The Golden Van

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Locals' Parade

They call it the Masquerade March because Fantasy Fest is organized by a private company and sales make festivities. Everyone else calls it the Locals' Parade. Its one of my favorite parts of the week of bacchanalia called Fantasy Fest but zombie bike ride is rising in the standings, if only I had been off this year for the ride I'd have liked to have seen that in person too.

The parade set off early at 4:57 precisely yesterday afternoon from the Frances Street entrance to the cemetery.

I did not see a particularly witty or colorful set of costumes anywhere where I was standing. There was a solid flow of people more or less in fancy dress. I took 70 pictures and culled what I could.

And the ubiquitous bloody telephone spoiling whatever effect the costume brought to the parade down Frances Street:

I do not want to be part of the parade unlike this visitor:

Cecil the Lion was not forgotten:

Kids welcome:

Time to go to work, but the sidewalks are not quite ready for some guy dressed in street clothes looking like someone not all dressed up. This time of year be surprised by nothing you see in Key West:

And there was lots to see, heads swiveled all the time...

Pleasant low key Fantasy Fest and at least this is not all about nudity, an afternoon stroll under an 80 degree sun.

Oh, and hoola hoops too, when you least expect them....

And some faceless dude marching down the street going God knows where. "As you do..." I said and they agreed. But remained faceless.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Complicated Key West

It looked genuine to me, but Captain Outrageous has been dead for years. how quickly time passes and here is a bicycle at least in his style if not by his hand in use apparently as a daily rider. How lovely.

As it was signed Lady Outrageous it appears to be one painted by his surviving consort and it looks good. It was a treat to see.

I have been trying to photograph the essential Duval Street for years and I can't seem to get it right. I look back at my archive of pictures, hundreds, perhaps thousands by now and none of therm capture Duval. It is named for the first Territorial Governor of what was to become Florida, an obscure enough character, God knows but here he is enshrined.

Some days Duval annoys me with its shoddy store fronts, crappy t-shirt shops and chain store blandness. Other days I like wandering among the crowd, popping pictures like a visitor, staring at the street as though I'd never seen it before. Does it live up to its reputation as the center of all that is fascinating about Key West?

Some people make it a point to avoid Duval Street as though it were leprous but it's just one aspect of this complicated little town.

The credit union had this fantastic car loan poster on the wall on Southard Street... and I wondered if they really would make a car loan on a California-style low rider? If anyone might it would be the credit union.