Key West
January, 2001

Key West is probably my favorite place to go and visit, and like many others before me I find it hard to come home. There are a lot of people who are smarter then I am and don't leave at all, they take themselves a permanent vacation. The only way I can try to describe Key West is by having one image a smaller version of New Orleans' French Quarter transplanted into a tropical paradise.

Key West is the southern most point of the continental United States and Cuba is only 90 miles away, so it is safe to say it has been of military significance. It has a key naval base and played a big part in the nuclear scare with Cuba and the Soviet Union early in Kennedy's presidency. It was also one of Harry Truman's favorite vacations spots, the place he stayed was dubbed the Little White House. Key West was one of the choice ports for pirates too, sense the Island is made of mostly coral ships were easily hung up on the reef and become easy prey.

Key West's major function is to facilitate drinking, and there are many watering holes where you can quench your thirst. The best bar to go in order to get sloppy drunk is the Hog's Breath Saloon located almost right off the pier at the end of Duval Street. They have a nice setting arraignment both outside and in a bar like patio. They have three bars to keep your beer full, plus some good bar food and shrimp. Another good place to go forget about the world for awhile is Schooner Wharf Bar. Located right on the water around all the boats this bar provides a great port town atmosphere to really sit back, relax, and sip on some rum. Probably the most famous bar on the island is Sloppy Joe's, the bar Ernest Hemingway use to hang out when he lived at Key West. This bar has become more of a tourist place and not a great stay and get sloppy drunk bar like the other two.

Key West has the most tremendous sunsets I have ever seen, and the night life gets started with a sunset gathering. Everyone goes down to the west pier, gets their favorite beverage, watches the entertainers trying to make a buck, and then everything stops and everyone watches in anticipation as the sun extinguish itself in the ocean. There is clapping and cheering as the crowd starts to disperse heading for local bars and restaurants. Needless to say the rest of the night if filled by eating and drinking your way back to the place where you are staying.

One reason I like going down to Key West is that I am able to listen to one of my favorite entertainers Michael McCloud. He does quite a bit of cover songs from many bands, but I most enjoy his original songs. He says, "I only write songs about stuff I know." and he knows a lot about drinking. I have his two CDs and they always seem to find there way into our parties, but live in Key West is even better. I have to say Key West is one of the greatest places to go, and it one of the few places I will go by plane.