We decided that the best way to start a birthday celebration was with breakfast and bloody marys at the Schooner Wharf Bar at sunrise. We were the first customers and had a great time. Nancy walked around the boats taking pictures and meeting various people. After breakfast we walked around the wharf and stopped in to the Key Lime Pie shop. Then we came back to the condo to rest up for awhile.
After lounging around the pool and reading in the afternoon, we headed back to Schooner Wharf for dinner. We all had different fish dishes for dinner and every single one was awesome. Then we wandered around the wharf area until after sunset and headed back to the condo.
One of the interesting things about going out and about in Key West in the early morning is that we were able to see the town that is behind the "tourist face." Key West is very diverse - both the residents and the visitors - and we were able to see the people who work every day in "paradise" - not just the other vacationers. Lots of people work in the tourist industry, serving the public, cleaning up, entertaining, etc. There are also lots of folks who rely on the fishing industry for a living. One of the things we couldn't help noticing was the relaxed, casual, nonjudgmental attitude of so many folks. For the Key West residents who are poor and/or homeless, this is not an easy life - but, unlike life in Michigan, they will not freeze to death if they are living on the streets (or beaches).
The island has many natural beauties - beaches, waterways, gardens - but it is reliant on fresh water being shipped from the mainland. That fresh water also enables the beautiful gardens to grow. We loved our time in Key West. We are headed to Siesta Key in the Sarasota area on Saturday to spend a few more days with Gary and Nancy before we head back to Michigan.
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