Simonton Center

Truman Avenue is a functional street as it leaves Duval Street and downtown tourist madness. There is the scooter rental of course for those needing a vacation ride:


But there is also the down to earth requirement that locals, and some visitors wash their clothes so we have a prosaic laundry:


I heard a commotion from across the street when a group of visitors were astonished to see a familiar store in the middle of Key West's weirdness; a CVS Pharmacy no less!


It is indeed open 24 hours and even offers pay phone service for the smartphone- impaired.


There is all the convenience of the CVS with a Subway sandwich shop and a Papa John pizza parlor next door. Dry cleaners are also located in this small shopping center, making this a useful stop.


The visitors were relieved to find something familiar for them to shop in, but I have to say I don't hang out here much


With it's messy parking lot, hangers-on and incessant traffic this spot is a little too reminiscent of busy mainland shopping centers. Writ small of course because this is still Key West.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Seminary Street

I drove by on Reynolds Street and happened to look up this side street and felt compelled to pull over and walk back with my camera.


I saw sun and shade and lots of color and I couldn't for the life of me remember the name if the street.


So I was intrigued.


I happened to be driving to work without Cheyenne so it felt rather odd to be walking and taking pictures without my blond bundle of joy at my side.


I like how even a slab sided building like this gets an exotic touch with all the greenery surrounding it.


And this wall was quite fantastic, I couldn't figure what was real and what wasn't from a distance. It turns out the ivy is real.


This was all real, gnarly and worn but real.


The royal palms are flourishing on this block.


And a scooter parked outside the house ready for any jaunt, any chore across this little town.


These three gables caught my eye as I strolled by.


As did this open airy portico on this rather interesting home.


An old fashioned Florida home, nicely shaded by the spreading tree and heavy old storm shutters.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thompson And Leon

It's an innocuous looking street in New Town, a place in the outer reaches of Key West.


Thompson Street is relatively wide and shaded.


Just because this is the part of town that was built after the 1960s, doesn't mean the buildings can't be grandiose.


Tara isn't in it.


But there again boats and trailers and low Florida bungalows also line these streets.


It's the great thing about Key West, it's all mixed up and you never know what house is next up the street.


Then there is the transformer sitting there in the residential neighborhood doing it's job.


And at the north end of the street the huge 62 foot tall slab that is the Horace O'Bryant Middle School.


Which was where I took a left and drove over one block to Leon Street which has no become a one way southbound, back toward Flagler.


There was the usual storm in a tea cup when the city got Federal funds to build sidewalks on Leon Street. That required making it one way which was inconvenient for me as I used to use it as a straight shot to the Police Station from Flagler. These days I can't.


Nevertheless I like how the street looks and sidewalks in my opinion are no bad thing.


Navigating Key West you get used to landmarks to remind you where to make your turn, everyone does it. This pink shrine marks Leon at Flagler.


Except nowadays you can't turn north, and old habits die hard.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Smathers Beach

I don't know what the intent was in flying a giant Benjamin Franklin but symbolically it was a perfect flag for Spring Break.


Smathers Beach is the daytime epicenter of Spring Break activity despite all the prohibitions.


This time of year seems to have slipped back to the happy family mode which is more relaxing for the whole town.


If less profitable.


The keys don't have great beaches but Smathers isn't terrible even though the waters are shallow offshore.


The lines at the vendor trucks have shrunk and the beach is starting to look it's usual sleepy self.


Though there were a fair few bicycles in the rack as you can see.


I like hanging out sometimes at the beach on my way home at the end of my shift. Those are the times I like best at Smathers Beach.


Some people live for their days at the beach.


And some people in Key West miss the sights of Spring Break.


Not me. I was getting fair worn out from all the people in town. Never mind how much money they bring.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Flowers On Olivia

The gruesome Conch Train made a splash of color between the bougainvillea.



I feel fairly certain this is a piece of Art but what it represents I'm not entirely sure. I thought perhaps a dog?



Olivia Street through The Meadows is pretty made colorful by the variety of flowers.



And cyclists.



And here is an empty lot for the enterprising. It always surprises me a city as expensive as Key West still has patches of open land with No Trespassing signs on them. It does not appear to be for sale.



I got quite carried away by the sight of the blossoms alongbthe street. Check out the pictures:



















This Vespa is identical to the GTS 250 I was riding when I started this blog in 2007. I rode it to death in ten months, this one is treated rather more gently I think.



More houses for sale.



And refurbishment.



And this one needs a fair bit of sorting out.



I liked this gate in the foliage. It reminds me of some stately mansion.



Olivia in The Meadows.



The Meadows is called that because it was a meadow before it was developed in the middle of the last century. The boundaries of the neighborhood are Truman, White, Palm and Eisenhower.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad