We met up with the NC crew (John, JoAnna, Phil, Joyce, Kim, Jonathan, Keith, Kate, Phoebe and Ruby) in Key West for a week to celebrate New Year's. We had gone to Key West a couple of times in the past with this group and decided to do it again.
 |
| The gang at Mallory Square watching the sunset |
Accommodation:
Since we could not find a house that would fit all of us, we rented three houses in the Truman Annex. We shared a house with John and JoAnna and our house was called Dancing Palms. It was clean and comfortable but not ideal for hosting everyone so we all tended to congregate at the Antoine/Botha house as their downstairs was larger and could fit all of us sitting down. If we come back, we should book direct with Compass Realty to save some money.
 |
| Pathway between our houses in Truman Annex |
Activities:
We worked out each day with long walks and runs and we played various games at the Phil/Joyce/Kim/Jonathan house. Joyce cooked for us one night - making roast chicken, roast pork and potato gratin. And Keith/Kate cooked for us the last night - making chicken and shrimp tacos. And for New Years Eve we ordered in pizza and key lime pie - as we did on a previous trip.
We also did the following activities:
Dry Tortugas National Park - We treated ourselves to the seaplane trip over to Dry Tortugas and then spent 2.5 hours on the island. The seaplane ride was very cool, flying at 500 feet so you can spot turtles and sharks in the water as well as a couple of shipwrecks. On the island, we walked around the fort which was quite cool and then we snorkeled which was not that great - visibility was hard and the fish were not plentiful. That said, it was an amazing trip.
 |
| View of Dry Tortugas from our plane |
 |
| Our group on the wing of the seaplane |
 |
| Entrance to the fort |
Sunset Sail - Did a two hour sunset sail with Sebago Watersports. The views were really nice. We had drinks included and they passed around some appetizers which were good but not plentiful.
 |
| Sunset sail |
New Year's Eve - After having dinner at one of the houses (we ordered in pizza and key lime pie), we went to Duval to watch the red shoe drop at the request and urging of Ruby who got all the oldies to stay out past midnight! We watched the drag show and then the shoe drop which was fun!
 |
| Shoe drop on Duval St - New Year's Eve |
Kayaking - We did a two hour kayak tour in the mangroves with Geiger Key Paddle. It started out to be a nice tour - paddling through tiny channels of the mangroves and learning about the jelly fish. But then we all got really stuck in one channel where the water was way too low. The guide had to get out of her boat and pull many of us until we could paddle again. It was quite hilarious but bummed we could not really see much more as this process took quite a while!
 |
| Kayaking |
Sunset at Mallory Square - Watched the sunset on our last night along with many other people!!
Restaurants / Bars:
Frita's Cuban Burgers - We had dinner here the first night - sat outside and shared one of the Cuban burgers - very tasty.
Big Cheezees - This bar is next to the Green Parrot which was very crowded so we went here instead for a beer.
Farmers Market - We got cheese and yummy spreads with pita and bread from the Farmers Market and had that for lunch one day.
Garbo's Grill at Hanks - We had dinner here one night - sat outside. We shared the fish tacos and the bbq tacos. Both pretty good.
 |
| Dinner at Garbo's |
First Flight Brewery - We stopped here for a few beers after dinner. Their beer was not the best.
Blue Heaven - A must do for our trips, we had brunch here twice. We had to wait a long time for a table so went across the street to their bar and had a few drinks. We shared the lobster benedict and black bean soup one time and the lobster benedict with a fruit cup and banana bread another time. Both times, we got a couple of key lime pies for the table.
 |
| Blue Heaven |
White Tarpon - We went here after the sunset sail to have key lime martinis (so good) and then we sat down to eat as the sail trip did not have a lot of food. We shared a fish dish which was OK.
 |
| Chris met up with us at White Tarpon |
Bad Boy Taqueria - We went to lunch here with Chris to have what she says are the best fish tacos. We shared them - quite tasty - as well as some chips and guac. Nice location.
Onlywood Pizzeria - John/JoAnna ordered eight pizzas from here for our New Year's Eve dinner - they were all very good.
Key West Key Lime Pie Company - John/JoAnna picked up a couple of pies from here for our New Year's Eve dinner - so good!!
Mam's Best Food - had lunch here and had a tasty schwarma. It's a tiny place with outside seating and the owner was an older Jewish grandma who was quite funny!
Kermit Key Lime Pie Company - Keith and Kate picked up a couple of pies from here that we enjoyed after Joyce's dinner. Good but we liked the ones from Key West Key Lime Pie Company better.
Geiger Key Marina - we had lunch here before our kayak tour. Chris joined us. We shared a yummy fried fish taco dish. Fun place with outside seating.
Kaya Island Eats and Backyard Bar - had a few beers here before dinner and then ate here. We shared a pasta dish and bang bang fish - tasty.
Celtic Conch Public House - went here for happy hour and sat on the rooftop.
Chart Room - stopped here for a few drinks - really cool, small bar that has lots of memorabilia on the walls and they have free peanuts and popcorn!
Salute - went here for lunch with Chris and Steve on our last day. She picked us up and we went to her rental house and then had lunch before she dropped us off at the airport. We shared a soup and pasta dish - cute place on the beach.
