USA | Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

Giant Buoy Marks Southernmost Point In U.S.

Published May 2, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Giant buoy marks the suthernmost spot in the U.S.

Standing at the end of Whitehead Street in Key West, I lean against the giant buoy that marks the southernmost spot in the United States and gaze across a blue-green Atlantic. I squint in the late afternoon sunshine, searching the pale pink haze at the horizon for any sign of land. Cuba is just 90 miles away. I wonder; is it visible on a clear day? Probably not, but I imagine I can see it anyway. What is it like, that exotic isle?

I turn around and pose for an accommodating tourist who offers to take my photo, willing Cuba’s distant shoreline to show up in the photo. But of course, it doesn’t. Just 90 short miles. So close, yet so far away. Soon, I hope. Very, very soon I will be able to bite into that forbidden fruit.

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged 90 miles, blogsherpa, buoy, Cuba, Florida, forida keys, Havana, Key West, photos, southernmost point, Travel, USA, woman |

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Irreverent Homage To Sunset In Key West

Published May 1, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Whenever evening skies are swathed in shades of pink, gold, and violet, I pause to absorb the exquisite beauty before me. As the sun dips below the horizon I focus on being fully present and in the moment, turning my attention away from the stresses of the day. Nature also seems to shed stress at sunset. Squawking birds make one final flight before roosting for the night. Brisk daytime breezes become gentle whispers. Even the ocean seems to lap more gently after dusk. In most places around the world, the setting sun is a time of calm and reverence. But not in Key West.

Vendors and food carts line the boardwalk at Mallory Square each evening at sunset

Just before sunset each night, acrobats, jugglers, musicians, cyclists, and animal acts begin arriving at the waterfront boardwalk in Old Town’s Mallory Square, where Duval Street meets the Gulf of Mexico. As the golden hour approaches, locals and tourists alike congregate, stuffing their bellies with fast food and shopping bags with trinkets while the acts are busy setting up. Soon, the first performer is hawking to the crowd. Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged acrobats, animal acts, blogsherpa, Florida, florida keys, jugglers, Key West, Mallory Square, mimes, musicians, performers, photos, sunsets, Travel, unicycle, USA, woman |

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Cats Are The Stars At The Hemingway House In Key West

Published April 30, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Ernest Hemingway ended up living in Key West quite by accident. During a trip between Cuba and the U.S., he stopped in Key West to pick up a new Ford Roadster that his wife’s wealthy uncle had purchased for them. As usual, things were happening on “island time” – the car had not yet arrived. The Ford dealership insisted Hemingway stay in the apartment above the showroom while waiting for it to arrive. By the time the Roadster hit the docks, Key West had worked its magic on Ernest.

Historic Home of Ernest Hemingway

When the same generous uncle purchased a Key West home for the Hemingways two years later, they happily settled into the community on a full time basis. Ernest spent mornings writing and afternoons on a bar stool at Sloppy Joe’s Saloon, gathering fodder for his books. From from wealthy merchants, to the down-on-their-luck fishermen and wreckers, Hemingways books are filled with Key West characters. Hemingway contentment was so great in Key West that more than half of his published novels were Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged blogsherpa, Ernest Hemingway Home, Florida, florida keys, historic Custom House, Key West, Museum of Art and History, photos, six-toed cats, Sloppy Joe's Saloon, Travel, USA, woman |

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Discombobulated in Key West

Published April 26, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

There are things I love about Key West. The weather is awesome – my skin absolutely glows in the tropics. It is a small, eminently walkable island (only seven miles around). Key West is one of the safest places I have ever visited; I can walk home alone at any hour of the night without worry. Vegetarian food is abundant; in fact one of the best vegetarian restaurants I have ever been to – The Cafe – is located in Key West. The beaches are lovely and within walking distance. A strong arts culture ensures there is always some event going on, whether it be a gallery showing, an arts film, or a display of sculpture in the public parks.

The beach at Fort Zachary Taylor is my favorite – a lovely sheltered cove, pure white sand, and no tourists

But for all this, Key West unsettles me. After being here a few days I start to feel uncomfortable in my skin. I know that it is a real place with real people who live here year round; the problem is that the real people are overshadowed by the Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged Art, beaches, blogsherpa, drunk tourists, Florida, florida keys, Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, noise, Sculpture, Travel, USA, Vegetarian |

5 Comments

Key West, Florida or Conch Republic?

Published April 24, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

In April of 1982, the United States Border Patrol set up a blockade on highway U.S.1 in Florida City, at the northern entrance to the Florida Keys, and began searching every car, supposedly looking for illegal aliens attempting to enter the mainland United States. When the checkpoint resulted in a seventeen mile long traffic jam the media began covering the story. As a result the Keys were paralyzed: visitors canceled reservations, deliveries were delayed or stopped, and attractions suffered tremendous loss of business. Something had to be done.

Spectators enjoy the "longest parade route in the world," which runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico on Key West's famous Duval Street

Led by Key West Mayor Dennis Wardlow and local attorney Dave Horan, community leaders flew to Miami, seeking an injunction in Federal Court that would enjoin the Border Patrol from treating the Keys like a foreign country. Unfortunately, the court refused. As the group left the courthouse, reporters screamed, “What are you going to do, Mr. Mayor?” On the spur of the moment, Wardlow replied, “We are going to go home and secede.”

By the time the group returned to Key West, Federal agents had begun to arrive. No one knew what to expect. Would they be arrested? Would the Keys be put under martial law? The fear was palpable. Surrounded by his loyal followers, Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |

Tagged Atlantic, blogsherpa, Conch Republic Independence Celebration, Duval Street, Florida, florida keys, Gulf of Mexico, Key West, parades, passports, photos, pirates, secession, Travel, USA, woman, World's Longest Parade |

33 Comments

Siesta Key Drum Circle, Sarasota, Florida – One Of The Largest In The U.S.

Published April 15, 2009 | By Barbara Weibel

Most days, people begin leaving the beach when daylight fades. But on Saturdays at Siesta Key Beach, things are just getting underway as the sun sinks toward the horizon. At first, the gathering is small. People trickle in from the parking lot and, kicking their shoes off in the sugar-fine white sand, head toward the sound of drumming.

Every Saturday evening, just before sunset, hundreds of spectators flock to Siesta Key Beach to witness the drumming ritual

A short distance down the beach, half a dozen rag-tag hippie musicians beat out a rhythm on a collection of percussion instruments. Some are hand held tambourines; others are carried underarm and played with one hand; still others are squeezed between the musician’s knees and played like a bongo. One young man has even hauled a traditional drum set down to the beach, complete with bass and cymbals. Continue reading →

Posted in Florida travel |