Key West
A relaxing week in the Conch
Republic
December 2009
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Key West claims to be the southern most point.
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The LaTeDa Hotel where I stayed
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My room was close to the pool
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The pool area was small and intimate
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Beyond the pool was the hotel restaurant and bar and finally Duval Street
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A scooter was the perfect way to get around the island.
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The weather was beautiful
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This guy was hauling a fishing net.
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The water is gorgeous.
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I honestly don't know the story behind this but for some reason chickens roam free in Key West.
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This old fire house is destined to be a museum.
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Key West Cemetery - The dead are buried mostly in above the ground crypts. Average elevation is only 5 feet above sea level.
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Key West Lighthouse
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1860 African Cemetery (see next photo for information)
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African cemetery story
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One of the interesting lodges in town
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a building on Duval Street
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The gun sight salvaged from the battleship Maine sunk in Havana Harbor in 1895 which helped to ignite the Spanish-American War.
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Old ship wrecks are recovered in these waters and some artifacts are on display in town.
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Close to Mallory Square
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Massive anchors
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John James Audubon, the famous ornithlologist stayed here when he was in Key West in 1832 studying and painting birds.
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One of the pristine old homes
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I had no idea . . .
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I thought this place was cool.
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Pirate Festival
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I went out to see Ft Zachary Taylor Historic State Park . . .
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. . . and walked about the fort and into the last weekend of . . .
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. . . a pirate festival see - http://www.piratesinparadise.com/
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Sword practice
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This pirate had a REAL peg leg and the bird is real too.
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Lady Pirate
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This pirate had his pet rat with him.
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Makes me want to say . . . "shiver me timbers ."
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Everyone wants to be a pirate.
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Great pose.
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Pirates striking a pose
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They put on a pirate battle which could be viewed from the Fort.
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On guard for pirates
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Preparing to fire
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Observing the battle
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The attack of the pirates
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Canon fire
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Black powder muzzle flash
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Return fire
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Motar fire
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Hand to hand combat
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Pirate ship
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Prisoner of the pirates
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Dry Tortugas National Park
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I decided to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park some 70 miles west of Key West.
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Pulling out of the Key West Harbor
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Tank Island
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The dock at Garden Key in the Dry Tortugas
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Garden Key is the location of Fort Jefferson, said to be largest masonary structure in the Western Hemisphere. The fort was completed in 1826.
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The Fort is said to be composed of over 16 million brick.
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There are three tiers for canon.
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Information on structure
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More on Fort structure
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The protective archways
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Information
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Canon balls
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A view out on the parade grounds
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This building was used to heat canon balls red hot before firing. The purpose was to set the enemy's wooden ships on fire.
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The foundations of the barracks
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Looking down on the old barracks foundations, the shot furnace behind them, and the powder magazine with the arched roof.
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Canon - it's a lot bigger than it looks
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Looking down at the moat on the dock side of the island.
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The fort lighthouse - no longer active
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Looking back to where I was.
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Walking around the fort
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There was a variety of birds on the island. This fellow was friendly so I took his photo.
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Walking around the fort on the moat wall. You can see where the brick has fallen away. Extensive restoration efforts are underway.
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The damage to the brick, especially around the gun ports is said to be caused by old wrought iron shutters which have rusted and expanded.
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The beautiful Gulf of Mexico and the lighthouse on Loggerhead Key as seen from the moat retaining wall.
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The water was as clear as a swimming pool.
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