Day 3 | 20.03.2019 | Key Largo - Key West

Today, summer really started for us... although it didn't seem like it at first. Dad wanted to go snorkeling at the reefs in the morning, but the weather didn't seem very inviting, so we replaced it with a cozy breakfast on our amazing terrace.

We still had about 170 km ahead of us to the southern end of the Keys and the southernmost point of the American mainland. That's where we wanted to go today.

The first highlight is the 7 Miles Bridge, the longest of the 42 bridges that practically span the Gulf of Mexico. Next to it is the old road that eventually became dilapidated and was replaced by the bridge. The old road has been interrupted every few hundred meters for about 10 meters to prevent unauthorized access. Clever, right?

Arriving in Key West, we felt even more the proximity to the Caribbean. Especially in the houses, the many palm trees, and everything is colorful colorful colorful. And there was something else. You could hear roosters crowing everywhere, and not only that, there are also wild chickens and really beautiful roosters walking proudly around. Back in the day, Key West was apparently a Mecca for cockfighting, in which Ernest Hemingway probably bet a few dollars as well. Then, bird protection laws were tightened, and all the roosters were set free, and they multiplied unchecked. In 2004, they even ordered a chicken catcher because the animals are not allowed to be killed. Even eating eggs from local chickens is illegal, so the feathered buddies are living it up and even the drivers slow down until the chicken family has crossed the road. Funny...

We arrived in Key West around noon, and our cottage wasn't available until 4:00 p.m. But after consulting with Helena from Latvia, we were able to park our car and went on an exploration tour. Duval Street offers a lot. Galleries, shops, countless bars, and little pubs. We would experience what it all can offer at night.

First, we went to the Southernmost Point of the USA. Huge line to pose right in front of it, but a few pictures from the side were enough for us. I imagined it to be more prominent, but it's basically just a street corner. But hey, we were there! ;-)

Around the corner is the Southernmost Beach Bar, and that's where we wanted to enjoy our very first Key Lime Pie, a cake specialty that was highly recommended to me. And the tip was worth its weight in gold. Thank you, dear Anne!!! You have to try it, it's a sugary lime flavor experience.

Then we settled into our really cozy and unfortunately very expensive cottage. We were looking for an inexpensive option, which is almost impossible in Key West. But it's really great. Especially the amenities were far above average for US standards. Well, at least.

Many people come to Key West to admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, and of course, we wanted to do that too. And we threw ourselves into the hustle and bustle. We found a bunch of carnival people, musicians, various tropical fruit vendors, and of course, an endless bar with the best view towards the sunset. Sailboats positioned themselves to make the idyll perfect, only the clouds left only a small window for the "perfect" photo. The best ones were taken with my Canon and will have to be added later, but a few smartphone pictures give a good preview.

On the way back to our cottage, we experienced the full energy of Key West's nightlife. Party atmosphere everywhere, cheerful and relaxed people, quirky characters, and of course, lots of live music. All in all, it definitely exceeded our expectations... and I even got my first sunburn, that's what vacation feels like.