Around William Street

I paused in the middle of the street:

The Southernmost Peace and Prayer church that looks like a fort:

Commuting Key West style:

To attract tourists or not? That is the question.

Tin roof and Florida louvers, very traditional.

I saw this Chinese scooter that looked like it had taken a spill. Pity because it looked quite good.

Another bicycle commuter. I enjoy my half hour ride out of town but lots of people don't. 

I find a separation between home and work is refreshing...silly me!

When we lived in Key West itself I missed the drive. 

Key Lime Square

Sunset and Key West starts to light up. This little square is just off the 500 block of Southard Street visible in the distance. 

By day it would be hard to miss with its lime green sign.

It used to be well known for Lobos, a sandwich and wrap shop, but that closed as change once again struck a Key West institution.

Not to worry, one goes and in its place comes another. This tie the second expression of the rising star called Cuban Coffee Queen.

B y day it attracts customers as effectively as...

...the original coffee shop at The Bight, where boats are parked and tourists come and go. 

Cuban Coffee Queen is also busy roasting coffee astonishingly enough in Key Lime Square. Baby's Coffee started out doing that directly on Duval a few decades ago then they moved to Bay Point and moved their roasting operation to the mainland. Check this out:

We have friends who totally agree. Me? I prefer tea at home but I do drink coffee in public as I find not many coffee shops understand the necessity of a rolling boil when making tea. In any event I am told it's worth making the trek here to get coffee if you drink the stuff at home.

It has a rather satisfyingly industrial look with the giant chrome thing offering up coffee in the back of the tourist offerings up front. It looks real.

And of course their slogan brings it all home. Stupid...Faster...Established a decade ago. They must be doing something right in a town where change is endemic. 

Oh and A Cuban Coffee Queen sandwich is head and shoulders above a  late lamented Lobos wrap. Sorry but it is true.

Around Eaton Street

There are mornings when Rusty annoys me half to death...well not really but I do wonder why he chooses where he wants to walk. It starts with a wet nose in my face at 4:30 in the morning which really pisses my wife off. She says a small dog howling wakes her up and she can't get back to sleep.

This despite the fact I tumble out of bed, get dressed hopping around in the bathroom and leave the house as quickly as possible with the bedroom door closed firmly behind us. I also give Rusty a chew to shut him up while I dress so I figure Herself has no grounds for complaint.

"We have to teach Rusty not to wake you early in the morning on your nights off" my wife he teacher complains. She says she can't get back to sleep after Rusty warbles us awake with a weird low howl he uses to get me out of bed at his beck and call. 

All very well for her, she rolls over and tries to fall asleep again. I get to go out into the world, drive for half an hour and start walking just so Rusty can find some spare Kilwin's ice cream to reward him for waking me up.

Downtown speed limits except for a few select streets are now 20 miles per hour. I don't think slower limits make for safer drivers. The less involved they are the more bored and distracted they get. Mind you I don't suppose anything will resurrect a sense of the responsibility of driving. Might as well try to slow them down to walking speed. Whatever.

And then like magic the sun started to come up and paint colors on the white wooden buildings. 

A red leaf on a  red car...

And a reminder that paradise costs money, just in case you were wondering:

No pets. Sorry Rusty. Guess we won't be moving in there even if we wanted to...

Torch Key Walk

More trails I am finally strong enough to explore without much fear of tripping on uneven surfaces.

Some pictures need no words. 

Downtown Dawn

Look at that pitch black sky:

Another early morning start for Rusty and I:

A quick patrol around the docks:

Then Greene Street ast the pizza and ice cream shop:

The wold famous bar I have never been inside:

The Green Man on Greene Street:

Duval Street:

The empty parking lot lit as bright as day on Simonton Street:

Pardon Greene and John Simonton where two of four Americans (John Fleeming (sic) and John Whitehead were the others) who bought Key West from Juan Salas who got the island as a reward from the King of Spain. Then he sold it again to another dude which provoked  a lawsuit before the four partners secured their island which they developed sight unseen.

A stroll back to the car up Caroline Street...

...and then a pause at the dog park on Trumbo Road to watch the sun come up:

Rusty was tired and not much into the empty field:

Back in the car and home to sleep.

Another fine morning's work.