Truman Waterfront

Lunch beak when you work day shift can inspire you to fight ridiculously disorganized traffic in Old Town to break out on the water at Truman Waterfront Park.  My inclination leads me to the Bight where I can walk on the docks and the boardwalk and look at things like boats. So every now and again I have to tear myself away and break my habits. Friday was a warm day for a sunny waterfront.

My recent trio to Chicago was a surprisingly easy series of flights but flying remains my least favorite form of travel so even though they were up there air conditioned with splendid views I was not envying them.

I captioned this one on Instagram as a bench in need of an occupant. It looked enticing in real life, even in the sun.

For some people Waterfront Park merited a been there, done that sweep through the parking lot, but even for me on a mere lunch break time was not enough.

Truman Annex, the original Key West gated community peeps over the boundary fence and as neat and tidy as the Annex is, the Waterfront Park isn't giving anything up in the order stakes. 

It is open space as I never imagined to find here after the city converted the former Navy Base into a park. All plans for development took a back seat to paths, grass, exercise stations, a kids water park and lots of trees.

The original cement wharf must have been too much to dig up and it, along with the ships' mooring cleats are all still in place and make for an excellent bicycle area. Or fishing if you fele like lounging on a waterside bench. 

Only service vehicles come down here:

Another empty bench, proof positive snow bird season has yet to begin.

Not much happening on land, more happening on the water:

Margaritaville Resort next door but still inaccessible from here:

The cruise ship is docked at the Margaritaville Pier B:

Parasailing returns:

A perfect day in Paradise, so naturally I had to head back to work.

Truman Annex

I found myself waiting to go to a movie at the Tropic Cinema just around the corner so I wandered through Truman Annex with my camera. I haven't been here ina  while and the whole place looks pretty much the same...

I'm not a fan of gated communities but who cares what I like. I wouldn't live in Truman Annex even if I could easily afford to, but lots of people like the idea of living in Key West but without the mess and color and vibrancy of a noisy populated Old Town.

The developer of this property created a style of housing that is now known as "the Key West style." It's a style reminiscent of Old Town Conch cottages but all gussied up. It's very effective  and seems to sell well, and not just here.

This used to be the Navy Base in Key West but when the land was put up for sale a young man who first came to Key West as a youthful homeless urchin sleeping in doorways as the legend has it put in a bid. He had to have a second go as the first bid bankrupted him but he got it done and is now one of those few families that have made millions off Key West.  

I like the doggie bags as outside dogs are NOT allowed in Truman Annex. Rusty has never stepped in here.

However even here loose chickens have made their way...seen in the distance...actual wildlife! 

Through all the gates there is tidal water at the Margaritaville Resort Docks:

Then there is the major tourist attraction which is  the  Little White House where President Truman liked to spend time during his presidency. It was more as a working vacation than an actual period of time off though he did walk around town and fish and do that sort of stuff.

In the Key West  style:

Try and figure how to locate this street address:

Navy officer housing converted into splendid apartments at splendid prices:

Meanwhile around the corner the masses line up for the ferry to Sunset Key and Latitudes restaurant for lunch:

A Portuguese cruise ship. Never seen one of those before in the Southernmost City.

I used to work in that corner of the marina prepping Stiletto catamarans to take tourists sailing round the harbor. After I got my job at the police department I allowed my Master's 50 ton license to elapse. I'm not real keen to go sailing for money again though it was okay while it lasted.

White Street Pier

The White Street Pier merits the occasional visit and its always a pleasure.

 City workers get to drive out where vehicles aren't permitted to keep the place clean.

 The inland end of the pier is the Aids Memorial: