Key West

Day 18
Destination: Rest day in Key West
Miles Ridden: None

Points of Interest:

• Duval Street
• Raw Half Shell Restaurant

During our brief stay in Key West, we walked the distance of Duval Street several times. In the day light, especially in the early morning hours, Duval Street is a quaint, two lane street lined on both sides by small businesses, restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, clothing stores and bars. The weather is almost always great, so the pedestrians are wearing shorts and sandals. Many are on bicycles or scooters. There is great diversity in terms of race and age.

As day turns into night, however, Duval Street begins to change. Businesses not visible in the day, light up at night, including strip clubs, adult entertainment, gay bars, and even one bar for cross dressers. Patrons begin drinking, and public intoxication is rampant. The more they drink, the more they spend, the more they spend, the drunker they become. The only way to stop the nightly insanity is to stop the spending, close the businesses, and clear the streets. All of this done peacefully, and nightly, only to begin again the next day. All that is left behind for the early morning visitors is the trash.

We ate at a great restaurant called the Raw Half Shell, and then walked the 20 or so blocks back to the hotel. The entertainment along Duval is outstanding, and we were drawn into Margaritaville to listen to a three piece band and, of course, enjoy a margarita.

If you visit Key West, make sure you take the time to walk the streets and find the Hemingway house, and the magnificent 19th century homes which can be seen all over the keys.