Key West.

2-7-18 KEY WEST, FLORIDA: We, the class, went for a trolley car tour of the island shortly after breakfast. Jim, our guide in the second of three open-air trolley cars, basically a bus, was a non-stop talker, and we learned history, local lore and legends, economy and sociology of Key West. It took about ninety minutes.


Trolley riders.

Afterwards a group of nine of us walked up Duval St, had lunch at La Te Da restaurant. All dining in Key West is outside, but usually under a roof or umbrella. The cuisine is heavily into seafood, and conch stew/chowder is a local favorite and recommended by this diner.


Lunchers.

This lunch was on the way to the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. There were a few stops for tee shirts on the way. The butterflies are in a big, two-story greenhouse. It’s hot and humid inside, filled with tropical plants and trees, a stream flows out of a small pond and winds through the exhibit. In addition to many, many butterflies, there are two flamingoes, some ducks and other birds in the trees. I have pix, but few ID’s as yet.


Blue Morpho butterfly and friend.

Falmingoes and ducks in the corner.

That's a wow.

We took a break back at the hotel before the sunset cruise on a big catamaran operated by Fury Key West. We swarmed all over the boat as it motored around the ocean west of Key West, serving cold beverages and mingling with dozen of other sunset cruisers. It was a successful sunset and I saw the green flash, just as the sun disappears below the horizon, for the first time.


Pirates out for the sunset.

Our boat.

A moment before the green flash.

 Our group taxied back to Duval St. after the cruise, for dinner at Ocean Grill & Bar. It was truly excellent. As has often been the case, Margaritas preceded the meal. Judy made the rez for this meal after searching through Zagat.

Judy and I walked back alone as the rest of the group taxied away, and we stopped at Le Petit Paris for desert and coffee, also on Duval.