... been thinking about Key West ...

We didn't take a vacation this year.
No family reunion in VA or NC.
No mountains or seashore.
Just work, work, work.
So, last night my darling husband and I said ... Key West.

Labor Day Weekend.
Vacation time we have to use by end of year.
So, why not a long weekend in Key West?
Where will we stay this time?
Let's see ... we stayed at The Bottle Inn B&B last year over Labor Day.
I stayed at the Casa Marina Resort for a work-related conference in 2007 and the place was under construction. It had just changed hands again, purchased by the people that own the Hilton or the Waldorf-Astoria (or maybe both!). I might like to return there. It's right on the water, with an actual beach where you can walk into the ocean AND a new pool that they were building in 2007. And, it's right around the corner from Louie's Back Yard, a really good restaurant at water's edge that's been there a really long time.
Maybe ... I'll have to talk to my darling husband.
We stayed at The Blue Marlin Motel in 2006.  Kind of a funky place, but clean and with lots of character. Vintage 1950s buildings that have been kept up. Close to the Southernmost Point and priced right.
Or, maybe, somewhere completely different.
Let's see ...

Labor Day Weekend in Key West

We took our bikes and the dog and drove down to Key West on Friday afternoon and checked into the Frances Street Bottle Inn for the weekend. We didn't meet Dennis and Mark until Saturday morning at breakfast, and the rest of the weekend found them to be the most delightful of hosts! During a rainstorm on Saturday afternoon, we sat on the porch chatting and getting to know each other a little better. These guys really know how to treat their guests, from beautifully decorated rooms (and, so very clean!) to snacks and refreshments to while away the evenings ... we took our Jack Russell Terrier and Dennis greeted him with treats every morning, making him feel right at home, too! You can take a virtual tour of the house by visiting their web site at www.bottleinn.com! So, if you're headed that way, consider staying there ... I'm sure you'll love it as much as we did!

I lived in Key West from 1975-1982 and Shorty's was a breakfast place a couple of doors down from Sloppy Joe's and just around the corner from the Key West Citizen where I worked. It's not Shorty's today ... but, I'm sure glad they left the sign for us old timers to enjoy!

I love the signage around the Pier House! Great use of color!

I have a thing for fire hydrants and
Key West does them so well, don't they?

This old hydrant is on the Truman Annex.
I've been trying to find out how old it is ...

The southernmost house is now a guest house or B&B or whatever they call them nowadays. You used to could ride your bike right up to the beach, park and watch the Atlantic do its thing, but, no more. 

The artists in and around Key West are abundant, as are the art galleries. The architecture, narrow streets and tropical climate come together to create great subject matter for artists.

Welcome to The Pink Bike!

I got a new bike for Christmas! My darling husband and I decided that we'd rather have new bikes than another new shirt/perfume this year and we're enjoying "learning" to ride again!

I lived in Key West from 1975 to 1982 and for the first four years, I had only a bicycle for transportation. Now, Key West is only five miles at its widest point, so a bike really was the only way to go back then. I was poor back then, too, and couldn't afford a car or insurance, so the bike was my salvation. In 1979 I bought a beautiful white Peugot and was thrilled with how fast and sleek it was. One evening, a few months after I got it, I went to the Waterfront Playhouse on Mallory Square where I was involved with the theatre group, just stopping in to say "Hello" to some of my actor friends and find out what was on the schedule for auditions. I wasn't in the theatre 15 minutes. I had locked by bike to the stair rails in front of the theatre. And, when I came out of the theatre, it was gone. Gone! Gone! Gone! I was heartbroken.

So, now, some 20+ years later, I've got a new pink bike and I'm just tickled pink with it! This new blog will include stories and pictures from adventures with the pink bike along with whatever else I feel like sharing, so stay tuned!