Sat, Dec 30, 2017 -- Hot Sun on Whitehead Street

(Pictures to come when we are on land-based internet!)

Chickens are everywhere on the island of Key West. We were dropped off by a very busy and touristy spot near Mallory Square. From there we passed up a variety of guided motor tours and “Hop-on / Hop-off” buses to walk down Whitehead street, toward the self-proclaimed southernmost point in the continental United States. (To my eyes, the nearby Air Force base, with its sensitive ‘weather equipment’ was further south, and I still scratch my head about this island being part of the ‘continental’ United States, but that is the way it is.) The chickens were going about their little fowl lives, and quite ignoring the tourists, except when they needed to proclaim ownership of their territory with a lively crow.

While we were getting tired, thirsty and bit grumpy from the short walk in 90% humidity and weather that Oregon reserves for summer, Key West did provide us some rooster entertainment. While passing the county courthouse, one rooster crossed from the courthouse to the yard of a modest house that had been converted into a legal office. Perhaps he needed legal assistance for a family member? It is only in Key West that a chicken would cross the road to visit a legal office. True story.

Further down the road passing coconut palms and banyan trees, we came to the Hemingway House Museum. The line was terribly long, so we kept going, down the street to the southernmost point. I got a picture there, but it was so crowded that the words “Southernmost Point” was not visible. You’ll have to trust me about that. …or not…

Sarah was getting really irritated. You know hangry? When you get hungry-angry? Sarah was hot-angry, the other hangry. She was willing to go to the Hemingway house on the way back, as long as I was paying, and ideally she wanted some water, to boot. When the famous Hemingway House cats started showing up, Sarah and Kat both perked up (apologies to our tour guide, he was great but I think that the twins valued him most for his knowledge of the cat names.) We saw some of those cats with six toes, and it was confirmed that some can even open doors by grabbing the knob.

Back on the ship, Josh and ran and ran and ran. I still insist that we ran 10 laps, Josh says 9. Even if I am wrong, it makes me feel better. Each lap around the ship was 1/3 mile, and 10 laps simulates a 5k run, like we have been training for over the past 3 months. The humid, warm weather is quite a change for us. We were training in literally freezing temperatures at home, now it is hard to stay cool as we run, and the air just feels a little less fresh. It was good prep for our 5k coming up soon, but I still have a little anxiety about adapting to the climate.

The food is exciting. I insist that we eat dinner together, and our server, Pritesh, a Mumbai-kur, is awesome! He is tickled at the little Marathi that I remember and cheers me along. Breakfast was supposed to be together, but we kind of missed that mark, so I ate at the sit-down option, while the Kat ate room service and Sarah and Josh went to the buffet, Cabana’s. They were excited to get Mickey waffles, and promptly poured strawberry compote over them, and while eating the icon of Disney, proudly proclaimed (as any good teen would) that they had murdered Mickey. Hard to argue.


The entertainment on board is fantastic! We saw Thor: Ragnarok in 3D, but far and away the best entertainment was the live action show Tangled (they also brought on board the Snuggly Duckling Tavern from the movie, and so we visited, because we HAD to!) My favorite character was the Maximus, the horse, done with very inventive puppetry. Songs were strong, dances fun and sets were beautiful, and changed magically with deceptive ease. I would definitely watch it again!

It was a long day, and short night, with new adventures on the Sabbath. (Oh, yes we did!)

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