BACK TO REALITY
Because Terri had an early morning flight out of Orlando Sunday, we packed our bags and checked out of our condo early Friday. We made the 150+ mile trek to Hollywood where Terri and Helen checked into the Comfort Inn for an overnight and we went home to our “coach” a few miles away.
Our week was relaxing and, as always, a pleasant tropical stay amid a Caribbean atmosphere of party frolic and shopping frantic. Sunday we had brunch on the veranda of the Wyndham Casa Marina (the old Flaggler Hotel) and enjoyed the view and the bountiful champagne brunch. Three trips to the bountiful buffet resulted in a choice of everything from Island fruits, breakfast items all -- including biscuits, gravy, sausage, ham, bacon, eggs to taste and choices of waffles or pancakes made to order; greens and salads to extreme; a pasta bar, omelet bar, ham, prime rib, roast pork, potatoes, vegetables etc. With these contributing factors to a combined breakfast lunch and dinner we suffered a lethargic return to the condo for a “wallowing in indigestion” and a satisfied feeling of over indulgence. At the end of the day, Sunday resulted in one big burp!
Monday provided a reasonably priced bbq at the condo’s patio bar, a relaxing afternoon in the sun at the pool and dinner at Turtle Crawls on the wharf. I enjoyed an eggplant tostado (I was hooked by the nomenclature) which turned out to be quite tasty. Ken had a fish combination, Terri an enchilada and Helen a nachos and dip dish that she found too spicy and “lacking”. Terri and Ken ended their day by paying their respects to the evening entertainment on the pier where “far out” residents who aspire to show business entertain the tourists with a myriad of “cat and dog” shows, hanging antics, fire eating and the village “no talents” show their artistic wares. Helen and I passed on the frivolity and relaxed on the balcony and watched the people on the boats at the marina b below.
Tuesday involved a nice long walk, mostly window shopping and a “drive about” that included photo OPS at the Southern most point of the continental US and at Fort Zachary Taylor where we wandered through the grounds, enjoyed an outstanding view of the Atlantic from the rooftop and examined the cannons that remain with their fire power of old. Dinner at the Outback provided our pallets with prime rib, and bbq ribs provided Helen a break from the fish and customary “island cuisine”.
Wednesday was another “pool” day though competition with the bathroom habits of the angels did seem to frustrate my commitment to adding some color. Helen and I enjoyed lunch on the patio while Ken and Terri ventured out to a local “hot spot” called Rick’s Blue Heaven”. Blue Heaven is a “must” for us when we are in Key West because it serves well prepared Caribbean cuisine amid falling leaves, roosters crowing and hens clucking. In spite of my “not so appetizing” description of the ambiance, the restaurant has a reputation for having the best “island” cuisine in Key West. No matter when you go there – morning, noon or night – it is pretty much standing room only. It was Terri’s first visit there and she enjoyed it. We finished our day with dinner at a local Italian restaurant and a presentation of “NUN NONSENSE” at the Red Barn, the island’s only theater that was open. It was well presented and most enjoyable. I had not seen this particular play before, though our friend, Marvis, had highly recommended it and I enjoyed it immensely. Helen was more familiar with it and she gave the presentation a “thumbs up” as did I but I am not sophisticated in these matters.
Thursday morning Ken and Terri boarded the ship for Fort Jefferson at 7:30A for a day out on the high seas, a snorkeling adventure and their very own tour of that famous old Fort 70 miles off Key West and a “stone’s throw” from Cuba. Helen and I enjoyed a quiet day with some window shopping and lunch at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretaville. Dinner was a “clean up” of the week’s “doggy bags” and over purchases from the grocery store. After dinner, Ken, Terri and I made our way to the pier for one last sunset from Mallory Square and, in our own personal way, said our goodbye to Key West and the island life that it sustains.
Friday morning with suitcases packed, car loaded and clouds moving in we made our way down the Keys and back into reality with a rude awakening that the laid back lifestyle of Key West does not extend into Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood. Nevertheless, we have the memories of a good week spent with our daughter and our friend Helen, and though we will miss the island life, we will have our special memories until we return to the “call of the islands” and the “lure of Key West”.
Saturday we made the 200 mile “hop” to Orlando in the RV. We me Helen’s son, Jeff and cat Sassy when we dropped her off at her home and said goodbye. Since Terri had a 710A flight out of Orlando, we called it a day early Saturday evening in anticipation of an “early call” for the airport. This was the first time we have shared a vacation with either of our children and it was a real pleasure. We now realize what we have missed and we are looking forward to sharing a week in the sun with the whole family at some agreeable and coordinated point in time. We think it would be a wonderful and fun “happening”.
There you have it – another week of “Burns nonsense” from the road.