mikewj
28-06-2004, 04:11
June 4th - June 6th 2004
After the 9 hours spent sightseeing in Manchester airport, and the extremely late night on 4th June (See previous posting), we
(me, Sue, Conell, Sue's mum and aunt, who shall from now on be known as Renee and Ivy respectively) decided to take it easy on our first
full day in Florida. So after a nice breakfast in the Golden Corrall (by Spendid China), we made our way to the Florida Turnpike and started our drive down to Key West.
It was a fairly uneventful and leisurely journey. The oldies in the back spent most of the time keeping our little chap happy
while we shared the driving and sorted out change for the toll booths. The highlight was a visit to Walmart in Homestead where we were asked by a Cuban lady on the checkout whether we knew where Geordieland was as her mother, who had married an Englishman a few years earlier, had moved there but she couldn't find it on any maps. We told her that the place she was looking for was probably Newcastle and that it was in the North East of England, but she didn't sound convinced.
We arrived in Key West at around 19:30 and checked into the Courtyard by Marriott, unpacked our clothes and sped off into the night looking for adventure.
Unfortunately, the elder members of our party were absolutely knackered and so after a fine meal in TGI Fridays which proved educational for the waiter (he was taught the noble art of shandy making by both Renee and Ivy), we decided to call it a night and start our tour the following day.
Sunday arrived as it usually does after Saturday. But this was a special Sunday. This was my birthday and we were going to tour Key West and watch the sunset celebration. But first, I was receiving presents that had been secretly packed by Sue (and Conell (he's advanced for a 9mth old)) before the entire hotel was rudely awakened by the sound of fists hammering on our hotel room door.
Fully expecting the cleaners to be standing there, angrily waiting for us to leave, we were shocked to find the previously exhausted pensioners fresh, ready to go and wondering where we were. They were soon dispatched to the poolside with instructions to wait by the bar as we finished getting ready, before they were picked up, bundelled into the car and we drove up to Mallory Square.
Parking wasn't bad at $10 per day (until 5am), so we unloaded the Grand Caravan and went off in search of breakfast. Unfortunately,
we'd just missed the official end of that particular meal, but found a pleasant restaurant in Duvall Street called Papa's that
suited our modest needs (a coupon for this particular eatery can be found in one of the Key West guides dotted around the place).
After eating our fill, we did the usual tourist things around Mallory Square, Duvall Street and the harbour until we decided to pay a visit to Ernest Hemmingway's house. And here is were our story takes a nasty turn.
Those of you familiar with Key West, will know the distance from Mallory Square to Papa Hemmingway's house. For those who aren't,
its quite a way. Under different conditions, it would be a pleasant walk, but with temps in the mid 90's, it was never going
to be easy for someone in their mid 70's with a dodgy leg.
Taking it easy, we finally arrived at the author's abode, paid our entry fee and sat on the porch waiting for the next tour. Unfortunately this was as far as we got.
Ivy had paid a terrible toll for her stroll in the midday sun and after feeling a little uncomfortable, collapsed under the strain. She remained unconcious for several minutes, before regaining her senses and recovering her composure. Unfortunately, this didn't last long as she lapsed once more into a catatonic state.
The guides from Ernie's Shack were very concerned, but could offer nothing but chilled water (there wasn't even an air conditioned
part of the house) and suggestions that we take Ivy back to the hotel room to recover. Unfortunately, the car was back up in
Mallory Square and so I ran all of the way back to the parking lot,
After the 9 hours spent sightseeing in Manchester airport, and the extremely late night on 4th June (See previous posting), we
(me, Sue, Conell, Sue's mum and aunt, who shall from now on be known as Renee and Ivy respectively) decided to take it easy on our first
full day in Florida. So after a nice breakfast in the Golden Corrall (by Spendid China), we made our way to the Florida Turnpike and started our drive down to Key West.
It was a fairly uneventful and leisurely journey. The oldies in the back spent most of the time keeping our little chap happy
while we shared the driving and sorted out change for the toll booths. The highlight was a visit to Walmart in Homestead where we were asked by a Cuban lady on the checkout whether we knew where Geordieland was as her mother, who had married an Englishman a few years earlier, had moved there but she couldn't find it on any maps. We told her that the place she was looking for was probably Newcastle and that it was in the North East of England, but she didn't sound convinced.
We arrived in Key West at around 19:30 and checked into the Courtyard by Marriott, unpacked our clothes and sped off into the night looking for adventure.
Unfortunately, the elder members of our party were absolutely knackered and so after a fine meal in TGI Fridays which proved educational for the waiter (he was taught the noble art of shandy making by both Renee and Ivy), we decided to call it a night and start our tour the following day.
Sunday arrived as it usually does after Saturday. But this was a special Sunday. This was my birthday and we were going to tour Key West and watch the sunset celebration. But first, I was receiving presents that had been secretly packed by Sue (and Conell (he's advanced for a 9mth old)) before the entire hotel was rudely awakened by the sound of fists hammering on our hotel room door.
Fully expecting the cleaners to be standing there, angrily waiting for us to leave, we were shocked to find the previously exhausted pensioners fresh, ready to go and wondering where we were. They were soon dispatched to the poolside with instructions to wait by the bar as we finished getting ready, before they were picked up, bundelled into the car and we drove up to Mallory Square.
Parking wasn't bad at $10 per day (until 5am), so we unloaded the Grand Caravan and went off in search of breakfast. Unfortunately,
we'd just missed the official end of that particular meal, but found a pleasant restaurant in Duvall Street called Papa's that
suited our modest needs (a coupon for this particular eatery can be found in one of the Key West guides dotted around the place).
After eating our fill, we did the usual tourist things around Mallory Square, Duvall Street and the harbour until we decided to pay a visit to Ernest Hemmingway's house. And here is were our story takes a nasty turn.
Those of you familiar with Key West, will know the distance from Mallory Square to Papa Hemmingway's house. For those who aren't,
its quite a way. Under different conditions, it would be a pleasant walk, but with temps in the mid 90's, it was never going
to be easy for someone in their mid 70's with a dodgy leg.
Taking it easy, we finally arrived at the author's abode, paid our entry fee and sat on the porch waiting for the next tour. Unfortunately this was as far as we got.
Ivy had paid a terrible toll for her stroll in the midday sun and after feeling a little uncomfortable, collapsed under the strain. She remained unconcious for several minutes, before regaining her senses and recovering her composure. Unfortunately, this didn't last long as she lapsed once more into a catatonic state.
The guides from Ernie's Shack were very concerned, but could offer nothing but chilled water (there wasn't even an air conditioned
part of the house) and suggestions that we take Ivy back to the hotel room to recover. Unfortunately, the car was back up in
Mallory Square and so I ran all of the way back to the parking lot,