Western Magic-worst port

[DoomBuggieDriver]

Now everyone, please remember this is just my opinion, as how can there be a "worst port" on this itinerary. The ports are all beautiful. But something has to be at the bottom compared to the others, and for us (DH-age 41, me-age 41. DDs 13 & 11) it was Key West.

I think the main reason we found Key West not as enjoyable as the other ports was because after traveling from New England, anywhere else except Montreal feels HOT HOT HOT. We really hadn't adjusted yet, so it really got to us. Also we endured the family from hell next door at Ron Jons the preceeding night, so we were tired.

I digress. We got off the ship around 12:30pm, knowing that we wanted to be back for the Bridge Tour at 3:30pm. So as tempting as those little electric cars looked, we knew we would be losing if we rented one (they were for 3 hours.) So we walked around a little with the thought of joining the trolley tour maybe, and headed pretty quickly into Mel Fisher's Museum, because, you guessed it, we wanted to see air conditioned wrecks before we became wrecks. It turned out to be very interesting. I can't remember the admission, but I bet DH would have paid almost anything to get out of the heat for a while.

Refreshed, we proceeded down Duvall Street. Yes, I know, we want to get away from commercialism and go off onto the side streets, but try telling that to DH who is bravely marching ahead clearing the way for us to trail along behind. Although we have been to Provincetown on Cape Cod, we were concerned about what DDs might be exposed to on Duvall Street....that was ignorant and off-base. After all it was mid-day; people were fine, no one acting crazy and nothing there out of the ordinary- some fart t-shirts got a good laugh from the girls, and everything else went over their heads anyway.

So was went to the Del Sol store and bought a pair of sunglasses for DD13, then went to another RayBan store and bought yet another pair of sunglasses, this time for DH, (in addition to my pair from Ron Jon's in Cocoa Beach) Have you got the idea we didn't have a concept of bright sun?

So we marched on, fortified by ice cream and bottled water and SPF 50. Somewhere after Margaritaville and before whatever comes after, we turned around. Thank god. Off DH marched again, with just one last pit stop to buy Skoll tobacco and get a picture with the DDs and a caricature statue of Queen Elizabeth outside a convenience store. That was cool. My memory of Key West is my DH's back constantly moving away to get who knows where. Who is Hemingway anyway? Isn't Harry Truman from the midwest somewhere? Why are there roosters in the street Mom? Can I buy a postcard? A cool color changing ring? Yes and yes.

The sunset went down into a cloud bank instead of the ocean, but it was still spectacular. We watched the schooners and Fury Catamarans from our verandah (port side in Key West and you have your own box seat) It was a great ending.
Kathy

 

[traycie2201]

Hi thanks for all your reports, great reading and sounds like you had a blast

 

[SeaSpray]

Thanks for your report! We have a port side cabin too, so that means we'll be facing the sunset in Key West?? Also, are the prices at the RayBan store less expensive than up here in New England??

 

[kshabare]

We didn't plan for Key West very well either. But, it was very pretty in some parts. We did veer off to the pier and down some of the side streets and the pictues we have are very colorful. Next time we're renting the little cars and I will get to the Most Southernmost Part!

Does anyone know - can you put your toes in the water at the Point? Does anyone get to swim while there if they're not on an excursion? Where??

Kim

 

[Rock'n Robin]

We were going to get off at southernmost point but by that time were pretty tired--we did see it as the trolley went by and all we saw was a long line of people waiting to get their picture taken. Don't think putting toes in the water was possible. We went on July 4 though, it may be easier on other Sundays.
Robin M.

 

[MO64RN]

We also were not thrilled with Key West. To me it was a Hot Box and I live in FLorida. We were there in October and there was absolutely no air movement at all. We went parasailing which was the highlight. The guys running the boat kept dipping us in the water which was a lifesaver. If we ever go to key west again we will stay on the cruise ship (where the a/c is on)