Integrity Cruise

Day 282 - Still in Key West, FL

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Day 282 Thursday, February 2nd: This morning we had a big late lunch, then Bob & Joyce, our friends from Sheetless who are visiting friends in Key West by car, picked us up and we toured a little more of Key West.

First, we had to have our pictures taken at the "Southernmost Point." This is another popular tourist photo op:

This is Cayo Huesta Kate, the local groundhog. Today is Groundhog Day and legend has it that if Cayo Huesto Kate visits the Southernmost Point on Groundhog Day, then the Keys will have one more year of perfect weather. Here's Kate at the Point assuring good weather:

By the way, the original name of Key West was Cayo Huesto, which actually means island of bones. It became "Key West."

Next, we visited Fort Zachary Taylor, the current home of the Key West Garden Club's garden. Sadly, hurricane Wilma did a lot of damage to the gardens, but the old fort setting was worth a tour through it.

Next was a visit to the Turtle Kraals Museum. "Kraals" is a word that means the equivalent of "corrals." This is where they used to process sea turtles that were caught in the area; it's against the law nowadays to do that. However, this fellow seemed to enjoy his captivity:

Bob and Joyce dropped us off near the boat and we walked along Duval Street, the home of the bars and tourist shops. This spot is particularly popular and famous:

It is Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Café with store next door:

Not far away is St. Paul Episcopal Church. It's a particularly pretty church, with remarkable stained glass windows:

Further along is the Wrecker's Museum. "Wrecking," called "salvaging" today, was a major business in the 1800s in Key West. Ships would crash into the reef about seven miles south and the local "wreckers" would go out and "claim" the ships and their contents:

And there was a "photographer" on the street with some unique props. There was this one:

.. this one that refused to look at the camera,

..this one that liked to bite his nails,

.. and these two. Yes, two. The yellowish thing in the glass case is a five-foot snake. He can easily crawl out of the cage:

Later, friends Bob and Joyce joined us aboard for happy hour:

..with their friends, Bill and Barbara:

We planned to depart Key West tomorrow, so after happy hour, Ruth did laundry. That girl works HARD!

Position tonight: N24 33.708 W081 48.204

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