Our Best of Key West

Well, we’ve successfully moved back around Fleming Key and are once again anchored off Key West harbor with all that offers.  We were welcomed this morning bright sunshine and just the slightest breeze making our short passage that much more perfect.  We chose an entirely new spot for anchoring and have already met a few boat neighbors to hook up with this evening.  

Esther at the Post Office -
She's nicer than she looks!

The weather is looking about the same for the next five days and we’re beginning to plan the next leg of our adventure.  With that in mind, going into town takes on a new meaning and we’re tying up loose ends – checking in for mail at the post office and grabbing a few things we’d been looking at as well as making stops at our now favorite “haunts”.  It is with that that I will present to you our personal “best of Key West” . . .

We must begin with Ruben at West Marine.  This kind soul has approved our taking the store’s ladder overnight for a boat project, “ignored” our guests’ cars parked in their spaces, taken back our ill-fated anchor without question, lent a shopping cart for provision transfer and assisted with all sorts of other surprise requests.   Ruben and the rest of the Key West guys (Larry, Kevin, Deane and all)  THANKS, you’re the best!

A#1 daily coffee and goodie stop – Old Town Bakery – is a definite MUST.  Featuring fresh breads and soups and the most unbelievable bakery and pastries all made inhouse, these guys even know how to pull a good espresso shot!  Ginger white chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, raspberry linzer bars to tomato brie soup and sandwiches made from hand sliced homemade breads . . . YUMMY!

Rob couldn’t have gotten through any day without his chocolate milk fix – a quart every afternoon from Fausto’s Gourmet Market.  This place is a gem with all the best in fresh meats and beautiful produce and right in town for when the 4 mile walk to the “big boy” store isn’t practical.

And finally, our redeeming local Irish Pub Finnegan’s Wake has been our home away from home with $5 burgers every night and $2 off Guinness . . . I can’t keep Rob away.  They make this “Beast of Bourbon” burger on a pretzel bun for $5 any night from 4 – 7 and Rob swears it’s the best burger he’s ever eaten.  When they ran out of the pretzel buns the other night, you’d have thought the sky fell!!!  And they have an amazing veggie burger for me that has hummus and avocado – who can resist?!


The real LOCALS . . .

Along with the ability to jump to the Marquesas, the most amazing sunsets, fun at Mallory Square, unending happy hour specials at hundreds of bars, great restaurants at every turn . . . all in all Key West has been a treat and we could ALMOST forget the challenges we’ve seen here!  So this evening is ½ price veg entrees at Finnegan’s (yeah for me) and then a bit of dancing and watching the Shot and Knot competition at Schooner Wharf bar – yup, you can imagine!  Happy to report it’s been a banner day.