Peninsula Florida- a favorite vacation spot for Americans, combining a warm sunny climate, ocean coast, excellent infrastructure for recreation and vacation. Both in the style of "firewood on the beach" and in any active way. Group of islands Florida Keys(Florida Keys), which will be discussed in this material, is located near Florida, a little further south, closer to the Caribbean. - the southernmost city and island in the United States (unless, of course, not counting Hawaii).
Rest on the island (or Key West, which is translated as "Western Key") is traditionally considered more elite - the mere fact that it is most convenient to get to them by air raises the price bar. Plus the fact that hotels and entertainment are not cheap here, and the "season" does not last so long. The rest of the time on Key West there is disgusting weather, the danger of hurricanes and tsunamis. But in the off-season, tourists come here because the weather is not the main thing.
Is a world isolated from the current frantic rhythm of the rest of America, its problems and crises. The most important thing that distinguishes it from all other resort towns is its exquisite charm, combined with lazy negligence, a special mixture of freedom of spirit and frozen blissful inaction.
Life here flows measuredly and unhurriedly, as it did half a century ago, since the time when the "gay revolution of the 60s" in the United States made home and refuge for a huge number of informals: hippies, beatniks, gays, lesbians, and queers of all stripes. Since then, LGBT aristocracy, writers, musicians, designers, architects, lawyers, doctors, hairdressers, bartenders, waiters, actors and just people who are unlike others have traditionally flocked to this tiny paradise. Whether you want to relax by the pool, spending days and weeks in sweet idleness, or to hang out, explore the world, nature, culture, architecture - there is an offer for every taste. The island is also considered one of the best options for a relaxing and secluded honeymoon.
The travel guides proclaim that Key West is one of the brightest among the places on the planet that boast of variety. This is the place where any “wardrobes” have no doors.
How to get there
The island is connected to the American land by a bridge 11 km away, geographically located 150 km away. from Cuba... Previously, there was a railway from the mainland, but it was washed away by one of the cataclysms, but now there is a highway with no less picturesque views. A distinctive feature of the island is its own airport. In 1 hour you can fly from Miami, the nearest major city, or get there by bus in 4 hours (ticket about $ 40), or by car. The main street of the island is Duval st- goes straight to the pier, where cruise liners come 2-3 times a week.
Not very popular (or rather, not popular at all) among Russian LGBT travelers for two simple reasons:
1) required American visa, and this is much more troublesome and more expensive than the European Schengen, while there is a visa-free Cuba or the Dominican Republic almost there,
2) cost air travel from Russia bites more than - against which again Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, the Bahamas, Jamaica or the countries of South America win.
But if you are still interested, let's take a closer look at what this recognized corner of heavenly LGBT rest offers us -.
Short 2 minute video:
Weather
The climate in the city is tropical, clearly divided into two seasons - dry and wet. There is usually plenty of sun from November to April, with less than 25% of annual rainfall during this period. The period from May to October is considered the rainy season, which accounts for approximately 53% of the annual rainfall. Showers, rains with thunderstorms come early in the morning. But anyway, Key West has the lowest rainfall compared to other cities Florida.
Key West is the only "frost-free" city in the continental United States, it never gets cold or snows. It is the year-round sun that invariably attracts gays and lesbians from all the American states and other countries. In the sun, the temperature is cooled by a fresh sea breeze, so there is no exhausting heat here.
Island Key West Like most of the other islands in the Florida Keys, it lies on the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The currents in them are different. In the Gulf of Mexico, it is quieter and warmer, and sea grasses grow there.
| Key West climate | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Index | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | But I | Dec | Year |
| Absolute maximum, ° C | 32 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 38 |
| Average maximum, ° C | 24,1 | 24,4 | 26,0 | 27,7 | 29,7 | 31,2 | 31,9 | 31,9 | 31,2 | 29,3 | 27,0 | 24,8 | 28,3 |
| Average temperature, ° C | 21,3 | 21,6 | 23,2 | 25,0 | 27,1 | 28,6 | 29,2 | 29,1 | 28,6 | 26,8 | 24,6 | 22,2 | 25,6 |
| Average minimum, ° C | 18,4 | 18,7 | 20,4 | 22,3 | 24,4 | 25,9 | 26,4 | 26,2 | 25,8 | 24,3 | 22,2 | 19,6 | 22,9 |
| Absolute minimum, ° C | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| Precipitation rate, mm | 56,4 | 38,4 | 47,2 | 52,3 | 88,4 | 116,1 | 83,1 | 137,2 | 138,4 | 110,2 | 67,1 | 54,4 | 989,1 |
And, of course, the night temperature is always maintained at the proper level by parties, restaurants, bars, clubs with the best New York DJs, cafes, night shopping centers - for every taste and budget. And, most importantly, everything is within walking distance. Guidebooks warn: "You may not need a car, like an evening dress!"
sights
The main street is Duval. Life here does not stop until the morning. Old-timers joke that the main duty of the inhabitants of the island is rest, fishing, scuba diving, walking along the promenade and contemplating the sunset.
Sunset is a spectacle, a whole performance and a holiday that never ends. Every evening, a crowd of tourists gathers at Mallory Wharf to watch the sun set on the ocean. Here's the trick: you look west and see the sun sinking into the ocean waters. What about the continent hidden behind the waters? The impression is amazing. You sit on the waterfront with a beer or Cuban coffee, or stroll around to watch the performance of clowns, musicians and magicians, and wait for the sunset. Finally, amid a thunderous ovation from the audience, the last reflections of the fireball disappear into the darkened waves and the city's nightlife begins.
Bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues are literally at every step. Each offers its own exotic signature dish or drink. Below we will tell you more about the most interesting places.
As a city where artists love to create, it is also interesting for its art galleries. There are five of them on Duval alone.
As for museums, there are more than a dozen of them. For example, dedicated to fishing, ship repair, or famous artists who lived and worked here. There is even a museum-bar-restaurant under the romantic name Schooner Wharf (and next to it is the bar of the same name, see below).
Key West is associated with the names of such prominent personalities as the American President Truman, who often rested in, located on one of the central streets of Key West. Here lived writers Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and, of course, Ernest Hemingway, whose house-museum is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The Hemingway Days festival is held annually.
The old part of the city is rich in historical sights, architectural monuments and small, but very cozy and romantic small hotels (inn). You should definitely check out a store on 419 Duval Street, which sells beauty products made from Florida aloe.
Walking along the main street Duval (called the longest street in the world, as it runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico), purchasing souvenirs, you can walk to the southernmost point of America and take pictures at the 90 Miles to Cuba buoy.
The population of the city is 25.4 thousand people (statistics for 2000) - about a third of the total population of the Florida Keys.
Key West is home to a huge number of cats, the locals are happy to feed them. The mild, warm climate and the proximity of the sea, and, accordingly, sailors are the main reason for such a large population, on average, there are 4 cats per inhabitant of Key West. Most of these animals on Key West have six toes on their front legs.
More about important landmarks:
Hemingway House Museum. Information Official (English) A beautiful garden, six-fingered descendants of Hemingway's beloved cat Snowball (Snowball) have lived happily and carefree in the house for more than 70 years. By the way, there you can hold a wedding ceremony, or just a celebration.
Mallory Square. Information Official website on Key West (eng). ...
Butterfly Greenhouse (Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory). Information Official (eng.)
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum). Information Official (eng.)
Bar Sentimental Joe (Sloppy Joe's Bar). Legendary bar of the early 20th century at 201 Duval Street. The most famous, frequent guest and patron of which was Hemingway, a great lover of Cuban rum. By the way, he took a direct part in the real name of the bar, which did not immediately become so. Since 1981, Ernest's look-alike contests have been held here, and in 2006 the site was included in the list of US historical heritage. The bar has a loyal fan base all over the world. The location is also mentioned in the movie Citizen Kane. Official. with sound.
Key West gay beaches
Higgs Beach
lively sandy beach with warm water flow on the west side of the island. Possibility of fishing from the pier. Sun loungers and umbrellas for rent. Free parking. Hetero-friendly beach.
Address: Atlantic Blvd. (between White Street and Reynolds Boulevard).
LGBT events
Blue carriage
An entertaining entertainment was invented on Key West many years ago: a city tour on a small train, which includes visits to the most interesting places. Of course, gays and lesbians immediately organized a "blue flight": with songs, flags, jokes and jokes and, of course, themselves as passengers.
Time: the schedule may change, but now the order is as follows - the "blue flight" starts every Saturday at 4 pm from the corner of Duval Street and Angela Street. The flight is heterosexual, so everyone is welcome, not just LGBT passengers. The duration of the trip is 75 minutes, the ticket price is $ 18- $ 25, you can buy it on the spot, order by phone 305-294-4603 or via the Internet.
During the flight, from the mouth of the guide, you will learn about the history of the city, its architecture, and the main attractions. You will see the memorial to the victims of HIV, Mallory Square, the ghosts of Tennessee Williams, hear about the life of Hemingway, plus a lot of other interesting things that you will hardly read anywhere in books. This is the only historical LGBT tour of its kind in the USA, don't miss it.
Spring Gay Vacation
(Gay spring break)
The annual traditional holiday of LGBT students and their friends who come to have fun on the beaches and clubs of Key West, where special discounts and hot offers are already waiting for them. Comfortable, safe, fun!
Time: March and April 2013
Official.
Festival of headwear
(Headdress Ball an Official Event of Fantasy Fest)
Time: October 23, 2012.
This year the annual extravagant headdress competition will be held for the 30th time. You can participate as a contestant or as a spectator. Tickets for the show are sold on the official website, cost from $ 30 to $ 320 (VIP-table). Video from the 2010 festival:
Contestants do not need to pay anything for themselves, on the contrary, if they win, they will be paid: $ 1500 for the best headdress, and $ 300, $ 200 for 2nd and 3rd places. Registration of participants ends on the day of the show. Anything from the shoulders to above is considered a "headdress". Costumes do not count, but are highly welcomed by both the audience and the jury. Remember: a hat is required not only to be demonstrated, but also to move in it, while assistants are not allowed. In general, the conditions are extremely creative, go for it!
Official.
Key West Pride
Time: 5 to 9 June 2013.
Traditionally, it includes not only a street procession (families are welcome, there are a lot of them here), but also a whole week of events: a cultural festival, film screenings, comedy performances, exhibitions, club parties. During the day, events take place on Duval Street, closer to night - they move to clubs.
Official, where a detailed program will be published the day before. Video from Gay Pride 2012:
Time: August 15-18, 2013.
4-day annual festival "for men only", during which sports competitions, games, as well as foam and cocktail parties are held, where they are not quite dressed (or even at all ...) they do God knows what) In a word, in August on Key West is hot in every sense of the word. Usually by this time all places in popular guesthouses are completely packed, so if you want to join - book in advance.
Official.
Womenfest
Time: September 3-8, 2013.
Key West is a place that lesbians adore and this festival is for them. The festival was held in 2012 for the 25th time. These are traditional parties, clothing-optional poolside parties (clothing is optional), boat excursions (girls onli), where you can watch dolphins and whales, water sports, fetish rarities auctions, live concerts (from country to jazz) , comedy productions with famous actresses, Facebook nerd blitz dating nights, film screenings, painting lessons, and much more. After all, if you don't feed gays with bread - let them boast of their muscles, then lesbians like to laugh and dance. The participants themselves call their festival in the southernmost point of the United States. "Close to perfect and far from normal"(“Close to perfect, far from normal.” Join us, sisters!
Official.
Bear festival
Annual gathering of hairy men in the body and the prime of life) For this they are loved!
A flannel shirt is optional.
Time: October 4-7, 2012.
Official.
Gay Bars & Clubs
A dance club with drag performances and a variety of show programs (the nearest, for example, a fashion show for pets), DJ sets. Discounts are available with the Gay Spring Break Card.
Open: Show start times vary by show, see. Life is in full swing there!
Address: 711 Duval Street. ... Account in Facebook.
A small gay club, interesting with amateur striptease contests. There are happy hours with discounts. There is also a small liquor store (not a bar).
Open: daily from 15:00 until the last visitor.
Address: 705 Duval Street. The site was, but stopped working, the link is not provided.
Dance gay pub with video. The best male striptease, theme parties, trendy club music. An outdoor "boys only" pool awaits guests. Look for discount flyers at parties and in your hotel.
Open: daily 22:00 - 04:00.
Address: 724 Duval Street. ... Video .
801 Bourbon Bar
One of the oldest gay spots, it includes a drag cabaret bar and frontal bar overlooking Duval Street.
Open: daily frontal bar from 10 am to 4 pm, cabaret bar from 5 pm to 4 am. Drag shows in cabaret run from 9 pm to 11 pm.
Address: 801 Duval St. ... Video .
Pearl's Patio Women’s Bar 
Bar for lesbians on the courtyard of the Pearl's lesbian hotel (see below about the hotel). Cocktails are served in the afternoon. On Sundays, you can get Bloody Mary for $ 2! Gay and heterosexual establishment.
Open: Sunday to Wednesday from 12:00 to 20:00, Thursday and Friday until 22:00, Saturday - the bar is open until midnight.
Address: 525 United Street. ...
"Leather" bar, where the real macho are looking for their own kind. Earlier, they say, there was a "dark room", but now it is not. The largest influx of visitors is on Friday and Saturday evenings / nights. Entry is possible from the bar 801 Bourbon or from Petronia street. In some sources it appears as Key West's Leather & Levi bar.
Address: 504 Petronia St. Account in Facebook.
Bobby's Monkey Bar
Great bartenders, cheap drinks, billiards and karaoke on Sunday nights. The right place to get drunk and forget. Working hours? H.Z. Come at any time.
Address: 900 Simonton Street. ... Account in Facebook.
Atlantic shores
This Gay Swing Motel has an evening tea every Sunday with sunset views (7pm to 11pm). DJ plays, cocktails are served, you can dance. Great place for a pre-party before going to 801 Bourbon Bar.
Address: 510 South Street.
Gay-friendly wine and cigar boutique. The wines are mainly Californian (but there are also South America, Italy), cigars - Cuba and local. You can enjoy what you have purchased right here, watching the measured street life from the large veranda. However, no old-world snobbery: show up in beach slippers - no one will notice. Music plays on weekends.
Open: daily 10:00 - 23:00.
Address: 1218 Duval St. ...
d'Vine Gallery - The Gardens Hotel
Gay-friendly place is a unique luxury wine tasting bar. The system of automatic dispensers allows you to choose your own wine from 32 bottles, for one and a half dollars for each measuring cup. You, of course, are already in the know, but let us remind you anyway: the tasting sequence is as follows - from simple to complex, from white to red, from young to aged, from dry to sweet, from less strong to stronger.
Address: 526 Angela Street, in the hotel building Gardens... hotel.
Grand Vin Wine Shop & Bar
Nice wine shop on Duval street. You can enjoy it right here, sitting on the veranda. The wine is sold both in glasses and in bottles.
Address: 1107 Duval Street.
Key West's most famous live music bar with a rich history. Playboy Magazine's # 1 Live Music Bars in Florida.
Open: daily from 10 am to 4 am. Happy Hours with discounts from 16:00 to 19:00.
Address: 601 Whitehead St. ... ... Video channel on YouTube. Facebook.
Hog's Breath Saloon
The owners of the bar believe that Breath of the Hog is better than no breath itself. In addition to non-bad drinks, a nutritious snack is offered. There is a little shop with funny things where piggy appears everywhere.
Address: 400 Front Street. ...
Island House Bar + Cafe
Men only cafe and bar in a lush tropical garden next to the hotel pool Island house key west(see below about the hotel), where clothing is optional.
Address: 1129 Fleming.
JDL's Big Ten Pub
Sports bar with large TV panels. Private rooms for viewing. Food and drinks.
Open: daily 11:00 - 02:00.
Address: 920 Caroline Street. ... 
Eco-cafe, where any product - for example, coffee, wine, cheese, chocolate - is only grown and produced in compliance with eco-standards and principles of preserving and renewing the environment. A very cozy place that any woman will love.
Address: 1130 Duval Street. ... Links to places where you can still eat environmentally friendly - in your account on Facebook.
Rick's & Durty Harry's
8 bars in 1 place! This is a whole entertainment complex: a dance club, a martini bar, cold drinks, live music, entertainment for adults, karaoke - choose one or all at once.
Address: 202 Duval Street. ...
Schooner at the Dock outdoor bar offering a Woodstock atmosphere, live music, fresh seafood, a variety of themed parties and competitions.
Address: 202 William Street. ...
Great place to experience. Local freshest grilled seafood, evening shows and costume parties, nice bartenders, great sunset views.
Open: bar 10:00 - 02:00, bar-restaurant 11:00 - 22:00, company store 10:00 - 21:00.
Address: 4 Charles Street (look for the tuna sign). ... ...
Bottle Cap Lounge & Liquor
Lounge bar, DJ sets and live bands.
Address: 1128 Simonton Street. ...
La Te Da
Gay-friendly cabaret in the hotel of the same name. Live music from Tuesday to Sunday. There is a front bar separate from the cabaret - if you just want to enjoy a drink and views of Duval Street at night.
Address: 1125 Duval Street.
Virgillio's - La Trattoria
Gay-friendly institution. Live music - from jazz to salsa. They claim to be the best martini in town. In the back there is an Italian restaurant. Opened since 1984.
Address: 524 Duval St. ...
Where to stay
Accommodation on Key West is plentiful and varied. You can stay in large hotels offering standard service, or (more interestingly) in small gay-friendly guesthouses, guest houses and apartments. A stay in a restored Victorian mansion that provides all the necessary conditions for comfort, or a secluded cottage among a tropical garden, alone or with a company - what could be better for an unforgettable vacation?
Private LGBT apartments and guest houses
Leading the "Best Gay Hotels for Men" list by online polls on gay sites. Heated pool, cafe, bar, jacuzzi, spa club and rocking chair, sauna, luxury rooms. The hotel, as the name implies, is for men only.
Address: 1129 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida 33040. (watch out, pictures 18+)
Cypress House is part of the hotel's 6 “historic” guest houses, located in the picturesque old part of Key West. Built in the 19th century, it belonged to the family of Richard Kemp, an avid fisherman and naturalist researcher (one species of sea turtles was even named after him). Pines and cypresses surround the building. This guesthouse has 22 rooms, all for adults only. This dwelling is ideal for couples. Watch a funny video about him.
Address: 601 Caroline Street Key West, FL 33040..
Included in the same 6 "historic" houses as the "Cypress House" in the old town. Chelsea House is two beautiful Victorian mansions built in 1888 and 1906, surrounded by a large tropical garden. The heated swimming pool makes it the perfect place to laze around. This property is ideal for couples, some rooms include a guest bed, some rooms are pet friendly. Look video.
Address: 707 & 709 Truman Avenue Key West, FL 33040..
8 historic buildings surrounded by tropical gardens and walking distance from Duval Street. It is possible to stay with children over 16 years old. There are a couple of rooms for tourists with pets.
Address: 419 Amelia Street Key West, FL 33040..
Historic Hideaways, Inc.
Private apartments with a swimming pool in the historical part of the city. Your choice is a house, cottage or condominium for living, with different views from the windows. Depending on the number of people in your company, accommodation with 1-4 bedrooms is offered. Pets are allowed in some houses. Rent for at least a week, rental for the whole season is possible with good discounts.
Address: 1109 Duval St Key West, FL 33040..
Renovated Victorian mansion with a tranquil ambience, located in the Old Town, a short walk from Duval Street. Heated pool and jacuzzi. 26 rooms with a variety of highlights, such as a veranda, a private staircase to the garden or a personal loft.
Address: 410 Fleming Street Key West, FL 33040..
The Mermaid and the Alligator is a refurbished and elegantly decorated Victorian mansion offering a homely feel, located in the heart of the old town, just minutes from Duval Street. There is a swimming pool and sun terrace, private parking. According to a very long-standing family tradition, good-natured cute dogs live in the house. If you love animals this is your place!
Address: 729 Truman Avenue Key West, FL 33040..
Pension favored by lesbians and has received several awards in previous years as the best guesthouse for lesbians. It is not surprising, because lesbians also own it)
The hotel is located in the historic part of the city in the converted former buildings of the 19th century cigar workshop, cigar shop and surfer motel. Look small video reports on YouTube, very cute. There is also a gym, 2 heated swimming pools (swimsuit optional), free Wi-Fi, bar and grill. For adults only. Hetero-friendly. Some rooms are pet friendly.
Address: 525 United Street Key West, FL 33040..
Luxury gay apartments. Heated pool, jacuzzi, fitness room, restaurant. There is a clothing-optional zone by the pool (clothing is optional). Great place to get to know each other!
Address: 409 Appelrouth Lane Key West, FL 33040..
A luxury guest house for LGBT guests, offering rooms, apartments and suites for different tastes and wallets. Located in the old part of the city. There is a swimming pool, spa, sun terraces, restaurant, Wi-Fi. For people over 21 only.
Address: 1118 Fleming Street, Key West, FL 33040..
Gay hotel "only for men" located on Duval Street in the thick of things. Clothing-optional pool (clothing optional), bar in the picturesque garden, breakfast served on the balcony. Some rooms are located above the pub and dance floor, which is open until 4am, but there are also quieter rooms where you don't have to bounce in bed to the beat of the disco. As a bonus, there are regular themed parties hosted in the same pub, like swimming trunks, live shows, Florida's best go-go dancers.
Address: 24 Duval Street, Key West, Florida 33040..
Coconut Grove & Щasis Guesthouse
Two guesthouses “for men only.
Address: 822/823 Fleming St., Key West, FL 33040.
Gay-friendly hotels
Address: 990 South Roosevelt Blvd. ..
1-800-771-KEYS (5397)
Key West Interactive Map (requires flash):.
"National Hurricane Center" in Miami, where you can always see information about the danger of natural disasters:. Or follow the Center's announcements in
Key West is a popular beach resort and capital of the Florida Keys, located on the island of the same name. A real tropical paradise, where even the harsh police cars say that they are guarding its gates - "protecting paradise".
Cruise ships with tourists come here almost round the clock. But most, of course, arrive by land. Who can you not meet in this city! And poor students, and staid pensioners, and the princess of Monaco and even Madonna herself, who loves to be in this island city.
A bit of history
Key West was once an incredibly wealthy city: the locals lived by collecting stocks of shipwrecks washed ashore. This was in 1889 and Key West was declared bankrupt in 1930. But those days are long gone, and now the residents of the city live only on the money that tourists leave here. The latter, I must say, do not skimp, and they lay out round sums for a vacation in a paradise.
Popular hotels in Key West
Weather in Key West
Key West attractions and attractions
The city has an incredible number of art galleries. The most famous and most visited is considered to be the rather prosaically named Key West Gallery. Here you can find the works of many famous authors, as well as those who are just starting their creative path.
The city has an incredible number of art galleries.
Chickens are also highly respected in the city. There are also quite a few of them here, and they all freely walk around the city. Chickens know perfectly well where they are supposed to cross the road, and they do it very carefully. Well, the drivers just stop their cars and wait until all interested birds have finished crossing the street.
But the most famous landmark of the city is the model of the buoy, which is built of cement. This buoy reads in large letters: Republic of Conch / 90 miles to Cuba / Southernmost point of the continental US / Key West, Florida / Where the sunset is. Before the buoy, there was a sign here, but it was very often kidnapped by tourists, so the city authorities decided to write these words meaningful for the city on a cement buoy, which no one would be able to budge.
Key West Museums
The most popular museum in the city has a much more romantic name than the gallery - it is the Shipwreck Museum. At first glance, the original wooden building can only be called a museum at a stretch.
The most popular museum in the city has a much more romantic name than the gallery - it is the Shipwreck Museum.
Here, local theater actors, dressed in 19th century costumes, play out real sea battles in front of the audience. And on the very roof of the museum there is an observation deck, to which at one time every day the inhabitants of the city took turns climbing and looking at the ocean, expecting a shipwreck. When it finally happened, the one looking at the platform with all his throat shouted that the ship was sinking and that it was time to go rob it. Raspberries, not life!
Fort Zachary-Taylor
Another great place in the city is the Fort Zachary-Taylor National Historical Park. Here you can see the real ghosts of pirates, who, like all pirates, are arguing about who owns the chest with gold.
Hemingway House
It is impossible to visit Key West and not visit the famous writer Ernest Hemingway - the most famous inhabitant of the city, and of the entire archipelago. He came here out of curiosity, and stayed to live, buying a small house with a garden.
The city is home to an incredibly large number of cats. For every inhabitant of Key West, there are about four animals. By the way, there is another interesting story about these tailed beasts. Once Hemingway was presented with an amazing kitten with six fingers, which, since 1935, has led the pedigree of the famous six-fingered cats. Six or even seven fingers on two or all four paws is not a breed or a disease, but a gene mutation. The descendants of Snow, donated to Hemingway, are the main owners of the writer's house-museum. Today, more than 40 cats live here: they lie on their beds, accompany curious tourists. And behind the house is a real six-fingered cat cemetery.
Key West is also a center for sexual minorities. Here you can often meet homosexual couples, and no one pays any attention to them. Everyone treats it as something that is also part of the city.
And what are the residents doing here? Practically nothing. They wander around the city all day long, lounging around and having fun. That is why it seems that time in Key West has stood still and just stands still. And the people living here are incredibly slow. Therefore, you should not be surprised that a tourist will have to wait not 5 minutes, but half an hour, and sometimes even more, for his order in a cafe or restaurant.
Absolutely different cultures, styles, aesthetics are surprisingly harmoniously combined on Key West.
Original (1024 × 768)
This billboard is located in the popular Mallory Square in northwestern Key West, considered the best spot to watch the famous local sunset and the nearby harbor. On the poster we read: "Welcome to Mallory Square, where the sun sets and the fun begins. Celebrating the world famous sunset in Key West." One of the events is the "Sunset Festival" held in Mallory Square. Local residents, speaking about it, forget to mention that this festival is daily: after all, the sunset happens every day !.
Original (1024 × 681)
Shipwreck museum
In 1821, the Florida Keys came under the auspices of the United States, and then they began to revive. And everything would be fine, but the same territories were chosen by the pirates (around this period, the capital city of Key West appeared). Judging by the data that have survived to this day, the main source of income for the "settlers" were merchant ships that crashed near the archipelago. There are even suggestions that some shipwrecks were deliberately rigged: by removing the designations of the shallows, greedy adventurers simply waited for their prey. But here's the bad luck: over time, the ships became more and more perfect, and therefore, catastrophes occurred less and less frequently. What can I say, technical progress was clearly not on the side of the sea robbers!
Shipwreck Museum.
Here, actors dressed in 19th century costumes act out scenes of the sinking of the ship Isaac Allerton, which sank off the coast of Key West in 1856, in front of visitors. Even in the Shipwreck Museum, you will be told that the Hemingway house was built in the 19th century for one of the richest businessmen in the city, who lived on the spoils of shipwrecks. The rule was that all the loot belongs to the one who first got to the sinking ship. First, they had to save everyone who could still be saved, and then lift the sunken cargo. Shipwrecks happened at least once a week and due to this business, Key West was the richest city in North America. The whole city was waiting day and night for the call sign "Wreck ashore" - "shipwreck". This changed first with the improvement in the quality of the ships, and then with the construction of the railway. From this tower they looked at the sea around the clock in anticipation of the sinking ship - from it a beautiful view of the Gulf of Mexico opens.
Fort zachary taylor
Fort Zachary Taylor National Historical Park. A visit to it is included in the "Key West Ghosts" excursion.
Fort zachary taylor
Building with loggia and tower on Duvall Street in Key West. See Original (3746 × 2810)
Duval Street, Key West. Original (1024 × 768)
The San Carlos Institute, built in 1871, is a reconstructed piece of Cuban architecture, shining with majolica tiles from Spain. It houses a center for the study of Spanish culture.
House on Duval Street in Whitehead St.
Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville Cafe on Duvall Street in Key West, Florida.
Mel Fisher Museum. Mel Fisher Museum Original (1024 × 680)
Mel Fisher (August 21, 1922 - December 19, 1998) was an American treasure hunter who became famous for discovering the crash site of the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha (1622).
Information about the whereabouts of the ship's wreck was extremely scarce, but the treasure ship haunted many treasure hunters. However, one of them, who was determined and made the dream of his life out of searches, all have already managed to find the treasures of the lost ship. In 1968, Mel Fisher decided to go in search of the ship and its treasures. He was considered a pioneer in the diving industry. He was distinguished by energy and the desire to independently comprehend all aspects of this activity, but the main motivation was the search for the treasure ship.
For almost four centuries, the ocean hid the treasures of the ship "Nuestra Senora De Atocha" and on July 19, 1985, Kane Fisher came close to its remains. In search of a real obsession for his family, a turning point came, and unexpectedly the treasure hunters were lucky.
Mel Fisher has been waiting for this moment for 16 years. At his headquarters in Key West, he received an epoch-making radio message. Soon Mel Fisher himself descended to the ship's treasures. When he was at the bottom, his hands shook with excitement. Soon, chests with gold coins, chains, emeralds, jewelry and much more were found nearby. As a result of his discovery, Mel Fisher is recognized as the greatest treasure hunter.
Key West now houses the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum, run by Kim Fisher. Treasure hunters have so far managed to raise about 40 tons of treasures in the form of ingots and other jewelry, and at the bottom there are still about 8 tons (35 boxes of gold, 300 silver bars and 100 thousand silver coins), the rights to which belong to the Fisher family.
The search for the treasures of the Nuestra Senora De Atocha galleon turned into a real epic for the Fischer family, and yet he made his cherished dream come true, and we can be sure that while the remains of the coveted cargo are buried in the silt, next generations of divers will continue to try their luck.
P.S. According to expert historians, there were 47 tons of gold and silver on board the Spanish galleon, excluding smuggled jewelry, which accounted for 20 percent of the total cargo.
Of course, one cannot fail to visit the famous Aquarium. It was built in 1934 and is said to be the world's first open-air aquarium.
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It is, of course, not the largest in America, but it is interesting for its unusual show feeding sharks and huge sea turtles. And besides, they are allowed to touch various underwater creatures with their hands, to see barracudas, eels, sea bass - and you can't list all of them. Sharks and turtles are fed 4 times a day, the feeding time is written on numerous signs, so that it is convenient to see the Aquarium and watch the shark or turtle lunch.
Shark fishing at Key West
You can also go fishing, since the choice here is almost unlimited, and try to catch a swordfish or barracuda. Local fishermen claim that even sharks are found, but this is very rare. If you catch any unusual fish, then for a separate fee you can make a stuffed animal, but it will cost quite a lot, and it is not known how such a souvenir will be treated at customs "... (from LJ)
The oldest church on Key West St. Paul "s Episcopal Church. Original (1024 × 653)
St. Paul "s Episcopal Church. See Original (2560 × 1704)
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Small White House of President Harry Truman. (Harry S Truman Little White House)
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The house was built in 1890 as a dwelling for naval officers. Later, the presidents of America lived there: William Govard Taft, Harry Truman, Dwight David Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and others.
Harry S. Truman bust and portrait in Little White House, Key West, FL.
Time here seems to slow down, and you don't want to rush anywhere.
The animals in Key West deserve special mention. In addition to the expected lizards and all kinds of marine life, the city is full of wild cats and ... roosters with chickens.
Chickens in Key West are treated with special respect, they will have to be written about separately.
They walk freely around the city, they know how to cross the road in the right places.
Cars slow down and wait patiently until the last "pedestrian" steps onto the sidewalk.
In other cities, flocks of pigeons have become a familiar addition to the city landscape, and here are chickens. They walk freely everywhere, feeling themselves worthy citizens of the city.
Roosters are beautiful - a tail with a green tint, a red crest.
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We also see decorative boats everywhere. Ships, boats are all included in the design of the city. Even small houses are decorated with them.
There are an incredible variety of restaurants, restaurants, cafes, cafes here. And they are all peculiar and unusual. The restaurant is like a sailboat ...
Hard Rock Cafe, Key West. Original (1024 × 768)
And this restaurant "Had Rock Cafe" is interesting for its history. The building of the Hard Rock Cafe on Key West is called the only other Hard Rock Cafe in the world where a ghost lives. There is even a guided tour from the Key West ghost cycle. The building was built by the first millionaire in Florida, William Curry, as a wedding gift to his son Robert. But Robert's life story turned out to be sad: he suffered greatly from various diseases, and the feeling of pain did not leave him throughout his life. Over time, Robert had to manage the fortune of the Kerry family, but he turned out to be not the best entrepreneurs, and probably due to chronically ill health. He lost his family fortune and eventually committed suicide in a second-floor toilet. They say that this beautiful building is haunted by cruel fate even today, which the restaurant staff continue to tell stories and tales about.
This man "needs a beer" and tells "$ 1 trite jokes", which is reported on his billboard.
Sloppy Joe s Bar This is Papa Ham's favorite bar and can be considered a "small branch" of the museum.
Here you can see a stuffed fish that Hemingway caught, his photographs. The menu contains various favorite dishes and drinks of the writer, and some are named so: for example, "Hemingway's favorite double hamburger."
Well, if you're lucky and you find yourself here in mid-July, during the so-called "Sloppy Joe" s Hemingway - this is a doppelganger contest very popular here, you can even have a glass of ice beer with the almost real "Hemingway". In general, I must say that Key West loves and knows how to have fun.Every month there are various contests and festivals, so the chance to get to any celebration is very great - this is the Robert Frost Festival, and the theater festival, and all kinds of musical festivals. .. In a word, there would be a desire to celebrate, but a reason can always be found.
Key West is the abode of the rich, but sometimes disappointed in something people. Perhaps even a life-saving shelter for those who recklessly flee from the pressure of the big city. Here you can get rid of depression by drowning it in a glass of "Cosmopolitan" fogged up with ice ... and ......
Key West: 90 miles to Cuba (part 1)
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"Everything here is literally saturated with the proximity of the ocean and wherever you turn, you will certainly rest against the Gulf of Mexico, or find yourself on the shore washed by the waves of the Atlantic. The ocean is with you an inseparable part of the soul and happy peace, like the presence of a beloved woman, without whom you are lost and you don't know where to put yourself if she is not there. " - this is the impression of Key West by another author (in the story
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Every resident of the United States considers it his duty at least once in his life to make a pilgrimage to the southernmost point of the United States to the city of Key West, located on the island of the same name. Key West has become a mecca for Americans and tourists. If you have not visited Key West, then you have not been to Florida ...
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If in America they sang a song like ours "Where does the Motherland begin?", They would have no doubt - "Maybe it begins ...". They know for sure that their homeland, America, begins exactly from this place - the zero point of reference of the road number one passing through the whole country - "US-1"
This is the southernmost tip of the United States, if you remember the map, then Florida juts out into the Atlantic Ocean like an appendix, and Key West is the southernmost of a series of islands starting from the southern tip of Florida. The road to this island is laid partly along these islands, partly along the bridges between the islands (it can be clearly seen in the film "True lies" with Schwarzenegger).
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From Wikipedia:
Key West is the southernmost city in the continental states of the United States. Among 49 states (excluding Hawaii), this is the only city where temperatures below 0 ° C have never been recorded.
The population of the city is 25, 4 thousand people () - about a third of the total population of the Florida Keys.
The climate in the city is tropical, clearly divided into two seasons - dry and wet.
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Key West is the southernmost point of the United States, an island located 150 km from Cuba and connected to the land by a bridge 11 km away. The nearest major city is Miami.
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A distinctive feature of the island is its own airport. You can fly from Miami in 1 hour.
Plane landing on Key West island
Immediately upon arrival, Floridians set the tone for acceptance of marine life right at the airport. At the airport, an installation has been created especially for those arriving: fish are twisted into a ram's horn and ornaments are laid out with them. ...
Fishing in the Florida Keys, including Key West, with their richest underwater life, is one of the best in the world. An international fishing tournament is held annually on one of the islands.
You can also get there by car or bus in 4 hours (from Miami).
From time to time you pass different islands. Some of them are very tiny, like in the photo, and for some you drive a few minutes
It was also unusual to see poles with wires that run along the road and are installed right in the water.
From Miami to Key West (in a minute).
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Key West Island is the latest in the chain of Florida Islands, which are connected by one narrow embankment road and very long bridges ..
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The road to Key West from Miami is very scenic and runs along the highway that connects the islands with dams and bridges, on one side of which is the Atlantic Ocean and on the other the Gulf of Mexico. An incredible panorama opens from here - a bright blue sky and a dazzling turquoise of the ocean.
The road also crosses the world famous 7-mile bridge. From here, a breathtaking panorama opens: blue sky and turquoise blue ocean. Have you seen the movie True Lies featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger? The episode on the bridge was filmed here.
Not a single photo, not a single video can convey the full picture of the overview and sensations when you are on the rise of this bridge. In reality, we see not only the road leading into the sky, but at the same time we see with a peripheral vision and the oceanic mass: on the one hand, the Atlantic, and on the other, the Gulf of Mexico. The sky and the ocean ... of the earth there is only a strip leading to the sky ...
If you make an effort and strain your imagination a little, then you can roughly imagine what this amateur was trying to shoot with his camera.
And when the fantasy goes off scale, then such computer games are created on the topic "Destruction of the seven-mile bridge".
Computer games such as Destruction of the Seven-Mile Bridge are created with a sick imagination.
And those who have "a healthy mind in a healthy body" arrange sports races across the famous bridge.
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Florida Keys - Bahia Honda State Park. Original (3008 × 2000)
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"Beauty And The Beast"
.Ft. Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, Key West Original (2304 × 1728)
At the beginning of the 18th century, this island belonged to the Spaniards, was sold for $ 2,000 to the American Matthew Perry, and he declared it the property of the United States. These islands were discovered by the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon on May 13, 1513. The island, which is now called Key West, he named "Cayo Hueso" - "Island of Bones". The fact is that the Indian tribe Calusa lived here, and the whole island was strewn with bones. The once lost place was at one time even considered a refuge for smugglers.
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Subsequently, in the 18th century, the name of the island turned into Key West, and it has nothing to do with the English word "West" - "West". And the word "key" in the name of these islands comes from the Spanish word "cayo" "small island", and not from the English word "key" - "key".
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For almost 300 years, only fishermen, pirates, turtle hunters and treasure hunters on lost ships lived here. Shipwrecks were frequent here and looting was a very lucrative business. After the war of independence, the islands were ceded to Spain, and in 1815 they were presented for some unknown merits to the soldier Juan Pablo Salas, who in 1822 sold Key West to a certain John Simonton in a bar in Havana for $ 2,000.
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Simonton quickly realized that he could get rich by dividing the island into lots and selling them. This is how the first permanent settlement appeared on the island. The city began to grow rapidly and by 1890 had become the richest in Florida with the highest per capita income in the country.
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There were more than 160 factories for the production of cigars, more than 90% of sea sponges were mined, a huge plant for processing turtles was built (officially hunting for turtles was prohibited only in the 70s of the XX century!).
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In addition, trams were already running in Key West, there was an opera house, there were several banks, and some of them still exist in the same places. And the city of Miami at the time was a tiny, poor fishing village.
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So, Key West officially received city status and became part of Florida in 1896. At this time, it was a fairly wealthy and populated city with a well-developed ship repair industry. And in 1912, a railway was built, which connected the island with the mainland and breathed secular life into it.
Life in the city began to calm down to be reborn again in another no less interesting form. Bohemian city!
The paradise island of Key West, located off the coast of Florida, has long been chosen by connoisseurs of beauty.
Harry Truman Statue
Writers, artists and statesmen from Hemingway and President Truman to Tennessee Williams and John James Auduwon lived here, all the houses in which they lived are now museums.
Outside the city, the reputation of the most intriguing city in the world has grown, thanks to the fact that free artists, entertainers, gays, eccentrics from the Bahamas, New England, Cuba and Africa have always flocked here, who lived with the "Let it be" philosophy long before the Beatles appeared.
"Come to us for two hours and immediately leave back - otherwise you will stay for a lifetime", - so say the locals, knowing how attractive the atmosphere of the island is. Many famous writers have lived here and several US presidents rested in the Little White House, built by President Truman.
One of the bartenders said that he once lived in New York and had his own restaurant there, a lot of headaches and city bustle. Then he dropped everything, sold his house and moved here, where he now works as a bartender. When asked if he was happy, he laughed and said: “How can you not be happy here !? This is paradise! "
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They say about Key West that "people disappear there": when they come on vacation, they become defectors. The atmosphere of this city especially affects New Yorkers. Russian tourists do not visit Key West often, our people are much more fond of Miami.
And in this bar the writer Hemingway disappeared.
Now there is, practically, a branch of the writer's museum: on the wall hangs a stuffed fish caught by Hemingway himself and his photographs.
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Winslow Homer-Fishing Boats, Key West
Winslow Homer A Norther - Key West
Winslow Homer. Coconut-Palms, -Key-West.
Monument to the writer E. Hemingway (Hemingway) Original (963 × 1203)
Ernest Hemingway lived on Key West from 1931 to 1940. Here is what Ernest Hemingway wrote about Key West: "... this is the best place I've ever been, flowers, tamarind, guavas, coconut trees." The famous "For Whom the Bell Tolls", "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" are written here. The biggest attraction in the city is the Ernest Hemingway House Museum.
The friend of the Cuban dictator and the famous American writer loved Key West, loved its quiet and measured life, the comfort of its bars and the beauty of the ocean landscapes. In July, Key West hosts the Hemingway Festivals every year.
"He (Hemingway) rushed in a car, opening all the windows. Dense waves of thick air roared into the windows, ruffled his hair and clothes, weathered his face, and it seemed to him that it was easier to breathe. Birds flashed high above his head - the wings of an eagle now and then business covered the road with a wide black shadow, the scream of a stork was heard, and then, tearing himself away from the road for a second, he managed to follow his long elongated silhouette with his gaze.
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The heat gradually subsided, and he felt that he was beginning to fizzle out. He no longer wanted to sit with his grip on the steering wheel, and he slowed down. As soon as the car began to go slower, blue rushed into his eyes, like a robber from around the corner. It was the ocean, shimmering in the sun like an outlandish emerald. Never before had he seen so many shades of green-blue-blue, going into some hopeless, unthinkable distance. Sen's old girlfriend, whom he sometimes looked at for hours, unable to take his eyes off the water, now seemed like a small colorless gray sparrow, compared to the colorful splendor of the ocean.
Now he was driving along a thin coastal path, surrounded by water. Water was everywhere, wherever you look - both to the right and to the left. The road went only straight, and for a minute he was afraid that he would not hold back and would fall into this blue-green abyss. But the Sun, gradually declining towards sunset, was still shining brightly, and he could clearly see the road heading straight ahead. He remembered that old John was waiting for him in the morning, but he didn't want to drive the car anymore. Deafened by the cries of numerous birds and the whistling wind in his ears, he abruptly stopped the car and got out, barely spreading his legs. Thirteen years have passed since the war, but the pain from the wounds still made itself felt.
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The ocean was surprisingly shallow near the shore, and the water, overgrown with mud, gave off a mildew, and he thought he really liked this image of a huge sea giant with the smell of a quiet village pond.
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Glancing over the blue endless space and the tiny green island in the distance, he was already heading for the car, when he involuntarily stopped.
Not far from the island above the water surface, three dark triangles appeared, smoothly floating along the horizon. For a long time he stood by the water, watching the dolphins with his gaze, and felt how delight was slowly growing in his soul and the long-awaited feeling of peace and joy came after so many years of trials - war and injury, the suicide of his father and friend, and most importantly - unrequited and rejected love .. ...
On that summer day in 1931, Hemingway drove to Key West Island in the middle of the night and spent the night at the house of his friend the writer John Dos Passos. In the morning he was awakened by the desperate cry of a rooster climbing onto the veranda. There was a banana tree in front of Joe's window, and large, bright purple flowers weighed down with fruit oozed from the sap and scent. He wanted to live and write with renewed vigor, this stupid writer's itch returned to him, which he had not experienced so much since the days of Paris. "
To be continued...
Key West is the southernmost city in the continental states of the United States and the capital of the Florida Keys coral archipelago, located on the island of the same name. This is a real tropical paradise with palm trees, beaches and turquoise waters; even the police cars say that they are guarding his gates - "protecting paradise". And what are the locals doing here? Virtually nothing. They start the day with the popular Rum Runner cocktail and spend the rest of the day just wandering around town telling stories to tourists and having fun. Sometimes it seems that time in Key West has stopped and just stands still. As in any southern city, no one is in a hurry, except for tourists, you can wait for your order in a cafe or restaurant not 5 minutes, but half an hour, and sometimes even more.
The first European to visit Key West was the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon in 1521. The Spanish colonists named the island Cayo Hueso, and Spanish speakers still use this name to this day. Literally it means "bone key", they say that the island was covered with bones after the Indian battle. Over time, Hueso morphed into the English word west, which is similar in sound, and the bone key changed to western.
Key West was once an incredibly wealthy city: the locals lived by collecting cargo washed ashore from sunken ships. But those times have long since sunk into oblivion, and now the inhabitants of the city live only on the money that tourists leave here. The latter, I must say, do not skimp - who counts the money on vacation?
Sloppy Joe's bar is Hemingway's favorite bar
The walls of the bar are covered with photographs of Hemingway; here you can see a stuffed fish caught by the writer. The menu includes various favorite foods and drinks of the writer, with some named after him as Papa Doble daiquiri. The cocktail contains rum, grapefruit juice, pomegranate syrup, soda water, and lime juice. In fact, although Hemingway enjoyed daiquiri at times, his favorite drink was Teacher's, a cheap brand of Scotch whiskey.
This buoy is one of the main attractions of Key West, millions of tourists are sure to take pictures with it in the background. Previously, there was just a sign on this place, but visitors often grabbed it as a souvenir, in 1983 the city erected a cement model of a buoy, so far no one has been able to steal it. The buoy reads “Republic of Konch | 90 miles to Cuba | Southernmost point of the continental United States | Key West, Florida | Sunset House "(" The Conch Republic | 90 Miles to Cuba | Southernmost point continental U.S.A. | Key West, FL | Home of the Sunset ").
The hotel is located in the former residence of the cigar tycoon Eduardo H. Gato. Interestingly, the Victorian mansion was originally built on the opposite side of the street. But when the tycoon settled comfortably on the veranda with a cup of tea, he decided that the sun was not falling on the veranda at the right angle. How would you solve this question? ... Eduardo simply ordered to move the house and a huge structure, put on logs, rolled down the street with the help of harnessed mules. Now on hot southern days on the veranda, you can enjoy the shade and cool breezes.
This house was built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a shipbuilder and wreck lifting specialist, and by 1928 it was completely abandoned and boarded up due to inheritance disputes. The house somehow charmed Ernest Hemingway, who returned from Europe, he bought it for $ 8000, which resolved the Tifts' family problems. The furniture used by the writer and his family is still preserved here, and even the cats that live in the house are the descendants of those cats that Hemingway kept, including the polydactyl breed, which he loved so much.
Neighbors often see the ghost of the writer walking on the balcony or hear the sound of a typewriter coming from the office. It is said that Hemingway can also be seen standing near a window on the second floor and sometimes he even waves his hand in response to a greeting.
Ernest Hemingway wrote about Key West: "This is the best place I've ever been - all year round flowers, date trees, guavas, coconut trees ... Lied on absinthe last night and showed tricks with a knife."
Every year thousands of people visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum to see the writing desk behind which Farewell to Arms, For Whom the Bell Tolls and other famous works were created.
The real owners of the house-museum are six-fingered cats, which trace their ancestry to the Snowball kitten. A strange kitten with six fingers on velvet paws instead of the normal five was presented to the writer by his friend Captain Stanley Dexter in 1930. In 1957, 57 animals already lived in his villa: 43 adult cats and 14 kittens.
In my opinion, this cat never changes position ...
Hemingway himself began to build the pool, but work was interrupted in the spring of 1937, when a civil war raged in Spain, and the writer went to this country as a war correspondent. His wife Polina began to supervise the project. The final construction cost was $ 20,000 - it was very difficult to dig a massive hole in the island's hard coral soil. In the 1930s, the Hemingway Basin was the only one in the Florida Keys. Ernest was greatly annoyed by the construction costs, and at some point he threw a cent into the unfinished pool with the words “Polina, you spent all your money on this pool, every last cent!”. It is unknown if the story is true, but a cent embedded in cement can be seen in the northern part of the basin.
For 32 years since its opening in 1848, the lighthouse keeper was a woman, Barbara Mabrity, which was completely unheard of in the 19th century. At the age of 82, she was fired for speaking out against the North - Key West remained under the control of the North throughout the Civil War.
The house was built in 1829 and survived occupation by northerners during the Civil War of the North and South, fires, the famous Florida hurricanes, economic upheavals, pirates, heat, humidity, insects, tropical weather of the Florida Keys, and even moving from one street to another.
In the golden age of sail, about 100 ships a day passed Key West, the waters around which were well known for being some of the most treacherous in the world. On average, one ship a week crashed on the reefs of the Florida Keys. Brave locals were on duty day and night on such observation towers or patrolled around the island in small boats. When the wreck was noticed, a shout was heard over the island - "Shipwreck" (Wreck Ashore) and the entire male population of the island dropped everything and rushed to the docks in a race to the reef. The first person to reach the sinking ship became a "master", he supervised rescue operations and received a large share of the sale of cargo. On average, half of the sale of the salvaged property went to the owners of the ship, the other half was distributed by the master.
One of the bartenders said that he once lived in New York and had his own restaurant there, a lot of headaches and city bustle. Then he dropped everything, sold his house and moved here, where he now works as a bartender. When asked if he was happy, he laughed and said: “How can you not be happy here !? This is paradise! "
“Everything here is literally saturated with the proximity of the ocean and where you cannot turn - you will certainly rest against the Gulf of Mexico, or find yourself on the coast, washed by the waves of the Atlantic. The ocean with you is an inseparable part of the soul and happy peace, like the presence of a beloved woman, without whom you are lost and do not know what to do with yourself if she is not there. "- Victor Berdnik. Return to Key West.
It is said that a Key West holiday should begin and end at the harbor. The seaport laid the foundation for the history of the island about 200 years ago and is still the heart of the island. What better way than spending a day on the yacht and catching your own dinner?
