I read this essay on This Week On the Island and I have been going back and enjoying the pictures since Doug published it two weeks ago. I never asked Doug for permission because he has no contact info on his page but I know he reads this page from time to time...so Doug, when you are reading this let me know if I don't have retro active permission. The pictures are fabulous and you have the link to his blog so read it here, unabridged or read it on Doug's own page. They are well worth the look:
It is kind of in between things here in Key West, so I thought some old pictures may be nice.
Pepe’s when it was at 202 Duval Street.
208 Duval was ‘The 208 Bar’, then ‘The Old Anchor Inn’ and is now The Red Garter and part of the Durty Harry Complex.
B.O.’s Fish Wagon when it was a wagon on Duval.
The Duval Club long before it was Captain Tony’s.
The Gulf of Mexico end of Duval Street before ‘Zero Duval’ and the current Pier House and Sun Set Pier.
The old Fishermans Café where Harpoon Harry’s is now.
Before ‘The Bull and Whistle’.
Tank Island now called Sunset Key
The Charcoal Hut is now ‘Willie T’s’.
We leave you with the opening of Margaritaville at Lands’ End near Turtle Kraals’.
Key West you have got to love it
'Close to Perfect, far from Normal’
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W
'Close to Perfect, far from Normal’
Doug Bennett
Lat 24.5591N, Long 81.8016W
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When I started this blog four years ago this week as it happens, I planned to keep myself out of it pretty much and just take pictures of where I lived. I have kept into the pictures from time to time over the years and Gary had been keeping an eagle eye out for me so he knew who I was when I stumbled in, even though I was wearing Birkenstocks and not my tattered pink Crocs. I need a new pair from the store called Neat Stuff on Flagler, as far as I know the only supplier around here of Size 12 pink Crocs.
Anyway I made it to Pepe's on time and we sized each other up. Gary has a daughter going to college soon and a dog that isn't. We talked dogs as I have no idea what daughters involve.
Marcie was our cheerful server and I managed to engage her in modest conversation without bursting a blood vessel so that was good. I always feel as though chatting up the servers is an imposition as they have a hard enough job as it is without having to pander to the customer's need for conversation. Apparently I am all wet about this and I need to change my attitude.
It was a horribly self indulgent lunch. I had an Anchor Steam for an appetizer, I love that beer from San Francisco where, when I drove a truck I used to deliver to their family owned brewery right in the city on Third Street as I recall.
For the main course Gary had the fish sandwich on the grounds they don't have decent fish in Tennessee which I suppose could be true but the woods up there are very pretty as I recall. As I don't live in a land locked state I had the guacamole burger which to my surprise and delight came with a healthy dollop of chili. Marcie returned with the second Anchor Steam to wash down the meat and I was happy.
She smiled a lot. The mainstay of a decent meal is conversation so Gary and I engaged in that. We set straight the confusion of modern health care coverage because he is an anaesthesiologist by trade. He also kayaks like a demented fiend and was planning a marathon paddle through the back country which made me feel faint just talking about it. The Anchor Steam was an excellent antidote. Then we had pudding and i should note that Gary was the one who insisted we share a Key Lime Pie.
I thought it was quite good. It's not as tart as the home made one at Parrotdise on Little Torch key but the crust was crumbly and I liked scooping it up with the molten remains of the whipped cream. We sat back and burped.
Well, actually we were rather more polite than that, though in retrospect it would have been manly to sit around and eructate. 
Gary has promised to meet me again for a late breakfast and he has also promised to drop off some key West pictures I shall use in July. He has plans to go kayaking off Big Pine as well so perhaps he can kayak round to my house so I can watch him sweat horribly as he begs for a glass of water. Pictures to follow.