Ernest Hemingway was an incredible and intelligent man. Speaking of, I recently went on an amazing trip to the Florida Keys with my boyfriend, Mike, and his wonderful family (parents, newlywed sister, Brynn, and her husband, Palmer). Some of us did not make it to the Hemingway House this time, as I have been before. We managed to pack our trip full of fun; fishing, snorkeling, lobstering, reading, laying by the pool, grilling, eating at the best local places, drinking, boating, anything you can think of, we probably did it. I, for one, know I had a greatly needed vacation and some of the best R&R with no greater company than who I was with and have some pictures to prove it. Enjoy!
Bridge & hues of blues.
First lunch at The Island Fish Company; great Mahi & Hog sandwiches.
Back of the Blue Waters Motel.
Clearly, he's in vaca mode.
The sunsets are breathtaking.
Cuttin' & guttin' fish.
This Egret caught some fish in its mouth that Mike threw.
The pool area where we spent many hours.
Someone's tuckered out after our first day of fishing.
Dinner at the Key's Fishery. This place was incredible...
It had mysterious views...
Lots of space to sit and wander...
A line the went out to the parking lot...
Touristy things to pose with...
And even a little something for the kids...
Alright, we got a little carried away.
The next day it was up and at it around 4:30am, on vacation! We agreed later in the day it was totally worth being the early bird; with just the guys getting the lobster, we had about 14 if I remember correctly.
Innocent little things..
Mr. Wilson, Mike and Palmer.
Brynn, our lobster wrangler for the day, helping her dad out.
She got it down to a science.
Don't know anyone who could look this cute with such a creature.
Mrs. Wilson giving it a go...
And getting the last words of encouragement from Brynn.
Such a beautiful mother/daughter relationship.
These little guys.
The colors are so unlike anything I've seen before.
Captain Mike.
Such a trooper, our main lobster guy.
Big Pine Key. A must if you are driving through The Keys. These little 'key deer' are frolicking around a small residential neighborhood and if you are lucky enough, you can snap a few pictures.
Smaller than some dogs.
Deer caught in head lights.
One of THE coolest bars I've ever been too.
About $150,000.00 worth of money stapled throughout the bar...
Obviously, we did the touristy thing and added to :)
Mike & I.
No Name Pub. It's THE oldest bar in The Keys, built in 1936.
Known for their pub pizza.
Apparently, hard to find on a map.
"A nice place if you can find it."
I have this "infatuation" with Jeep Wranglers...
Lazy afternoon.
Unique chairs.
Views don't get much better than this.
Mike, what a hunk.
Brynn, reading away.
This is what happens when you don't wear your booties with your fins...
Yuck.
Double yuck.
THE MAXI TAXI
All the girls wore our maxi dresses to Key West, I thought it was a coincidence... we saw countless Maxi Taxi's.
First drink at our first stop in Key West; Sloppy Joe's.
Great Sloppy Margarita's, but even better... the Sloppy Fries, my mouth is watering just thinking about them... yumm-o.
Took some for later.
I think this lady had to have started working there when it opened, she was interesting to say the least.
Please seat yourself, and enjoy the music.
Finishers... we proudly walked out and on to....
Duval Street.
Fat Tuesday's.
Wall of frozen fun.
Memorabilia cups.
My absolute favorite place, Irish Kevin's.
Couple of beers, couple of Irish Car Boms...
I came... I drank... I don't remember ;)
Ran into a girl I used to work with, she had just moved to Key West.
Sunset at Mallory Square.
This guy...
People everywhere.
Being oh-so Rico Suave..
Sunsets..
Kisses... OK! No more mushy stuff.
Mallory Square.
Sun has set.
Palmer and Mike.
The rest of the evening consisted of roaming around, and then a 45 minute drive back to Marathon.
We spent our last day relaxing, packing, grilled burgers and everyone but myself enjoyed fresh lobster one more time, and talked the night away making memories, creating the perfect ending to the perfect trip.
And then this happens on the way home.
Bummer.
We had to stop for the light that fell of the trailer, a flat tire on the trailer, then to get a new spare tire, and of course we were hungry again :)
A couple hours behind, we make our way over the Skyway Bridge and that means we are almost home.
Fire works to welcome us?
The neighbors just "happened" to be setting them off :)
That about wraps up the Keys vacation. Isn't it fun getting to relive memories all over again through pictures, they really are sometimes worth a thousand words.
What are some of your favorite vacations you've been on?
XOXO
Cait
