On to the Conch Republic

Friday May 7, 2010     While touring the fort we viewed this Cuban refugee boat which was hand made complete with motor and held 17 Cubans for the ride across 90 miles of open water. They landed at Ft. Jefferson and are now supposedly U.S. citizens.
After a peaceful night on the hook at Ft. Jefferson we turned back east for the 70 mile run to Key West. Our route took us north of an area called the Quiksands which is where Mel Fischer struck the motherload when he found the wreck of the Atocha.

Our arrival at Key West found us pulling into the A&B Marina located in Key West Bight just a few steps from Duvall St., one of the main arteries of the city. After fueling and getting into our slip it was time to wash the salt off Tourist and get her standing tall among all the other boats around us. To complete the day all we had to do was walk to the end of the pier for dinner at the A&B Lobster House. Delicious!

Saturday was hot and humid (just like all the other days on this outing!) so we decided to walk the length of Duvall St. to find the bouy that signifies the southernmost spot in the U.S. and take the obligatory picture. As you can tell we were not alone. To get back across town we hired a pedicab. Enough exercise for one day! It was then that we had the brainstorm to take the Conch Train Tour to see the sights. Here a a few of the things we saw.

Mel Fischer Museum

Southernmost house in U.S.

Old Cuban bank building.
Of course the best part of touring is people watching. Key West has long had a reputation for anything goes and we were not disappointed. I didn't know Pam's head could turn that far around! After a day of touring it was back to the boat for a rest break before heading a couple of blocks to Mallory Square for dinner at a Cuban restaurant named El Meson de Pepe (http://www.elmesondepepe.com/). Dinner was served while sitting outside under the porch roof of the building listening to a Cuban trio play all of our favorite Latin hits. (Actually the only one we recognized was by Celia Cruz). A full day followed by a full tummy only spells one thing.......zzzzzzzzz!