28/01: Key West
Category: General
Posted by: The Agnew Family
Today is our day to explore Key West. We parked the car near the harbour and started walking.
There were lots and lots of boats in the harbour.
There were 2 cruise ships in the harbour ---- the very large Holland American Line Oosterdam and the much smaller ship from the Disney Cruise Line. It's the little ship on the left side of the photo.
Roosters and chickens roam the streets of Key West. In the 1950's many Cubans fled Cuba and came to Key West. The current wild fowl are descendants of hens and roosters that the fleeing Cubans brought with them.
We picked up a walking tour of Key West and saw a lot of interesting buildings.
Built circa 1829, the home of Captain Francis Watlington, his wife and 9 daughters is the oldest house in South Florida.
In the back garden of the oldest house is the only surviving Cook Home in South Florida.
This house was built in the 1890s and is often referred to as "Octagon House". It is actually a rectangular structure incorporating a multi-side front. The house was restored in the 1970s and sold to Calvin Klein in the 1980s for a record price at the time of nearly $1 million.
Built in 1885, this home incorporates Victorian fashion of the time with classic Bahamian design. Samuel Filer, who build the house for himself, was a lumber merchant apparently wanting to display extravagant use of wood embellishments known locally as "gingerbread". Notice the etched cranberry transom window.
The graveyard in Key West looks similar to the ones in New Orleans.
A pretty back alley and my street!
Sunset was a dud but at least there were lots of boats to watch.
Eventually there was a bit of colour. Mallory Square has a sunset party every evening. There are musicians, buskers and vendors all around the square.
There were lots and lots of boats in the harbour.
There were 2 cruise ships in the harbour ---- the very large Holland American Line Oosterdam and the much smaller ship from the Disney Cruise Line. It's the little ship on the left side of the photo.
Roosters and chickens roam the streets of Key West. In the 1950's many Cubans fled Cuba and came to Key West. The current wild fowl are descendants of hens and roosters that the fleeing Cubans brought with them.
We picked up a walking tour of Key West and saw a lot of interesting buildings.
Built circa 1829, the home of Captain Francis Watlington, his wife and 9 daughters is the oldest house in South Florida.
In the back garden of the oldest house is the only surviving Cook Home in South Florida.
This house was built in the 1890s and is often referred to as "Octagon House". It is actually a rectangular structure incorporating a multi-side front. The house was restored in the 1970s and sold to Calvin Klein in the 1980s for a record price at the time of nearly $1 million.
Built in 1885, this home incorporates Victorian fashion of the time with classic Bahamian design. Samuel Filer, who build the house for himself, was a lumber merchant apparently wanting to display extravagant use of wood embellishments known locally as "gingerbread". Notice the etched cranberry transom window.
The graveyard in Key West looks similar to the ones in New Orleans.
A pretty back alley and my street!
Sunset was a dud but at least there were lots of boats to watch.
Eventually there was a bit of colour. Mallory Square has a sunset party every evening. There are musicians, buskers and vendors all around the square.