The Galleon Resort has a private marina attached to the complex and it is one of Key West's fancier marinas. I'm not sure what the rate is these days but it used to be north of two dollars a foot which gets expensive even for a modest 34-foot boat. The Galleon's docks float which is nice as the boat stays level alongside the dock as the tide goes up and down.
In order to keep the dock attached to the land (which doesn't move up and down with the tides) they created ingenious little bridges which acts as ramps. Some people block the ramps by engaging in a battle of wits with the local fish, and as you can see a low tide puts the ramp at quite the angle:
The floating dock principle is sometimes viewed as inferior to fixed docks when it comes to hurricanes and storm surge but the Galleon is still here and providing an easy walk ashore for all those hard workers and avid shoppers:
The boardwalk around the marina is fixed firmly to land providing a pleasant viewing platform for passersby, of which there are a few:
(No pets allowed at the Galleon). Walking past the boats makes boat living in a marina a rather public business. Imagine getting up in the morning, making coffee over the stove and looking up to see a nice person from Snowdrift, Iowa peering into your kitchen. It gets like that in touristy marinas, so it pays to be neat and not swear loudly and monotonously when you drop a wrench:
And be friendly, because being rude doesn't work as a business attractant. I guess a large wet cigar in hand acts as bait for macho men looking to go out and kill innocent fish:
If you prefer having someone else to make the bed for a few hundred extra dollars a night you can always rent a rabbit hutch with privacy and a splendid view of Key West Harbor:
You are also safe from falling coconuts, which is one of those perils that make life so interesting in the sub tropics:
But make no mistake this place is part of the Motherland, the place where one expects five star service in a five star marina, clean water and no funny money. One hopes all that and ease of access keeps the banksters and their bailouts coming to keep us all, more modestly, in the money:
The New York Times, itself in need of a bailout, suggested Key West might be recession proof. So far it looks that way to some extent:
It all makes you rather envy the low rent attitude of the pelican on the breakwater:
Bird brain used to be an insult; not so much these days. Care free, rent free, blog free. The life of a pelican even at the Galleon.
13 comments:
Conch: said: "Care free, rent free, blog free. The life of a pelican even at the Galleon"I guess you can't have everything. At least ONE out of Three isn't bad, and pelican legs aren't long enough to reach the controls of your motorcycle
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
What happened in the eighties to Key West? I didn't like it so much, then. (1985) Before that, it was such a blast and so much "more natural" in peoples, places and things.
Hoping to return and find it as it was, in mind and soul.
Conch Scooter: How will it be in the Summer, there? Or will it be an even, more different ,Key West?
Visitng Key West in hopes of finding Brigadoon is foolish. Key West has changed with the times, though considering the changes Up North things in Key West have remained remarkably pleasant, despite the lamentations. I first came to Key West in 1981 and found it far too rural and isolated for my young tastes. If you visit the Customs House and check the permanent exhibit about the arrival of the railroad you will read letters to the Editor lamenting the changes about to be wrought. Some would say Key West was "natural" before the bridges were built. I have suggested ceremonialy wrecking a span of the seven mile bridge and reinstituting ferry service No Name to Knight's Keys and the usual response is: Hell no, everything would get even more expensive! The reality of living here isn't what is packaged by the Tourism Development Council nor what is preserved in memory, nor should life be like that in either case.
Conch:BUT, BUT, but, but . . . and another BUT . . . If you wrecked the 7 mile bridge, you'd have to sell the Triumph and get a scoot, for there would be NO WHERE for you to ride.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
I would ride to work and back, as i do most of the time now...I would put the Triumph on the Ferry and ride the boat to Marathon thence 75 miles of roads to Homestead. It would require people driving to Key West to make an effort and it would be financially disastrous so don't expect anyone to subscribe to my craziness! It would also be good practice for the high speed auto ferries coming soon, I hope, for travel to Cuba. Weekends riding the Sierra Maestra. Yum.
I also have a desire to travel to CUBA. We have excellent deals from here for all inclusive packages. You never know, perhaps we could plan on the same week sometime and just rent scooters, if that's possible.
And what are you doing up so early, or up so late (as the case may be), you're going to be too tired to go to work later. Normal hours are for normal people
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Conch: said: "Care free, rent free, blog free. The life of a pelican even at the Galleon"
and you can crap on anyone or anything at anytime without fear of retribution :)
-Peace
Hello...I just came across this blog and my husband is European. What's a good area to stay in and what restaurant (s) do you suggest?
I went to bed too early and am up early and Allen will be the first target when I come back as a pelican.
Anon: Sorry, I'm not a tour guide. There are lots of resources online about places to stay and you will have to research them and see what meets your needs and preferences. Use the search function at the top of the page to see if any of my 700+ entries covers it, whatever it might be.
Past is Prologue...pertaining to KW in the 80's...Taking a thought from T. Wolf.. Conch you did "come home again" and delt with it & provided us with your unvarnished accounts of what it's like now. Funny thing is I like both worlds...then & now.
Just happy to be here!
Didn't anyone else catch the falling coconut reference? ;) W00T!
Riding in Cuba, you might want to order some "Anti Monkey Butt Powder" http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/
Ha!
Yes, I saw that coconut reference, but Conch revels in the fact that he does have coconuts and palm trees, and warm temps. He also scorns the cold and makes fun of 19C temps as being too cold for Key westers.
I just thought it would be best if we ignore him once in a while, which is easy to do . . . If he thinks he is hitting our funny bone then he will just keep shooting away. encouragement and recognition is the last thing he needs.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Just how acerbic does one have to get to earn some respect around here?
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