Mar 6 -Key West, most southern point in the USA

We were unable to get a campsite in "the keys" so we decided to make a day trip to Key West from our campsite near Miami. What's a little 3 hour drive, each way, for intrepid travellers like ourselves. Our first stop was Key Largo, then Isla Morada, followed by more bridges, more keys and finally Key West.

Once we arrived at the Key West we had a great lunch at "Two Friends" including deep fried conch, shrimp and Mahi-Mahi. We then boarded a tour tram that took us around and gave us history of the island. We had a very humorous driver that kept the tour lively. Just before we boarded you could hear the shopkeepers talking to one another about the storm that was rolling in and sure enough it poured rain, sideways. We had picked the best time to be on the tram rather than wandering the streets.

Because of the rain we left Key West a little after 5pm and drove to a Cuban Cafe in Key Largo. When we arrived it reminded us of any little town cafe that sells market items and prepares food. The waitress was wonderful in explaining the Cuban dishes and we ended up ordering a Cuban sandwiches, pork, fried yucca (like potato) black beans and rice. The waitress told us that they roast a full pig every day.


A history lesson, stolen from the internet. Why do they call it "The Keys"

The Spanish took the word "cayo' from the Taino Indians of Hispanola and Cuba referring to small islands. The Spanish normally used "isla" for island and "islet" for small island. In the New World, they used "cayo" and "cayuelo" for a very small island. (The English used "Cay' as in Hawks Cay) It ultimately was pronounce 'key'. Key West was once Cayo Hueso (Kie-O Hwae-So) meaning small island of bones or Bone Island. When the Spaniards arrived, they found it littered with human bones. There's two theories about it... 1) This was a funeral island for the local indian tribes and 2) This was the place of a last huge battle between the Seminole and Calussa indians with the final few Calussa escaping to Cuba by canoe.

I hope that crustacean isn't hungry

7 mile bridge, old and new

Taken by a girl from France

Cute houses on one of the islands

Sail boat that had run aground

This is INSIDE our leaky tram

Taken from an open window of the tram. It was pouring outside!

SHARK!!!