The Overseas Highway is a 120 mile stretch of roads and bridges (some old and some new) that take you from Florida mainland, island to island, to the southwestern most tip of Florida, on the island of Key West. With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic on the other drivers are surrounded with water, mangroves, stilted houses, and a complete other way of life.
There are many famous people that have or do call Key West, Florida home. Harry Truman, Judy Blume and Jimmy Buffet, just to name a few. But the Ernest Hemingway home and museum was at the top of the list for places to visit while here. After all, it does house almost 60 perfectly pettable polydactyl cats. Hemingway and wife number two lived in this Spanish style for most of the 1930’s, during which time his adoration of a six toed cat his sailing captain friend had became an obsession as one cat turned into liters. The cats are safe here on the island. Hemingway very purposely chose this specific location because it would be least likely to suffer devastation during a hurricane. It is the second highest point on Key West, at sixteen feet above sea level.
The architecture and history on this island is incredible. Key West was once the richest city in the United States per capita. Nowadays there are 25,000 people packed onto this eight square mile island, not including the tourists. The one thing that caught me off guard were the roosters that have free range on the island. Apparently this is a result of cock fighting being banned in Florida, setting roosters free. I am sure there is more to know about this tiny but intriguing area of the United States. Hopefully there will be more time to explore it in the future.
I have been to Key West a few times but never learned some of the history you shared here on your very first trip. So dang awesome. Fantastic photos. What an adventure!
Thanks! And I wasn’t sure I set the scene with the few pics I used!
I didn’t mean to be anonymous. It’s me, Denise!