it very enjoyable with great views. It is probably blogworthy for those seeking your recommendations for lodging :)
and Master Riepe, they sometimes are in discount packages with Orbitz and such to save you a buck or two that can then be redirected to spending on spirits and such.
-Peace
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