Time For Some Warm Salt Water Travel - Key West

Why I never moved to Key West all those years ago still baffles me. "Family; the ties that bind and gag" is the best answer I can offer. (Thank you Erma Bombeck) Always good to get back to de' island.

Approaching the Coast Guard dock.

Our berth was opposite this large & imposing vessel, the Kimball. Since we were docked in the base property, no photos were supposed to be taken. Anybody on board with a camera immediately ignored that order.

Looking toward downtown.

Looking back to the yard space. Didn't have the long lens with me, but the H65 helicopter in the center of the photo is practicing water rescues like you would see on one of the cable channels.

A fine vessel.

Examples of Key West architecture.

Your tax dollars at work. Required: 4 fireplaces and a roof slant able to handle snow. Think about it.

I've walked a lot of Key West, but never had the opportunity to walk through this Truman Annex gate . . . .until now.

Truman's KW White House.

More architecture.

Palm trees and tourists in shorts. KW in November.

A nondescript door. Mr Hemingway lived here prior to moving into his rather well appointed mansion.

Location, location, location.

The pond at Kermits' Key Lime pie place. I suggest the frozen, chocolate covered version on a stick.

One of the tourist joints.

Used to be a fish house. This is Mr Buffetts' recording studio; Shrimpboat Sound.

I'm in!

I want a Mojito! I want a Mojito! And Island Dogs is to place to get them. I'm willing to return to KW just to come here.

These people have their priorities correct.

Bring your tourist dollars . . .

Overlooking Wisteria / Tank Island. Goodbye Key West until the next time.


I'll divert from Key West to give our cabin stewards a salute. Most people come back from dinner & find a cute little towel art animal on the bed. Our guys had a slightly different perspective on the towel art thing. These are phone photos, so the image quality is so-so.

This blog entry marks an event. This is the last series shot with a well used Pentax K110. This camera has traveled with me through Europe, North Africa, Central America, the Caribbean, Alaska and both the east and west U.S. coast and in between. No, you will not find it on eBay. The camera has taken it's place among past cameras such as my dad's old Brownie and the Argus, my father-in-laws' Kodak and my previous Pentax from 35mm days. Over the past several trips, I saw signs of wear & tear. Knew it was time to retire a camera that had served me well. 
I have returned to the cameras of my professional career, the Nikon product. After much research, a new D3500 sits off to my left and is ready for upcoming adventures. Still learning the buttons and functions, so stay tuned . . . 

Time For Some Warm Salt Water Travel

I'm going to borrow a line from Jimmy Buffett; It's Christmas and
my birthday and so to that extent . .

My birthday is not on Christmas day, but the November trip was based on that event. And there was a zero involved. Most don't realize how badly this fouls my brain.

Did not break out the camera until the 3rd day of the trip. With weather going awry in Punta Cana DR, our captain opted for Semana, Dominican Republic. It's a sleepy little island town like many we have seen in the Caribbean previously. We were the only ship in port. I'm not sure Semana could handle a 2nd cruise ship.

 Early morning & the Promenade deck was all my own.

If you fall overboard at sea, don't expect the Coast Guard to come looking for you. Should someone realize you went over the side, this is the boat that will come looking for you while the ship continues on.

 As said before, it was early in the morning. Those who were awake were in the buffet overeating. The deck crew already had the main pool area ready for a day of sun-baking and lounging. 

 A bit of information about tropical weather. This photo was taken 5 minutes before . . . . .
 

 . . . these clouds rolled in. 5 minutes after that, the sun was back. Typical for the little latitudes. No big deal.

 

One can see the shower coming. Note the before & after version of the ship. When the shower came upon us, we simply waited under an overhang along the waterfront.

 

 

A few photos along the waterfront. Semana has a lovely waterfront walkway. Like a lot of the passengers from the ship, we walked the distance of the waterfront then turned around & headed back to the Oosterdam.

 

Local life on de' island. Notice the lady riding side saddle on the motorbike. How many infractions would that be if in the US?

 Tilted to the side with a goofy grin on my face. And no alcohol . . . . .yet.

 Lush & gorgeous vegetation in the tropics. Keep in mind this was November. Meets my approval.

After a foray into town, life on board resumed as normal.

For all you security minded types out there. Take note of the tiny boat with 2 people aboard. It slowly puttered circles around the ship during our stay. Sign on the side of the boat: Port Security.

Met a lot of nice people aboard. We all were happy to be in the islands.
Next up: Key West, Florida. A location that definitely meets my approval.